NFL Capsules: Bryant flap highlights questions for NFL rookies
Some of the queries are just weird. Occasionally, they’re intrusive and in questionable taste.
Following the storm surrounding Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland asking Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute, for which Ireland later apologized, NFL rookies at minicamps last weekend told The Associated Press they fielded some oddball inquiries from team executives before the draft.
Bengals fourth-round pick Geno Atkins said one club, he couldn’t recall which, asked him about his sexual orientation.
"The only unusual question I got was if I was straight or gay," said Atkins, a defensive tackle from Georgia whose father, Gene, played 10 seasons in the league. "And that was about it.
"‘McDonald’s or Burger King?’ I think ‘pillow or blanket?’ was another one. Those were the strange, unusual ones I got. I was like, ‘What does that have to do with football?’ I think they were kind of trying to loosen me up a little bit."
Or tighten him up. The interviews are designed to test a young player’s demeanor as much as a 40-yard dash is used to measure his speed. So potential draft picks have to be prepared for outlandish questions, even if they never get them.
They’ve also got to be ready to get baited.
"Some of the interviews were different," said Cowboys second-rounder Sean Lee, a linebacker from Penn State. "Like I had one team that really came and criticized me and the school I was at, and they’re really trying to just get you fired up. They’re really just using different tactics to try to see you face adversity, how you react to somebody getting on you.
"That was probably the most unusual thing I had, somebody came at me and said ‘I’ve never seen a guy from Penn State make plays.’ Really, you just have to keep your cool and come back with passionate but respectful answers."
Most teams begin the interviewing process at the NFL combine in February, when a player might meet with a dozen or more clubs in one day. It’s a monotonous process for the collegians, and sometimes just as tiresome for the front office executives conducting the sessions.
Still, there is a certain protocol, something Ireland admittedly violated with Bryant, who was suspended for most of the 2009 season for lying to the NCAA about his activities with Deion Sanders.
"My job is to find out as much information as possible about a player that I’m considering drafting," Ireland said in a statement. "Sometimes that leads to asking in-depth questions. Having said that, I talked to Dez Bryant and told him I used poor judgment in one of the questions I asked him. I certainly meant no disrespect and apologized to him.
"I appreciate his acceptance of that apology, and I told him I wished him well as he embarks on his NFL career."
Others embarking on NFL careers said they experienced nothing like the Bryant-Ireland incident.
"No, nothing that I just wanted to go Incredible Hulk on somebody," said Cowboys safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a fourth-round pick from Indiana-Pennsylvania, a Division II school.
"I’ve never been asked anything like that," added guard Jacques McClendon, Indianapolis’ fourth-round choice out of Tennessee. "You just know these teams want to get whatever information they can. If they’re going to invest that kind of money in me, then you have to be cooperative with the process."
The process includes more than a quick Q and A. Players undergo all kinds of mental and psychological tests, too. They might meet with a dozen members of an NFL team, from scouts to coaches to general manager — perhaps even the owner in the cases of the Cowboys and Jets, for example.
Teams also send along a packet of questions for players to answer. That might lack the personal touch, but can be effective in its own right.
The packets are where the dog versus cat question often comes up. Generally, those questions are within the bounds of good taste.
"No, no. I didn’t get any of that. That would be a whole entire different level," Lee said. "That’d be a lot tougher to deal with."
Mississippi running back Dexter McCluster, a second-round pick by Kansas City, did have one team go "American Idol" on him.
"One coach asked me to sing," McCluster said.
Willis gets 5-year contract extension from 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis has developed into an NFL star under Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, and the 49ers coach expects his top defender to become better than he ever was.
Willis is a big deal to San Francisco — and he earned himself a big new deal because of it.
The standout inside linebacker signed a $50 million, five-year contract extension with the Niners on Tuesday that takes him through the 2016 season and includes $29 million in guaranteed money. He is set to make $10 million per season.
"Wow. It’s been a long journey but it’s not over yet. I feel like it’s just beginning," Willis said during a news conference at team headquarters. "It means a lot. It shows they really wanted me here — and it shows what they want and what I want are the same things: to win."
This is another big offseason splash by new San Francisco personnel chief Trent Baalke, who took charge after general manager Scot McCloughan’s abrupt departure in March. The team’s lead negotiator, Paraag Marathe, worked with Willis’ agent, Ben Dogra, over the recent months to get this done. Willis had two years left on his contract, too.
Locking up Willis for the long haul makes sure the 49ers keep their dominant defensive leader after they bolstered their offense in the draft with two linemen picked 11th and 17th overall — Rutgers’ Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati out of Idaho.
"The most important message management sent today is for those guys that go out and perform, we’re going to take care of our guys, and Pat is a tremendous example of that," Singletary said. "It’s a great day for the 49er organization. Our management could see the value, our ownership could see the value, in a young man like Patrick Willis, who embodies everything, on the field, off the field."
The 25-year-old Willis, the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Mississippi, has led the Niners in tackles in each of his first three seasons and has made 48 straight starts. He’s received plenty of comparisons to Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis along the way, though Singletary considers them different players.
"You can never just be great. Every day is a work in progress," said Willis, who prides himself in being able to stop the run, blitz or match up with receivers. "When I’m done playing, I want to leave a legacy that says, ‘You know, this guy gave everything he had and he’s one of the best players to ever play at that position."’
In March, Willis underwent surgery on his right knee to remove an inflamed fluid sac that kept him out of this year’s Pro Bowl. He said he’s close to being ready to return to the field.
Before the 49ers drafted Willis, Singletary wasn’t initially sold on his NFL potential. Once Singletary learned a little more about him — like the fact he basically raised three younger siblings and dealt with the drowning death of his 17-year-old brother, Detris, and that he played not only hurt but also with a heavy heart — the coach changed his stance in a hurry.
"I told Scot (McCloughan) before the draft, ‘We’ve got to get this guy,"’ Singletary said.
Singletary said Willis possesses "that passion to make every play." It’s Singletary who has kept pushing Willis to improve through even more hard work — and Willis appreciates that constant presence from his coach.
"What I’ve done the last three years is only the tip of the iceberg," Willis said. "People think they’ve seen the best I have to offer, but they haven’t by far. There’s so much improvement in my game that I have to get to. And I’m willing to work every day to get to that point. But the best is yet to be seen by myself or this team in general."
The 49ers went 8-8 last season after a promising 3-1 start. Several last-minute losses on the road and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball and in special teams kept them from getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2003 — though the team did end a franchise-worst stretch of six straight losing seasons.
Willis is ready to end the playoff drought, and he’s talking big in early May.
"This is a championship team right now. It’s bigger than just a playoff team," he said. "I mean, I think we are a championship-caliber team. ... We will bring the sixth championship here, and I’ll be here."
-- Janie McCauley
Sayers says Bears ‘haven’t done a good job’
OMAHA, Neb. — One of the greatest Chicago Bears of all time isn’t happy with the team’s state of affairs.
Gale Sayers took aim Tuesday at coach Lovie Smith, quarterback Jay Cutler and personnel moves that left the Bears without a pick until the third round of the recent NFL draft.
"Cutler hasn’t done the job," Sayers said. "Urlacher, I don’t know how good he’s going to be coming back. He’s 33 years old. They need a couple wide receivers, a couple defensive backs. They haven’t done a good job.
"If Lovie doesn’t do it this year, I think he’s gone. He had a good team the Super Bowl year. Nothing came together for him the last couple years."
The 66-year-old Sayers was back in his hometown as the featured speaker at a booster banquet for Boys Town. He also met with students at the nationally acclaimed home for troubled youth.
Sayers is chairman and CEO of Sayers Inc., a computer business headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill. He also works in athletic fundraising at Kansas, his alma mater, and is involved in a number of charitable causes in the Chicago area.
Other than a few public appearance he makes on behalf of the Bears, he said, he has little contact with the team these days.
"I go to every game I can," he said. "Yes, I do live and die with them."
So he knows well that the Bears lost star linebacker Brian Urlacher to a season-ending injury in last year’s opener at Green Bay, a big loss for a team that was hoping to contend in the NFC.
The Bears, who traded Kyle Orton and 2009-10 first-round picks to Denver for Cutler, finished 7-9 in Cutler’s first season in Chicago and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. The Bears have overhauled their coaching staff — keeping Smith — and signed pass rusher Julius Peppers to a six-year deal.
Sayers was the most explosive offensive player in the NFL in the late 1960s. He retired from football in 1971 after the second of two devastating knee injuries and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (1977).
Sayers, who scored six touchdowns and gained 336 all-purpose yards in a game against San Francisco in 1965, is best known for his speed and elusiveness. He was one of the first running backs to return punts and kicks.
"I had some good moves and I used them very well," he said. "The person who reminds me of myself is Barry Sanders. We both used the whole field."
He shook his head when reminded that some pundits have compared the New Orleans Saints’ Reggie Bush with him.
"You can’t compare that, because he gets hurt too much," Sayers said. "He’s a fine young man. He’s a little light. He’s not a player who’s going to carry 25 times a game. He’ll get five carries, catch three passes and run back a couple punts."
Sayers pointed out that he made $50,000 in his final season and a total of $275,000 over his entire career. He said he would like to be playing today.
"You know why? Because of the money," he said. "I wouldn’t change my game. I probably would be just as good because I would be on AstroTurf. The money, that’s the key right now. Everybody is making so much. A person snapping the football is making a million dollars."
-- Eric Olson
Pacman Jones gets 2nd tryout with Bengals
CINCINNATI — Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones got a second look from the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, an indication that the team with a history of trying to rehabilitate troubled players might be considering its next project.
The Bengals hadn’t made a formal contract proposal as of Tuesday evening, agent Tom Hunter told The Associated Press. Jones was in town for his second workout with the team this offseason.
Cincinnati is among a handful of teams that showed an interest in Jones, who was released by the Cowboys after the 2008 season and didn’t play last year. Only 26 years old, Jones has seen his career bottom out because of his repeated arrests.
He was suspended for the entire 2007 season and for six games with the Cowboys in 2008 for violating the NFL’s conduct policy.
The club had no comment on Jones’ tryout Tuesday, which was first reported by The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Jones went to West Virginia along with late Bengals receiver Chris Henry. The two of them got into so much trouble with their teams — Jones was drafted in the first round by Tennessee in 2005 — that commissioner Roger Goodell toughened the league’s disciplinary policies.
The Bengals released Henry in 2008 following his fifth arrest. Owner Mike Brown referred to himself as a "redeemer" and did an about-face, bringing Henry back against the wishes of coach Marvin Lewis. Henry died in a fall from a pickup truck driven by his fiancee last year.
The Bengals became more cautious about signing troubled players after they had 10 arrested during a 14-month span. Henry and linebacker Odell Thurman were the main offenders, drawing repeated suspensions beginning in 2005.
The team has softened its stance in the last two years, bringing in players on low-risk deals. Running back Cedric Benson was released by the Bears after two alcohol-related arrests — the cases were dropped after grand juries declined to indict — and the Bengals signed him to a minimal financial deal during the 2008 season.
They took the same approach last season with running back Larry Johnson, who got a minimal contract and left as a free agent after the season.
In February, the Bengals signed receiver Matt Jones, who didn’t play in the NFL last season, to a minimal one-year deal. Jones was charged with cocaine possession and with violating a plea agreement, prompting the Jaguars to release him after the 2008 season.
Pacman Jones has the longest history of off-field problems.
Tennessee drafted him expecting him to be a cornerstone of the defense for years. Instead, he was arrested six times and involved in 12 instances requiring police intervention. The Cowboys traded for him and he got into trouble again, drawing the six-game suspension for alcohol-related scuffle with a team-provided bodyguard.
He appeared in nine game with Dallas, starting six, but failed to get an interception. He also returned punts and averaged only 4.5 yards, prompting the Cowboys to release him after the season.
The Bengals have one of the best cornerback tandems in the league in Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, who had six interceptions apiece last season. The defense finished fourth in the league, one of the main reasons Cincinnati won the AFC North with a 10-6 record.
Cincinnati drafted cornerback Brandon Ghee from Wake Forest in the third round last month, looking for depth at the position.
-- Joe Kay
Titans find minor damage to LP Field from flooding
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have gotten a chance to check out LP Field where flood waters covered the football field, and the damage appears to be minor. The arena housing the NHL’s Nashville Predators finally dried up enough Tuesday afternoon to turn the power back on in the building.
The Predators knew they had some damage to their dressing rooms when water backed up through storm drains into the first floor of the Bridgestone Arena and covered the main floor where they lost in the opening round of the playoffs only a week ago. Employees had been given Monday off and were told to stay home Tuesday as well.
Water eventually rose to a foot on the main floor, according to Gerry Helper, the team’s senior vice president and special assistant to the president. Officials then shut off power to the arena Monday night as a precaution and kept it off until late Tuesday afternoon once most water had drained away.
"We’re going to walk the building once it starts to dry to get an assessment," Helper said. "Certainly, carpeting and woodwork on the base level, those things are destroyed and will need to be replaced. And we’ll have to take a further investigation to check any further structural issues."
Titans senior executive vice president Steve Underwood said in a statement that water had receded enough to allow a preliminary assessment Tuesday morning at LP Field. They found 2 inches of water in most of the service level but most of the water had been diverted to the field itself.
"Any replacement costs will be covered by insurance and will start as soon as possible," Underwood said. "Our staff and Metro employees and government who worked tirelessly together deserve our thanks.
An Associated Press photographer was able to see the Titans’ logo on the field Tuesday during an aerial tour, a surface that had been completely covered Monday with heavy trash cans bobbing at the top.
Water also had filled parking lots for a stadium on the east bank of the Cumberland River.
Underwood said the Titans’ offices and practice fields a few miles away have not had any damage. The team’s headquarters is in an area partially protected by a levee that had up to 250 volunteers helping stack sandbags Monday night to protect a gap against the rising Cumberland River.
The deadline to renew season tickets was Monday. Underwood said that deadline has been extended, and they will get in touch with season ticket holders once power is restored.
-- Teresa M. Walker
Browns sign TE Smith
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent tight end Alex Smith, who started five games for Philadelphia last season.
Smith has made 132 catches for 1,277 yards and 11 touchdowns in five years in the NFL. He had three receptions for 25 yards last season for the Eagles.
A third-round draft pick in 2005 by Tampa Bay, Smith led all rookie tight ends with 41 catches for 367 yards and two TDs.
He was traded to New England in 2009 and released by the Patriots last September before signing with the Eagles.
The Browns also waived wide receiver Aaron Valentin and tight end Troy Wagner, two undrafted rookies.
Seahawks acquire former CWU QB Reilly
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have claimed quarterback Mike Reilly off waivers from St. Louis.
Reilly was a record-setting passer at Central Washington before signing in April 2009 as a rookie free agent with Pittsburgh. He also spent time last year with Green Bay.
He began his college career at Washington State before transferring to Division II CWU in Ellensburg.
In four seasons for the Wildcats, Reilly set virtually every school passing record. He holds the NCAA all-divisions record with at least one touchdown pass in all 46 career games.
Seattle also signed cornerback Marcus Udell and wide receivers Chris Duvalt and Victor James. All had free-agent tryouts at last weekend’s minicamp.
Bengals WR Purify arrested after scuffle
NEWPORT, Ky. — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Maurice Purify has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct following a scuffle at a northern Kentucky night spot.
Police say Purify was arrested early Tuesday morning after they broke up a fight at the night spot, located directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. He was released later in the day on $500 bond. He’s due in court for an initial hearing on Friday.
The Bengals had no comment. They signed Purify last year as an undrafted free agent from Nebraska. He appeared in five games, mainly on special teams. He didn’t catch a pass.
Bucs KR Clifton Smith signs 1-year tender
TAMPA, Fla. — Kick returner and reserve running back Clifton Smith has signed a one-year tender to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after becoming the first player in club history to return a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the same season.
He finished last season on injured reserve after being sidelined by a concussion, but was still one of three players to rank in the top 11 in kickoff and punt return average. He became an exclusive-rights free agent after the season.
Bills sign undrafted guard Cordaro Howard
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have signed undrafted guard Cordaro Howard.
Howard was a two-time all-ACC selection at Georgia Tech, where he started 33 of 37 career games. He is reunited with new Bills coach Chan Gailey, who coached Howard for three seasons at Georgia Tech.
The move Tuesday gives Buffalo 14 undrafted free agents on its roster.
Elsewhere
Former NFL player Nick Rogers dies in car accident
ATLANTA — Former NFL player and Georgia Tech star Nick Rogers has died in a one-car accident. He was 30.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office says Rogers was killed about 1:30 a.m. Monday when his car hit a utility pole in College Park, near Atlanta.
Rogers, a 250-pound linebacker, spent four years in the NFL with Minnesota, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Miami.
He started 16 games in each of two years with the Vikings in 2002-03. The next season he was with the Packers for 10 games, the Colts for one. His last NFL season was 2005 — three games with the Dolphins. He most recently played for Colorado of the Arena Football League in 2008.
Rogers had 16½ sacks as a defensive end at Georgia Tech and was drafted in the sixth round in 2002.
