NFL Capsules: 50 years prove Adams not foolish to challenge NFL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fifty years ago, Bud Adams shared a meal with Lamar Hunt and talked about their failed bids to buy the Chicago Cardinals. That brief discussion led them to form the American Football League, a group dubbed the "Foolish Club" for daring to battle the NFL.

Now he owns the Tennessee Titans, the franchise with the NFL’s best record in 2008 and that had Adams so confident of another Super Bowl trip that he offered tickets to that game enticing luxury suite buyers to renew their leases.

"The years go by so fast you can’t keep up with them," Adams said Friday in a rare public reflection.

Adams was on hand Friday as his beloved Titans opened training camp with their first practice, and he shared memories of his 50 years in professional football in a conference call before practice.

He celebrates the 50th anniversary of announcing his team’s entry into the old AFL on Monday. His team will be wearing throwback jerseys commemorating his two AFL championships starting Aug. 9 when the Titans kick off the preseason against Buffalo, another AFL member, in the Hall of Fame game.

He also will be on hand when his old friend Ralph Wilson, owner of the Bills, is inducted into the Hall of Fame. Adams has been a semifinalist himself the past two years.

Adams was the one who helped the AFL get started by signing LSU star Bill Cannon away from the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.

"They didn’t want us to sign anymore of their players," Adams recalled.

He picked the rights to draft Joe Namath but quickly decided to trade the Alabama quarterback to the New York Jets, a move that paid off when Namath led the AFL to its first Super Bowl victory over the NFL in January 1969. The price for AFL teams to merge with the NFL? Cheap in today’s market where franchises are valued in the hundreds of millions.

"It was $2 million per team," Adams said. "I about fell over dead when I heard that."

Adams continued to be a pioneer in the NFL.

He had George Blanda play for his Houston Oilers, took his team indoors at the Astrodome and made history by being the first owner to have three black quarterbacks as his franchise player — first winning a bidding war to sign Warren Moon in the 1980s, drafting Steve McNair in 1995 and Vince Young in 2006.

Adams also wasn’t afraid to relocate his franchise to Tennessee after repeated bids to build a new stadium in Houston failed. The team moved in 1997, and the renamed Titans just sold out every game for the upcoming season. That means 114 straight games have been sold out, every one since the team moved into its stadium in 1999.

"It’s been a tight year all around for people with ticket sales, and we luckily ... in Nashville we have great fans there, and they’ve done very well. We’ve sold the stadium out of everything for 10 consecutive years and in fact we’re sold out right now with everything," Adams said.

With the economy tanking late last year, Adams said that’s when he offered up a pair of Super Bowl tickets to those who renewed luxury suite leases with 90 up for renewal then. His Titans wound up earning the home-field advantage throughout the postseason only to lose 13-10 to Baltimore in the divisional round.

That meant Adams had to pay up for those tickets for 62 renewals.

"We weren’t there for them to root for us," he said.

Adams knows the economic success he’s had in Nashville is not the case elsewhere. He noted how cities like Buffalo that used to feature so many plants that now are closed up. He called 2009 a rough go for the NFL.

"It’s the worst thing that’s happened since I’ve been in football," Adams said.

Redskins 1st-rounder Orakpo gets 5-yr, 20M deal

ASHBURN, Va. — Brian Orakpo was enjoying a late-night, day-early birthday dinner in Austin when he got the word: A five-year, $20 million deal with the Washington Redskins was ready for his signature.

"I was actually celebrating it with my fiance in a sushi joint," Orakpo said. "It’s one of my favorite foods. I got the call and couldn’t even enjoy it no more."

Although the contract includes $12.1 million in guaranteed money, the fiance picked up the check — even a suddenly wealthy beau doesn’t get to pay for his own birthday meal. The distracted No. 13 overall draft pick from the University of Texas then headed home, packed his bags and caught an early flight to arrive in time to join his teammates on the field for Friday morning’s practice, ending a one-day holdout on the day he turned 23.

"Got the deal done. My pocket’s a little bigger. On your birthday, it’s always a good thing," Orakpo said.

Sporting a burgundy and black skullcap, Orakpo took part in only a few drills before removing his helmet about halfway through the two-hour workout. Coach Jim Zorn said there was still some paperwork to sort out and that Orakpo’s first official practice would take place during the afternoon session.

"He’s just overexcited," Zorn said. "He’s just fired up about being here."

But Orakpo had to cool his heels a bit longer. A severe thunderstorm canceled the afternoon practice, postponing his true debut to Saturday.

Orakpo was the only player absent when training camp opened Thursday, and the Redskins stressed the need to have him signed as soon as possible because he will be asked to master two positions — a familiar one and a new one.

Primarily a defensive end in college, Orakpo is envisioned as a starting strongside linebacker who moves to the line in pass-rushing situations. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache was especially critical of Orakpo on Thursday, saying the holdout was hurting both the player and the team and benefiting only the player’s agent.

Orakpo said Blache’s comments did not affect the negotiations.

"That’s coach Blache," Orakpo said. "He’s not a guy to hold his tongue. That’s one thing I respect."

Although the Redskins were fourth in yards allowed last season, the defense was tied for 28th in sacks and tied for 30th in recovered fumbles. The team expects Orakpo, who had 11 sacks last year for the Longhorns, and new defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to produce the kind of mayhem needed to make those game-changing plays.

"Create havoc," Orakpo said. "Fly around. Young legs, fresh legs, do what I do best."

Orakpo said he spent the past month working out at the University of Texas — his usual summer routine — but this time he worked more on linebacker drills to prepare him for his new assignment.

Zorn has a no-tolerance rule regarding hazing, so the new millionaire was spared the type of overt pranks often played on holdouts after the first practice. All Orakpo got was some good-natured razzing, with comments such as "Big Money is here."

"They used to tape rookies up to the goal post and pour cold water on them," defensive end Phillip Daniels said. "Now the hazing thing, coach Zorn won’t allow it. Last year he cut that out. Maybe we’ll make him sing or something."

-- Joseph White

Creditors to vote on Vick bankruptcy plan

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Though a judge ruled that Michael Vick’s bankruptcy plan can be sent to creditors to vote on, it remains unclear how the out-of-work quarterback will get the income to pay them.

Vick declined to answer reporters’ questions before and after a hearing Friday on his Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro ruled that the plan can move forward after nobody objected.

The plan now goes to Vick’s creditors. After they vote, Santoro will conduct a confirmation hearing on Aug. 27.

Creditors approved Vick’s first plan, but Santoro rejected it in April, saying it was not feasible. This time, Vick has proposed selling off more assets and giving creditors a bigger cut of his future income.

But the plan is based largely on Vick’s prospective earnings from his goal of returning to the NFL, which still is not a sure thing.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Vick on Monday, a week after Vick completed his 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring. Goodell said Vick can sign with a team and begin playing by week six. Vick said Thursday that he is "getting close" to signing but did not offer any details.

Several NFL teams have said they’re not interested in signing the 29-year-old Vick.

"Mr. Vick’s time horizon in his professional career is not unlimited," Santoro said.

The judge also postponed action on requests for payment by Vick’s attorneys, saying he wanted to wait until all the legal bills are in. A New York-based law firm is asking for $1.5 million after slashing its original request of nearly $2.7 million. A Norfolk firm is seeking $385,000.

Santoro demanded an explanation from one of the New York attorneys, Michael Blumenthal, on how his firm could bill Vick for 8,000 hours of work in less than a year.

"This case is probably the most difficult case I’ve ever been involved in," Blumenthal said.

He noted that Vick was in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., when the bankruptcy petition was filed in July 2008, making attorney-client communication difficult. And Vick’s finances were in shambles, requiring a Herculean effort to track down assets, bank accounts and financial records.

"We started at below ground zero," Blumenthal said, adding that five lawyers at his firm spent substantial time on the case.

Vick’s lawyers also endured an acrimonious battle, largely behind the scenes, with one of his major creditors — Joel Enterprises Inc., the company owned by Vick’s former agent. Joel objected at virtually every step on the bankruptcy process before the two sides finally settled their differences.

On another matter, Santoro rejected a motion for Blumenthal’s colleague, Peter Ginsberg, to withdraw from the case. The lawyers in Vick’s criminal case asked Ginsberg to withdraw after a federal appeals court upheld sanctions against him in an unrelated case in Florida. Ginsberg said he had not been actively involved in Vick’s case recently anyway.

Santoro said Ginsberg did nothing wrong in Virginia, and his troubles in Florida had no bearing on Vick’s case.

-- Larry O’Dell

Giants LB Pierce testifies before NYC grand jury

NEW YORK — New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce finished two days of testimony Friday before a grand jury investigating a gun charge against former teammate Plaxico Burress.

Pierce emerged from a Manhattan courthouse after about two hours of testimony and did not speak to reporters. His attorney Michael Bachner said the grand jury asked Pierce a lot of questions and that his statements were "clear, coherent and consistent."

Pierce was with Burress at a Manhattan nightclub last November when the wide receiver shot himself in the thigh. Authorities say Pierce drove Burress to the hospital and took the gun to Burress’ home in Totowa, N.J. Burress did not have a permit for the gun, and has pleaded not guilty to weapon possession. Pierce may also face charges.

Bachner said outside court Friday that he’s confident the grand jury will see Pierce did nothing criminal.

"Mr. Pierce acted under a stressful situation to save what he thought was the life of a teammate, and it’s really clear once all the testimony came out that no one could’ve acted any differently," Bachner said.

Giants President John Mara has defended Pierce’s actions, which included taking Burress to a hospital under an assumed name. It took police hours to uncover the details of the shooting because no one reported it as required by law.

It’s not clear if additional witnesses will be called and Bachner wasn’t sure when the grand jury would vote.

Burress testified earlier in the week, asking the grand jury for sympathy. He said outside court that he was truthful and honest.

"I’m truly remorseful for what I’ve done and for what happened," Burress said.

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl, faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison and is free on $100,000 bail.

The Giants released Burress in April and he has not signed with another team.

-- Colleen Long

Judge freezes assets of studio with NFL investors

NEW ORLEANS — A judge Friday froze most of the assets of a movie studio at the heart of a $1.9 million investment dispute involving members of the New Orleans Saints.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner took the action against Louisiana Film Studios LLC, the target of an involuntary bankruptcy suit by several buyers of state movie industry tax credits peddled by studio chief executive Wayne Read.

The buyers were supposed to be paid $1.33 on March 31 for each dollar invested. But since then, state film office officials have said that Read never applied for the credits.

Magner set Aug. 7 for a hearing on whether to appoint a court-supervised financial overseer. Read, who was not at the hearing, signed an agreement late Thursday not to dispose of any of the studio’s assets.

Read has not hired an attorney for the studio, but lawyer William Patrick appeared at the hearing on the studio’s behalf, saying he had not yet accepted a retainer. With attorneys saying that Read had been spotted at the federal courthouse complex, Patrick tried to reach him by telephone at the judge’s order.

"I’d like to see the whites of this individual’s eyes," Magner said.

Read never appeared. After that, Magner met with attorneys behind closed doors, then put the agreement Read signed into effect.

Among the past and present members of the Saints pursuing the bankruptcy suit are linebacker Scott Shanle, former Saints punter Mitch Berger and long snapper Kevin Houser, now with the Seattle Seahawks, who thought they were buying tax credits. Other buyers included Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and former star Archie Manning.

No one answered the telephone at Louisiana Film Studios on Friday. Read does not have a listed number and has not returned numerous calls for comment placed at the studio and through a spokesman.

Previously, Read said he ran into higher-than-expected expenses and lower-than-forecasted revenues in starting up the studio. He said the tax credits were never applied for at the end of 2008 because of confusion over what expenses qualified for credits. He has said he plans to pay back the buyers after finding other investors.

No criminal charges have been filed. Jimmy Castex, an attorney representing a construction company also pushing the involuntary bankruptcy suit, has said the FBI has contacted parties involved in the case.

Illinois court records show that Read paid $452,000 on January 21 to settle a dispute over another failed investment involving the movie business.

-- Alan Sayre

Harrison went against coaches on Super Bowl INT

LATROBE, Pa. — One of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history apparently resulted from Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s guess work, not the Pittsburgh coaches’ game plan.

Harrison revealed while reporting to training camp on Friday that he didn’t follow his coaches’ orders on his 100-yard interception return touchdown that ended the first half against Arizona on Feb. 1 and has quickly become one of the signature plays in any Super Bowl.

Harrison’s return of Kurt Warner’s pass over the middle intended for Anquan Bolden gave the Steelers a 17-7 halftime lead. They went on to win 27-23 on Ben Roethlisberger’s last-minute touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.

If the Cardinals had scored on the first-and-goal play from the Pittsburgh 2, they likely would have led 14-10 at the half and would have owned the momentum.

"I actually wasn’t supposed to drop on that play, I was supposed to blitz," Harrison said Friday. "All night, we were a step late. We had an all-out blitz and I figured if I stepped (out) I could hold my tackle ... (then) I would drop off and they would have to do a quick slant."

Harrison guessed correctly, stepped in front of Warner’s pass and took off down the sideline.

The first half clock would have expired if he had been tackled in-bounds, but Harrison shoved the ball across the goal line as Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald pulled him to the turf.

Harrison joked it "took me two weeks to catch my breath after that play."

Harrison said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau never questioned why he gambled.

"Technique, opportunity and all that other stuff met (on that play) — and a little bit of luck," Harrison said. "Sometimes you just feel that might be the play that does it. I guess coach LeBeau didn’t mind it too much."

Harrison, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, often is a contrarian known for doing things his way, and he did so again Friday. While his teammates mostly piled out of large SUVs or pickup trucks, he pulled up to camp in a Smart car that was only slightly larger than Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton.

Harrison gave coach Mike Tomlin a ride in the smaller-than-subcompact vehicle that is popular in Europe, where gas prices are much higher than in the United States. And, yes, both player and coach fit in the car at the same time.

"It’s not so much the gas mileage ... I just want to do something to help the environment," said Harrison, who said the car was lent by a dealer.

-- Alan Robinson

Moore, Mudd return to Colts in old roles

INDIANAPOLIS — Tom Moore and Howard Mudd decided not to follow Brett Favre’s playbook.

They’re coming back from retirement — just in time for training camp.

The only offensive coordinator and offensive line coach three-time MVP Peyton Manning has worked with in his NFL career are expected to be on the field Monday when the Colts start practicing at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.

"Howard and Tom are both returning, doing the same job they’ve been doing over the years," new coach Jim Caldwell said on Friday.

Yes, they will have new titles.

Moore will be the senior offensive coordinator, Mudd the senior offensive line coach, but the titles are a reflection of the confusion and controversy that typified the Colts’ strange offseason.

The 70-year-old Moore and 67-year-old Mudd were almost forced into retirement when the league changed its pension plan. Both feared they would lose money if they continued coaching. Team owner Jim Irsay called it a misunderstanding.

Though the team never made an official announcement about the retirements or the coaches’ successors, team president Bill Polian told an Indianapolis radio station in May that assistant head coach Clyde Christensen would assume play-calling duties and assistant offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars would replace Mudd.

Irsay also said, at the same time, both would return to the franchise as consultants.

Confusion over the coaching staff and the consultants’ roles then prompted Manning to publicly express frustration.

In late May, during minicamp, Manning said: "Somebody says one thing, then somebody else says another thing. I’m not sure everybody’s on the same page in this building. I’m just trying to focus on playing quarterback well."

Less than two weeks later, Manning said the explanation he was given made him feel comfortable as the Colts moved forward.

But Irsay continued pressing Moore and Mudd to come back. On June 9, Irsay said he had reached agreements to bring both longtime assistants back with pay comparable to what they would have made as coaches. The implication was that they would continue in their old jobs.

Now, finally, it’s finally official.

"I think you realize, and I certainly want to make it public that Clyde Christensen and Pete Metzelaars did an outstanding job stepping in when Howard and Tom were away," Caldwell said. "They (Mudd and Moore) are going to be doing the same things they’ve been doing. The senior tag is added because of the fact that it gives a little latitude in case they want to delegate a few responsibilities, which have been going on anyway throughout the years."

Caldwell, the beneficiary of a preordained succession plan when Tony Dungy retired in January, now intends to use a similar structure to help make the eventual transition from Moore and Mudd to Christensen and Metzelaars.

"Clyde and Pete are in position kind of like I was with Tony," Caldwell said. "He (Dungy) would give me a few duties here and there to maybe lighten his load somewhat, but also to give me a little bit of familiarity with the position."

That makes the biggest question heading into training camp whether all of the Colts rookies will show up on time.

Players agents have confirmed four of the Colts eight draft picks have signed. The Indianapolis Star also has reported that quarterback Curtis Painter has agreed to a four-year deal. That leaves three players — running back Donald Brown, a first-round pick; defensive tackle Fili Moala, a second-rounder; and receiver Austin Collie, a fourth-rounder — trying to reach deals before Monday’s opening practice.

Caldwell would only say that negotiations are progressing.

-- Michael Marot

OG Wahle retires, Withrow signed by Seattle

RENTON, Wash. — Two-time Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle has retired after being released by the Seattle Seahawks for failing a physical before their first practice of training camp.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Friday the 32-year-old Wahle told him he had "decided to hang it up for the time being" and spend more time with his family.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck called the news "a tough loss." He and Wahle were rookies together in Green Bay in 1998.

The 11-year veteran had surgery in December on the same right shoulder on which he had surgery in 2006. He was signed from Carolina before the 2008 season.

Rob Sims, who primarily played right guard last season, and rookie second-round draft choice Max Unger are first in line to replace Wahle at left guard.

Seattle also placed 2007 Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant on the physically unable-to-perform list for what Mora called a minor back injury and signed veteran offensive lineman Cory Withrow.

The Seahawks started camp without fourth overall draft choice Aaron Curry, a player they are counting on to start at outside linebacker.

The team and agents for the former Wake Forest star continued to negotiate late Friday.

Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell called it a "nonstop" effort to sign Curry before the first practice.

Mora said he doesn’t worry about guys who aren’t in camp until they get in camp. He has confidence that the sides will reach a deal soon.

Ruskell said Thursday the sticking point is Curry’s representatives using the contract with $28 million guaranteed that fifth overall pick Mark Sanchez got from the New York Jets.

The Seahawks believe deals for top quarterbacks do not apply because they traditionally get richer deals than players at other positions.

49ers place McDonald on PUP list, release Huners

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers placed defensive end Ray McDonald on the active physically unable to perform list Friday, an expected move as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

The team also released guard Matthew Huners one day before the first day of practice in coach Mike Singletary’s first training camp in charge and signed guard-center Matt Spanos to a one-year deal.

McDonald hurt his right knee last Oct. 19 against the New York Giants and underwent reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament.

On Thursday, the 49ers signed defensive lineman and former Stanford star Babatunde Oshinowo to a one-year deal to give them some added depth while McDonald is sidelined. A third-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2007, McDonald has played in 24 career games and has 30 tackles and 2.0 sacks.

Spanos, a former collegiate star at Southern California, was released by the Dallas Cowboys on July 2. He broke into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins last year before his release on Aug. 30, 2008.

Huners signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on April 30 out of South Florida.

Chargers sign rookie linebacker Larry English

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers has signed first-round pick Larry English to a five-year contract.

The deal was announced Friday night by the club.

English was the 16th overall pick in April. He is expected to join the team in time for Saturday’s training-camp practice at Chargers Park.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker is from northern Illinois.

The Chargers have but one draft pick unsigned: wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, a seventh-round selection. Byrd is recovering from injuries sustained in an April car accident.

The terms of the deal were not immediately known.

Buccaneers sign first-round pick Freeman

TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job.

Freeman was the 17th player selected in the draft following a standout career at Kansas State. He agreed to a five-year contract on Friday, the day before the start of training camp.

Although the Bucs had their sights on the future when they selected him, Freeman was impressive enough during offseason workouts that coach Raheem Morris has not ruled out the possibility of playing him right away.

The other quarterbacks competing for the No. 1 job are Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson.

Terms of Freeman’s deal were not announced. ESPN reported it is worth $36 million, including $10.245 million guaranteed.

Freeman, who entered the draft after his junior year, completed 59 percent of his passes for 8,078 yards and 44 touchdowns in three seasons at Kansas State. Also a threat to run, he had 20 TDs rushing.

The 21-year-old was the third quarterback selected in the draft behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez.

"I really have no expectations other than eventually being the starter. I don’t know if it’s going to be this year. I don’t know if it’s going to be next year, or when it’s going to be," Freeman said in April. "All I’m going to do is come in and work as hard as I can and try to put myself in the best position to make this team better."

-- Fred Goodall

Lions sign rookie TE Pettigrew to 5-year contract

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have signed first-round pick tight end Brandon Pettigrew to a five-year contract.

The team did not disclose terms of the deal on Friday.

The Lions have all of their rookies signed heading into the first practice on Saturday.

Pettigrew was selected 20th overall by Detroit with its second selection of the first round. He finished his career at Oklahoma State ranked ninth in receiving with 1,450 yards.

The team also released rookie free agent LB Spenser Smith (Eastern Michigan).

Dolphins top pick Davis agrees to terms

MIAMI — Miami Dolphins first-round pick Vontae Davis has agreed to terms, leaving the team still negotiating with two draft choices.

Agent Todd France confirmed the deal Friday for Davis, the cornerback who played at Illinois and was the 25th pick in the first round. Davis is expected to compete with second-round choice Sean Smith and veteran Eric Green for the starting job that became available when Miami lost Andre Goodman in free agency.

Yet to sign were West Virginia quarterback Pat White, a second-round pick, and Clemson safety Chris Clemons, a fifth-round selection. The first training camp practice is Sunday.

The Dolphins want to upgrade a secondary that ranked 25th in the NFL against the pass last year.

Falcons sign first-round pick Jerry

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have signed first-round draft pick Peria (Per-Ray) Jerry to a five-year contract.

Jerry, an All-American defensive tackle from Mississippi, is the last of the team’s eight draft picks to sign.

Jerry enters the start of training camp Saturday with a good chance to win the starting job held last year by Grady Jackson, one of five defensive players to leave the team as free agents.

Jerry had 132 tackles and 11.5 sacks at Mississippi.

Terms of Jerry’s deal were not released.

Panthers reach terms with 2nd-round pick Martin

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers have come to terms with second-round pick Sherrod Martin, putting all Carolina rookies under contract before the start of training camp.

The cornerback from Troy gets a four-year deal. Agent Hadley Engelhard did not reveal financial figures. The agreement Friday comes two days before the Panthers report to camp.

It marks the second straight season the Panthers have avoided a rookie holdout. First-rounder Jon Beason missed the first eight days of training camp in 2007.

Martin is expected to become Carolina’s nickelback behind starters Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall.

Brady won’t say whether baby on way for Bundchen

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady won’t say whether he’s expecting a child with supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen — even though the secret’s been out for a while.

Bundchen did a photo shoot for London Fog recently, and a company spokesman announced that the pictures were airbrushed to remove her baby bump.

Brady played it coy on Friday, falling back on the non-denial issued by Red Sox slugger David Ortiz this week after he was linked to performance-enhancing drugs.

"I heard Big Papi say, ‘I don’t have all the information,"’ Brady said. "I don’t have all the facts and it hasn’t been researched enough."

Dan Rooney's title now Steelers' chairman emeritus

PITTSBURGH — This may be as close as Dan Rooney comes to retiring from pro football.

Rooney, named the U.S. ambassador to Ireland earlier this year by President Barack Obama, is now listed as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ chairman emeritus — a title commonly given to an executive who has retired from professional life.

The Steelers did not formally announce the title switch, but club officials confirmed the change Friday as players reported for the first day of training camp.

Rooney, whose family has owned the Steelers since their founding in 1933, was the Steelers’ president from 1975 until 2003, when he became team chairman. His son, Art II, who runs the Steelers’ on a day-to-day basis, has been the president since 2003.

Dan Rooney is not entirely detached from Steelers business while in Ireland — he is considered by commissioner Roger Goodell to be one of the league’s most important figures — but team publicist Dave Lockett said the title change reflects Rooney’s new position. Rooney resigned all of his positions on NFL committees in March to focus on his new job as ambassador.

"It’s a full-time job, an important job," Lockett said. "The title change was made when was appointed as the U.S. ambassador."

Rooney, 77, has been one of pro football’s most influential figures since the Steelers won four Super Bowls in six seasons from 1974-79, not long after he took over day-to-day operations from father and team founder Art Rooney.

Dan Rooney has long been involved in NFL labor relations, was largely responsible for ending two labor-related shutdowns, and helped craft the NFL’s TV policy. He also pushed for the league to adopt what has become known as the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minorities for coaching jobs and, now, other key positions.

Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

No one has succeeded Rooney as the Steelers’ chairman. In the team’s updated staff directory, the only administrators listed are Dan Rooney, Art Rooney II, vice president Art Rooney Jr. and administration adviser Chuck Noll. Art Rooney Jr., the team’s player personnel chief in the 1970s and 1980s and Dan’s brother, hasn’t been involved in team affairs for 20 years. Noll, who retired as coach after the 1991 season, also has no active role with the team.

Dan Rooney, long involved in U.S.-Irish affairs, was chosen as ambassador in March, six weeks after the Steelers won a record sixth Super Bowl. He is the founder of the American Ireland Fund, an organization that has raised millions to advocate peace and education in Ireland.

An executive or professor who takes the title of emeritus is generally considered to be permanently retired, but Lockett wouldn’t go that far in describing Rooney’s status. Last month, Dan and Art II finally wrapped up a long-in-the-works transaction in which they gained a 30 percent share of the team by buying shares from other family members.

"Even boxers come back," Lockett said.

-- Alan Robinson