Football Capsules: Roethlisberger could face punishment from NFL
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger may have avoided criminal charges after a college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in Georgia, but he must meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and could face punishment from the league.
And Roethlisberger said he knows he'll have to work to regain the trust of teammates and fans.
Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said Monday that after exhaustive interviews and inconclusive medical exams, the 20-year-old student's accusations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Bright also revealed the accuser no longer wanted him to prosecute.
Bright said he continued to investigate the case, but ultimately decided against moving forward partly because he was never able to find out what happened behind the bathroom door at the Capital City club in Milledgeville.
"Here the overall circumstances do not lead to a viable prosecution. If they did, I would be pursuing it vigorously," Bright said. "We do not prosecute morals. We prosecute crimes."
In his first public remarks since the accusations, Roethlisberger read a 74-second statement Monday at a podium in the Steelers locker room.
"The prosecutor's decision not to bring charges, I know without a doubt, is the right conclusion," said Roethlisberger, who was wearing a red sports shirt and light-colored slacks. "I don't intend to discuss any details related to the events of Georgia. I'm happy to put this behind me and move forward."
Roethlisberger also did not discuss his upcoming meeting with Goodell or any possible punishment that might come from the league or the team for violating the players' conduct code.
"I am excited to get back to work with my teammates, and I'm more determined than ever to have a great season," he said.
The encounter took place after a night of bar-hopping in Milledgeville, a quaint central Georgia college town about 30 miles from where the two-time Super Bowl winner owns a lake home. Bright detailed the night during a lengthy news conference Monday.
Roethlisberger, who was out drinking with friends to celebrate his 28th birthday, bumped into the student and her sorority sisters throughout the night. They linked up at Capital City, where he invited them to a VIP section and bought them a round of shots.
As the night wore on, the student walked down a dingy hallway to a small bathroom, and Roethlisberger soon followed. What happened next remained unclear.
The student told police she had been sexually assaulted, but medical results were less clear. A doctor who examined her at a nearby emergency room found a cut, bruises and vaginal bleeding but could not say if she was raped. And while some DNA was found, there was not enough to determine whom it belonged to, Bright said.
Roethlisberger is being sued by a different woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, which he denies. Roethlisberger was not criminally charged in that case and has claimed counter-damages in the lawsuit.
In Milledgeville, state and local police canvassed the town and began interviewing witnesses. Roethlisberger hired Ed Garland, who has represented a long list of high-profile defendants. The accuser's family also hired lawyers, who eventually sent a letter to Bright saying the woman did not want a trial because it would be "a very intrusive personal experience."
Georgia laws set a relatively high bar for proving sexual assault, requiring proof that force was used and that the victim did not consent, said J. Tom Morgan, a former DeKalb County district attorney. That can be particularly difficult if both parties were drinking alcohol, he said.
As Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009. He frequently has donated time and money to charities.
But off-field problems have come along with his championships and $102 million contract. In 2006, he defied his coach's orders and rode his motorcycle without a helmet — and wound up with a concussion, broken jaw and other injuries after a wreck.
And while Roethlisberger has a reputation for patiently signing autographs and posing for pictures out in public, he also is known for occasionally inelegant behavior in Pittsburgh. Early in his career, he was photographed — obviously after drinking — wearing a T-shirt reading "Drink Like a Champion."
"I'm truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention I brought to my family, my teammates, coaches, the Rooneys and the NFL," Roethlisberger said. "I understand that the opportunities I have been blessed with are a privilege, and much is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I absolutely want to be the leader this team deserves, valued in the community and a role model to kids. I have much work to do to earn this trust."
Team president Art Rooney II, known to be frustrated and exasperated with Roethlisberger's lack of maturity and judgment, agreed that the quarterback must win back the respect and trust of his teammates and his city.
"During the past few weeks, I have met with Ben on a number of occasions, not only to discuss this incident, but also to discuss his commitment to making sure this never happens again," Rooney said in a statement.
In Pittsburgh, the reaction among fans was mixed. Some said they feared it was only a matter of time before Roethlisberger was in trouble again.
"I've seen him around a couple times and he's always got the entourage, and the aura around him and it's annoying," said Kevin Brown, a 27-year-old who watched the news conference at an upscale restaurant a stone's throw from Heinz Field. "I've seen the way he's acted."
Jim Gallagher, 54, of Butler, north of Pittsburgh, is a Steelers fan and was critical of the franchise quarterback.
"I'm disappointed in his actions. Whether he did anything that was against the law, you'll never know," Gallagher said. "I think he needs to realize he's representing the city and the Rooney family and letting everybody down by his actions. Morally, I think he's wrong."
Attorney: Roethlisberger accuser didn't want trial
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The attorney for a college student who accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault says the woman asked prosecutors not to pursue the case to avoid an intrusive trial.
The 20-year-old woman's attorney, David Walbert, said in a letter to Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright that his client was not recanting her accusation. But the letter said the woman felt a trial would be too intrusive because of all the media attention. The letter was released Monday.
The student had told police that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her last month at a nightclub in the central Georgia college town of Milledgeville. Bright said authorities also chose not to file charges because there was not enough evidence to prove the allegations in court.
Ben Roethlisberger releases statement
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger released the following statement Monday night, hours after Georgia prosecutors announced he would not be charged after allegations of sexual assault:
"I'd like to begin by expressing gratitude to the thorough investigation process in Georgia. The prosecutor's decision not to bring charges, I know without a doubt, is the right conclusion. I don't intend to discuss any details related to the events of Georgia. I'm happy to put this behind me and move forward.
"I'm truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention I brought to my family, my teammates, coaches, the Rooneys and the NFL. I understand that the opportunities I have been blessed with are a privilege, and much is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I absolutely want to be the leader this team deserves, valued in the community and a role model to kids. I have much work to do to earn this trust. And I'm committed to improving and showing everyone my true values.
"I am excited to get back to work with my teammates, and I'm more determined than ever to have a great season. I intend to make my family, friends and Steeler nation proud on all fronts. Thank you. God bless."
Steelers angered, embarrassed by players' missteps
PITTSBURGH — The six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers don't like losing — or being embarrassed. To a family owned team, image is more than an attractive logo.
So when the Steelers were humiliated on the same day by two star players who, only 15 months before, teamed to provide one of the franchise's most memorable moments, they reacted without their usual deliberation and with an uncommon bit of anger.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is apparently off the hook legally for his alleged sexual assault in Georgia, but his troubles aren't over. He must meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, possibly as early as this week, and could be fined or suspended under the league's conduct policy.
There are more issues, too, for a franchise quarterback who won the Super Bowl twice in his first five NFL seasons.
Team president Art Rooney II, known to be frustrated and exasperated with Roethlisberger's lack of maturity and judgment, said the quarterback must win back his teammates and his city. Maybe ownership, too.
"During the past few weeks, I have met with Ben on a number of occasions, not only to discuss this incident, but also to discuss his commitment to making sure this never happens again," Rooney said in a statement. "The Pittsburgh Steelers take the conduct of players and staff very seriously. Ben will now have to work hard to earn back the respect and trust of Steelers fans, and to live up to the leadership responsibilities we all expect of him."
Following the Goodell-Roethlisberger meeting, Rooney said, the Steelers "will determine the next steps in the process."
There will be no next step with Santonio Holmes. Holmes, who caught the Roethlisberger pass that secured the Super Bowl victory over Arizona in February 2009, was traded Sunday night to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft pick after the Steelers learned he would suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Holmes already had provoked the Steelers on multiple occasions. After being accused in a lawsuit of throwing a drink on a woman at an Orlando nightclub, Holmes answered with a long string of comments on his Twitter account in which he suggested a fan should try to kill himself and other tweets that detailed the player's love of partying.
Only last month, coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers' standards for their players "are above and beyond that of our peers."
That's why, as a district attorney outlined Monday in great detail the embarrassing specifics of the nightclub incident involving Roethlisberger and his alleged victim in Milledgeville, Ga., the Steelers clearly were furious over their star's conduct and the damage the allegations caused them and their reputation.
On a long and troubling day for one of professional sports' most successful franchises, only Roethlisberger spoke publicly, reading a 74-second-long statement in which he expressed regret but did not take any questions.
Roethlisberger also read a statement last summer after a civil suit was brought in Nevada brought by a woman who accused him of assaulting her in a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2008.
Then, Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert immediately stood behind Roethlisberger in an apparent show of support. On Monday night, neither was present, and neither said a word about his situation.
"I'm truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention I brought to my family, my teammates, coaches, the Rooneys and the NFL," a visibly nervous Roethlisberger said in his first public comments since the incident. "I understand that the opportunities I have been blessed with are a privilege, and much is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers."
Hours before, prosecutor Fred Bright lectured Roethlisberger at the same time he detailed why he will not prosecute him.
"Grow up," Bright said. "Grow up, cut it out ... You need to be a role model for your team, your city, the NFL. You can do better."
The Steelers' message likely was much firmer: Three strikes, and you'll be out, regardless of your success and a $102 million contract that is only about half paid off.
Holmes, whose ability and production were upstaged by his frequent off-field troubles, was cast off to the Jets for the 155th pick in the upcoming draft — minimal compensation for an accomplished receiver. Clearly, the Steelers' main goal was to cut ties with him. Quickly.
The Orlando incident followed a one-game suspension two years ago, after Pittsburgh police detected marijuana had been used in his car, and two others involving disorderly conduct in Florida and allegations of domestic violence in Ohio.
"We believe the move is in the best interests of the Pittsburgh Steelers," Colbert said.
How soon they forget. While Holmes' gear remains behind in the Steelers' locker room, the nameplate above his locker already has been removed.
-- Alan Robinson
Jets' new WR Holmes suspended 4 games by NFL
NEW YORK — Santonio Holmes was walking his dog at home Sunday night when he received an unexpected phone call.
It was the Pittsburgh Steelers, telling their talented but troubled wide receiver he had been traded to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
"I was very shocked at first," Holmes said during a conference call Monday. "But, I knew it definitely opened up a lot more doors and a better opportunity for me to start over."
Holmes won't make his Jets regular-season debut until Week 5 of the regular season after the NFL suspended him earlier in the day without pay for the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
"We understood that was part of it, but we just felt like even with that, it was worth it," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "Obviously, a guy with his production and at 26 years old, he would not have been available if these indiscretions didn't happen, and obviously the suspension. But, with that said, we just felt like the risk and the price was reasonable for us."
Unafraid lately to add players with checkered pasts, Tannenbaum said he, coach Rex Ryan and owner Woody Johnson had "a robust debate and robust discussions" before deciding to acquire Holmes.
"We're not going into this with our eyes closed," Tannenbaum said.
Holmes, the 2009 Super Bowl MVP, is eligible to participate in the team's offseason program and in all preseason practices and games. He would be suspended for an entire season if he violates the league's policy again.
"To go back down the same road, make the same mistakes, won't be accepted," Holmes said.
Holmes is coming off his best season, with 79 catches for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns. But he is also facing a lawsuit in Florida from a woman who claims he threw a glass at her, cutting her above the eye, in an Orlando nightclub. A witness has since taken responsibility, according to Holmes' lawyer.
Holmes was also arrested in 2008 for possession of marijuana, and involved in a domestic violence incident in 2006; the misdemeanor charges were later dismissed. He was also recently accused of telling a fan to "kill urself" on his Twitter page, but implied that his account was hacked.
"It wasn't me," Holmes said. "I never tried to defend myself on that topic among anyone on Twitter or among anyone that tried to ask me for interviews. I would definitely be accountable for my actions if I did say it."
The 5-foot-11 Holmes, a first-round pick out of Ohio State in 2006, has one year remaining on his contract and will essentially be on a 12-game tryout for a long-term deal. The Jets have taken the same one-season approach with Braylon Edwards, another wide receiver who came to New York with baggage, and cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was acquired from San Diego even though he was dealing with paternity issues.
Holmes has 235 catches for 3,835 yards and 20 touchdowns, but his troubles off the field could explain the relatively low price the Jets paid to get him. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday, citing anonymous sources, that the Steelers were prepared to release Holmes if they couldn't find a trade partner.
"I don't think I need to dig myself out of any hole," Holmes said. "These guys have opened their arms to me right now and all I have to do is walk into them."
The deal came together quickly as talks between the teams began late Saturday night. Holmes gives the Jets a game-breaking player for an offense that already included second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez, wide receivers Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery, tight end Dustin Keller, running backs Shonn Greene, Leon Washington and the recently signed LaDainian Tomlinson.
"Obviously, there's been some bumps in the road in the past and hopefully he's learned from that," Tannenbaum said. "We understand that there's risks, significant risks."
Despite being benched earlier in the 2008 season for the marijuana arrest, Holmes made a number of big plays for Pittsburgh — none bigger than in the Super Bowl against Arizona. His tiptoe catch in the corner of the end zone of a 6-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds left sent the Steelers to a 27-23 victory.
The Jets clearly see Holmes as another major piece in making their own Super Bowl run after finishing a win short last season.
"I know for a fact that's why they brought me here," Holmes said. "The opportunity presented itself for the Jets to acquire me, and I'm definitely here for a reason."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
NFL's Jets pick upstate N.Y. for camp next 3 years
CORTLAND, N.Y. — One year ago, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan wanted an isolated spot for summer training camp so his players could avoid the glare of the metropolitan New York spotlight and learn more about themselves.
The team found that spot in upstate New York at SUNY Cortland, and they're staying put for now. The Jets announced Monday that they had reached an agreement with the university that will keep the bulk of training camp on campus for at least the next three years, through Ryan's current contract with the team.
"What we're doing is building a team," Jets owner Woody Johnson said. "The real benefit is the guys sticking together and going out for dinner together, that sort of thing. That's really what sustains you during this long season. Sixteen weeks is a long, long season."
The three-year agreement with SUNY Cortland, 30 miles south of Syracuse, contains an option to extend to five years. New York state is contributing $320,000 in grants to create a second grass practice field and upgrade facilities. The grant total could reach $575,000 if the team commits to the two-year option.
"We hope even beyond that the Jets will make Cortland their permanent training camp," said New York Gov. David Paterson, a longtime fan of the team.
The Jets trained for 40 years at Hofstra University on Long Island before moving to Florham Park, N.J., after camp two years ago. Last year, in addition to training in Cortland, they conducted minicamp practices open to the public at their center in Florham Park and did some public sessions at Hofstra. Johnson said the team would do the same this summer.
The Jets' decision maintains upstate New York's hold on at least two NFL camps. The Buffalo Bills have made St. John Fisher College in Rochester their summer home since 2000 and the New York Giants trained in Albany, though there's no word on whether they will return this summer.
A state study showed that hosting camp paid dividends to the city of Cortland. More than 34,000 spectators visited the Cortland Stadium Complex where the Jets trained during the team's three-week stay last summer, providing an economic impact estimated at $4.2 million.
State officials said they expect attendance to more than double this summer, to anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000. Camp opens in Cortland on Aug. 2.
"That was extraordinary," SUNY Cortland president Erik J. Bitterbaum said. "The sense of pride was unbounded in this community."
Ryan's idea of improving team camaraderie certainly seemed to pay off for the team, too. The Jets started 3-0 last season, beat Indianapolis 29-15 in December to halt the Colts' NFL-record 23-game winning streak, and came within one victory of reaching the Super Bowl.
The Jets (11-8) failed to hold a 17-6 first-half lead against Indianapolis, losing 30-17 in their first appearance in the AFC Championship in 11 years.
"You could just feel the way that the team was coming together, and it went through the whole year," Johnson said. "The trends that started here at Cortland continue. Those kinds of traditions are very important. The magic of a team came together."
-- John Kekis
Kroenke to try and buy rest of Rams
ST. LOUIS — Missouri billionaire Stan Kroenke has decided to exercise his matching rights and try to purchase the remaining 60 percent share of the St. Louis Rams.
Kroenke made the announcement late Monday, the deadline for him to make this decision.
Illinois businessman Shahid Khan reached agreement with owners Chip Rosenbloom and his sister, Lucia Rodriguez on Feb. 11 to buy the team, and Kroenke had 60 days to decide whether to keep his 40 percent share, sell it, or exercise his right to buy the team outright.
The announcement that Kroenke intended to buy the team was a surprise.
"We are pleased to announce that we have exercised our right to purchase the remaining interest in the St. Louis Rams football team under the terms of our Partnership Agreement," Kroenke said in a statement. "We have enjoyed our involvement in the National Football League since our original expansion efforts beginning in 1993 and our subsequent 15-year partnership with the Rams.
"We look forward to working with the Rosenbloom family and the NFL. We will respect the league and its processes in our efforts to complete this transaction," Kroenke said.
Khan said in a statement he discussed the situation with Kroenke on Monday night, and added he told the majority owners he intended to "conclude the purchase if the opportunity presents itself." He also said he looked forward to learning who the Rams would take with the first pick of the draft later this month.
"I enjoy his company, admire his success in sports and certainly respect his right to try to purchase the Rosenbloom family's interest in the Rams," Khan said. "While the decision about ownership now rests in the hands of the NFL and its owners, my dedication to the league, the Rams, their fans and the St. Louis community is as strong as ever.
Chip Rosenbloom, the team chairman, had little to say about the bid.
"We and our advisors will work with the National Football League as we move forward with the objective of completing a transaction for the sale of our interest in the Rams," Rosenbloom said in a statement.
Complicating the issue is Kroenke's ownership of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. NFL rules prohibit cross-ownership.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment, saying the matter was between Kroenke and the current owners. There was no answer at a phone listing for Khan, 55, president of an Urbana, Ill.-based auto parks maker, Flex-N-Gate.
Forbes magazine has estimated the value of the Rams franchise at $913 million. The exact amount of Khan's bid was not announced, but was believed to be closer to $750 million. Kroenke's statement did not say what his offer for the team will be.
Kroenke, 62, has been 40 percent owner of the Rams since Georgia Frontiere brought the team to St. Louis from Los Angeles in 1995. Frontiere died in January 2008 and her children inherited the team.
The sale was expected almost from the moment Frontiere died. Her children have other interests and no ties to St. Louis.
The Rams have struggled on the field for years — they're 6-42 over the past three seasons, and their 1-15 record in 2009 was the worst in the NFL. After years of sellouts, crowds at the Edward Jones Dome have thinned as the play has worsened.
An ambivalent fan base, combined with the desire for a team in Los Angeles and other markets, led to speculation about the future of the Rams in St. Louis. That was especially concerning for a city that lost the Cardinals to Arizona after the 1987 season.
But Kroenke's desire to become sole owner would seem to make a move less likely.
Kroenke, of Columbia in mid-Missouri, made his fortune in real estate development. His wife, Anne, is a Wal-Mart heir.
A group headed by St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts was also interested in buying the Rams. Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was initially part of the Checketts group but was dropped in October after negative publicity about his involvement.
A loophole in the Rams' lease allows them to move after the 2014 season if the Edward Jones Dome is not deemed among the top quarter of all NFL stadiums by various measurements. The dome is fast becoming one of the league's older venues, and getting it into the top quarter seems unlikely.
The city's convention commission spent $30 million upgrading the facility before last season, installing new scoreboards and video boards and upgrading club seating. Next season they're due for a new grass field that can be stored and used in subsequent seasons, a major upgrade.
-- Jim Salter
Seattle LB Leroy Hill in trouble with law again
SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks starting linebacker Leroy Hill was arrested for investigation of domestic violence in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah over the weekend, just days after reaching a plea deal on a marijuana charge in Georgia.
Hill was arrested by Issaquah police and booked into that city's jail early Sunday for investigation of assault in the fourth degree/domestic violence.
According to a release from Issaquah police, officers responded to a complaint of a domestic dispute late Saturday night at the Hill residence. Officers determined there had been a dispute between Hill and his girlfriend.
Police said Hill's girlfriend had obvious marks and injuries indicating an assault had occurred and she alleged Hill had caused these injuries.
He was taken into custody without incident. Hill posted bail and was released. Seattle starts a voluntary three-day minicamp on Tuesday.
"While we are still in the process of gathering information, we are aware of the situation involving Leroy Hill and take these issues very seriously," Seahawks GM John Schneider said in a statement late Monday afternoon. "We will wait to receive all the facts before commenting further."
Hill's latest run-in with the law came less than two weeks after he dealt with a marijuana charge in Georgia. On April 1, Hill received 12 months of probation in Georgia after pleading guilty to a charge of marijuana possession stemming from a January 2009 traffic stop in suburban Atlanta.
As part of his plea in Georgia, Hill agreed to complete an outpatient drug and alcohol abuse counseling program and 30 hours of community service.
Hill, who has started 61 of his 67 career games for Seattle, must also pay fines in Georgia totaling $500. He is subject to random drug testing. If he completes all the requirements in 12 months, he can petition the court to have the conviction erased from his record under the jurisdiction's conditional discharge program.
The 27-year-old Hill could be subject to testing and possible discipline in the NFL's confidential substance abuse program.
The Douglas County sheriff's office said last year that Hill had apparently fallen asleep behind the wheel at a major intersection early on a Saturday morning. Officers found less than one ounce of marijuana in the vehicle. Hill was released after posting a $1,500 bond.
Two days after the incident, Hill said he was embarrassed by "the poor judgment I showed."
The Seahawks then placed their franchise tag for 2009 on Hill to keep him from leaving for free agency. He refused to sign an $8.3 million tender offer but eventually signed a six-year contract worth a guaranteed $15.5 million. The deal could potentially be worth $38 million.
Hill's agent, Todd France, said last year that Seattle placing the franchise tag on Hill showed the marijuana incident was behind the Seahawks as of February 2009, and that his client remains a valued member of the team that drafted him in the third round out of Clemson in 2005.
-- Tim Booth
Jones joins Charles in crowded K.C. backfield
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Thomas Jones is worried about sharing the ball with Jamaal Charles, he's not saying.
The newest addition to a suddenly crowded Kansas City backfield insisted Monday that personal numbers are not uppermost in his mind.
"I signed here to help the team win," said Jones, who agreed to a two-year, $5 million free agent contract last month.
"If I get five carries, I get five carries. If I get 25 carries, I get 25 carries," he said. "All I can do at this point is prepare for the season like I've always done. That's how I've been all my career."
With the New York Jets last year, Jones got 331 carries in the regular season and wound up, counting the postseason, with 14 touchdowns and a career-best 1,402 yards. He was a key component in the Jets making it all the way to the AFC championship game.
But soon to be 32, he's almost nine years older than Charles, a blazing fast running back who burst into stardom in Kansas City last year after replacing the troubled Larry Johnson.
With just 10 starts and 190 carries, Charles piled up 1,120 yards rushing, including a team-record 249 yards in the season finale at Denver. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,100 yards on fewer than 200 carries and also had a long kickoff return for a TD.
At 5-foot-11, 190, Charles may have trouble absorbing a season-long pounding. Jones, an inch shorter but more than 20 pounds heavier, may be an effective tool in keeping the younger, faster man healthy and fresh.
If so, it's a role that Jones says he would accept.
"I think going through a 16-game season you need two or three running backs," he said. "It's a physical game. Especially if you have two change-of-pace guys with different running styles, it makes it harder for the defense to adjust. It makes it tougher for them to prepare for you all week."
Over the last eight games of the Chiefs' 4-12 season, Charles rolled up 968 yards rushing, second only to the 1,047 yards of Tennessee's Chris Johnson.
His emergence was hailed by Todd Haley as the greatest single development in his first year as head coach. Presumably, the Chiefs will go into camp figuring Charles as their first option.
"I think he's a great back," said Jones. "He's got great quickness, great speed, great balance. He's tough. And he's got a lot of heart."
It's the first time in franchise history the Chiefs will open camp with two running backs coming off 1,000-yard seasons. Jones said he's not worried about whatever role the Chiefs might have in mind for him.
"I've always been a team guy," he said. "For me, the more good players you have the better your chance of winning. There is no perfect number of carries. It's what you do with the numbers you have."
Jones will no doubt be asked to provide locker room leadership. Where Charles is quiet and sticks to himself, Jones was twice voted by the Jets players as their most inspirational teammate.
"It's about a team coming together," Jones said. "You can have a lot of good players on a team but if there's no chemistry, in those close games you're not going to be able to come together and find a way to win."
-- Doug Tucker
Charges dropped against Steelers kicker Reed
PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh judge has dismissed disorderly conduct and public drunkenness charges against Steelers kicker Jeff Reed.
Reed had been charged after an October 2009 confrontation with police outside of a bar. Judge Richard King dropped two charges against Reed in March and told Reed he would also dismiss the remaining two charges if Reed completed community service.
Reed did his community service with the Salvation Army. The judge dismissed the charges Monday.
Reed's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment Monday.
The charges marked the second time in 2009 that Reed had a run-in with the law. He paid fines and restitution after pleading guilty last year to damaging a paper towel dispenser in a Pittsburgh-area convenience store bathroom weeks after the Steelers won the Super Bowl.
Steelers re-sign Eason to one-year contract
PITTSBURGH — Defensive end Nick Eason has signed a one-year extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Eason started five games last season after defensive ends Aaron Smith and Travis Kirschke were injured. He has played in 69 career games with the Browns (2004-06) and Steelers (2007-09), making nine starts.
Eason signed with Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent in 2007.
Kirschke, 35, has not re-signed after spending six seasons with Pittsburgh — he has played in the NFL since 1997 — and is expected to retire. He did not miss a regular-season game with the Steelers due to injury until last season.
Redskins' Campbell signs tender, still seeks trade
WASHINGTON — Jason Campbell has signed his $3.1 million tender with the Washington Redskins, taking him off the market as a restricted free agent while leaving open the possibility of a trade.
Campbell was given permission to explore a trade after Donovan McNabb was acquired from Philadelphia last week. Campbell couldn't find a team that would make a suitable offer to him as a restricted free agent, so he signed the tender Monday.
The move puts the onus back on the Redskins to find a trade partner for Campbell. Their best chance might came during next week's draft. Campbell has stopped attending voluntary workouts at Redskins Park and is not expected to attend this weekend's three-day voluntary minicamp.
The Redskins also signed free agent nose tackle Anthony Bryant, who spent last year on the New York Giants practice squad.
Titans agree to terms with QB Chris Simms
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with Chris Simms, bringing back a quarterback they had in 2008 as he worked himself back into shape.
The Titans announced the move Monday, making Simms the third quarterback on the roster with Vince Young and Kerry Collins. But the addition of Simms might help the Titans push Collins to reduce his pay from the $5.5 million he is scheduled to earn this season backing up Young.
A third-round draft pick in 2003 by Tampa Bay, Simms is 7-9 as a starter and has thrown for 3,117 yards and 12 touchdowns with his best season in 2005 when he led the Bucs to the playoffs. He spent last season in Denver and started one game.
Vikings re-sign Cook, Evans, Frampton
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed restricted free agents Ryan Cook, Fred Evans and Eric Frampton.
Evans is a key backup at defensive tackle behind starters Kevin and Pat Williams. He will earn almost $1.8 million after signing the second-round tender the team placed on him.
Cook is a swing player on the offensive line, with the ability to play guard, center and tackle. He was a regular starter at right tackle early in his career but has since been supplanted by Phil Loadholt. With top reserve Artis Hicks signing in Washington, Cook's versatility will be needed next season.
Frampton is a safety who plays primarily on special teams.
Bears re-sign LB Tinoisamoa
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have re-signed unrestricted free agent Pisa Tinoisamoa after the linebacker missed most of last season with an injured right knee.
Signed before last season, Tinoisamoa tore the posterior cruciate ligament during the opener at Green Bay, an injury that ultimately ended his season. He was inactive for the next three games, and started against Atlanta on Oct. 18 before being carted off the field. He went on injured reserve in December, finishing with five tackles and one forced fumble.
Before coming to Chicago, he spent six seasons in St. Louis where he registered 661 total tackles with 10 sacks and seven interceptions.
Bengals re-sign RG Bobbie Williams
CINCINNATI — Right guard Bobbie Williams has agreed to a two-year deal to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals, allowing them to keep their offensive line intact from last season.
The 33-year-old lineman started all 17 games at right guard, including a playoff loss to the Jets. Williams has been with the Bengals for the last six seasons, and wanted to stay even though he was an unrestricted free agent.
Williams was the only Bengals lineman to start in his same position last season, when Cincinnati went through a year of transition. The Bengals emphasized the run last year and finished ninth with 128.5 yards per game.
Panthers ink Francisco to add special teams depth
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have made an upgrade with their struggling special teams by signing safety Aaron Francisco. The six-year veteran has played for Arizona and Indianapolis, and had two special teams tackles for the Colts in last season's Super Bowl.
A four-year starter at BYU, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound Francisco went undrafted out of college before signing with Arizona in 2005. He served as the Cardinals' special teams captain in 2007 and '08.
Monday's move is a boost for the Panthers, who ranked near the bottom of the league in punt and kickoff coverage last season.
Detroit Lions, DE DeVries complete 1-year deal
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have signed defensive end Jared DeVries to a one-year contract.
The team confirmed the agreement Monday, but did not disclose details.
Devries was released in February after missing last season following surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon. He started 29 games the previous three seasons for the Lions and has played in 120 games for them since they drafted him out of Iowa in 1999.
OL Strief coming back to Saints
NEW ORLEANS — Saints reserve offensive tackle Zach Strief has agreed to return to New Orleans for another season.
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel says Strief, a restricted free agent this offseason, signed his tender offer from the club on Monday. The Saints had offered Strief about $1.76 million.
Strief played in every game last season, starting twice at tackle during the regular season. He also subbed in routinely as a blocking tight end. Strief, 26, was drafted out of Northwestern in the seventh round in 2006. He has played in 57 regular-season games, starting five. He also has appeared in all five of the Saints' playoff games since he joined the club.
Raiders re-sign LB Sam Williams
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders have re-signed free agent outside linebacker Sam Williams.
The team announced the deal on its Web site Monday. Williams is one of the longest tenured Raiders, joining the team as a third-round draft pick out of Fresno State in 2003. The only players with longer continuous service on the team are punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski.
Williams played mostly on special teams last season, making 10 solo tackles. In 68 career games, he has 77 solo tackles, one sack, one interception and two fumble recoveries.
Bills sign RB Rodney Ferguson
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have signed running back Rodney Ferguson on Monday.
Ferguson spent part of 2009 on the Tennessee Titans practice squad after being signed as an undrafted free agent.
He rushed for 3,564 yards on 778 carries and 34 touchdowns at New Mexico, where he was a first-team, All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2006 and 2007.
Sixteen players to attend draft
NEW YORK — Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy are among 16 players who have accepted invitations to the NFL draft. The Oklahoma quarterback and the defensive tackles from Nebraska and Oklahoma are projected to be the top three picks on April 22.
With the draft extended to three days, the first two in prime time, the NFL has increased the number of player invitations. Also accepting are running backs C.J. Spiller of Clemson and Jahvid Best of Cal; cornerbacks Joe Haden of Florida and Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest; offensive tackles Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, Bryan Bulaga of Iowa and Trent Williams of Oklahoma; defensive tackles Lamarr Houston of Texas, Jared Odrick of Penn State and Dan Williams of Tennessee; defensive end Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech; receiver Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech and safety Eric Berry of Tennessee.
