Report: Bills awaiting tests on rookie Dareus' ankle injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A person familiar with rookie defensive lineman Marcell Dareus' ankle injury has told The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills are awaiting tests to determine its severity after the first-round draft pick was hurt in practice.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't released any information or confirmed Dareus was hurt.

The injury occurred in practice Wednesday, during a portion that is closed to reporters. Dareus was briefly spotted walking on crutches in the locker room after practice.

Dareus was drafted third overall out of Alabama in April and is being counted on to make an immediate impact in improving what was a porous Buffalo defense last year.

The Buffalo News first reported that Dareus hurt his left ankle.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Bengals pick veteran Gradkowski as rookie QB Dalton's tutor

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals reached an agreement with quarterback Bruce Gradkowski on Wednesday, giving themselves an experienced passer who knows their new offensive system and will help rookie Andy Dalton develop.

The 28-year-old quarterback was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008 and 2009, when he worked under Jay Gruden, who was hired as the Bengals' offensive coordinator in February. The Bengals drafted Dalton in the second round in April, but he has been unable to learn Gruden's system from the coaches because of the NFL lockout.

Teams aren't allowed to sign players until Friday. After agreeing to terms, Gradkowski tweeted: "BENGAL fans let's get ready to rock n' roll!!! Can't wait for this great opportunity!!"

Bengals owner Mike Brown indicated Tuesday that Dalton would have a chance to start, though the rookie has a lot of learning to do in just a few weeks.

Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer has told the team he would retire rather than play the last four seasons of his contract with Cincinnati, which has two winning seasons in the last 20 years. Palmer asked for a trade, but Brown insisted Tuesday that he won't deal the franchise quarterback as a matter of principle.

Palmer's younger brother, Jordan, is the only other experienced quarterback on the Bengals' roster. He became the offense's leader in the offseason, organizing workouts near his home in California and leading the unit through voluntary workouts for two weeks in Cincinnati.

The Bengals got Gruden's playbook during the one day the lockout was lifted in April, allowing players to have contact with coaches. Jordan Palmer learned the playbook and helped install the system during the voluntary workouts. Dalton participated in the workouts, giving him a taste of what to expect.

Gradkowski was Tampa Bay's sixth-round pick out of Toledo in 2006. He started 11 games as a rookie, his career high. He also played one season for Cleveland Browns in 2008 and the last two with the Oakland Raiders.

Two shoulder injuries limited Gradkowski to four starts last season. He completed 83 of 157 passes for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Panthers rookie Newton expresses support for Smith staying

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the Carolina Panthers try to retain their core group of players -- they agreed to terms with defensive end Charles Johnson on Tuesday -- there remains uncertainty as to whether or not wide receiver Steve Smith will be dealt.

Wyche: Newton off to good start Cam Newton has yet to take a snap at an official NFL practice, let alone a game. But the No. 1 overall pick already is showing signs
he gets it, Steve Wyche writes. More ...

» Panthers prep Newton | QB opens up

Smith reportedly has asked to be traded, and first-year coach Ron Rivera has said he'll address the receiver's situation once the NFL lockout ends, which it has. But rookie quarterback Cam Newton said he wants Smith, one of the best receivers in the NFL, as his main target.

"Steve, he's extremely credible around the NFL," Newton said in an exclusive interview with NFL.com and NFL Network. "Everybody knows about Steve Smith's situation. I'm going on to say I really want, not just me, but so many people around the organization want Steve back. I don't know how else to put it. I'm about to speak foreign languages to get Steve back.

"After talking to him, working out with him, he's just at crossroads right now. I'll respect him, whatever decision he makes. Hopefully that decision is to stay in Carolina."

The San Diego Chargers reportedly have expressed interest in Smith, who is coming off a down year in which he finished with just 46 receptions for 554 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.

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Saints rookie Ingram escapes injury in Alabama car accident

New Orleans Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram came away unscathed after a car he was driving collided with an 18-wheeler early Friday morning.

The accident occurred just before 1 a.m. in Huntsville, Ala., according to WAFF-TV.

Ingram took to Twitter to update fans on his well-being.

"Thanks for everyone's prayers and concerns," Ingram tweeted. "I'm perfectly fine, not one scratch!"

According to the accident report, both vehicles were traveling southbound on Leeman Ferry Road approaching Metro Circle in Huntsville. As the truck's driver, Paul Clewis, prepared to turn right onto Metro Circle from Leeman Ferry Road, he said he made a wide turn.

Police said Ingram failed to yield right of way to the truck and hit it on the passenger side of the cab. Ingram told police the truck driver didn't signal before making the turn.

Huntsville police said neither drugs nor alcohol was involved in the crash. Neither Ingram nor Clewis was cited for the accident.

Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, was drafted No. 28 overall in April by the Saints, who gave up a 2011 second-round choice and a 2012 first-round selection to the New England Patriots to trade up for the running back.

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Jets rookie DT Ellis' felony trial scheduled for November

New York Jets third-round draft pick Kenrick Ellis' trial on a malicious wounding felony charge will take place during the season, with a move from next week to Nov. 28, The Star Ledger reported Friday, citing court records.

Ellis, a 6-foot-5, 346-pound defensive tackle, was arrested following a campus altercation in April 2010, while he was at Hampton (Va.) University. His trial was pushed back, according to Hampton Circuit Court records, after the defense asked for a continuance because he hired a new attorney. There was no objection to the request from the prosecution.

The defense could ask for another continuance, to postpone the trial until Ellis' rookie season is over. Ellis' new attorney did not immediately return a phone message left by The Star Ledger.

Ellis attended Hampton after he was kicked off the team at the University of South Carolina.

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Bucs rookie Bowers denies right knee injury is degenerative

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round draft pick Da'Quan Bowers knows that only his play on the field will silence questions about his surgically repaired right knee, but he insists he's ready to compete.

"My knee is great," the defensive end told WDAE-AM on Friday. "It's back to where I needed it to be. You know, It's back to playing shape. You know, I've been rehabbing and working out all throughout the whole summer, even through the lockout. The knee is fine. I'm running, cutting, jumping. Everything's a full go."

Asked if the knee injury was degenerative, as some reports have suggested, Bowers said, "That's not the case," adding that renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews "has seen much worse knees than mine that went on to have great careers in the NFL."

Bowers has skipped two player-only workouts organized by Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman -- and he failed to attend June's NFL Players Association-run rookie symposium -- but the former Clemson defensive terror says he skipped out to prepare his body for the season ahead.

"I didn't want to miss rehab and training," Bowers explained. "You know, I thought that this was a crucial point coming that the lockout may end in the next couple weeks. I didn't want to put myself behind in the great rehab program I have going for myself, so I decided to skip the symposium and the minicamp.

"I didn't want to miss any rehab time or anything that would slow me down from, you know, being where I needed to be come camp time."

Bowers is motivated to put the injury chatter behind him, and he predicts heady days in Tampa Bay's future.

"Get (the) popcorn ready," he said. "It's gonna be a long ride to the Super Bowl."

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Good sign? Goodell, Smith travel together to rookie seminar

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith opened a four-day labor discussion in Minnesota, then hopped on a plane to Florida to speak to rookie players.

Spokesmen for the league and the players' association confirmed Tuesday night to The Associated Press that Goodell and Smith were on the same plane from Minnesota to address players at the NFLPA-run rookie symposium. Smith asked Goodell to speak to the players Wednesday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sarasota, Fla., and the commissioner agreed.

Goodell and Smith plan to leave Florida later Wednesday to fly back to Minneapolis and continue the labor talks, which have taken on a decidedly different look.

Goodell and Smith are accompanied only by their staffs, rather than members of each constituency, and owners and players aren't expected to directly participate, although they will remain apprised of any developments. The parties' legal teams are expected to trade proposals on the framework of a settlement, in an effort to move the process toward conclusion, and they will intensify their focus on the key issues, most notably the revenue split.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and their staffs will meet face-to-face in Minnesota this week. (David Drapkin/Associated Press)

The four-day, face-to-face session will be the longest yet. The previous longest session was the first one, held May 31 through June 2 near a private airport in suburban Chicago. Subsequent meetings on New York's Long Island, Maryland's Eastern Shore and Massachusetts' South Shore each lasted two days.

The changing time frame surrounding this set of talks and the shifting cast of characters -- the first "secret" meetings only included Goodell, Smith, owners, players and U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan -- are seen as part of the process of negotiating a new agreement to end a lockout that's in its fourth month.

Boylan ran three two-day sets of court-ordered mediation between the owners and players in April and May, and he has been present for all of the more recent meetings. His chambers are located in Minneapolis.

A decision from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the league appealed a district court's issuance of a lockout-lifting injunction, could come soon, too. The time frame on such decisions from an appeals court generally is 30 to 45 days, and the hearing was held June 3. However, the league and players have expressed a desire to work toward an agreement before the three-judge panel's ruling is announced.

The St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears, who are scheduled to play in the preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7, are set to open training camp just three weeks from Friday, and time is beginning to run short on the parties' negotiating teams as they look to preserve the preseason in its traditional form. Some have suggested July 15 as the deadline for that to happen.

The parties have spent the past four weeks largely discussing the revenue split, an issue that dwarfs all others. It's not just the revenue now, but also how to account for the players' take in the league's future growth, particularly when the next round of television deals are negotiated for 2014 and beyond. The idea of an "all revenue" model, which would eliminate cost credits to the owners and limit revenue projections, has bridged some differences, but the issue still hasn't been settled.

The parties broached the rookie pay system for the first time during clandestine sessions Thursday, and it also proved to be a difficult area to navigate. Last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, received about $50 million guaranteed in his rookie deal, and the owners have long looked to drastically mark down price tags like this.

The numbers aren't the only issue. Finding a way to replace the market effect those contracts have on veterans and getting those high picks to free agency quicker are among the players' concerns. Currently, six-year contracts are allowed for the high first-round picks making big money.

Last week, one team executive told NFL Network that owners and players were within "striking distance" of a deal, but that nothing was close or imminent. But another involved executive said: "There are enough legitimate issues to where it could all fall down still. They're dealing with that stuff."

After last week's meeting at a beachside resort in Hull, Mass., Goodell and Smith emerged together and provided a symbolic moment in the joint effort toward a resolution.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

"Someone asked me if I was optimistic -- I think we're both optimistic when we have the right people in the room," Smith said. "We know we're talking about the right issues, and we're working hard to get it done. It's extremely complicated. It requires a lot of hard work by a lot of people. But we're committed to getting something done. And we're gonna keep working at it."

Said Goodell: "We are under court order, as far as what we can discuss. Obviously we're all working hard, the players and owners were here over the last few days, and De and I were here for the entire meetings also. And it's complicated and it's complex, but we're working hard. We understand the fans' frustration, but I think both of us feel strongly that we're going to continue to work hard on it."

Goodell and Smith have been joined by Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, New York Giants owner John Mara, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, New York Jets fullback Tony Richardson, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth and Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, as well as Boylan, as constants in the room.

NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, who has been in some talks, attended the trade association's rookie seminar Tuesday and said roughly 170 players were participating in the event. Mawae also addressed more than 40 Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who are holding a three day minicamp at the vast IMG Academy campus, where the NFLPA event is being held.

The Associated Press and NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche contributed to this report.

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'Little' parking issue: Browns rookie ticketed 93 times at UNC

Greg Little continues to make headlines for his actions off the field, not on it.

The University of North Carolina has identified eight players, including Little, who accumulated 317 parking tickets, which were uncovered in documents requested by media outlets covering the ongoing NCAA probe of the school's football program.

The latest release showed Little racked up 93 of those tickets on multiple vehicles with nine different license plates.

Little was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was suspended for his senior year at North Carolina because of NCAA benefits violations.

The school released a chart Friday that links players' names to their license plate numbers on vehicles that included a Land Rover, BMW and an Acura.

A week ago, the school released records that showed some players combined for 395 citations totaling more than $13,000 between March 2007 and August 2010.

Three other NFL rookies were named in the documents: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter, St. Louis Rams defensive lineman Robert Quinn and Buffalo Bills running back Johnny White. The other players identified were defensive backs Charles Brown, Kendrick Burney and Deunta Williams, and running back Ryan Houston.

The names of those whose cars received the other 78 citations weren't identified by the school.

The citations ranged in penalty from $5 for improperly displaying a parking permit to $250 for parking in a fire lane or handicapped space, and the total amount of those 395 tickets was $13,185.

The school said last week that of the 395 tickets, 30 remained unpaid. School spokesman Mike McFarland said Friday that he didn't have any updated figures.

The school has said players don't receive special treatment when it comes to parking and that they're expected to pay parking fines like any other student.

Little, who was declared "permanently ineligible" by the NCAA in October, received 43 tickets on a gray Nissan car and 38 on a gray Dodge. He also was listed as being responsible for a green BMW (seven tickets), a black Acura (four) and a black Honda (one).

Houston's black Land Rover was ticketed 63 times. Quinn received a total of 53 tickets on a blue Dodge and a red Ford. Brown's purple Chevrolet received 38 citations, and vehicles linked to Williams, White and Burney each were cited 20 total times. Ten tickets were listed for Carter's red Dodge.

Last week's release came after the North Carolina Court of Appeals denied the school's request to delay the release of those records pending an appeal, and included citations for 11 players requested by media. That ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by several news outlets, including The Associated Press.

The school said not all of those 11 players had received tickets.

Earlier this week, North Carolina received a notice of allegations from the NCAA outlining numerous "potential major violations" in the football program, including unethical conduct by a former assistant coach as well as failure to adequately monitor the conduct of a former and current players.

The NCAA has informed the school that it plans to complete its investigation this month. In all, 14 players missed at least one game this season because of the probe, with seven being ruled out for the entire year. An eighth was cleared to return at midseason but decided to redshirt.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Collins open to return with Titans, mentoring rookie Locker

After 16 NFL campaigns, veteran signal-caller Kerry Collins isn't planning to walk away just yet and would love to return to the Titans -- if the situation is right.

"I know I still have good football left in me, and I want to see where (the Titans are) at, too," Collins told the Tennessean in a story for Saturday's editions. "If it makes sense on both sides to do it, I’d be good for coming back."

The 38-year-old Collins told the newspaper that he's been working out and feels healthy and ready to return if the Titans choose to sign him. He was fit enough to throw 14 touchdowns and more than 1,800 yards in 10 appearances for the Titans last season, but another run in Tennessee likely hinges on Collins' willingness to mentor rookie passer Jake Locker, selected No. 8 by the Titans in April's draft. 

Locker -- not Collins -- is viewed as the future hope for a position that's seen its share of chaos during the Vince Young era.

"I went through it with Vince (Young)," Collins said. "I would be open to it, but it would have to be the right thing. I would like to get to know Jake a little bit to make sure he’d be the type guy I’d want to help out. That won’t be the sole issue either. It is not about what kind of guy Jake is. I just have to weigh a lot of things."

Titans players told NFL.com's Steve Wyche that Locker has shown some command of the attack in offseason player-only workouts. He's set players in the correct spots at the line of scrimmage and expressed a command of the huddle that caught teammates' attention. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan already coined him the "Face of The Franchise."

The Tennessean speculates that if the lockout drags on, it could help Collins' chances of being retained by the Titans, which makes sense to the veteran.

"I think it is legitimate speculation to think the longer this thing goes, the more attractive I would be to them because of my familiarity with everything," Collins said. "I know we have new coordinator (Chris Palmer), but I am sure a lot of terminology is going to be the same. On paper it makes sense to at least talk to me about coming back. The longer this thing goes, the better it could work out for me."

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Rookie QB Dalton on hand as Bengals work out in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton's first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals came on a college field on a hot morning with no helmets, uniforms, pads or even a complete playbook.

Not the best way for a rookie quarterback to break into the NFL.

More than 40 Bengals players participated in their first voluntary, full-squad workout Wednesday at the University of Cincinnati, where a handful of students took a few minutes to stop and watch the franchise's next quarterback start to blend in.

With his red hair, Dalton was easy to spot. His arm got some looks, too.

"He's got a good arm," receiver Jerome Simpson said. "He's very smart. I like him."

The second-round pick from TCU has some daunting days ahead. The Bengals are switching to coordinator Jay Gruden's new offense, one with totally different terminology than the previous offense. Dalton can't get tutoring from the coaches because of the NFL's lockout. Practice is limited to a few voluntary sessions in shorts and T-shirts.

"I don't know," offensive guard Bobbie Williams said, thinking about the obstacles in the rookie's way. "I'll just say: God help the young man. I mean, he's placed in a challenging position, but you know what? In this profession, you're always placed in a challenging position. It's up to you how you (react) to it."

So far, he seems to be doing fine.

Dalton got to Cincinnati a few days early to start looking for a house. He practiced Monday with the offense while the defense worked out at a suburban soccer facility. They got together on Wednesday, giving Dalton a chance to meet most of the defensive players for the first time.

It was the first time the Bengals have worked out without quarterback Carson Palmer, who says he'll retire if he's not traded. Palmer was the team's leader during his seven years as the starter.

Feel strange not having him there?

"Of course, man," Williams said. "That's the voice and the face you miss in the crowd. You miss hearing him, you miss his presence. But this game is an ever-changing game. One day we'll all be retired, and there will be a new group of guys in here at some point."

Palmer's voice is deeper than Dalton's, leading to some teasing by his new teammates.

"Andy's picking up the tempo," Williams said. "Yesterday we kidded around with him, told him he needs to deepen his voice, get some bass in it. But he seemed to have adjusted pretty good to it."

Dalton made tight, on-target throws during a relaxed 7-on-7 session, with players being careful not to get hurt. He barely overthrew a long pass to Simpson, who stretched all-out and dived in the end zone but couldn't quite reach the ball.

That moment was the closest thing to real football.

"Just instinct, because I want to catch every ball, show that quarterback that I want to work for him," Simpson said. "It's kind of a risk coming out here and diving for a ball, but I just couldn't help it."

Dalton is competing with Jordan Palmer, Carson's younger brother, for the starting job. Both are learning a new system. Players got some of the new playbook during the one day that the lockout was lifted in April, and they're trying to learn it on their own.

"It's definitely different in terminology," Palmer said. "I've been very impressed with how fast we're all getting it as a group. We've got 30 to 40 plays in. What percentage of the offense that is, I don't know."

Dalton spent part of the day getting to know his new defensive teammates.

"I didn't know very many of them," Dalton said. "It's been great just to be around everybody and to see everybody working together."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Rookie QB Gabbert gets to work with Jaguars teammates

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First-round draft pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among 28 Jacksonville Jaguars players who practiced together for the first time at an area high school.

Previously, the players had been working in small groups throughout the area to stay in shape during the NFL lockout.

Gabbert, the 10th pick overall out of Missouri, spent much of the hour and a half practice taking instruction from starting quarterback David Garrard and throwing to a variety of receivers, including Cecil Shorts III, the Jags' fourth-round pick.

"It's been a blast," Gabbert said. "It's good to get out here with the guys and have the opportunity to work out a little bit and throw the ball around."

Gabbert said he arrived in town Sunday and has been working out with his group since. At night, he and Shorts have been studying film.

"We've been working (in groups) two months and not many teams can say that," cornerback Rashean Mathis said.

Garrard said media was invited to let the fans know the Jags aren't sitting around during the lockout.

"We wanted to give the fans the ability to see us out here," he said. "It's important that we do get out here, and it's important that our fans see us work so we can continue to increase ticket sales and give them hope there will be a season."

Among the missing players were tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is in California, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has been traveling around the country.

"It's hard to pull them off the West Coast," Garrard said.

The players said they remain united in their struggle with NFL owners and discounted the notion owners are counting on players caving when they start missing game pay checks.

"If it does become who is going to hold their breath the longest, we'll see who has the biggest lungs," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "Hopefully it won't come to that."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Rookie Locker joins future Titans teammates for workout

Rookie quarterback Jake Locker was among 15 Tennessee Titans who gathered to work out together Tuesday morning, The Tennessean reported via Twitter.

Locker, whom the Titans selected eighth overall in April's draft, did not throw during the workout because only two receivers showed up at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, according to The Tennessean.

Locker said he planned to spend two weeks in the Nashville area, and that he is staying with second-year receiver Damian Williams.

The group at Father Ryan has been working out together for several weeks, according to The Tennessean. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan said last week that plans are in the works for as much of the team as possible to meet for a minicamp on June 8-9 at the high school.

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Rookie QB Ponder, Vikings begin three-day workouts at IMG

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Smack in the middle of baseball spring-training country, IMG headquarters has become the unofficial headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason workouts.

With music blaring, the energy is crackling here, where a half dozen Vikings players have come -- with more on the way -- to take advantage of IMG's state-of-the-art training facilities. Rookie QB Christian Ponder has invited his new teammates to work on the Vikings' playbook.

Ponder said he was the first Vikings player to receive the playbook from new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave during the one-day window last month when a federal judge lifted the NFL lockout and coaches were allowed to make contact with their players.

Ponder said he went to Kinkos to make copies of the playbook for his teammates, and was careful to do the work himself, not letting the pages leave his sight. The end result? The 12th overall pick in last month's draft is now tasked with delivering Musgrave's playbook to the likes of Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe, all of whom are expected to join quarterback Joe Webb, rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph and others for workouts during the the next three days.

Ponder said he thinks he's read enough of the playbook that, if put through a normal NFL practice, he already could call half the plays.

The variety of athletes from all over the world and from different sports training at IMG makes for an interesting dynamic.

NFL players, sometimes putting up 400 pounds or more on the bench press, are surrounded by 14-year-old tennis players as well as some NBA draft hopefuls from smaller schools.

Jeff Dillman, IMG's head strength and conditioning coach, said the facility played host to three first-round quarterbacks (2011 top overall pick Cam Newton, Ponder and Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman) in one afternoon last week, on the football field next to a baseball facility where former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and free agent Jamie Moyer was rehabbing, which was next to a weight room where future tennis and golf stars were trying to get bigger, faster and stronger.

"There's nowhere else in the world where this is happening," Dillman said.

Also here is former Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who went undrafted last month. Herzlich said it has been great working out with Ponder and Rudolph, two guys he "hated" to play against in college.

Herzlich has already turned down the UFL. He said he has not been contacted by any NFL teams but has 10 to 11 in mind as possible landing spots. He said he plans on being the Cam Newton of free agency, as the first undrafted player signed, once teams are permitted to do so.

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NFLPA decides to hold its own rookie symposium in June

At last week's spring owners meeting, the NFL cancelled its annual rookie symposium, which is in place to educate draft picks on the life that lies ahead as a professional athlete.

It appears the practice won't be lost all together.

The NFL Players Association is finalizing plans for a June 28-29 rookie symposium of its own, which it is calling "The Business of Football, Rookie Edition," scheduled for near its Washington, D.C. headquarters. As is the case with the annual event -- traditionally a joint venture between the league and the NFLPA -- all draft picks would be invited, and the classroom schedule will follow the normal agenda closely, right down to taking place during the last few days of June. The NFLPA said it will cover all costs.

Because of the lockout, the 254 draft picks can't communicate with the teams that selected them in April.

The NFL's contingency for replacing the symposium was to expand and extend normal orientation programs held at the club level.

"We're doing this because it's the right thing to do," NFLPA spokesman George Atallah told The Associated Press.

The forum will cover financial education and planning, proper behavior on and off the field, and other information to prepare rookies for the NFL.

The league had planned to have this year's symposium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, for the first time in an effort to better educate players on the history of the game. It was scheduled for June 27-29.

At the owners' meetings in Indianapolis last week, NFL vice president Adolpho Birch said the league "waited as long as we could" before canceling the event. He called the rookie symposium "an extremely complex event that requires a lot of people -- from all of the drafted players to the panelists and presenters, production people and the youth camp that is associated with it. It is really a large production.

"We got to the point, based on the uncertainty we have right now, that we needed to be fair to those who would be asked to come and participate and help us put it on. Given that, we had to make a decision. This was about as late as we could do it."

Birch said it would be up to the individual teams to help indoctrinate the rookies to the NFL, and that league-sponsored programs during the season would continue once the lockout ends. The lockout is in its 11th week.

Agent David Canter thinks the NFLPA's forum makes sense.

"I'm very happy that the former union made this decision," said Canter, who counts Syracuse linebacker Doug Hogue, a fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions, among his clients. "The symposium is a great experience for all players. For this year's class, it's even more valuable because of the lack of information. And this will be the first time all of these players have been able to meet."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ravens rookie Kindle arrested, charged with drunken driving

JESSUP, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle was arrested early Sunday on drunken driving charges, court records show.

Kindle, 23, was pulled over shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday in the Jessup area. He was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and related offenses and was freed on $10,000 bond.

"I haven't talked to the team yet, but I spoke with one of the security guards," Kindle said in a telephone interview. "First and foremost, I would apologize. I don't want to put the organization's name in a negative light due to my actions. I don't know what's going to happen or how they're going to handle that."

Asked how much he had to drink, Kindle said: "It wasn't much, but I guess it was enough. I guess it was enough for me to fail a Breathalyzer. It was over the limit."

Ravens officials were traveling back from Sunday's victory over Cleveland and weren't immediately available to comment.

Kindle, a second-round draft pick, hasn't suited up for the Ravens this year. The former University of Texas star fractured his skull after falling down two flights of stairs in late July at a friend's house in Austin, Texas. He revealed last week that doctors told him he might be forced to sit out next season as well.

Kindle was signed to a one-year, $320,000 contract with no signing bonus or incentives and placed on the reserve non-football injury list. The Ravens could tender him or allow him to become a free agent next year.

He had off-field incidents at Texas, including crashing his car into an apartment building when he said he was texting while driving.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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NFL fines Lions rookie Suh $15K for penalized hit on Cutler

The NFL fined Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh $15,000 for a Sunday hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler that drew an unnecessary-roughness penalty, although a closer examination of the videotape suggests the wrong call was made, NFL Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay acknowledged.

Suh, who said Wednesday that he plans to appeal the fine, was penalized during the fourth quarter of the Lions' 24-20 loss to the Bears when he sent Cutler to the ground with a hard, two-handed shove to the upper back after the quarterback ran for 8 yards. Referee Ed Hochuli called the play "an unnecessary non-football act," ruling that Suh delivered an illegal forearm.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz disagreed with the call and said Wednesday he couldn't think of anything his rookie lineman should have done differently when knocking down Cutler.

"I don't know what to tell him right there," Schwartz said. "The quarterback wasn't going down. He was a runner. He was trying to score a touchdown."

McKay, appearing Wednesday on "NFL Total Access" on NFL Network, agreed with Schwartz without explicitly saying the call was wrong.

"At full speed," said McKay, also the Atlanta Falcons' president, "you can see where (Hochuli) saw at least what he saw. ... The hard thing about this one is the defensive player in playing the game at full speed, trying to make a play, and then that ends up with that result. ...

"Player safety is always going to be at the forefront (for) these officials. I'm not one that's going to sit here and say right call or wrong call -- that's probably not appropriate for me to say. I'm sitting here saying that there are rules that come real close to what happened in this instance. And what Ed Hochuli saw and what he called ... he thought he saw it, and he called it that way. I know Detroit can't be very happy with the call."

Suh didn't confirm the amount of the fine, but a person with knowledge of the fine, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league hadn't announced it yet, confirmed it was $15,000.

Suh was fined $7,500 for a face-mask takedown of Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme during preseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Mangini has no qualms starting rookie McCoy vs. Patriots

Browns coach Eric Mangini has no qualms starting third-string, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy against the AFC-leading New England Patriots on Sunday in Cleveland.

"He's been in a couple of tough arenas -- going into Pittsburgh for his first game, that's about as tough as it gets," Mangini said.

Billick: Browns should play McCoy It’s time for the Browns to go with Colt McCoy and find out how good he can be," writes Brian Billick. "I’ve always believed the only way to learn is to play." More ...

McCoy will get the call because neither Jake Delhomme nor Seneca Wallace was able to practice all week as they recover from high ankle sprains.

Mangini left open the possibility that Wallace could be active for the Patriots game.

"I think Seneca has a shot this week (to be active), but it's an outside shot," Mangini said.

This will be McCoy's first start at home. He's 1-1 with a loss to the Steelers and a win over the New Orleans Saints, who fell for several trick plays during a 30-17 loss to the Browns two weeks ago.

The Browns had hoped to have Wallace back this week, but he has not yet been cleared by doctors.

Wallace hasn't played since injuring his ankle Oct. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, his fourth consecutive start filling in for Delhomme, who rolled his ankle in the season opener at Tampa Bay. High-ankle sprains typically take four to six weeks to heal, and Wallace is just one month into recovery.

Starting tackle John St. Clair (ankle) also didn't practice Friday. Mangini held out hope that all three injured players could return soon.

"We just follow what the trainers and doctors say," Mangini said. "The week he (Wallace), John and Jake had was the best they've had in terms of movement."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Browns rookie QB McCoy to make first NFL start vs. Steelers

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will start his first NFL game this weekend, a team source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Thursday.

It would take a dramatic turn of events with Jake Delhomme or Seneca Walllace -- both of whom are nursing ankle injuries -- for things to change, according to the source.

Rookie QB Colt McCoy is in line to start Sunday, but the Steelers expect to see WR Joshua Cribbs take plenty of snaps in the Browns' Flash package.
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Browns coach Eric Mangini said Thursday that he was pleased with McCoy's first practice as a potential starter. The coach hasn't officially announced that McCoy will start, but he said his lean is "more pronounced" to the rookie quarterback making his NFL regular-season debut Sunday in Pittsburgh against the blitz-happy Steelers.

Mangini said he is happy with McCoy's progress and that the third-round draft pick would take the bulk of the snaps during practice Thursday.

McCoy will be the 16th different quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999. The team re-signed Brett Ratliff this week off the New England Patriots' practice squad as a backup, and with the way things are going for Cleveland, it's not farfetched to think he could see some playing time if McCoy is hurt or struggles.

Wallace doesn't know when he'll be able to play, but he believes the former University of Texas star can hold down the fort until he returns.

"He played at Texas, it's like America's Team, like the Dallas Cowboys," Wallace said of McCoy. "He's been in the limelight before. It's not college, you're going to Pittsburgh. It's going to be tough, but with his type of character and the kind of person he is, he'll be able to deal with it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bryant downplays now-infamous dinner tab, cites rookie duty

IRVING, Texas -- Dez Bryant didn't mind picking up the $54,896 dinner tab for his Dallas Cowboys teammates. He's OK with being teased about it.

Apologies from the guys who ran up the bill? Not needed, he insists.

On "Around the League," Pro Bowler Jason Witten gives his thoughts on the Cowboys' start, his knee and if the team has the chemistry it needs to win. More ...

"It was all in fun," Bryant said.

The wide receiver spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since his rookie dinner became a national topic of discussion, with reactions ranging from laughter to disgust.

Most NFL teams have a tradition of a top draft pick paying for a lavish meal. Rarely, however, does it go to this extreme.

The Cowboys went overboard as payback for Bryant violating another rookie tradition, carrying a veteran's pads at training camp.

Bryant sort of knew it was coming. Still, signing a check that big had to be staggering, even for a guy making $2.8 million this season.

"It is funny. It was always funny," Bryant said. "It's what rookies are supposed to do. Some of the older guys apologized. I felt there was no need for them to apologize because it just happened."

Asked whether he felt his teammates took advantage of him, Bryant said, "No. Not at all."

"It's like trying to fit in, basically," he said. "I felt like those are the things you have to do in order to be a part of the team. The older guys helped me understand that everybody goes through it. It happened. It's no big deal. Everything's fine. Everybody is having fun. That's the great thing about it."

Here's further proof of what a good sport Bryant is about all this: He'll be the guest Monday night on linebacker Bradie James' radio show, which happens to be held at the steakhouse that hosted the now-infamous feast.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones chalked up this incident as an expensive lesson for the rookie.

"Frankly, I think he's handling it very well," Jones said on his radio show this week. "I can tell you right now that that would make my eyes water to have a bill like that, and it should. But by the same token, it's in the spirit of the same thing that Bill Parcells used to have the No. 1 draft pick bring him his water out there. It's that same type of thing that goes on with a team and the kind of rapport that you want to build on the field."

Bryant is growing accustomed to being at the center of sensational stories.

Earlier this year, Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland publicly apologized to Bryant for asking him in a pre-draft interview if his mother was a prostitute. Last fall, Bryant was suspended from Oklahoma State for lying to the NCAA about a meeting with former Cowboys star Deion Sanders, now an NFL Network analyst.

Despite an outstanding combination of size, speed, moves and good hands, Bryant's tendency to draw unwanted attention likely caused him to slide in the draft. The Cowboys nabbed him at No. 24, and Jones immediately anointed Bryant with jersey No. 88, previously worn by Roger Staubach's top target, Drew Pearson, and by Troy Aikman's go-to wideout, Michael Irvin.

Bryant is working his way up Tony Romo's list of favorite receivers. He has 14 catches for 158 yards, with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown.

"I feel like we have chemistry," Bryant said. "He's been a tremendous leader for us, and he's making sure that everybody is on the right page. ... I feel like I'm doing good. I came along as far as learning everything. There's still a lot, but everything's fine."

Romo sees progress.

"I think Dez being a young guy, every week he's going to continue to get better," Romo said. "He's still going to make young-player mistakes. You just keep accelerating the learning curve a little bit."

Bryant also has dealt with a variety of injuries -- a high ankle sprain that cost him the entire preseason, rib damage during the opener, then hip pain caused when he ran into a cameraman on the sideline during the last game, at Houston a week ago Sunday.

Bryant knew he was hurt when he hit the guy, "but at the same time, I didn't want to show my weakness."

"I had to keep myself together and get back out there on the field," said Bryant, who finished the game before telling the team's athletic trainers he was hurting.

So far, though, the biggest welcome-to-the-NFL hit Bryant has taken came at the steakhouse.

"I'm guessing that one of these linebackers or these safeties are waiting to get this big hit on me to let me know," he said. "I'll be ready for it."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Cardinals to start rookie QB Hall vs. Saints, bench Anderson

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has put his team's struggling offense into undrafted rookie quarterback Max Hall's hands.

Whisenhunt announced after Wednesday's practice that the former BYU standout would make his first NFL start Sunday when the Cardinals play host to the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Hall is Arizona's third starting quarterback since training camp opened, replacing the erratic Derek Anderson, who took over for Matt Leinart. That led to Leinart's release and left Hall as Anderson's backup.

The strong-armed Anderson, signed by the Cardinals as a free agent after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, was benched after throwing two first-half interceptions in last Sunday's 41-10 loss at San Diego. Hall came on to complete 8 of 14 passes for 82 yards without an interception, but he was sacked six times.

"I think Max certainly feels he's ready for it," Whisenhunt said. "I mean, he's a confident young man. He's been that way since he's been here. He's made progress. He believes in himself and carries himself with that confidence. I know that he wanted to play. I don't think that's ever been a question."

The Cardinals are tied for the NFC West lead at 2-2, but they have been outscored 82-17 in their two losses.

"Hopefully we'll make some more plays, be a little more efficient offensively," Whisenhunt said. "I think that one of the areas we need to improve in is just making the plays that are there. That's what we've missed on."

Hall said he's not looking at this as a one-week audition for the job.

There's no need to fret about missing any games. You can watch every contest again with Game Rewind. Get more information here.

"I'm just going forward like it's mine," he said. "That's the mindset that you have to have. They're putting everything into me. The game plan and everything is going toward my strengths, so I'm moving forward like it's mine."

The 6-foot-1 Hall is a hometown favorite, having grown up in nearby Mesa. He initially enrolled at Arizona State, but he never played for the Sun Devils.

After two years on a Mormon mission, Hall started all 39 games in his three seasons with BYU. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 11,365 yards and 82 touchdowns while with the Cougars. In the process, he broke Ty Detmer's school record for victories as a quarterback with 32.

"We do feel good about his ability to get in there and run our offense, and that's because of the way he's handled himself since the day he got here," Whisenhunt said. "That's a little bit unusual for rookies, to have that confidence, to have that ability to handle the huddle, make some plays. Once again, it doesn't really mean anything until you see it on game day, and we're certainly expecting to have some success with that."

Hall wasn't among the 15 quarterbacks chosen by NFL teams in the April draft, but he quickly found a home with the Cardinals.

"You don't get drafted, you wonder what's going to happen," he said. "I was excited to be part of this organization. Coach Whisenhunt was always good and fair with me in everything that we did. We have a good relationship. It's an exciting thing for me to have the opportunity that's ahead of me to start for this team. I'm just going to give it my best."

Anderson was dogged by the same accuracy issues that plagued him with the Browns. He has completed 52 percent of his passes (58 for 112) for three touchdowns with five interceptions this season. His passer rating of 59.5 ranks 30th in the NFL, and his 644 passing yards are 23rd.

Whisenhunt said Anderson labored to escape the formidable shadow left by Kurt Warner, who retired after last season.

"I think what happened with Derek is he was pressing. He was trying to be perfect," Whisenhunt said. "A lot of that is because of the standard that's been set at that position around here, and I understand that. I think that's a tough way to try to play that position. That was part of the reasoning as to why we made this switch."

Anderson wasn't in the locker room after practice, but Whisenhunt said the quarterback handled the demotion "like a professional and with a lot of class."

While Cardinals players praised Hall's enthusiasm and ability to lead the team, running back Tim Hightower offered a reality check.

"He has his hands full. He's got a plate full in front of him, I'm not going to lie," Hightower said. "They kind of threw him in there, but it comes back to us making his transition a lot easier. We've got to establish the running game. We've got to be physical. We've got to make plays, and we've got to take the pressure off him."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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