Kevin Mitchell, former NFL linebacker, died in his sleep at the age of 36. Mitchell died overnight Sunday at his home in Ashburn, near the Washington Redskins' training facility, according to the team. An autopsy was performed Monday by the Virginia state medical examiner's office. The cause of death was not immediately announced. Mitchell was drafted in the second round out of Syracuse in 1994 by the San Francisco 49ers, who moved the undersized college defensive lineman to linebacker. He played with San Francisco until 1997, then signed with New Orleans (1998-99). He played his final four seasons (2000-03) with the Redskins. "Anyone who knew him was touched by his smile, joy for life and love of his family," Washington owner Dan Snyder said. "Anyone who ever played with him or against him never forgot it. He earned our deepest respect."

Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has filed his appeal of a season-long suspension and a hearing with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should be held within the next two weeks, a league spokesman said Monday. Jones said earlier this month he planned to appeal and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed Monday that Jones' letter arrived at league offices over the weekend. "He will have a full opportunity to present his case," Aiello said.

The Dolphins are not concerned about Ted Ginn Jr.'s midfoot sprain that has nagged him since January and will keep him out of the team's minicamp. ESPN.com reported Sunday that Ginn Jr. would be in a boot for six weeks and then require a six-week rehabilitation.

After the Chiefs failed to trade Trent Green to the Miami Dolphins during the weekend draft, agent Jim Steiner said Green wasn?t interested in playing for the Chiefs. ?Trent?s not going to be returning,? Steiner said. ?They?ve said Brodie Croyle is going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback. They brought back Damon Huard. They?ve told Trent they want to get younger. So the Chiefs determined that, not Trent. That?s not going to happen. It?s grossly unfair of the Chiefs to keep Trent on their roster.? President/general manager Carl Peterson continued to insist Green would be welcome to play for the Chiefs next season.

Michael Vick confirmed in a TV interview that he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss problems that have plagued the Atlanta Falcons quarterback this offseason. "After what happened ... I just wanted to crawl in a hole. I can't take it no more," Vick told ESPN. "I walk around with a smile on my face and act like I'm happy, but on the inside it's hurting. And it's killing me. I ain't got no more energy left for it. The more I continue to do things and my name is in the media, I'm not going to get anywhere." ESPN aired the interview during the second round of the NFL draft on April 29.

Bears defensive tackle Terry "Tank" Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons charge Monday as part of an arrangement with prosecutors that will keep him from serving additional time in jail. The 25-year-old Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm without an owner's identification, said Mary Stanton, chief of the Lake County Court's misdemeanor division. He was ordered to serve 45 days in jail, which will be served concurrently with a four-month sentence he's already serving in the Cook County Jail for violating his probation, she said.

The Eagles cut seven-year veteran Dhani Jones on Monday, thinning a linebacking corps made crowded by offseason additions. Jones was largely a disappointment after he joined the Eagles as a free agent in 2005 following four seasons with the Giants. He struggled with the Eagles after being moved to the strong side from his natural weakside position.

Alabama cornerback Ramzee Robinson is the newest Mr. Irrelevant. Eighteen hours and five minutes after it began, the Detroit Lions ended the NFL draft Sunday by selecting the 5-foot-10, 186-pound cornerback in the seventh round with the 255th. "My faith was tested," Robinson said during a conference call with the Detroit media. "Thankfully it held up and made me a Detroit Lion. "I'm just thankful my name was finally called."

The Dolphins offered Kansas City a sixth-round pick for Green this weekend, but Chiefs president Carl Peterson declined the offer, according to Green's agent Jim Steiner. The Chiefs have consistently sought a second-round pick in return for Green, who could ultimately be released. "We'll address it in the next few days and see if we can get something resolved," said Steiner, who had worked out a new contract with the Dolphins contingent on the trade. "At this point, I don't know what the Chiefs are going to get for him from the Dolphins. I don't know how they get anything." The Chiefs granted permission to Green to seek a trade in February after telling him that he would have to take a pay cut to stay and also compete for the starting job with second-year man Brodie Croyle.

Troy Smith is taking his Heisman Trophy to Baltimore. The second day of the NFL draft hardly was without big names and drama. No, Sunday couldn't match the slide of Brady Quinn and the dealing of three 2008 first-round picks. But it had some juicy angles, including Smith, the Ohio State quarterback, going to the Ravens on the final pick of the fifth round. That's 174 picks overall, the ninth quarterback and seventh Buckeye chosen.