Rivera says Panthers WR Smith didn't break finger in practice

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith injured his finger during Tuesday's padded practice, but coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep the player out of any regular-season games.

Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, sustained a cut near the base of his left middle finger that required stitches, but X-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith injured the finger while attempting to catch a pass in Tuesday morning's practice.

"There was no dislocation," Rivera said. "The ball went right in between (his fingers)."

Smith left the morning practice early to have his finger checked out by the medical staff. He didn't participate in the night practice and is expected to miss about a week or so. Smith was spotted in the team's dining room a few hours after the injury with the middle finger on his left hand heavily wrapped.

Smith is the Panthers' all-time leader in touchdowns and figures to play a pivotal role in their offense this season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Jones-Drew on tweet about Cutler: 'I didn't do anything wrong'

People who expect Maurice Jones-Drew to apologize for his tweet criticizing Jay Cutler's toughness will be disappointed.

Jones-Drew told NFL Network's Kara Henderson in an interview that aired Tuesday he doesn't regret his January post, which caused a backlash and even incited death threats from Chicago Bears fans who backed the team's quarterback.

"I haven't gotten a chance to, but I wouldn't apologize because I didn't do anything wrong, I don't think," said Jones-Drew, the Jacksonville Jaguars' two-time Pro Bowl running back. "I didn't commit a crime. I didn't kill anyone or rape anyone or anything like that. I mean, I stated my opinion, and it seems like you get more backlash for that than committing a real crime in some sense.

"I don't know, I don't feel I did anything wrong. I just said what everybody else was thinking at the time."

What Jones-Drew tweeted during the Jan. 23 NFC Championship Game was a direct shot at Cutler, who left with a knee injury in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

"Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now... When the going gets tough........QUIT," Jones-Drew posted on his Twitter page.

The nature of Cutler's injury was unknown during the game, but it later was revealed as a sprained medial collateral ligament. Even with that knowledge, Jones-Drew insists that he doesn't have any regrets.

"I don't regret anything I do," said Jones-Drew, who played through a knee injury of his own last season before missing the final two games. "I mean, you think about everything you put out there anyway. I'm not one of these guys who's going to say, 'Well, I shouldn't have done it,' because I did it. I mean, I knew what I was doing when I tweeted it. I just didn't know that many people were following me (on Twitter) at the time."

Jones-Drew might have led the way, but he wasn't the only player to criticize Cutler. Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals and Bruce Gradkowski, then of the Oakland Raiders, were some of the current and former NFL players who took shots at Cutler via Twitter.

Cutler has said he isn't bothered by what happened and appreciates how his teammates, most notably linebacker Brian Urlacher, came to his defense in the immediate aftermath of the Bears' 21-14 loss.

"That's all new," Cutler said last month when he reported to training camp. "That's never been an issue for me. I've never been questioned about it. I didn't really know how to react to it. I know that anyone who has played with knee (injuries) should never question that. I know the guys in the locker room aren't going to. You can't get caught up in that stuff. ... You're going to have to take it as it is and move on."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Woman says T.O. didn't make $5K child-support payment

ATLANTA -- The mother of Terrell Owens' child says the NFL star has refused to pay the full $5,000 per month in child support that he owes.

Melanie Paige Smith filed papers June 20 in an Atlanta court seeking to hold the wide receiver in contempt.

Owens "has failed and refused to pay the full amount of child support for June 2011," Atlanta attorney Randall Kessler wrote in court records. Owens' financial advisers have informed Smith that he has decided to no longer pay the full amount, Kessler added.

Kessler said Wednesday that Smith doesn't have any ill will toward Owens.

"She simply asks that he follow the order to which he agreed," Kessler said. "Rather than discussing his situation with her or her lawyers first, he simply cut his child support."

Kessler said he's looking forward to hearing from Owens or his representatives and quickly working out an agreement.

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, didn't immediately return messages Wednesday seeking comment.

Owens, a free agent, is recovering from knee surgery and can't sign with a team until the NFL lockout is resolved.

Amith's attorneys say Owens is a resident of Fulton County, which encompasses Atlanta and several suburbs. The case was filed in Fulton County Superior Court.

Smith says she has had to pay attorney fees and costs to enforce the court's May 2007 child-support order, and she's asking for a judge to order Owens to pay those as well.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Bush on tenure running Texans' defense: 'It just didn't work out'

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Panthers' owner didn't tell coach he was sending apology note

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson ended his silence by apologizing for his team's ugly season, perhaps the best example of the disconnect with his coach came as John Fox was asked Wednesday about that letter sent to permanent-seat-license holders.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Fox said.

After being denied a contract extension the past two offseasons, Fox is in the last year of his deal and not expected to return in 2011. Richardson didn't directly address Fox's status in a letter sent out this week to PSL owners, who account for about 60,000 seats at Bank of America Stadium.

Many of those fans have stopped showing up as the Panthers (1-11) have sunk from NFC South champions in 2008 to the league's worst team amid a youth movement that dramatically slashed payroll.

"I know how difficult the season has been for you," Richardson wrote. "As the person ultimately responsible for putting a team on the field, I take full responsibility for our shortfalls. It is agonizing that we have not performed at the level we had planned for and expected."

Richardson defended the decision to shed numerous veterans during the offseason and replace them with inexperienced, cheaper players. The Panthers have lost six games in a row and are the league's lowest-scoring team.

"When the season began, we believed there was every opportunity for success," Richardson wrote. "Many of the players were returning from a team that had finished last year very strong. The motivation for this approach was both performance-based and a commitment to the future. Obviously, we have fallen short, but our faith and commitment are still the same."

The terrible record and Fox's seemingly lame-duck status have made for an odd situation as the Panthers inch closer to acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. Fox insists his players are still playing hard.

"I don't think our team's results have been related to effort at all," Fox wrote.

The talent level appears to be far short of making this team competitive, thanks to decisions not to go after a veteran quarterback, wide receiver, right guard and defensive tackles following the offseason purge that left Carolina with a league-low $77 million payroll. That's not counting about $30 million in so-called "dead money" for players no longer on the team that would have counted toward the salary cap this season, if there was one.

"Going forward, our plan of attack is to build through the draft while retaining our core players," Richardson wrote. "We have one of the youngest teams in the league, and a number of those younger players have shown genuine promise in this otherwise disappointing season. We won't give up on them. We also have a solid nucleus of veterans that we will seek to keep intact."

Richardson, who hasn't answered questions from reporters since January 2008, also addressed his role as head of the owners' negotiating committee for a new collective-bargaining agreement. Many have questioned if Richardson's payroll-slashing was to cut costs in anticipation of a lockout.

"Let me be clear: A successful CBA is critical in sustaining the competitive balance of the NFL," Richardson wrote. "We're all in this together, and what is good for football is good for the continued success of each and every team.

"It's important for us to reach an agreement that benefits the fans, players, and teams. I want the players paid fairly, and I want us to play winning and exciting football."

There has been only one win and little excitement this season, but Richardson has been virtually assured of continued sellouts, thanks to the large number of PSL owners who are required to buy season tickets.

"I understand that in a season like this, words can sound hollow, but, as PSL owners, you have my commitment to provide you a team that will make you proud," Richardson wrote.

Several players came to Richardson's defense Wednesday, expressing confidence he'll successfully rebuild the team.

"I think it's just the character here that Mr. Richardson has, and it just goes down from there," defensive end Everette Brown said. "Everybody he brings in, from the staff working in the building to the coaching staff to the players to the equipment room, nobody's letting down, nobody's quitting."

Carolina is just one month from more uncertainty regarding its coach, who apparently wasn't consulted before Richardson sent his letter.

"I want all of you to know that we plan to look at every aspect of our organization," Richardson wrote. "What we do in the future will entirely be geared toward putting the best possible team on the field. I am committed to fielding a winning team, and I'm willing to invest the resources necessary to make it happen."

Notes: CB Chris Gamble (hamstring) remained sidelined from practice Wednesday. LB Jon Beason (knee), G Travelle Wharton (toe), DT Ed Johnson (knee) and LB Nic Harris (head) also sat out. ... RB Tyrell Sutton (ankle), S Marcus Hudson (ankle) and LB Jason Williams (knee) were limited. ... The Panthers were forced to practice on their artificial-turf field because the grass fields were frozen amid a cold snap.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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