NFL Capsules: Chmura, Fleming, Koch inducted into Packers Hall

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Mark Chmura was pretty sure this day would never come.

The former Green Bay tight end was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame on Saturday despite a career that was tarnished by a sexual assault allegation.

A vital cog on the Packers’ two Super Bowl teams in the 1990s and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, Chmura called this the “icing on the cake” of his football life.

He was joined by Glory Years tight end Marv Fleming and 1980s offensive tackle Greg Koch in the hall’s 40th class of inductees.

Chmura caught 188 passes for 2,253 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career in Green Bay, but many best remember him for a high-profile sexual assault trial at the end of his career. A girl who was 17 at the time accused him of assaulting her in a bathroom during a post-prom party at a friend’s home in April 2000.

He was acquitted in February 2001 and retired from football four months later.

“I saw all the guys from my era going in,” Chmura said before the ceremony. “I probably wasn’t too sure whether I was going to go in. The last couple of years, I kind of skirted away, didn’t follow too much who was going, because probably in the back of my mind, I didn’t really know if I was going to be able to.”

Chmura was a sixth-round pick in 1992 who almost quit early in his first training camp because of a bad back. He was convinced to stick around by then-head coach Mike Holmgren and tight ends coach Andy Reid, spending the year on injured reserve.

Although the Packers Hall of Fame is located at Lambeau Field, it operates as a nonprofit corporation independent from the team.

Saturday’s enshrinement came a day after current defensive end Johnny Jolly was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for an undisclosed violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy

He is facing drug charges in Houston after his July 2008 arrest outside a club for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison.

Koch, now a lawyer in Houston, talked at length about honor and character.

“If I were talking to young players today, I’d say, ‘Let me tell you something. You have just hit the lottery,”’ he said. “‘Don’t ask me how I know this, but if you’re going to an ATM at 2 o’clock in the morning, it’s never for a good reason. Get off the street, play this game. You’ve hit the lottery. Don’t do anything to screw that up.”

Jets WRs Clowney, Holmes heading to Ghana

NEW YORK — David Clowney has been all over the map this summer, working with charities from New Jersey to Haiti.

Next stop: Ghana. And, he’s bringing new teammate and longtime friend Santonio Holmes with him.

The New York Jets wide receivers will leave for the West African country on Monday as part of a small group that will visit a children’s hospital, schools and orphanages during the weeklong trip. They’ll also set up a game in the capital city of Accra to teach children about American football.

“We’ve got so many things that we’re going to do while we’re out there,” Clowney told The Associated Press on Saturday. “It’s going to be ridiculous. We’ll do some sightseeing, too, and checking out the area itself, but for the most part it will be about the kids. We’re just going to try to help however we can.”

Through donations to his David Clowney Foundation, the receiver is bringing about 250 pounds of children’s clothing with him. He’ll also be donating $1,000 to each hospital the group visits.

The group will arrive in Ghana on Tuesday morning, and will return the following Monday.

Clowney, who had 14 catches and a touchdown last season, spent three days in Haiti in March as part of a missionary group that included teammates James Ihedigbo and Vernon Gholston and former cornerback Ahmad Carroll. They worked with members of Yele Haiti, musician Wyclef Jean’s charity, to help with the relief and recovery efforts following the earthquake in January.

Inspired by that trip, Clowney planned a visit to Ghana to help children there.

“I’m super excited about it,” he said. “Just thinking about all the work we got done in Haiti in just those three days, I think we’re going to get an extreme amount of work done while trying to help the kids and families of Ghana.”

It’s the last stop in a charity-filled offseason for Clowney, who has also held a camp and celebrity basketball event in his home state of Florida and worked with teammates’ events in cities such as Detroit and Birmingham, Alabama. The Jets report for training camp on Aug. 1.

Clowney has known Holmes since the two competed against each other in track in high school. They both grew up in Florida’s Palm Beach County, and became NFL teammates in April when the Jets acquired Holmes from Pittsburgh.

Clowney’s role with the team was clouded by Holmes’ arrival, but the two aren’t letting that get in the way of their friendship. Holmes is suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, giving Clowney a chance to make an impact.

“I’ve known Santonio since I was in 10th grade,” Clowney said. “Him coming to New York was not the first time I was meeting him. We’ve always been good friends. With him in the picture now, of course these first four games, I’m going to have to do everything I can every time the ball comes my way. Even when he comes back, as long as we go to the Super Bowl and win, I’m going to be happy.”

Clowney was pleased when Holmes told him he’d make the trip to Ghana with him.

“I convinced him to come out and show a little love and he made the choice to come and help me,” Clowney said. “I really appreciate him doing that.”

Clowney, Holmes and a few other Jets teammates — including wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Aundrae Allison, tight end Dustin Keller and fullback Tony Richardson — also recently participated in a passing camp set up by Mark Sanchez in Southern California. It gave them a chance to solidify their bond with the second-year quarterback, who missed a good chunk of the offseason workouts while recovering from surgery on his left knee.

“It was really good,” Clowney said. “We ended up really getting a lot done.”

The camp — dubbed “Jets West” — ran from Monday and concluded Friday. It wasn’t all work, though, for the players who paid their way to get there but were treated to some events by Sanchez. They attended the All-Star game and home run derby in Anaheim, Calif., and the ESPY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The group also stayed at the lush Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach.

“It was a nice little week for us,” Clowney said. “Some of the guys brought their families. It was just a good opportunity for us to be close and stay together.”

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

McCoy hopes to reach Bucs camp on time

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s not just because they’re longtime buddies that Gerald McCoy is watching with interest as No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford negotiates his first contract with the St. Louis Rams.

McCoy’s desire to get to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp on time in two weeks also hinges heavily on how long it takes his former college teammate to sign.

McCoy was selected two picks after Bradford in the draft and he doesn’t think his contract talks with the Bucs will heat up until Bradford’s deal is done. He said Saturday night that he’s “waiting on King Sam.”

Before throwing out the first pitch at a minor league baseball game, McCoy said he wants to be there when Tampa Bay opens training camp on July 31, but “while an opportunity presents itself for you to get paid, you need to get as much as you can.”

-- Jeff Latzke