NFL Capsules: Trial date for ex-WR Hurd set for April 2
DALLAS (AP) — Former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd is scheduled to go on trial April 2 on charges that he tried to create a drug-distribution network, according to a federal judge's order.
Hurd, 26, is accused of trying to buy large quantities of marijuana and cocaine, including an alleged buy of one kilogram of cocaine. He was arrested outside of a Chicago-area steakhouse on Dec. 14 and cut shortly afterward by the Chicago Bears.
Hurd has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Michael McCrum of San Antonio, did not return a message seeking comment.
U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, in an order Wednesday, set a pretrial conference for March 21 before an April trial in Dallas federal court. The trial could be delayed as Hurd, alleged co-conspirator Toby Lujan and federal prosecutors file motions beforehand.
Hurd is a San Antonio native who played for the Bears and the Dallas Cowboys. According to a criminal complaint, Hurd told an undercover agent posing as a drug trafficker that he was interested in buying five to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana weekly. Hurd allegedly described himself as in charge of "higher-end" deals.
Hurd and Lujan are both charged with conspiracy to possess and an attempt to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Lujan's attorney, Andrew Garcia Jr., said he has seen other cases delayed past their initial trial date, but declined to comment specifically on Lujan's case.
A spokeswoman for federal prosecutors in Dallas declined to comment.
Other Player Capsules
Manning's doctor gives QB clearance to play
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning has received the OK from his surgeon to start taking hits again. A spokesman for Dr. Robert Watkins said in a one-paragraph email sent late Thursday night that the Colts' star was cleared to play.
ESPN, citing unidentified sources, first reported Manning had been cleared.
The Colts contend that is nothing new because Manning was cleared to practice in December, a move that would have also allowed the quarterback to start playing again. But it backs up Manning's contention from earlier this week that his recovery from September neck surgery is on schedule.
"Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon," Watkins' statement read. "As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football."
Colts owner Jim Irsay responded in a tweet: "Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts."
Irsay said a team statement was coming later Friday.
The four-time league MVP missed the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in 19 months, a fusion of two vertebrae. There have been concerns that the injury might end Manning's 14-year NFL career.
However, Manning has sounded increasingly confident about his recovery and told reporters earlier this week that he was not planning to retire.
He's been throwing at least two months, including a session Tuesday with several of his teammates.
Even if Manning can take the hits, there is no guarantee he will remain in Indy. The Colts owe Manning a $28 million roster bonus on March 8. If they don't pay it, they could risk losing him in free agency.
There have been growing indications that the Colts may be ready to part with their longtime franchise player.
New general manager Ryan Grigson said Thursday the team must put aside the sentimental reasons for keeping Manning and make a decision based on what's best for the team. Team owner Jim Irsay is expected to make that call.
"You can't do things to where you are going to hurt the whole franchise with other decisions that you know might hurt at the moment, but in the end they help the sum of the parts," Grison said. "It is a tough deal in this business, and it happens at every position, it happens with coaching, it happens with people in personnel and it is completely part of the process and the business."
Irsay and Manning are scheduled to meet again next week. Irsay told reporters earlier Thursday that he had nothing new to report.
That would be a welcome respite in Indy after four chaotic weeks.
Last month, the Colts fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of Caldwell's assistants. The flurry of moves prompted Manning to go public with his complaints, which drew a strong rebuke from Irsay.
The two appeared to mend fences Friday.
And the Manning story has continually upstaged Indianapolis' first Super Bowl week.
Thursday was no exception. With speculation swirling about Manning's future, his presumed successor — Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, expected to be taken by the Colts with the No. 1 pick — came to town and told reporters he wants to start immediately.
A few hours later, Grigson acknowledged that he met with Manning for 20 minutes last week, calling it a straightforward conversation between two regular guys. New coach Chuck Pagano said he also spoke with Manning last week. Nobody provided details of the conversation, though.
"We're in a holding pattern in that respect," he said when asked if the uncertainty would prevent the Colts from doing business with their soon-to-be free agents. "Until it is (resolved), we're going to go about our business as usual."
Before the night ended, Watkins joined the chorus by confirming that Manning was healthy enough to play.
-- Michael Marot
Luck hoping to play right away in NFL
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck is willing to learn from Peyton Manning. He just wants everyone to know he's ready to play next season, too.
The Stanford quarterback said Thursday he could co-exist as Manning's teammate even though his preference would be to play immediately.
"I think every competitor wants to play, every down, every play," Luck said when asked about starting as an NFL rookie. "So, of course, who wouldn't want to start?"
Luck spent less than 24 hours in Indianapolis, going through a battery of physical tests and learning the intricacies of nutrition at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
His next trip to the city, for the annual scouting combine, might determine whether Luck becomes a permanent fixture.
Colts owner Jim Irsay has already said he intends to take Manning's successor with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, and it looks like a two-man race between Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
But there are big questions surrounding the Colts.
Indy has embarked on a major rebuilding project with Ryan Grigson, a first-time general manager, and Chuck Pagano, a first-time coach.
There are even more concerns about Manning, who missed the 2011 season after having his third neck surgery Sept. 8. The four-time league MVP has resumed throwing and has steadily increased his workout regimen. On Tuesday, Manning said doctors have told him the recovery is on schedule, and he does not plan to retire after 14 seasons in the NFL.
Irsay said he will wait until next month to decide whether to pay its franchise quarterback a $28 million roster bonus by March 8, redo the contract or risk losing him in free agency.
"We haven't had any midnight conversations," Irsay said Thursday with a laugh. "Nothing has changed, and we're looking forward to talking after the Super Bowl and continuing to work toward a solution."
If Indy keeps Manning and takes Luck, it would be the first real quarterback controversy since the pre-Manning days.
Manning's father, Archie, created a buzz late last year when he told a radio show he didn't think the two could be teammates. He later said what he meant was that Luck and Peyton Manning both were good enough to start in 2012.
Luck understands.
"I think to have an opportunity to play with a guy like Peyton Manning would be great," he said.
The rebuilding Colts are hoping to replicate the model that made Manning a star.
They opened the '98 season with a new coach, a new GM, a new quarterback and Bruce Arians as quarterbacks coach. After changing coaches and GMs, the Colts hired Arians as their new offensive coordinator.
The quarterbacks' early resumes also look similar.
Manning and Luck are both second-generation quarterbacks who finished second in the Heisman balloting and were regarded as the best QBs in their draft class.
The Lucks and Mannings have family ties, too. Andrew's father, Oliver, and Manning's father were teammates in Houston for two seasons in the 1980s, and Luck has been both a student and a counselor at the Manning's summer quarterback camp in Louisiana.
In fact, when Luck decided to go back to college for his junior season instead of turning pro, Peyton Manning was one of the people Luck called.
"It was more asking for advice on how he handled certain situations. I had already made the decision," Luck said. "He talked about, one, it's not going to get any easier. Quite the contrary, teams are going to be really gunning for you and yada, yada, yada and don't expect it to be a cakewalk and easy all the time. Then, No. 2, just how to handle certain situations maybe with the media or certain situations that rise up."
Now the Colts must decide whether to release Manning and start over, keep Manning and make the draft pick wait or let Manning and his apparent heir battle for the starting job.
"You never really replace someone like that," Luck said. "He (Manning) is such an iconic sports figure especially for this city, this area. From what I understand, he's done so many great things outside of football and in the community. I haven't given it too much thought. I've got the combine, that's what's important to me right now. The combine, the draft, the pro day before that, that's what I'm focusing on."
-- Michael Marot
Team Capsules
Manning questions overshadow Colts' coaching hires
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts just can't escape the Peyton Manning questions. Even on a day the team hired four new assistant coaches for Chuck Pagano's staff, the Manning saga was still causing a stir. With a $28 million decision looming next month, new general manager Ryan Grigson acknowledged that the Colts couldn't afford to make a mistake based solely on sentimental reasons.
"You can't do things to where you are going to hurt the whole franchise with other decisions that you know might hurt at the moment, but in the end they help the sum of the parts," Grigson said. "It is a tough deal in this business, and it happens at every position, it happens with coaching, it happens with people in personnel and it is completely part of the process and the business."
The next twist came a few hours later when ESPN reported that Manning had been "cleared to play" by the doctor who performed Sept. 8 neck surgery on the quarterback. A team spokesman said the Colts' own doctors had not yet cleared Manning, though ESPN cited an unidentified source in reporting that Dr. Hank Feuer, one of the team's neurosurgeons, was one of those checked Manning.
Manning has been throwing since at least early December and told reporters Tuesday that he threw to several receivers that day.
Colts owner Jim Irsay and Manning are scheduled to meet again next week.
It's been a chaotic four weeks in Indy.
Last month, the Colts fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of Caldwell's assistants. They also hired the 39-year-old Grigson and first-time head coach Chuck Pagano.
Now they're trying to fill the remaining holes. Grigson announced Thursday that the Colts had hired Greg Manusky as defensive coordinator, Roy Anderson as the secondary coach in charge of safeties and Marwan Maalouf as special teams coach Thursday. About an hour later, Pagano told reporters that Brant Boyer will assist Maalouf with the special teams.
That's not all. Grigson said former Colts offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen would remain on the staff probably as the quarterbacks or receivers coach.
The latest moves came two days after the Colts hired offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and fired two more coaches from Caldwell's staff.
"I think at the same time it was important to get the coordinators settled," Pagano said. "It's all going to come together, and we're going to take our time. It's not something we're going to rush."
And all this comes during a week in which the city's first Super Bowl has been upstaged by its most recognizable celebrity.
With speculation swirling about Manning's future, his presumed successor -- Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, expected to be taken by the Colts with the No. 1 pick -- came to town and told reporters he wants to start immediately.
A few hours later, Grigson acknowledged that he met with Manning for 20 minutes last week, calling it a straightforward conversation between two regular guys. Pagano said he also spoke with Manning last week. Nobody provided details of the conversation, though.
Manning missed the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in 19 months. The Colts must pay a $28 million roster bonus by March 8 or risk losing him as a free agent.
Grigson acknowledged that decision won't be made because of sentimentality.
"We're in a holding pattern in that respect," he said when asked about the Colts' quarterback debate. "Until it is (resolved), we're going to go about our business as usual."
Pagano said he had spoken briefly with Manning, too, though neither provided details of their chats.
Next up for the Colts: Filling the rest of the staff and figuring out which veterans to re-sign before free agency opens March 13.
Grigson was asked about three key starters -- receivers Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne and defensive end Robert Mathis -- and said he would like all three to return.
"I know there's tremendous affection for those guys and they are three great guys who have been so productive here," Grigson said. "There's such pride here. We would love to have them all back."
Wayne wants to come back, though he's heard nothing yet from the Colts.
"But that's understandable," the 34-year-old receiver said, referring to all the changes. "I'm sure when my opportunity comes, I'll hear from them, and if I don't that's understandable, too."
Where the Colts are headed is in a more aggressive direction on defense. Manusky was San Diego's defensive coordinator last year and the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2007-10. It's not been determined yet whether the Colts will keep their 4-3 defense or switch to a 3-4.
"He'll bring a great passion and energy to our organization and the defensive side of the ball," Pagano said.
Anderson and Maalouf served in similar capacities with Baltimore, where Pagano was the defensive coordinator. Later Thursday, the Colts announced they had hired Roger Marandino as strength and conditioning coach and retained David Walker as running backs coach and Richard Howell.
-- Michael Marot
Raiders hire seven coaches for Allen's staff
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders hired seven additional coaches for Dennis Allen's staff on Thursday, including three who were with the team last year.
The Raiders hired former Houston assistant Frank Pollack to replace Bob Wylie as the team's offensive line coach and former fullback Justin Griffith to be offensive quality control coach. They also hired Al Miller as strength and conditioning coach, with John Greico serving as his assistant.
Oakland also announced that running backs coach Kelly Skipper will be back for a sixth season in Oakland, assistant offensive line coach Steve Wisniewski returns for a second season and defensive quality control coach Eric Sanders was retained for a third season.
The most notable hiring was Pollack, who had spent the past five seasons as the assistant offensive line coach for Houston. The Texans were second in the NFL last season with 153 yards rushing per game. Houston has traditionally used a lot of zone-blocking schemes, while the Raiders utilized more power blocking last season under Wylie.
Pollack will be assisted by former Pro Bowler Wisniewski, who is entering his second year as an NFL assistant. Wisniewski's nephew, Stefen, just finished a successful rookie season as Oakland's starting left guard.
Miller has two decades of NFL coaching experience, having spent time in Atlanta with Allen, as well as the New York Giants and Denver Broncos.
Griffith played seven pro seasons, including two with Oakland. He has extensive experience playing for new Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who coached Griffith with the Atlanta Falcons and Raiders.
Skipper spent two seasons as tight ends coach in Oakland before switching to running backs the past three. The Raiders were seventh in the NFL in rushing last season with 131.9 yards per game.
With Allen in his first head coaching job at any level, there has been increased focus on the type of staff he would put together. He has been barred from talking to some assistants under contract with other teams but did previously hire Knapp as offensive coordinator. The Raiders are still searching for a defensive coordinator among other vacancies.
NFL.com reported that Oakland has asked Green Bay for permission to interview cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. for the coordinator job.
-- Josh Dubow
Packers name Clements new offensive coordinator
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers didn't have to look far to find their new offensive coordinator, promoting quarterbacks coach Tom Clements to replace Joe Philbin.
Clements has coached the Packers' quarterbacks since 2006, Mike McCarthy's first year in Green Bay. Philbin left to become the Miami Dolphins' head coach last month.
"Tom has been an integral part of our success and our staff, making it an obvious decision to promote him to offensive coordinator," McCarthy said in a statement. "He has earned this opportunity and we look forward to continued offensive success in 2012."
The offensive-minded McCarthy calls his own plays, but relies on his offensive coordinator to plan during the week and help make adjustments during games.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has gone out of his way to credit Clements for helping his development. Clements' name was linked to open jobs in the NFL and college football in recent months.
"I'm happy that it's happened and I'm happy for Joe that he's a head coach, and I'm glad I was able to step into his place," Clements said. "I've been a coordinator before, only for a few years. I've always wanted to get back to doing that and I'm thankful that it's here in Green Bay."
Before coming to Green Bay, Clements was the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2004-05.
Clements has 19 seasons of coaching experience, including 15 in the NFL. He was a three-year starter at quarterback for Notre Dame, guiding the Irish to a national championship in 1973. He played 12 seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Clements earned a law degree from Notre Dame in 1986 and practiced law for five years before beginning his coaching career as an assistant with the Irish.
Clements has been quarterbacks coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-03), Kansas City Chiefs (2000) and New Orleans Saints (1997-99).
Under Clements, Rodgers has passed 17,037 yards in his first four seasons as a starter.
In 2011, Rodgers set the NFL single-season record for passer rating (122.5) and set team records with 45 touchdown passes, 4,643 yards passing and a 68.3 completion percentage.
Clements has also helped develop backup Matt Flynn, who is expected to draw interest from other teams looking for a new starter in the offseason.
"I think it's a great opportunity," Clements said. "We have a young team. We've had success over the past couple of years. We still have a lot of room to grow and I'm happy to be a part of it."
Martindale takes over as Ravens LBs coach
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens have signed former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Don Martindale to be their linebackers coach.
Martindale takes over for Dean Pees, who was promoted to defensive coordinator after Chuck Pagano left for Indianapolis.
The 49-year-old Martindale has coached for seven years in the NFL. He last served as Denver's defensive coordinator in 2010 after spending a year as the team's linebacker coach. He also worked with Oakland's linebackers from 2004-2008.
Martindale also worked as defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky and Western Illinois.
He inherits a linebacking crew that includes two of the best in the game, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. Martindale says signing up with Baltimore was "a no-brainer," adding, "I am thrilled to be a part of a proven system."
League Capsules
Goodell: 34 teams likely if L.A. included
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Commissioner Roger Goodell says if the NFL puts a team in Los Angeles, it is probable the league would expand to 34 franchises.
Appearing Thursday night on "Costas Live" on NBC Sports Network, Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams."
"We probably don't want to go to 33" teams by adding just one new club if a suitable stadium is built in the Los Angeles area, Goodell said. Instead, the league would consider adding two. An odd number of teams would pose scheduling problems, including at least one club being off each week, and would create one division with five teams.
There has been speculation an LA stadium could house two NFL franchises, although Goodell did not address that with host Bob Costas.
Goodell says there are several issues that must be solved in LA, particularly which of two current stadium proposals is best. He didn't suggest any timetable for returning to Southern California.
Goodell talked about head injuries and said the NFL was helping other sports and the military through its research into concussions.
"We're in a leadership position in sports. People look up to the National Football League," he said. "We do have a game that's rough. There are inherent risks playing it. But the second-highest incident of concussions is girls' soccer. So what we're learning about concussions in football is helping other sports. Not just every level of football, but every other sport.
"Now the NFL is sharing our research with the Defense Department to help treat our military personnel in the field."
Earlier in the program, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and several current and former players were asked about lawsuits against the league by ex-players who claim they weren't warned about or protected enough against brain trauma during their careers.
The Associated Press published a story Thursday based on interviews with a dozen former players who have filed suits against the league. What emerged was, at best, a depiction of a culture of indifference on the part of the league and its teams toward concussions and other injuries. At worst, there was a strong sense of a willful disregard for players' well-being.
"We have to protect our players," Kraft said. "The league is very strong in this area and I hope we are prolonging careers" with the NFL's concussion research."
Added Colts center Jeff Saturday, a member of the players' union executive board: "The reality is we don't know what kind of damage it is doing long term. It's the biggest problem we face in the NFL now."
-- Barry Wilner
NFL approves $200 million loan for 49ers stadium
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NFL owners approved a $200 million loan Thursday to help the San Francisco 49ers build a stadium south of Santa Clara.
The team plans to bid for future Super Bowls for the 68,000-seat stadium, which will be built adjacent to the 49ers' facility.
"It's huge," 49ers CEO Jed York said of the league's approval. "We've been at this since 1997. We'll have shovels in the ground soon."
Owners approved another part of the funding package two months after the team and Santa Clara announced they'd received an $850 million loan to cover most of the estimated $1 billion cost.
The rest of the cost will be covered by the league's loan, a hotel tax and Santa Clara's redevelopment funds.
"We will definitely be in by 2015," York said, "with hopes of 2014."
Asked about hosting a Super Bowl — the next one available would be the 50th game in 2016 — York said, "This will definitely be a fitting setting for a Super Bowl game and we will bid."
The 49ers have to address their current Candlestick Park lease with the city of San Francisco that runs through 2014.
"Today's vote is an important milestone for the 49ers and their fans," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "It is a solid endorsement that adds to the strong support of the South Bay community. This step will allow the 49ers to move forward toward making the dream of a new stadium a reality."
San Francisco is the first franchise approved for funding under the NFL's G-4 loan policy initiated after the new collective bargaining agreement was reached last summer. It replaces a plan that allowed a maximum of $150,000 per team in loans.
"Get your hard hats ready; we are embarking on the path to the next generation of 49ers football," York said.
-- Barry Wilner
NFL adding new fantasy game with $1 million prize
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL wants to add even more fans to the millions already following the sport — and is willing to pay $1 million to do it.
The league will run an ad during the Super Bowl introducing the "Perfect Challenge," a deceptively simple new fantasy game.
Each week, participants must pick an eight-player lineup out of the entire NFL. If every selection earns the most fantasy points at their position in a given week, the owner wins $1 million.
The lineups must feature one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one defense/special teams unit. The game is free.
For a sense of the difficulty of picking the perfect lineup, consider that last season 16 different kickers earned the most points (including ties) for at least one week under the standard NFL.com scoring system.
Yes, the hugely popular NFL believes it's missing out on potential fans, so it's making a splash with the $1 million prize. An estimated 15 million to 20 million people already play fantasy football, but then again, last year's Super Bowl was watched by 111 million viewers.
Regular fantasy football requires the organization to set up a league at the start of the season and the commitment to attend a draft and update a lineup every week. The Perfect Challenge requires less time and knowledge, and fans can play as many or as few weeks as they'd like.
For those avid fans already hooked on fantasy, it's an opportunity to compete for something even if that team they drafted in early September is already eliminated from playoff contention.
"Male, female, younger, older — this appeals across the board," said Jeff Berman, the NFL's digital media chief. "Obviously having the prize component gives an extra reason."
The league's hope is that the people who play fantasy for the first time through the Challenge start paying more attention to the sport — maybe they watch the Thursday night game on NFL Network, or buy official merchandise.
"Bringing new players into the fold is good for football overall," Berman said.
Organizations can offer $1 million prizes in initiatives like this with the help of the insurance. For the NFL, having to distribute the big payday would carry the kind of buzz the league wants from this program.
"We'd be thrilled for somebody to pick the perfect lineup and win the prize," Berman said. "That would be a terrific outcome."
