NFL Capsules: Texans C Myers, DE Smith added to Pro Bowl roster
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Texans center Chris Myers and defensive end Antonio Smith have been added to the AFC's Pro Bowl roster. It's the first Pro Bowl appearance for both players.
Running back Arian Foster and cornerback Johnathan Joseph were already named to the AFC squad, but Foster will miss the game due to a minor foot injury sustained in last week's loss to Baltimore. The Pro Bowl is Jan. 29. The AFC squad will be led by Houston coach Gary Kubiak and his staff.
Myers is the first Texans offensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl. The Texans ranked second in rushing this season (153 yards per game). Smith finished with a career-high 6 1/2 sacks for the NFL's second-ranked defense.
Myers is replacing Pittsburgh's Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) and Smith will step in for New England's Andre Carter (knee).
Team Capsules
Jets owner backs Sanchez, doesn't rule out Manning
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sanchez is still the New York Jets' quarterback of the future. Well, at least for now.
Owner Woody Johnson supported his embattled quarterback while meeting with writers who regularly cover the team Thursday for the first time since the Jets finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs.
But, he also wouldn't rule out the possibility of pursuing a veteran such as Peyton Manning if the Indianapolis Colts star became available.
"I'm not going to ever tell you guys what we may or may not do," Johnson said in a 30-minute far-ranging interview.
"Our job, and my job for the fans, is to take this team to the very top level, and I've said that from the beginning. And I have a lot of confidence that we can do it. So, we're going to look at everything. We're going to look at every possibility, and that's what you'd want us to do."
Johnson said "there's no such thing as 100 percent" when asked if Sanchez would definitely be the starter next season.
"Barring whatever," he said, "yes."
That "whatever" could be the status of Manning, who missed the season after a few operations on his neck.
He's still a highly unlikely possibility for Rex Ryan's Jets since he's still under contract to the Colts, is 10 years older than the 25-year-old Sanchez and would be a tough fit financially for New York.
But the fact Johnson didn't completely slam the door on the idea of Manning joining his brother Eli as quarterbacks in New York could keep the rumor mill spinning in the offseason. Johnson did sound later as though the franchise is thinking about Sanchez for the long term.
"With Mark, you have a 25-year-old quarterback that you can develop," he said. "You can have a quarterback for 10 years with a guy like this. These guys are not available everyday.
"We have a lot of confidence in Mark. We think he's our guy. We're blessed that we have a guy that we feel can climb the ladder and he can do everything. He's got the work ethic and has all the ingredients in place to be a great quarterback."
Johnson indicated that new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano taking the reins from the departed Brian Schottenheimer could help Sanchez. Sparano, hired last week, said he wanted the offense to be "explosive," but also wanted a focus on running the ball — as the Jets did in Sanchez's first two seasons.
"My feeling is that Mark is the kind of guy that will learn from this and get better," Johnson said. "We are going to try to make the offense maybe a little bit more suitable to what Mark's development is."
He added that the blame shouldn't be placed all on Sanchez, despite his lousy finish, but agreed that he might need a backup who could help challenge him.
"He's got to have somebody breathing on his back, yeah, I think you could argue that," Johnson said.
Johnson also is "concerned but I'm confident" that the fractured relationship between Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes can be mended.
Holmes was highly critical of the offensive line during the season and clearly had some tension with his quarterback.
It all came to a head in the season finale at Miami when Holmes was benched late in the game after arguing with teammates in the huddle.
"They've won a lot of games together and one is good for the other," Johnson said. "Santonio makes the quarterback a lot better and vice versa. So they have a good reason to iron this thing out and I think they can do it."
Johnson acknowledged that he might sit down with the two, either individually or together, at some point. While he added that Holmes will definitely be back, the Jets are tied to Holmes financially after they gave him a five-year, $45 million deal last offseason — something the owner doesn't regret.
"He may be one of the best players we've ever had here," said Johnson said, who added that he was troubled by the perception that Holmes quit on the team as the season ended.
"I have a good relationship with Santonio," Johnson said. "He's going to have a fresh start this year and I think he'll take advantage of it. He knows it's important to him, it's important to us."
Johnson also disputed LaDainian Tomlinson's claim on Showtime's "Inside The NFL" that the Jets had the worst locker room tension he has ever seen, saying the running back might have overstated things.
"I didn't feel a toxicity in the locker room," Johnson said, adding that he'll talk to Tomlinson to clarify his statements.
"I hear what LaDainian (is saying). I respect LaDainian at the highest level, but I don't think the whole locker room was toxic. I think there were clearly a few players that had conflicts. ... Would you love to have total harmony? Maybe. But maybe it's good to have a little bit of disharmony also. But they have to care about each other."
Ryan has said that he felt he never really had the pulse of the locker room, and many — including Tomlinson — think the coach's brash approach, along with general manager Mike Tannenbaum, set the tone for what took place. Johnson supported the aggressive style, saying it is more of a positive when building a team.
"The great thing about Rex as opposed to people not like Rex, is that he has a very healthy ego," Johnson added. "It's very healthy. He realizes that being a great coach requires admitting mistakes perhaps or changing or altering his style or management style or learning that we don't all grow up being great managers at age 40 whatever he is. Sometimes, it takes you a little longer and in most cases it does to be a good manager."
Johnson has spoken to Ryan about how the season unfolded, and believes the coach will keep improving.
''I think he realizes that he is the head coach," Johnson said. "He's a savant defensive guy, but he is a head coach. He has responsibility for the whole room and I think he will be a lot more involved and take a bit of a different management approach to that, I would suspect. Not because I told him to, but because I think he has figured this out."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Colts oust eight assistants, while DC Murphy retires
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One horribly bad season has pressed the Colts into major shake-up mode. Two weeks after cleaning out the front office and two days after firing coach Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis announced most of Caldwell's assistants are out of work, too.
Among the eight assistant coaches let go Thursday were defensive line coach John Teerlinck and his son, Bill; Frank Reich, the onetime quarterbacks coach who coached the receivers this season, and longtime conditioning coach Jon Torine. Linebackers coach Mike Murphy, who served on the staffs of Jim Mora, Tony Dungy and Caldwell and was promoted to defensive coordinator in late November, decided to retire after 27 seasons on the NFL sideline.
That's not all. Defensive backs coach Alan Williams is leaving the Colts after 10 seasons to become the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator.
All this came despite the midseason firing of defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and the postseason firing of special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski, Caldwell's first two hires.
That leaves only nine of 20 coaches who started the season still on Indy's staff, and their fates may not be determined until the Colts hire a new head coach. The most notable holdover is offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen. Team vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian were both fired the day after Indy finished a 2-14 season, its worst in two decades.
This is the biggest overhaul Indy has had in Peyton Manning's 14-year career.
Team owner Jim Irsay hasn't made this many changes since 1997 when he fired the general manager and coach the day after the season ended, then got rid of quarterback Jim Harbaugh so they could take Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in that draft.
Could it happen again? Yes.
With Manning, the Colts won an NFL-record 115 regular-season games during the previous decade and tied the league record for consecutive playoff appearances with nine.
But with Manning having neck surgery in September, the third on his neck in 19 months, and missing the entire season, the Colts collapsed.
They lost their first 13 games behind three different quarterbacks, then won twice in five days and nearly lost the right to the No. 1 overall draft pick. But a season-ending loss at Jacksonville clinched the top draft spot, which most expect Indianapolis to use on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
If they take Luck, Irsay could elect not to pay Manning a $28 million bonus and let him walk away as a free agent. Or he could retire.
New GM Ryan Grigson said earlier this week that he hadn't yet spoken with Manning and that the medical details would likely dictate Manning's future. Irsay has said he will pay Manning if he's healthy enough to play.
The other coaches let go Thursday were assistant Devin Fitzsimmons, offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars, special assistant to the defense Rod Perry, and quarterbacks coach Ron Turner.
Indy has reportedly sought permission to speak with Tennessee defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, New Orleans offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
A decision on the new head coach isn't likely to come until next week.
-- Michael Marot
Vikings pick Colts assistant Williams as DC
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have hired Alan Williams, the defensive backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts for the past 10 years, as their new defensive coordinator.
He'll be supervising the man he's replacing in that role — and try to help the Vikings revive a group that was the easiest in the league to throw a touchdown pass against this season.
Yes, this is a unique arrangement and a challenging job. For Williams, though, what's most important is his strong relationship with the guy who hired him, head coach Leslie Frazier. They shared responsible of the Colts defensive backs for two years, including the Super Bowl-winning team in 2006-07.
"It was another opportunity to work together, first of all, and to win some more championships," Williams said Thursday, after signing a two-year contract.
To get to that level, Frazier, Williams and the rest of the Vikings have a lot of work to do coming off a 3-13 season, beginning with a depleted secondary that gave up a NFL-most 34 touchdown passes against only eight interceptions in 2011.
Those struggles were contributing factors in Frazier's decision — he also said he sought some "new energy" — to dismiss defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and demote defensive coordinator Fred Pagac to linebackers coach.
But with defensive end Jared Allen's league-leading 22 sacks, a late resurgence by defensive tackle Kevin Williams and an established outside linebacker in Chad Greenway, there is some talent there.
"Any time you get a chance to come in with a lot of the building blocks already in place, you want to jump at that," Williams said on a conference call.
Promotions are attractive, too, of course. The 42-year-old Williams, a college teammate of former Vikings defensive coordinator and current Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, was chosen after Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mel Tucker decided to stay with the Jaguars.
Frazier said he also spoke with fired St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo, but the timing wasn't right.
"We were fortunate that Alan was available," Frazier said, adding: "I was a little nervous that we might not be able to get the guy I thought would be able to help us."
Frazier will have a big hand in that help. He said he wasn't involved as he should have been in the defense at the beginning of the season, and he'll have heavy input with Williams, who has been schooled in the same 4-3 scheme and Tampa Two zone coverage the Vikings have used versions of for years.
"Having a full offseason together, I've got to believe is going to be a big plus for us," Frazier said.
Brendan Daly, an assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings from 2006-08 who joined Spagnuolo's staff with the Rams in 2009, was hired by Frazier to replace Dunbar as the defensive line coach.
But Pagac is staying, as is Frazier's old teammate, Mike Singletary, who remains an assistant head coach — and a linebackers coach. Neither Frazier nor Williams said they were sure yet how Pagac's and Singletary's duties would be divided.
Frazier said he wasn't concerned about a too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen problem with running the defense.
"Hearing their feedback, that assured me that it could work," Frazier said. "If you don't have the right kind of people it can be a dicey situation."
Frazier lauded the ability of Williams to communicate and relate to the players. Williams is another branch of the Tony Dungy coaching tree, having learned under the soft-spoken, respected former coach of the Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Williams said he wasn't worried about Frazier micromanaging his job. He also said he wasn't concerned about the potential awkwardness of working with Pagac, the man he was hired to replace. If Frazier said this would be fine, well, that was all he needed to hear.
"I know his word is golden. I know his judgment is second to none," Williams said.
Williams said he doesn't believe "wholesale changes" are necessary for the secondary and vowed that the Vikings will be better and faster as a defense. While his personality is more muted than Tomlin's, he said they have a similar philosophy about how to teach their players and how to call a game.
"We're going to run. We're going to tackle. We're going to hit. We're going to play tough football better than our opponents," Williams said.
-- Dave Campbell
AP Source: Spagnuolo to take over Saints' defense
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has agreed to take over as defensive coordinator for with the Saints.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday about the hiring on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced it.
Spagnuolo, 52, was head coach in St. Louis the past three seasons and was fired in January after going 10-38 with the Rams. Before that he was defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, a stint that included a Super Bowl upset of the New England Patriots.
Gregg Williams, who was New Orleans' defensive coordinator the past three seasons, has joined Jeff Fisher's new staff in St. Louis. Spagnuolo's Rams were one of three teams to beat New Orleans during the 2011 regular season.
Spagnuolo's defense in St. Louis ranked 22nd this season, but the unit was stellar against the Saints, sacking Drew Brees six times and intercepting him twice in the most lopsided loss the Saints had all season.
Before taking over in St. Louis, Spagnuolo had top 10 defenses with the Giants in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. His 2007 defense led the NFL with 53 sacks and the 2008 unit was sixth in the league with 42.
In the Giants' 2008 Super Bowl triumph over New England, their defense sacked Tom Brady five times and the Patriots, who had led the NFL with an average of 36.8 points per game, to only 14 points.
Before joining the Giants, Spagnuolo was a defensive assistant in Philadelphia from 1999-2006. He coached Pro Bowl players including Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard, and helped Philadelphia field a 10th-ranked defense in the 2004 season, when the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl before falling to New England.
-- Brett Martel
Jaguars hire QB coach Olson, DB coach Oden
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is close to completing his staff.
Mularkey hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach and former New Orleans secondary coach Tony Oden to the same position Thursday. The moves leave the Jaguars with just a few open spots, including running backs coach, receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
The team interviewed former Illinois and Florida head coach Ron Zook for the special teams opening Wednesday and former St. Louis Rams running backs coach Sylvester Croom for the same position.
Olson is entering his 11th season in the NFL. He spent the last four years in Tampa, one as quarterbacks coach and three as offensive coordinator. He also served as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2005 and St. Louis Rams in 2006-07.
In Jacksonville, he will be tasked with getting more out of rookie Blaine Gabbert. The former Missouri star struggled in his first season, completing 51 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns. He threw 11 interceptions, lost five fumbles and was sacked 40 times.
Olson has 25 years of coaching experience, including 15 in college and 10 in the NFL. His resume includes quarterbacks Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay), Marc Bulger (St. Louis), Jeff Garcia (San Francisco) and Drew Brees (Purdue).
Oden was an assistant defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints for five seasons before being promoted to secondary coach last season. He went to high school with Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker in Ohio, a relationship that helped him land the job. He also was given the title of assistant head coach.
Other coaches include Tucker, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, linebackers coach Mark Duffner, defensive line coach Joe Cullen, assistant defensive line coach Paul Spicer, assistant defensive backs coach Marlon McCree, defensive assistant Brandon Blaney and assistant special teams coach Craig Aukerman.
Broncos' McCoy has second interview for Dolphins job
MIAMI (AP) — Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is meeting again with the Miami Dolphins about their coaching job, which will wrap up a second round of interviews by the team.
McCoy met Thursday in New York with owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland. Joe Philbin and Todd Bowles were interviewed Wednesday in New York, where Ross has an office. Philbin is the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Bowles, the Dolphins' secondary coach, became their interim coach when Tony Sparano was fired with three games left in the season.
The three candidates became finalists after Jeff Fisher turned down the Dolphins last Friday to become coach of the St. Louis Rams. McCoy completed his first interview with Miami on Monday.
Bears interview Ruskell for GM opening
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell has interviewed for the team's general manager job. The interview took place on Thursday.
The Bears are looking to replace Jerry Angelo, who was fired after the Bears finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Ruskell served as the Seattle Seahawks' general manager from 2005 to 2009 before being hired by Chicago in April 2010.
The Bears also interviewed New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, San Diego Chargers player personnel director Jimmy Raye and New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross this week. Chicago is also scheduled to interview Kansas City Chiefs college scouting director Phil Emery on Friday.
Other League Capsules
Alabama, LSU stars among underclassmen set for draft
Six players from the BCS national title game — including Alabama tailback Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne — are among college football's underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft.
They've got plenty of company. The two All-Americans are among a record 65 players who have been declared eligible for the April draft, a field that also includes Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III and runner-up Andrew Luck as the top quarterbacks. Counting Richardson, the top three Heisman vote getters are all leaving early to start cashing NFL paychecks. The NFL released its official underclassmen list Thursday.
Despite a rookie wage scale established in the new collective bargaining agreement, the number of players choosing to leave school early tops the previous record of 56 set last year. NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt isn't sure that's a good thing.
"I don't think it's surprising, because there's so much more activity by agents today, telling these young guys to come out of school," Brandt said. "Consequently, I think that's the whole story.
"What a lot of them have told kids is that they're going to be drafted high, or that they've seen the draft list and they're going be second-round picks and things like that."
Others who are draft eligible include Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, Southern California offensive tackle Matt Kalil, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus. Plus the LSU and Alabama trios.
Claiborne was joined by LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers and wide receiver Rueben Randle in leaving early.
Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick also declared for the draft a few days after the Crimson Tide's 21-0 win over the Tigers in the BCS championship.
Brandt said he had thought the rookie wage scale might have the reverse effect.
He said some players like USC's Kalil are likely Top 5 picks, making leaving early an economic no-brainer. Others, like South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore, could have potentially improved their stock with another year in college, Brandt said.
"I think in a lot of cases guys that are coming out, it's a mistake," he said. "I was really happy to see (Oklahoma's) Landry Jones and (Southern California's Matt) Barkley and those guys stay in school.
"The people who stay in school and finish up seem to have a better chance of succeeding for a longer period in the National Football League."
In some cases, they can also improve their draft stock considerably, something that's not quite as profitable under the rookie wage scale but is still worth a nice chunk of change.
Brandt cited Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as an example.
"He stayed for his full time at Nebraska," Brandt said. "Had he come out a year early, he would have probably been drafted the lower part of the first round. He stayed in school and wound up being the second pick in the draft.
"It was probably worth $15 million to him at that time."
Suh signed a 5-year deal worth $40 million guaranteed and up to $68 million.
Quarterbacks Jones and Barkley aren't the only stars who are staying put. Claiborne's fellow All-America cornerback and Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu is just a sophomore while Wisconsin running back Montee Ball — fourth in the Heisman voting — is coming back for his senior season. So is Alabama's Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones.
Tide teammates Richardson and Kirkpatrick had young children as impetus in their decisions.
"You have to have some kind of background for playing this game," Kirkpatrick, who has a 5-year-old son, said after announcing his decision. "This is not a game that you just wake up and play. It has to mean something. You have to have something that's going to drive you and make you play 100 percent.
''I feel like my son is the anchor of all that."
Broncos' Dawkins added to AFC Pro Bowl roster
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos strong safety Brian Dawkins has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, although it's uncertain if he'll be able to play because of a neck injury.
Dawkins missed most of the last month and both of Denver's playoff games. He has said he'll consult with his family before deciding whether to return in 2012 for a 17th NFL season, which would be a record for safeties.
Dawkins was having a resurgent season under first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen when he got hurt in a game against Chicago.
He replaces safety Troy Polamalu (neck) on the roster for the Jan. 29 all-star game. This is Dawkins' ninth Pro Bowl selection and he's the sixth Broncos player chosen to play in this year's Pro Bowl, the team's best representation since 2001.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Raiders long snapper added to Pro Bowl roster
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders long snapper Jon Condo has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster. The Raiders announced the addition on Thursday. Condo will join Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler in Hawaii for the game on Jan. 29.
The Raiders' kicking game was one of the team's strengths this season. Janikowski tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in the season opener at Denver and set a franchise record with six field goals on Nov. 27 against Chicago.
Lechler ranked second in the NFL by averaging 50.8 yards per punt and had a franchise-record 80-yarder against the Bears.
Condo was also selected as a Pro Bowler following the 2009 season.
Seattle FB Robinson added to NFC roster
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson is headed to Hawaii after being added to the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl.
Robinson was added on Thursday after Green Bay fullback John Kuhn pulled out due to injury. Robinson was the first alternate and this will be his first Pro Bowl appearance.
Robinson helped running back Marshawn Lynch become Seattle's first 1,000-yard back since 2005. Lynch scored a touchdown in 11 straight games and Seattle was one of the top running teams in the NFL the second half of the season.
Robinson also had a touchdown receiving and he returned a blocked punt for a touchdown this season. Robinson joins safety Earl Thomas as Seattle's representatives at the Pro Bowl.
Bears running back Forte cleared for Pro Bowl
LAKE FOREST, Ill (AP) — The Chicago Bears say running back Matt Forte is cleared to play in the Pro Bowl after passing a physical. Forte sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early in a loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4 and sat out the rest of the season.
He still got selected to his first Pro Bowl, finishing with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and 997 rushing in his fourth season. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and figures to be in for a big raise, with his rookie contract expiring.
Forte came into the season looking for an extension, but did not reach an agreement with the Bears.
Player Capsules
Bengals WR Simpson indicted on drug charge
COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson was indicted on Thursday for marijuana trafficking, leaving him subject to a jail sentence and punishment from the NFL.
A Kenton County grand jury indicted the four-year veteran on one count of marijuana trafficking in excess of 8 ounces, a felony count that carries up to five years in jail. He's scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 30.
Simpson is the third Bengals player to get in trouble with the law since last July. Running back Cedric Benson served five days in a Texas jail for assault and was suspended for one game by the NFL. Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to disorderly conduct at a Cincinnati bar last summer and was sentenced to community service.
All three players can become free agents after completing the final years on their contracts.
A Bengals spokesman said the team was aware of Simpson's indictment but had no comment.
Simpson has been under investigation since September, when agents from California tracked a package shipped to the receiver's home in northern Kentucky. They said it contained 2 ½ pounds of marijuana. No charges were filed at that time.
Simpson's girlfriend accepted the package at the home, said Michelle Gregory, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Justice. Teammate Anthony Collins was visiting Simpson's home at the time, but was cleared of any involvement.
A search of Simpson's home also turned up 6 more pounds of marijuana, smoking pipes and scales, authorities said.
Simpson hasn't spoken about the package or the investigation with the media. The second-round draft pick from Coastal Carolina had his best season yet, catching 53 passes for 758 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals won a wild card playoff berth but lost to Houston in the first round.
Simpson finished third in catches on the team behind rookie receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham. His most visible moment came in during a 23-16 win over Arizona on Dec. 24, when he vaulted over a linebacker and landed on his feet in the end zone like a gymnast.
He was inconsistent as the Bengals' No. 2 receiver, held to two or fewer catches in seven games. He had three catches for only 33 yards in the playoff loss at Houston.
The Bengals had 10 players arrested during a 10-month span from April 2006 to June 2007. Receiver Chris Henry was the biggest repeat offender, one of the factors in NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cracking down on player misconduct.
The Bengals managed to stay out of trouble for the most part until last July, when Benson was arrested in Texas following an altercation with a roommate in Texas and Jones was arrested in downtown Cincinnati.
Both were subject to punishment from the NFL even though their arrests occurred during the lockout.
Benson initially received a three-game suspension from the NFL that was reduced to one game after an appeal, which he served during the season. Jones also is a repeat offender and subject to league discipline should he sign with another team.
Broncos quarterback adds fourth Montana stop
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has added another stop to his speaking and fundraising tour through Montana in March.
Tebow is scheduled to speak about his Christian faith at the University of Montana on March 7 at an event organized to raise money for a Christian teen center in Missoula. Tickets range from $30 to $100 and go on sale Friday.
Big Sky High School senior Emerald Gyuricza is raising money for the City Life Community Center as her senior project. She hopes Tebow's speech will bring in up to $250,000. City Life says the event will cost $60,000, including Tebow's speaking fee.
Tebow is scheduled to speak in Billings on March 5, in Great Falls on March 6 and later on March 7 in Kalispell. All those events are fundraisers for Christian schools.
Packers sign eight free agents
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have signed eight free agents. They are wide receivers Diondre Borel and Tori Gurley, tackle Chris Campbell, center Sampson Genus, fullback Jon Hoese, defensive lineman Johnny Jones, safety Anthony Levine and cornerback Brandian Ross.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson announced the transactions Thursday. All eight players finished the 2011 season on Green Bay's practice squad.
Other Pro Football News
Owens heads indoors for return to pro football
ALLEN (AP) — Terrell Owens is going indoors for his return to pro football. The six-time Pro Bowl receiver has accepted an offer to be a player and will have an ownership stake in the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League.
The Wranglers, who open their season Feb. 25 at home, extended the offer to Owens last month. They posted on their website Thursday that they were excited to announce it was official.
"Uh-oh, it's official," Owens exclaimed in a video message posted on his Twitter page. "I'm headed back to Texas. That's right, IFL, here I come. Allen, Texas, here I come. I'm going to be me. ... Allen, Texas, I'll see you in the end zone."
The 38-year-old Owens didn't get any NFL offers to play last season after surgery on his left knee. Allen is a suburb north of Dallas.
Over 15 NFL seasons with five teams, Owens had 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards with 153 touchdowns. He is sixth in career receptions, and second in yards receiving and touchdowns behind Jerry Rice.
Owens began his career with San Francisco (1996-2003), where he was teammates with Rice for five seasons, and then played in Philadelphia (2004-05), Dallas (2006-08), Buffalo (2009) and Cincinnati (2010).
In late October, Owens held a workout in California to show teams he was healthy. No NFL teams showed up or offered deals after the workout shown by ESPN and NFL Network.
