The cause of former Al Davis’ death has been determined to have been heart failure, according to an Associated Press report on Friday. The death certificate issued by Alameda County says Davis died at age 82 at 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 8 from an abnormal hearth rhythm, congestive heart failure and a heart muscle disease.

A publicist for Terrell Owens says he "absolutely" did not attempt suicide or overdose on pills earlier this month. In a statement, publicist Diana Bianchini says an assistant arrived at Owens' home on Oct. 6 after he had taken a sleeping aid to fall asleep. The assistant did not realize that, became concerned and called 911. Bianchini says that when police arrived, Owens was responsive. Bianchini says "reports released with the 911 call (Thursday) are misleading and not factual."

Security personnel at NFL games will begin using hand-held metal detectors as part of the screening process before fans enter the stadiums. Beginning Nov. 20, the detectors will be used at stadium gates because "we are always striving for ways to improve our security procedures at all of our stadiums," an NFL spokesman says.

Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested early Saturday on domestic battery charges, and the team said Cook, who has started the past three games, will not play this weekend against the Packers. Cook, 24, was arrested without incident after someone called 911 at about 2 a.m. local time to report hearing people across the street yelling and screaming. He was booked on two charges, including one count of domestic assault, and was being held without bail Saturday at Hennepin County jail. Prosecutors have 48 hours in which to charge Cook, who has a court hearing scheduled for Monday morning.

Bears receiver Devin Hester was slapped on the back of the head at an Illinois casino on Friday by a man who was arrested on a misdemeanor count of battery. Daniel Rago, 52, of Mount Prospect, Ill., was charged after slapping the back of Hester's head while the receiver was in a cash transaction line Friday night. "Rago comes up from behind and slaps Mr. Hester with an open hand and walks away," Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said. "Mr. Hester turned around and notified casino security. The offender was escorted to a security office and we were contacted. We were able to review the incident on video, and that verified the facts as stated by Mr. Hester. "No prior incident between the two took place."

Cowboys players DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant failed to present the proper identification necessary to take a mandatory drug test during training camp, the players confirmed to ESPN Dallas on Thursday. Bryant said that he has since taken the proper steps and has been cleared by the NFL and is not listed as having failed any tests. Two team sources also confirmed that Bryant has been cleared by the league. Murray, a rookie running back, said he's taken all NFL-mandated drug tests since training camp, including one on Thursday afternoon, and said he's passed all of them.

The Browns will pay injured linebacker Marcus Benard the remainder of his salary for 2011 following his motorcycle accident, a person familiar with the decision said. The team was not obligated to continue paying Benard because he sustained a nonfootball-related injury. However, the Browns will pay Benard roughly $370,000 he's still due this season.

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant failed to show up for a scheduled Tuesday hearing to settle a $600,000 debt with a jeweler/ticket broker. Beth Ann Blackwood, the attorney for Colleyville resident Eleow Hunt, filed a motion in Tarrant County court Wednesday afternoon seeking an immediate hearing to settle the debt.

The Hank Williams Jr. song that has opened Monday Night Football for 20 years was not part of the opening of this week's Colts-Bucs game after Williams made controversial comments about President Barack Obama. Williams compared Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" show Monday morning. ESPN, in a statement, said: "While Hank Williams, Jr. is not an ESPN employee, we recognize that he is closely linked to our company through the open to Monday Night Football. We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight's telecast."

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed a portion of Wednesday's practice for a conference call pertaining to the ongoing civil case in which he is one of nine co-defendants, according to a source. The NFL has asked Roethlisberger to settle the case, stemming from from a rape accusation at a Lake Tahoe celebrity golf event in July 2008, but Roethlisberger has steadfastly refused because he doesn't believe he did anything wrong.