The Titans are suing USC and coach Lane Kiffin for ?maliciously? luring away assistant running backs coach Kennedy Pola a week before training camp opens, according to an Associated Press report. Tennessee Football Inc., the company that owns the Titans, filed the lawsuit Monday in Davidson County Chancery Court against both the university and Kiffin. The lawsuit accuses Southern California and Kiffin of violating Pola?

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick may be in trouble with the law again. Vick is facing charges that he made unauthorized and illegal gifts to friends and family in the months before he declared bankruptcy, according to a report by ESPN.com. According to court records, Vick wrote and cashed 67 checks between October 2006 and November 2007 that were made payable to "cash." It is a violation of bankruptcy laws to give away assets to friends and family on the eve of a bankruptcy.

Former NFL player LeCharles Bentley has filed a lawsuit against the Browns for a staph infection he got at a team facility. Bentley's attorney, Shannon Polk, says his client "nearly died" as a result of the staph infection he got at the facility while rehabbing a knee injury. Bentley is the second former Browns player to sue the Browns over a staph infection. Last month, Joe Jurevicius settled a lawsuit he filed against the team.

Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal drug possession Tuesday in Alabama. He is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, codeine syrup. Authorities have said that he did not have a prescription for the drug and that he was arrested July 5 at his home as part of an undercover investigation.

Dolphins defensive end Phillip Merling has been formally charged with felony battery against his pregnant girlfriend. The Broward State Attorney's Office filed the charge Friday. If convicted, the 25-year-old could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.P

Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers entered a diversion program Thursday to avoid trial on an airport weapons charge, but he still faces a possible NFL suspension. The diversion deal was approved in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court by Judge Eileen Gallagher. Under the terms, the felony gun charge will be dismissed if the 31-year-old Rogers completes the program.

Seahawks safety Kevin Ellison has a court date of Oct. 5 after pleading not guilty to drug possession in Southern California. Ellison was released by the Chargers after he was pulled over for speeding by police in Redondo Beach May 24.

Former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday morning in a Rockland County Court to charges of statutory rape and solicitation. The plea stemmed from a May 6 arrest in a New York hotel. Taylor is accused of soliciting a prostitute in a case involving a 16-year-old runaway.

An 11-time convicted felon was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday for robbing and beating former NFL player Javon Walker. Deshawn Lamont Thomas' attorney promised to appeal after Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Smith sentenced Thomas as a habitual criminal.

Virginia Beach's lead prosecutor says Michael Vick was involved in a confrontation before a shooting following his birthday bash. Attorney Harvey L. Bryant said Vick was not involved in the shooting and that he left the nightclub "in the 3 to 5 minute range" before it occurred. Bryant said there was no evidence the Eagles quarterback was involved in "anything that would amount to aggressive or assaultive conduct." "He's an athlete and an entertainer, but he's also a human being, and things that would tick you and I off would tick him off," Bryant said. "But he extricated himself from those things and left with the help and encouragement of some of his friends and supporters."