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Pro Football Talk - 07/03 - 9:51 AM EST  There have been sightings of Brett Favre jerseys in Minneapolis, but the NFL says they haven't hit mass production yet.
"We wait until there is a player contract that has been approved, then we begin mass producing them," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Pioneer Press. "But nothing has transpired from here."
Sean Jensen of the Press reports that "it is believed" Reebok has prepared "screens" of the Vikings jerseys, which would then provide the basis for the mass production. [READ] |
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Tennessean - 07/03 - 9:54 AM EST  The Titans agreed to terms with rookie tight end Jared Cook on Thursday.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Tennessee gave Cook a four-year deal that includes a signing bonus of roughly $700,000.
Cook, the team's third-round draft pick, is the seventh player of their 11-man draft class to sign. [READ] |
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NFL.com - 07/03 - 9:45 AM EST  William 'Refrigerator' Perry's health is improving, according to his brother.
Perry spent more than a month in the hospital this spring due to complications from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease where the body's immune system attacks its peripheral nerves.
"Baby steps I call them," Michael Dean Perry said Wednesday. "But we can see improvement." [READ] |
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Chicago Tribune - 07/03 - 9:41 AM EST  The Bears appear to have backed off in their pursuit of free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress.
Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher isn't surprised that the team is backing off.
"I was surprised when I heard they were going after him at all because as a player, I [know there will be] some type of suspension," Urlacher said Thursday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to decide on a punishment for Burress.
"My first thought with [Burress] was, would he even be able to play this year?" Urlacher said. "You have to wonder how long you're going to have him or when he's going to be available.
"[But] he's a great receiver [and] I would have been open to it." [READ] |
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NFL.com - 07/03 - 9:36 AM EST  Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie sat down with NFL.com for a chat with fans recently, and declared the team playoff-bound.
Cromartie was asked by a fan what he predicted for the AFC West this season.
"We'll get another playoff berth," he responded. "Everyone just has to stay healthy, so when it comes to that time we can clinch a playoff berth." [READ] |
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Yahoo! Sports - 07/03 - 9:32 AM EST  A jury in the U.S. Virgin Islands has awarded Jason Taylor and two partners the return of a $1.5 million deposit from the botched sale of a private island.
After five years, Taylor's attorney, Charles C. Papy, said Thursday he was "elated" by the jury's findings, which resolved the civil case. [READ] |
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Sports Illustrated - 07/03 - 9:26 AM EST  A Miami judge is refusing to release video of a fatal drunk-driving crash involving Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth.
It was ruled Thursday that making the video public would violate the privacy of victim Mario Reyes' family. [READ] |
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Detroit Free Press - 07/03 - 9:23 AM EST  Dennis Northcutt is very "excited" about having been traded from the Jaguars to the Lions.
"I'm excited," Northcutt told the Detroit Free Press. "I feel like the Lions went out and won the Super Bowl last year, for real. I'm just excited about playing this game for a team that wants me and came out and got me."
Detroit is expected to play Northcutt in the slot between Calvin Johnson and Bryant Johnson.
"I think that's one of the biggest reasons they brought me in was to get in the slot," Northcutt said. "Obviously that's my biggest strength. That's has been my biggest strength through my nine years of playing in the NFL is working the slot. That's where I've made my money basically. But I have been able to play outside." [READ] |
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ESPN - 07/03 - 9:19 AM EST  Steelers owner Dan Rooney is making his first official trip as U.S. ambassador to Ireland.
Rooney was sworn in as ambassador by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday. [READ] |
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AP - 07/03 - 1:59 AM EST  The Panthers claimed rookie tight end Andrew Davie off waivers from the Jets on Thursday, according to an Associated Press report.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Davie caught 24 passes for 199 yards and six touchdowns in three season at Arkansas. He went undrafted in April and signed with the Jets. [READ] |
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NFL.com - 07/02 - 4:15 PM EST  The NFL announced that it has given Jets LB Calvin Pace a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Pace, who ranked second on the Jets with seven sacks last season, said in a statement released by the team that a supplement was to blame for a positive drug test.
“This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the league’s policy,” Pace said. “I am responsible for what I put into my body, and I should have paid closer attention to the league’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.” [READ] |
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ESPN - 07/02 - 1:46 PM EST  Following a touchdown pass from Kerry Joseph that put the Toronto Argos ahead 6-0, Arland Bruce removed his helmet, shoulder pads and uniform top and laid down in the end zone. Bruce said he was honoring the memory of Michael Jackson by pretending to be buried.
Bruce received two objectionable conduct penalties.
"I made the mistake of telling him in camp that once he got to the end zone, I didn't care what he did," coach Bart Andrus said. "But he's straight with it now and I think next time around he will celebrate in an appropriate manner." [READ] |
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FoxSports - 07/02 - 12:27 PM EST  After the success teams like the Miami Dolphins enjoyed with the formation last year, defensive coordinators have spent this offseason scheming and coaching ways to stop it.
"We've watched a bunch of that film," St. Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo said.
Miami's coaching staff is salivating at the chance to put an NCAA record-setting dual run/pass threat, Pat White, in an expanded Wildcat package.
"I think they want to see what effect it will have on defenses and whether it will be effective," White said Tuesday from the NFL's Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. "I've got to do my job and get things done on my part. We'll see what happens from there." [READ] |
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Sacramento Bee - 07/02 - 12:11 PM EST  Vernon Davis has been one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL since coming into the league, but he hasn't had great success as a receiver. His coaches at Maryland believe the 49ers need to keep things simpler for him.
"He's a guy who needs to face the quarterback and get some (yards after the catch)," said Dwight Galt, Maryland's strenght coach. "He's very good after he catches the ball."
Said Terps offensive coordinator James Franklin: "I would describe Vernon as more of an explosive athlete than a fluid athlete." [READ] |
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Chicago Sun-Times - 07/02 - 12:08 PM EST  The Bears remain $17.67 million under their adjusted salary-cap figure of $135.9 million, which means the organization has committed 86.99 percent of its cap to this point and there is plenty of room left over for spending.
Plaxico Burress is an unlikely option due to the penalty coming his was from the NFL.
This could become the perfect window for Chicago to come to a long term agreement with Jay Cutler.
Cutler remains under contract for three more seasons, but he has a $12 million roster bonus in 2012 that the team would probably like to avoid. [READ] |
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