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With jobs on line, Harbaughs Ravens brawl at minicamp

By Rob Carr (AP)

The Baltimore Ravens are doing more than merely fighting for jobs at their first mandatory minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh. They're fighting each other, too.

Nearly all 85 players in camp were involved in a squabble Saturday that began when offensive tackle Oniel Cousins and defensive tackle Amon Gordon threw punches after running back Allen Patrick was taken down hard on a burst up the middle. All the players surged toward the middle of the field, and it was nearly two minutes before peace was restored.

"Guys are competing, so tempers flare a little bit," Harbaugh...

By Haraz N. Ghanbari (AP)

A federal judge ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan. The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge _ and the resulting impact on his career _ prevented him from repaying the loan.

According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Newport News, the loan's terms specify that any employment change negatively impacting Vick's income constitutes a default on the loan.

Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. penitentiary...

By Michael Conroy (AP)

The Colts have put their tag-team runners _ Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes _ back together.

The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts. Rhodes' agent, Mike McCartney confirmed the signing Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press although he did not disclose financial details.

The move means Indy will have two 1,000-yard runners in its backfield next season.

What fans will remember most about the two runners is their impressive 2006 playoff run.

As they...

By Michael Dwyer (AP)

Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that show New England violated league rules by recording opposing coaches' playcalling signals.

The tapes include signals by coaches of five opponents in six games from 2000-02, but don't include video from the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl.

The NFL said it received a letter from Michael Levy, the lawyer for Walsh, detailing the tapes that were scheduled to arrive Thursday at the league's New York offices.

The tapes sent to the NFL show the Patriots recorded signals in reg...

By Michael Dwyer (AP)

Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that show New England violated league rules by recording opposing coaches' playcalling signals.

The tapes include signals by coaches of five opponents in six games from 2000-02, but don't include video from the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl.

The NFL said it received a letter from Michael Levy, the lawyer for Walsh, detailing the tapes that were scheduled to arrive Thursday at the league's New York offices.

The tapes sent to the NFL show the Patriots recorded signals in reg...

By Mark Humphrey (AP)

The Tennessee Titans will be holding a minicamp without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

The Titans are due to hit the field Thursday and Friday as part of their on-field training, but they will not have arguably their best defensive player with them.

"Albert is continuing to work out on his own," agent Chad Speck said in an e-mail.

The Titans tagged Haynesworth as their franchise player in February to keep him from leaving as an unrestricted free agent. Tennessee must reach a long-term contract deal with Haynesworth by July 15. If that doesn't happen, the team can ...

By H. Rumph Jr (AP)

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid's son was sent to state prison after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail. Garrett Reid pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges on Wednesday and faces a minimum of two years in state prison.

The 25-year-old Reid, however, could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he is accepted into a drug-treatment program, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Reid is already serving time in the county jail for a heroin-fueled car crash that injured a motorist. Jail officials say he...

By (AP)

Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson believes officers used excessive force against him and plans to fight charges he operated a boat while intoxicated and resisted arrest on a Texas lake over the weekend.

"He denies that he was intoxicated," attorney Brian Carney said Monday. "He denies that he resisted arrest."

Benson is scheduled to appear in Travis County Court on May 19 to face charges stemming from an incident Saturday night.

Benson failed a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat on Lake Travis near Austin and resisted arrest before being hit with peppe...

By JEFF ROBERSON (AP)

Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was charged with failing a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat, then resisting arrest before being hit with pepper spray and dragged ashore by officers.

Benson faces charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest after the incident Saturday night on Lake Travis, Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Roger Wade said.

Benson was released from jail early Sunday on a $14,500 bond. A call to Benson's agent was not immediately returned.

Benson was operating the boat with 15 passengers aboard when he was...

By JEFF ROBERSON (AP)

Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson faces criminal charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

Authorities say Benson was operating a 30-foot boat carrying about 15 passengers on Lake Travis on Saturday when he was stopped, then failed a field sobriety test. Officials say an officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson.

Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Roger Wade says Benson was freed from jail on a $14,500 bond Sunday morning.

The 25-year-old Benson was the Bears' first-round pick in 2005 after starring at the University of...

By (AP)

The older brother of New York Jets safety Abram Elam was fatally shot, the third sibling in the family to die by gunfire since 1987.

Riviera Beach police officers were called to the scene of a shooting at about 12:35 p.m. Friday, and found Donald Charles Elam shot in the lower back, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office news release.

Donald Elam, 33, was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

"Abram learned this afternoon that his brother has been killed; the circumstances of his death are still unclear," the Jets said in a statement. "Our thoughts ...

By (AP)

The Green Bay Packers have released Koren Robinson, the wide receiver whose struggles with alcohol led to an NFL suspicion and jail time.

The team announced his release Friday.

Robinson completed a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy in October. He also has served jail time for a high-speed chase with police in Minnesota in 2006. But he appeared to put his troubles behind him, impressing teammates with his work ethic and efforts to stay clean.

He had 21 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown in nine games last season. Green Bay signed him...

By (AP)

The Tennessee Titans have some salary cap space for 2008 and would like to use it on some of their own players.

The Titans held a minicamp with a closed session Thursday and an open practice Friday without franchise player Albert Haynesworth, who is working out on his own. Right tackle David Stewart, who has not signed his $2.01 million tender, is present under a waiver.

This franchise has been criticized heavily over the past year for having lots of salary cap space and not using it on big-name free agents.

Instead, the Titans have been much more selective, signing...

By (AP)

Browns linebacker Willie McGinest says the 2008 season will be his last.

McGinest told SI.com that he wants to finish his career on one last playoff run.

McGinest played 12 seasons and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Browns in 2006.

In two seasons with Cleveland, McGinest hasn't been the pass-rushing threat that he was with the Patriots. He has seven sacks and 107 tackles in 27 games for the Browns.

He had 78 sacks with New England, set the record for most postseason sacks with 16 and the...

By (AP)

A federal judge in Virginia has ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.

The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to federal dogfighting charges _ and the resulting impact on his career _ prevented him from repaying the loan.

According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Newport News, the loan's terms specify that any employment change negatively impacting Vick's income constitutes a default on the loan.

Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence after...

By (AP)

The Colts have put their tag-team runners _ Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes _ back together.

The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts. Rhodes' agent, Mike McCartney confirmed the signing Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press although he did not disclose financial details.

The move means Indy will have two 1,000-yard runners in its backfield next season.

What fans will remember most about the two runners is their impressive 2006 playoff run.

As they...

By (AP)

The Tennessee Titans will be holding a minicamp without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

The Titans are due to hit the field Thursday and Friday as part of their on-field training, but they will not have arguably their best defensive player with them.

"Albert is continuing to work out on his own," agent Chad Speck said in an e-mail.

The Titans tagged Haynesworth as their franchise player in February to keep him from leaving as an unrestricted free agent. Tennessee must reach a long-term contract deal with Haynesworth by July 15. If that doesn't happen, the team can ...

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