NFL Capsules: Texans sign McManis

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have signed fifth-round draft pick Sherrick McManis.

McManis, a cornerback, was selected with the 144th overall pick in this year’s draft from Northwestern.

He had 37 tackles and a team-high five interceptions last season for the Wildcats. He had nine interceptions in his career at Northwestern to rank sixth on the school’s list. His 30 career pass breakups are third most in school history.

Terms of the deal were not released.

Seahawks abruptly waive RB LenDale White

SEATTLE — The Seahawks unexpectedly waived running back LenDale White on Friday just weeks after the splashy draft-day trade that brought him to Seattle from Tennessee.

"It became apparent at this time that LenDale was not ready to be a member of the Seattle Seahawks," general manager John Schneider said.

He did not elaborate. NFL Network, citing unnamed sources, reported Friday that White was "likely" facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy.

"We have not announced any such suspension," league spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Friday night. "I have no other information on it."

The list of players enrolled in the league’s substance-abuse program for a prior incident, and therefore subject to discipline, is confidential.

The former USC star was seemingly getting a second chance as a pro in Seattle, maybe to even become a starter again, while being reunited with his former college coach, Pete Carroll.

Issues with weight, work ethic and the emergence last season of Chris Johnson cost him his job with the Titans.

"I was a lot younger in my mind, honestly," the 25-year-old White said Monday of his early seasons in the NFL and with Tennessee. "I put myself in a lot of situations."

The Seahawks gave up on White after he had only limited chances to display his work ethic — and months before he was even going to put on full pads. He participated in just one minicamp and a handful of organized team activities on the practice field before the team waived him.

White had lost more than 45 pounds over the last year and a half. He was down to 220 in his brief stay with the Seahawks.

White said he wanted to get back up to 228 pounds for this season. Seattle’s starting job seemed within his reach as Carroll opened every position to competition.

He missed one day of organized team activities this month. He said on Monday there was some "family stuff I had to take care of.

"I think in the last six months I’ve grown up a lot more," he said.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages left by the AP.

Herman White, the running back’s uncle, said the agent was on the phone late Friday afternoon with his client sorting out a confusing sequence in which the Seahawks announced on their website around noon Pacific that White had been released, only to take down the announcement soon after.

About 90 minutes later, Schneider made it official in a statement released by the team.

When asked if they had any idea why Seattle made the move, Herman White said "we really can’t comment ... we’re trying to find out what’s true and what’s not." He did not immediately return subsequent calls.

Earlier this week, White said he felt great. He again thanked Carroll for rescuing him from his dead end in Tennessee.

"Going from ‘SC, back-to-back national championships to not playing at all, it’s a life-changing thing," White said Monday. "But I’m still here. Pete gave me another chance. I don’t think I’ve been this healthy since I was 18 years old."

Carroll had said Monday that the team would see how everything fit together with White.

"He’s got a long ways to go to get back in here with this club, but we’re going to certainly wait it out and see how it does," he said.

The wait lasted all of four days.

"It just did not appear to be the right fit at this point in our program," Schneider said. "We wish LenDale all the best with his future."

-- Gregg Bell

D coordinator Nolan getting settled with Dolphins

Eds: RECASTS; UPDATES with quotes, details; ADDS photo.

DAVIE, Fla. — Mike Nolan apparently is no fan of defense. Which is surprising, given the career path he’s chosen.

He’s the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, remember. So when explaining his core philosophy on Friday, after the Dolphins completed the first practice of a three-day minicamp, Nolan broke out a term that a lot of coaches in his position probably wouldn’t use too often.

"You work towards being offensive," Nolan said. "You don’t want to be defensive."

To him, it makes sense. The Dolphins’ hierarchy obviously believes in Nolan’s thinking as well, proven by how swiftly they moved to close a deal with him January. Nolan’s hiring was announced by Miami — which also courted Al Groh and Keith Butler for the job — less than 24 hours after news broke of his departure from the Denver Broncos.

So between now and September’s start of the season, Nolan’s in a dual role. He’ll teach that offensive — in other words, aggressive — style of defense to the Dolphins, while continuing to get caught up on learning about players he inherited from the 2009 team and ones added since.

"I always had a great deal of respect for his defense and more importantly, his defensive philosophy," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "I always felt like those guys did a great job of changing the math on defense. When you felt like you had enough people to block them, there was always somebody else there."

And as far as that "offensive" way of thinking about defense, Sparano totally understands.

"What he’s talking about there, people always think the offense is the team that pushes the tempo," Sparano said. "They take it to you. To be offensive, you’ve got to be high-flying. You’ve got to be pushing the ball ... and when Mike talks about being offensive, he talks about setting the pace and maybe dictating to the offense a little bit more as opposed to the other way around."

Sparano and Nolan met just a few years ago, talking football at a combine. Unbeknownst to Sparano at the time, he was on Nolan’s list of possible candidates for a coordinator’s job in San Francisco. The two stayed in touch, even after Nolan got fired by the 49ers as their head coach in 2008.

Oddly, they’re together now as coach and coordinator, just now with Sparano sitting at the head of the table and Nolan serving as a lieutenant.

"He’s got a real good reputation," Dolphins second-year cornerback Sean Smith said. "Everyone knows that."

That he does, bolstered by more than two decades — or really, his entire life — around the NFL.

Nolan’s father, Dick Nolan, was a longtime NFL coach after his playing days ended, and took his kid to plenty of practices when he was growing up, the significance of which was lost on the boy at the time.

Naturally, it planted some seeds for which roads the kid would travel.

After four college stops as an assistant, Nolan’s time coaching in the NFL started with the Broncos in 1987. As a 35-year-old in 1993, he became the youngest defensive coordinator in the league when the Giants hired him. From there, he went to Washington, back to New York with the Jets, then four years with the Ravens (including one season coaching wide receivers) before the 49ers gave him the head coaching opportunity in 2005.

That stint, Nolan said, has made him a better coordinator.

Through being a head coach, Nolan has an "appreciation of what the other guy has to do," he said. "Respect for that job."

He spent last season in Denver, helping the Broncos to a quick 6-0 start, only to see the team fade down the stretch and miss the playoffs. The Dolphins defense — long the stronger side of the franchise — took some steps back in 2009 as well, and Bill Parcells decided to bring Nolan back to his side. Nolan worked for the Jets when Parcells ran the operation there.

"I’ve known the people here and I’ve respected the people here, whether it was (general manager Jeff Ireland), Bill, Tony, all three of those guys," Nolan said. "I’ve probably known Bill the best when he was the GM of the Jets, but the other two guys, I knew as acquaintances and respected them."

And the decision to come to Miami, Nolan said, was an easy one.

"I didn’t have a job," Nolan said. "I needed a job, so there wasn’t too much thinking."

-- Tim Reynolds

Dolphins’ Merling on field after assault arrest

DAVIE, Fla. — Defensive end Phillip Merling was in practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday, less than 24 hours being freed from jail following an aggravated battery charge against a pregnant woman.

Merling did not speak with reporters.

He was arrested in Weston, Fla. on Wednesday, then released from Broward County Jail on Thursday afternoon after posting $15,000 bond. The court ordered him to have no direct or indirect contact with the woman, who is his girlfriend, along with other restrictions like banning him from possessing firearms while out on bond.

Court records show the woman is 2 months pregnant with the couple’s second child.

Merling is the fourth Dolphins player to be arrested this offseason, something coach Tony Sparano called "frustrating."

"We’ll let the process play itself out," Sparano said. "We’ll see what happens."

Sparano also said the NFL is investigating the incident, and that the Dolphins are helping the league gather facts.

"There’s a lot of facts out there right now and a lot of information and a lot of assumptions," Sparano said. "I’m not a judge. I’m going to gather it. I’m going to sit down. I’m going to visit with him. I’m going to talk to him about my end in the thing, which I’ve done already, and we’re going to let the people that make the decisions down the road make some of those decisions, too."

The Dolphins have already seen defensive tackle Tony McDaniel arrested this offseason on suspicion of domestic violence. Running back Ronnie Brown and cornerback Will Allen have been charged with DUI.

"We discuss distractions," Sparano said. "Those things have been discussed, without a doubt, and were discussed a little bit more today. But I’ll keep the rest of it in-house right now. You know, that’s the situation right now. It really is a situation right now that we’re dealing closely with the league with."

-- Tim Reynolds

Sharper relishing his return to the Big Easy

METAIRIE, La. — Darren Sharper’s crutches are long gone.

He walks without a trace of a limp, nothing wrapped on his surgically repaired left knee.

He has a constant, knowing smile on his face, as if his return to the defending champion Saints — after testing free agency — is working out as planned.

"The luxury of the position I’ve been in and playing for the amount of years is that money is not a factor now," said Sharper, who’ll be entering his 14th season next fall and is the NFL’s active leader in interceptions with 63.

"It’s playing on a winning team, enjoying what we experienced last year, feeling like playing with the guys in this locker room, playing in this city, was worth much more than money," he said.

After an All-Pro season, Sharper was bound to draw interest as a free agent, despite the fact that he’ll turn 35 on Nov. 3 and is coming off a microfracture procedure that requires several months of patient rehabilitation to ensure that new cartilage forming in his knee joint holds firmly in place.

The New York Giants were among the teams showing interest in Sharper, who also visited Jacksonville shortly before he agreed to return to New Orleans for a base salary of nearly $1.6 million with bonuses of about $1 million tied to the number of games he plays.

"Sharp made it clear that it would take a very unique situation for him to leave what he considers the perfect place to play," Joel Segal, Sharper’s agent, said of the five-time Pro Bowl player’s return to the Saints.

Sharper became a fan favorite in one season in New Orleans, highlighted by his nine interceptions returned for an NFL single-season record 376 yards — with three interceptions brought back for touchdowns.

It wasn’t only his play that brought the boisterous Louisiana Superdome crowd to its feet. On the sideline, he routinely engaged fans, leading them in team’s well known cheer: "Who dat say dey gonna’ beat dem Saints?"

He was a constant presence in New Orleans even while he was a free agent. He showed up — on crutches — for a premiere of the Saints’ championship DVD in late March, attended several autograph sessions in the metro area and sat courtside at a number of New Orleans Hornets, standing up and acknowledging the roaring crowd each time he was shown on the video screen.

After all that, Sharper knew he’d have a tough time leaving, even though he was impressed by his meetings with the Jaguars.

"The city of Jacksonville is a little bit different than New Orleans and we all know that, and I just kind of grew a little bit of a bond here and that was a big part of me coming back," Sharper said.

Sharper attended the Saints’ set of voluntary offseason practices this week but did not participate fully, still focusing on his rehabilitation.

He remains unsure of his status for minicamp June 4-6, but said he hopes to be full speed by training camp at the end of July.

"It could be before that," Sharper said. "I’ve been a fast healer in my career and I truly expect to do that ... and come back quicker than expected."

Coach Sean Payton has said Sharper looks good and that he expects him to regain a prominent role in the defense, as long as he focuses on his health.

"His role is hopefully the same. The key is going to be the rehabilitation of the injury and getting back into his playing shape," Payton said. "That’s really where his challenge lies. He does have good instincts, a way of being around the ball and good ball skills. I think more important than anything else it is battling the health issues."

When Sharper’s free-agent status lasted into May, fans in New Orleans were clearly nervous. At one point, Sharper found out about an idea being kicked about Internet chat sites for fans throughout the area to pledge a dollar or two each to a pool that might supplement whatever shortfall existed in the Saints’ contract offer.

Sharper called that "the funniest thing" he saw during the offseason.

"I said, ‘You don’t have to do that. I’m all right,"’ he recalled, chuckling.

In the end, Saints fans got what they wanted — and it seems Sharper did, too.

"You don’t want to be a journeyman when it comes to the end of your career, but I still wanted to play football," Sharper said. "If it came to the point in my career where the only opportunity was to go somewhere else, I wanted to play, so it could have happened, but I was just happy that I was able to continue my career here and end the story right."

-- Brett Martel

Sullivan faces new challenge as Giants QB coach

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mike Sullivan might have done the best coaching job of anyone on the New York Giants last season.

Faced with the loss of veterans Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, Sullivan turned a group of young, inexperienced receivers into sure-handed targets that become the catalyst of the offense.

Tom Coughlin has a new job for Sullivan this season, and it might even be a little tougher.

Sullivan has replaced Chris Palmer as quarterbacks coach and been told to make Eli Manning even better. It’s no small task, considering Manning is coming off what might be considered a career year.

"From the standpoint of my role, it’s to make sure that from a consistency standpoint, that those great performances we’ve seen him have in the past, and some of the great things he has done, that we stay out of those valleys and that he keeps that performance consistently at a higher level," Sullivan said.

Sullivan is no stranger to Manning. The two joined the team six years ago when Manning was the first pick overall in the draft and Sullivan was among the first hires by Coughlin.

Manning said the transition has been going well, noting that there has been a lot of give-and-take between him and Sullivan over what drills to use and how to work on things like foot work, mechanics and movement in the pocket.

"It hasn’t been a big transition because he has been with this offense," Manning said. "We came in the same year and before that he was with coach Coughlin (in Jacksonville) and knows this offense very well. A lot of it is communication, how I see things, how I read things from a quarterback perspective. He is more used to a receiver perspective."

Sullivan said it has been interesting to question Manning about plays after workouts.

There have been times when he felt Manning might have missed something and was surprised to hear the quarterback tell him something that he didn’t realize. There also have been times when Manning agreed that he should have stayed with a receiver longer or done something differently.

"It is foolish as a coach if you are not constantly trying to get a player’s perspective," Sullivan said. "They are the ones doing it. Our job as a coach is to put them in position to make plays and help them see things in a way they can’t see themselves."

The give and take with Manning is different than a year ago, when Sullivan worked with the likes of Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Dominek Hixon, Sinorice Moss and Ramses Barden, all who had four years or less experience.

What Sullivan said was basically gospel and the receivers were great in helping Manning throw for 4,021 yards and 27 touchdowns.

The success prompted Sullivan to ask Coughlin about the quarterback coaching job after Palmer left the team to become the new coach of Hartford in the UFL.

"While I enjoyed my time with the receiver corps and couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishments last year, the fact I could expand my horizon and coach a new position, a position that is involved in every aspect of the play calling, the run game and pass game, it gives me the chance to sink my teeth into more of the offense and I’m excited about that."

In becoming a quarterbacks coach, Sullivan has combined things he has learned from other coaches, talked to Coughlin, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, an old coaching buddy from Jacksonville.

Sullivan has not decided whether he will keep some of Palmer’s quirkier drills, including the one in which the quarterbacks tried to hit colored targets or a dodgeball game. But he may just use them if Manning wants it.

"It makes my job easy when you have someone who is so committed to trying to improve," Sullivan said.

-- Tom Canavan

Fiery Westhoff rebuilding Jets’ special teams unit

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mike Westhoff was in midseason form, growling at his players and using some choice words to stress his point.

It’s only May, but the New York Jets’ special teams coordinator needs to be intense. He’s rebuilding a unit that lost several key members from last season, including the kicker, long snapper and special teams ace.

"There are some big, big challenges," Westhoff told The Associated Press. "We all have challenges, but I probably have the biggest. Yet, I have no lack of confidence thinking that I can’t do it. It can be frustrating, but I think I see the whole picture."

That being that the NFL is a business, and teams lose significant players every season because of financial decisions or changes in philosophy. Roster turnover is just part of it, something Westhoff has experienced quite a bit in nearly 30 years coaching in the NFL.

"I’m used to it," Westhoff said. "It’s part of the system. We probably have a smaller pool from which to draw because of some of the moves we’ve made. And, that’s OK. I think for the most part, most of the guys, I feel pretty good about."

For coach Rex Ryan, having Westhoff means he doesn’t need to worry about special teams — no matter what the roster looks like.

"There’s no better guy in the league to have than Westy," Ryan said. "It’s great as a head coach (when) you can lay your head on that pillow knowing you’re going to be able to protect the punter, knowing you’re going to be able to cover kicks."

Adversity is nothing new for the 62-year-old Westhoff, who has battled back from cancer in his left leg and several subsequent operations. He’s in his 10th season with the Jets and 28th in the NFL, and has long been regarded as one of the league’s special teams gurus.

"He’s pretty straightforward and holds nothing back or sugar coats anything," linebacker Lance Laury said.

Westhoff said the Jets’ special teams unit ranked fifth last season and could have been No. 1 if not for two 100-yard returns by Miami’s Ted Ginn Jr.

"It’s only two plays," he said, "but they still bother me."

The biggest question Westhoff faces might be whether Nick Folk will be able to replace Jay Feely, who went to Arizona after not being re-signed by New York. Folk was a Pro Bowl pick as a rookie in 2007, but struggled through last season after he had a torn labrum in his right hip repaired in the offseason.

"Nick has been a guy who we’ve made a couple of adjustments, not with his technique, but his alignment," Westhoff said. "I feel very good about that. He’s coming off not a great year, but we’ll see. So far, he’s done OK."

There’s also the issue of long snapper after veteran James Dearth was not re-signed. Dearth was consistently good in his nine seasons with the Jets, but the team opted to go younger at that spot and signed Tanner Purdum.

"He’s a very good snapper," Westhoff said of Purdum. "He can snap. Now, will he hold up under the pressure and is he strong enough? We’re going to find all those things out. He’s got some basics. We’re going to put him in that position and let him compete for it."

One mostly overlooked move during the offseason was the Jets allowing Wallace Wright to sign with Carolina as a free agent. Wright was a spot player on offense as a wide receiver, but played one of the most important roles on special teams as the flyer or gunner. Westhoff is looking at using speedy wide receiver David Clowney as Wright’s replacement.

"I know I can do it," Clowney said. "That’s not a question. I come from a special teams college at Virginia Tech. I started at flyer for my last two years of college. It’s something I’m not new to."

It could mean the difference between being cut or remaining on the roster. With Jerricho Cotchery, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Brad Smith ahead of him on the depth chart, Clowney needs to show he can be versatile.

"I’m giving him every opportunity," Westhoff said.

Westhoff said punter Steve Weatherford is kicking the ball the best he’s seen. He’s also excited about the prospect of having Smith return kicks on a regular basis after averaging 30.1 yards on 10 returns last season.

First-round pick Kyle Wilson also is expected to have a large role on special teams, as are Laury, Eric Smith, James Ihedigbo, Dwight Lowery and Marquice Cole. Speedy cornerback Antonio Cromartie also might be used by Westhoff.

"I’ve got my work cut out for me," Westhoff said. "But, I think we have a chance with the guys we’ve got."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

Stars missing, but Turner’s happy with minicamp

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers completed their three-day minicamp with a thumbs-up from coach Norv Turner.

"We got a lot accomplished," Turner said Friday.

While Turner was upbeat, it was apparent the Chargers were minus some key players as they worked to bounce back from their embarrassing playoff loss to the New York Jets.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman, left tackle Marcus McNeill and wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd boycotted the sessions, upset over being tendered one-year contracts as restricted free agents.

While it might be a big deal to some, quarterback Philip Rivers wasn't overly concerned.

"I don't like to minimize the significance of practice," Rivers said, "but it is May."

With the veterans absent, many eyes were trained on running back Ryan Mathews. The former Fresno State star was the Chargers' top draft pick and is option No. 1 in replacing LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson was released in the offseason and landed with the Jets.

Mathews wasn't able to attend last week's offseason training sessions.

"Every day I think they pick things up faster," Turner said of the rookies. "If you're Ryan Mathews and playing running back and you got (Darren) Sproles there, Jacob (Hester) there and (Mike) Tolbert there, those are guys that really understand what we are doing. So they help speed the process. Ryan is a real sharp guy and I'm really pleased in what he got done this week.'

"One thing that is exciting is when he knows what to do and gets that ball in his hands. He is an exciting runner."

Tight end Antonio Gates was restricted to watching practice after being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Gates said he will rest his right foot two to three weeks before he resumes running.

"You see guys out here working hard and you want to be a part of it," said Gates, whose past injuries were to his left foot. "But you got to take care of issues off the field; take care of my foot and make sure I stay healthy. Because ultimately September is when it really starts and I'm looking forward to that."

NFL’s Goodell commencement speaker at UMass-Lowell

LOWELL, Mass. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at UMass-Lowell.

Roger Goodell will be introduced by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Goodell and other family members will also accept a posthumous honorary degree for their father, the late U.S. Sen. Charles Goodell. He served in the U.S. House before being appointed to serve out Robert F. Kennedy’s Senate term after Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. Charles Goodell died in 1987.

UMass-Lowell eliminated its football program in 2003 due to budget cuts.

Brother of Giants’ Kiwanuka injured in Ind. crash

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police say the brother of New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka has been critically injured in a motorcycle accident on the city’s northwest side.

Police say the Kiwanuka brothers were riding separate motorcycles at high speed on Lafayette Road on Friday when a car pulled out of an apartment complex and 32-year-old Benedict Kiwanuka struck it. Police say he was thrown about 100 feet and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Mathias Kiwanuka didn’t hit the car and was not injured. The car’s driver had minor injuries.

Mathias Kiwanuka graduated from Indianapolis Cathedral High School and was a first-round draft pick by New York in 2006. He also played at Boston College.

Bears sign 3rd-round pick S Wright to 4-year deal

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have signed Florida safety Major Wright to a four-year deal, putting their last unsigned draft pick under contract. The team announced the deal Friday.

The Bears selected Wright with their first overall pick, taking the 5-foot-11, 206-pound defender in the third round. He started three years for the Gators and came out for the draft as a junior after making eight career interceptions and 165 tackles.

The Bears have been looking for a free safety who can help settle a secondary that has struggled since the team reached the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.