Former Colts RB Tipton dies in accidental shooting

ROSEVILLE, Mich. (AP) Zurlon Tipton, a former Indianapolis Colts running back, has died after accidentally shooting himself at a car dealership in suburban Detroit. He was 26.

St. John Hospital spokesman Brian Taylor confirmed Tipton's death Tuesday. Police say he was handling a duffel bag when a gun in the bag fired as he dropped off his car in Roseville.

Tipton appeared in 16 games over two seasons for the Colts, gaining 38 yards on 15 carries. He was released by the team in December.

The Detroit native played college football at Central Michigan. Tipton's best season was 2012 when he scored 19 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 1,500 yards. Injuries limited him to only five games in 2013, his senior season.

CMU says the death is ''shocking and tragic.'' Read more...

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Ex-NFL player wants sentencing delayed over concussion exam

CLEVELAND (AP) A former NFL wide receiver who pleaded guilty to stealing money from two children's charities is asking that his sentencing hearing be delayed again after prosecutors sought medical records related to a concussion examination.

Attorneys for 68-year-old Reggie Rucker on Tuesday filed a motion in U.S. District Court saying that his July 14 sentencing should be postponed because prosecutors have demanded all medical records related to brain damage that Rucker suffered during his 12-year NFL career.

The motion also says Rucker's attorneys want their experts to evaluate the government's medical records and expert reports on Rucker when they're finally provided.

Rucker pleaded guilty in February to stealing from two children's charities to pay gambling debts and personal expenses. A plea agreement calls for him to serve about two years in prison. Read more...

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Manziel rep: Attorney who sent errant text to AP resigns

DALLAS (AP) Johnny Manziel's spokeswoman says an attorney who accidently sent The Associated Press a text message with details related to the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback's domestic violence case has resigned from the defense team.

Denise Michaels on Monday confirmed her earlier tweet that Bob Hinton had withdrawn from the case, which is being led by El Paso attorney Jim Darnell.

The AP reported last week that Hinton's inadvertent text indicated he had doubts about Manziel's ability to stay clean and that he was given a receipt that allegedly shows Manziel may have spent more than $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store the day following a hit-and-run crash. The text was sent Wednesday after the AP sought comment via text about the crash.

The 23-year-old Manziel faces a misdemeanor assault chart on allegations of hitting and threatening former girlfriend Colleen Crowley in January. Read more....

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Ex-NFL star says Trump friendship has cost him

LOS ANGELES (AP) Retired NFL player Herschel Walker says he's being dropped from speaking engagements because of his relationship with Donald Trump.

In an interview on the ''TMZ Sports'' TV show, the Heisman Trophy winner and former ''Celebrity Apprentice'' contestant said he's known Trump ''before he became `The Donald.''' Walker said the presumptive Republican nominee is not racist.

Walker told TMZ Sports ''just because you build a wall, doesn't mean you're a racist.''

Trump has faced sharp criticism for his statements on immigration and plan to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Read more...

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Former Seahawks player Tarvaris Jackson arrested in Florida

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has been arrested in central Florida after authorities say he pulled a gun on his wife.

An Osceola County Sheriff's Office arrest report says the 33-year-old Jackson had been visiting family in Kissimmee when the incident occurred early Friday. Jackson's wife told the deputy that Jackson had returned to their rental home drunk and began yelling at her, eventually pulling the gun and threatening to kill her. Jackson said they had been arguing but denied pointing a gun at her.

Jackson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and bonded out of jail later Friday. Jail records didn't list an attorney.

Jackson, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 and played for them until 2010, first went to Seahawks as the starting quarterback in 2011. He later spent three years there as a backup. He is currently a free agent. Read more...

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Steelers cut kicker Suisham following injury setback

PITTSBURGH (AP) Shaun Suisham's lengthy run with the Pittsburgh Steelers is over. It appears the longtime kicker's career may be in jeopardy, too.

The team released Suisham on Friday after he failed a physical. The 34-year-old is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered during the Hall of Fame Game last August.

The team hoped to bring Suisham to training camp, where he would compete with Chris Boswell for the starting job. Suisham, however, recently experienced a setback that general manager Kevin Colbert says pushed back the timeline on his recovery.

Suisham joined the Steelers in 2010 and converted 124-of-141 field goal attempts and each of his 173 extra-point attempts through the 2014 season. In a statement, Suisham described the knee injury as ''catastrophic'' and ''critical'' to his career going forward. Read more...

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Homeowner shoots intruder police identify as ex-NFL player

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Authorities say a homeowner in Portland, Oregon, shot an intruder who turned out to be former Detroit Lions cornerback Stanley Wilson II.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office tells The Oregonian/Oregon Live for a story published Thursday (http://bit.ly/2948mRw ) that Wilson tried to break through the back window of a multimillion-dollar home. He's hospitalized but expected to recover.

Sheriff's Capt. Steve Alexander says he can't give details on the extent of the 33-year-old's injuries or why he was naked and trying to get into the house Wednesday.

Wilson, whose NFL career ended in 2008 after an injury, has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary and first-degree trespassing.

Oregon law allows a person to use deadly physical force against someone trying to burglarize their home. Read more..

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Ben Affleck stands by expletive-filled 'Deflategate' rant

LOS ANGELES (AP) Ben Affleck stands by his expletive-filled rant against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell over ''Deflategate.''

During an interview Wednesday on the debut episode of HBO's ''Any Given Wednesday,'' the New England-raised Affleck passionately criticized the NFL and Goodell for suspending New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for using underinflated footballs during a 2015 playoff game.

The Oscar winner says on Twitter that he used the F-word 18 times during the five-minute diatribe. Upon reflection, he says, ''12 probably would have been sufficient.''

He called the piece ''one of my favorite interviews'' and added, ''(hash)GoPats.''

He also said that he hoped everyone would watch the ''whole episode.'' Affleck was calmer during parts of the interview when he wasn't discussing the Patriots. Read more...

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Titans' Morgan wants NFL to study medical marijuana

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan wants the NFL to study how medical marijuana could help players.

Morgan said Thursday on Twitter that ''it's time for the (at)NFL to take an HONEST look into the potential medical benefits of Cannabis for its players.'' He tweeted after telling Yahoo that he wants the league to conduct more research on marijuana, particularly on how it could help treat or prevent chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ehn-sehf-uh-LAH'-thuh-pee), or CTE.

His comments follow offensive tackle Eugene Monroe's recommendation that the NFL stop testing players for marijuana. Monroe was released last week by the Baltimore Ravens.

The NFL tests players for marijuana between April 20 and Aug. 9. Players who test positive for the first time enter the league's substance abuse program. Additional positive tests result in stiffer penalties. Read more...

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Ben Affleck launches epic 'Deflategate' rant on new HBO show

LOS ANGELES (AP) Ben Affleck gave former ESPN personality Bill Simmons' new HBO talk show a lively start with a five-minute, expletive-filled rant on ''Deflategate.''

During an interview on the Wednesday debut episode of ''Any Given Wednesday,'' Affleck passionately criticized the NFL and its commissioner, Roger Goodell, for suspending New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for using underinflated balls during a 2015 playoff game.

The New England-raised Affleck called the issue a ''ridiculous smear campaign'' and questioned Goodell's integrity.

Affleck's appearance is being heavily discussed on social media. Some said he appeared to be drunk, while others said he was just an angry and passionate Patriots fan.

Affleck has acknowledged treatment for alcohol addiction more than a decade ago.

A representative for the actor didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Simmons tweeted that the interview was taped in the late morning and Affleck was simply ''fired up.'' Read more..

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ESPN's Mortensen honored with PFWA award

ESPN's Chris Mortensen has won the Dick McCann Award from the Professional Football Writers of America for his long and distinguished contribution to NFL media coverage.

Mortensen has worked as a senior analyst for ESPN for 25 years.

Mortensen has covered every Super Bowl since 1979 with the exception of this year's game, which he missed after being diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, Mortensen was heavily involved in ESPN's coverage of Peyton Manning's retirement.

After working for six years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and also writing for The Sporting News and The National, Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991.

The award is named for the first director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a long-time reporter in New York with several newspapers. Read more...

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Dallas police: Troubled QB Manziel reports hit-and-run crash

DALLAS (AP) Police in Dallas say troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel reported a hit-and-run accident earlier this week. The publicist for the former Texas A&M star says he wasn't seriously injured.

Senior Cpl. DeMarquis Black told The Associated Press the accident happened Monday night, and Manziel had a witness from his vehicle and an impartial witness. Manziel attorney Bob Hinton said police told him the vehicle was damaged on the driver's side.

Manziel's publicist, Denise Michaels, said the former Cleveland player told her he hit his head but didn't have a concussion or other injury.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner is facing a misdemeanor assault charge in a domestic violence case involving former girlfriend Colleen Crowley. A status hearing is scheduled for Friday, but Manziel isn't required to appear. Read more..

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Jaguars' DE Ngakoue, a 3rd-round pick, signs rookie contract

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, a third-round draft pick from Maryland, has signed his rookie contract.

Ngakoue signed the four-year deal Tuesday, becoming the final member of the team's seven-man draft class to sign. Ngakoue is guaranteed a minimum of $540,000 in annual salary with a minimum signing bonus of $856,000.

The 69th overall player selected in the draft, Ngakoue set a single-season school record with 13 1/2 sacks as a junior last year and ranked second nationally in sacks per game (1.13).

The 6-foot-2, 252-pounder is expected to back up starter Dante Fowler Jr., who is returning from missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury. Read more..

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Ex-Dolphins player arrested after standoff in Phoenix area

GILBERT, Ariz. (AP) Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess is facing charges after getting into a standoff with police at his suburban Phoenix home.

A judge ordered Bess released on $2,500 bond Monday night after his arrest on one felony count each of endangerment, unlawful flight and failure to stop for a police officer.

According to charging documents, Bess was stopped in Gilbert late Sunday for driving without his headlights on.

The documents say he pointed his finger like a gun at officers and moved it up and down, mimicking firing a gun. Police say Bess then fled to his home, where he waved a knife while still in his car.

Documents say he refused police commands and walked into his home.

Police Sgt. Jesse Sanger says a SWAT team entered after getting a search warrant and Bess was taken into custody.

A Maricopa County public defender will be assigned to his case.

While out on bond, Bess cannot possess any weapons or drugs without a valid prescription.

The 30-year-old played for the Dolphins from 2008 to 2012. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 2013 and was released after the season. Read more...

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Chiefs S Berry wins PFWA award for overcoming adversity

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has won the George Halas Award for overcoming adversity to succeed.

The Professional Football Writers of America honored Berry on Monday. Berry, the AP's Comeback Player of the Year, overcame a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2014 to return to the field and have an All-Pro season in 2015.

The 47th Halas Award winner, Berry is the first member of the Chiefs to receive the honor.

He underwent six rounds of chemotherapy treatment from Dec. 10, 2014 until May 13, 2015. Berry was declared cancer free last June 22, and he was on the field for the first training camp practice July 29.

Berry returned to the starting lineup in Week 2, was third on the team with 61 tackles (55 solo), and had a pair of interceptions. Read more...

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NBC to unveil new theme song for 'Sunday Night Football'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Carrie Underwood won't be ''waiting all day for Sunday night'' this fall when NBC premieres a new theme song for its prime-time ''Sunday Night Football'' program.

The Grammy-winning country star will be singing a new theme song, ''Oh, Sunday Night,'' during the first game telecast on Sept. 11 between the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals. The song is based on her 2014 hit country duet ''Somethin' Bad'' with Miranda Lambert, but with new lyrics and additional changes to fit the program.

Joan Jett's ''I Hate Myself for Loving You'' had been basis for the program's theme song since 2006, with various singers such as Pink and Faith Hill.

Fred Gaudelli, NBC's executive producer of ''Sunday Night Football'' and ''Thursday Night Football,'' said he knows fans of the Joan Jett song would have wanted them to keep it, but he was looking for an update as the program started its second decade on NBC.

''The song had lasted 10 years, but I didn't know how much more we could stay with the song without it feeling routine,'' he said.

When Underwood took over the job of singing the theme song in 2013, she said the network was always open to hearing her creative input. She started playing around with the lyrics of ''Somethin' Bad'' and presented a demo to Gaudelli.

''It has such a great stomp-clap, a `We Will Rock You' kind of feel to it,'' said Underwood. ''This is such a high energy song.''

Together with the original writers, Underwood said they changed the song to start off a little quiet and build up to a peak to heighten the excitement as well as adding a bridge to fit together with a new video introduction. Read more..

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Panthers sign OT Michael Oher to 3-year contract extension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Panthers have signed offensive tackle Michael Oher to a three-year contract extension.

The 30-year-old Oher is now under contract through the 2019 season. Financial terms were not announced Friday.

Oher, a seven-year NFL veteran, was brought in on a trial basis last season, signing a two-year deal with the Panthers after a failed stint with the Tennessee Titans. Oher, who was the subject of the hit movie ''The Blind Side,'' performed well after being reunited with offensive line coach John Matsko, starting 19 games at left tackle while helping the Panthers win the NFC championship.

Carolina was first in points scored last season and quarterback Cam Newton was chosen the league's MVP.

Oher has started 107 games since being selected out of Mississippi in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by Baltimore. Read more...

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Peyton Manning gets award from Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has received the 2016 Tennessean of the Year award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced that it presented Manning with the award Saturday at its annual ''Champion Within'' luncheon.

The award is presented to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the state of Tennessee through sports or other methods while demonstrating outstanding character and leadership.

Bill Emendorfer, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame's executive director, said in a statement that ''we have honored many outstanding individuals in the past 50 years, but none greater than Peyton.''

Manning, a former University of Tennessee quarterback, announced his retirement in March after helping the Denver Broncos win a Super Bowl in his final season. Read more..

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Panthers sign OT Michael Oher to 3-year contract extension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Panthers have signed offensive tackle Michael Oher to a three-year contract extension.

The 30-year-old Oher is now under contract through the 2019 season. Financial terms were not announced Friday.

Oher, a seven-year NFL veteran, was brought in on a trial basis last season, signing a two-year deal with the Panthers after a failed stint with the Tennessee Titans. Oher, who was the subject of the hit movie ''The Blind Side,'' performed well after being reunited with offensive line coach John Matsko, starting 19 games at left tackle while helping the Panthers win the NFC championship.

Carolina was first in points scored last season and quarterback Cam Newton was chosen the league's MVP.

Oher has started 107 games since being selected out of Mississippi in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by Baltimore. Read more...

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Coming from Germany, learning curve steep for Vikings rookie

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) When Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer canceled the last session of minicamp as a reward for the team's offseason work, most players were surprised and delighted by the early start on summer vacation.

Moritz Boehringer wasn't so sure.

''I wanted to practice,'' Boehringer said, smiling wryly, ''because it's always good to get some more reps.''

Nobody on the 90-man roster needs more training than Boehringer, the rookie wide receiver from Germany who became the first draft pick in the history of the NFL to come directly from a country outside the United States.

His deficiencies haven't been for a lack of dedication, though. This is simply the situation he's in, having discovered the sport about five years ago through YouTube videos of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. He has played competitively for merely three seasons at a level nowhere near as sophisticated or intense as the league is entering.

''He's starting from way, way, way behind,'' offensive coordinator Norv Turner said.

For the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns in 2015, Boehringer had 16 touchdown receptions and an average of 20.9 yards per catch in 21 games on his way to the German Football League's rookie of the year award. The Unicorns only ran 70 or 80 plays out of five or six formations, paling in comparison to the complexity of Turner's playbook with the Vikings.

Naturally, Boehringer's helmet has been spinning this spring in his attempt to grasp the route concepts, blocking responsibilities and advanced footwork technique required to excel at his highly skilled position.

He threw up on the field during his first practice in Minnesota, last month at rookie minicamp. Throughout the workouts with the full team over the past three-plus weeks, Boehringer has dropped plenty of passes.

''Most of the time it's a mental thing, because I'm not 100 percent comfortable with the playbook,'' Boehringer said Thursday after the Vikings wrapped up their offseason program and adjourned for six weeks until training camp. ''But I think it'll come after time.'' Read more,..

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Miller makes it clear he'll sit out 2016 if no deal is done

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos' summer break began with an ominous message from superstar Von Miller. The Super Bowl MVP suggested he'll sit out the 2016 season if general manager John Elway doesn't meet his contract demands over the next month.

One day after saying on Chelsea Handler's new Netflix show that there was no way he'd consider skipping the season, Miller posted a photo on Instragam and said: ''I love my Teammates, Coaches, and My Fans'' but there is ''No Chance'' I play the 2016 season under the Franchise tag.''

If the sides can't agree on a long-term extension by July 15, Miller would have to play this season on the franchise tag of $14.129 million - or he could choose to sit out the season altogether.

If he played for the tender, the Broncos could use their exclusive franchise tag on him again next year, putting him in the same situation.

If he didn't suit up in 2016, they'd only be able to use a non-exclusive franchise tag on him in 2017. That would allow other teams to swoop in and offer him a megadeal that would be difficult for Denver to match.

That's a risky proposition, a superstar missing a season in his prime and watching his popularity and marketability take a hit. But playing on a one-year deal could also prove hazardous to Miller should he get hurt.

The offseason began with Miller declaring 12 hours after the Super Bowl in which he starred that his contract negotiations would be peaceful.

Acrimony set in last week, however, when the team leaked details of its offer that Miller's camp rejected.

The six-year, $114.5 million offer included $38.5 million in guarantees over the first two seasons, far below the going rate for elite players. The Broncos offered a third year at $19.5 million that would only kick in after the 2017 season. Read more...

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Stars and dollar signs: Cowboys set for move to new facility

FRISCO, Texas (AP) Charlotte Jones Anderson wants to save a few special details for her father to see when Dallas owner Jerry Jones moves into the team's new headquarters this summer.

None of those surprises will involve money, though.

The billionaire boss of the Cowboys knows full well how much he's spending to forge a unique relationship with Texas high school football, part of a sprawling complex centered around a 12,000-seat indoor stadium and eventually including a hotel, sports medicine facility, restaurants and maybe even something the Jones family hasn't thought of yet.

Once the idea took hold in Frisco, a sports-centric suburb 30 miles north of Dallas, Jones grew comfortable with the idea of spending more on The Star - world headquarters of America's Team - than he personally did on his $1.2 billion stadium in Arlington less than a decade ago.

''I will say there is not a dollar spent that he doesn't know about,'' said Jones Anderson, chief marketing and brand officer. ''As the vision grew, so did the checkbook.''

At the moment, Jones puts his bill around $800 million, just shy of his share of the showplace with the giant video board hanging over the home field of the Cowboys.

The new outdoor practice fields will be a right turn out of a football-shaped locker room adjacent to the stadium. But when quarterback Tony Romo and company come home from training camp in California in August, the Texas heat will likely mean several weeks of left turns to the indoor field - the same one that Frisco high schools will use on game nights in the district's third stadium. Read more...

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Dolphins' Jones reports after missing 1st day of minicamp

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones has joined minicamp after missing the first day of the mandatory sessions in a contract dispute.

Jones had also skipped Miami's earlier organized team activities, which were voluntary, but he reported Wednesday for the second of three minicamp practices.

Jones could be fined about $25,000 for the minicamp session he missed. He's entering the third season of a $28 million, four-year contract, and wants a new deal.

He was the only NFL player with at least five interceptions and 100 tackles last year, and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. Read more...

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Eagles quarterback Wentz saved from gas station bathroom

PHILADELPHIA (AP) New Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz says he became trapped in a bathroom of a New Jersey gas station and had to be rescued.

Wentz tweeted out Wednesday night that he had to be rescued by attendants with garden sheers and another person with a ''leg kick'' after he became locked in a bathroom.

WNBC-TV reports his comments was retweeted thousands of times and elicited numerous social media responses, including memes and gifs.

The Eagles traded up in April to draft Wentz at second overall.

It wasn't immediately known where the gas station is located in New Jersey. Read more..

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Team doctors evaluating Broncos CB Aqib Talib

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Star cornerback Aqib Talib has arrived at the Denver Broncos' headquarters, where team doctors and trainers are evaluating the gunshot wound he suffered over the weekend.

Talib had to miss the Super Bowl champs' visit to the White House on Monday after getting shot in Dallas, where he has an offseason home, early Sunday.

Citing police, WFAA-TV in Dallas reported that Talib said he was too intoxicated to recall details of the shooting and that the bullet entered Talib's right thigh and exited his right calf. Such a trajectory suggests he could have shot himself.

Talib didn't need surgery and the Broncos have said he's expected to make a full recovery, but Wednesday marked the first time they'd seen Talib face-to-face since the shooting. Read more..

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Business savvy Okung bets on himself by brokering own deal

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) On the football field, Russell Okung is a top-notch offensive lineman. In the field of business, he wants to reach that status, too.

That's why he's investing heavily these days in technology companies, his foundation and himself.

Russell Okung Inc.

Okung served as his own agent in negotiating a free agent deal with the Denver Broncos in March after anchoring Seattle's O-line. He'll make $5 million this season, and the deal also includes an opt-out clause after the season before the rest of the contract - four years, $48 million - kicks in.

That means he's betting big on himself and the kind of season he could have in coach Gary Kubiak's run-oriented offense. A sound investment, he feels, even if on the surface it looks high-risk.

''We did a deal that was best for both sides,'' said Okung, who participated during individual drills in minicamp Wednesday as he continues to work his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. ''I had opportunities to get more money other places, but I really wanted to create a future here.''

The former Seahawks Pro Bowler hopes to make inroads into the world of money management, which is why he's learning the ropes from private equity investors and hedge-fund experts. That's led him to invest in some companies on the technology side. He would be more specific, but some of his deals are still in the works.

''I think a lot of players aren't really serious about how their money is working for them or their understanding of how their money works,'' the 28-year-old Okung said. ''You come into the NFL, it's a very procedural thing: You get a financial adviser and you get an agent, and you just hold on to your money for as long as possible. Read more...

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The Latest: Witness IDs at issue in ex-Saints' shooting case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Latest on a hearing in the case of Cardell Hayes, who is charged in the shooting death of retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith (all times local):

9:40 a.m.

A judge is meeting behind closed doors with prosecutors and defense attorneys for the suspect in the shooting death of retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.

At issue Wednesday is the identity of witnesses in the case. Lawyers for suspect Cardell Hayes say a police report they've received has the names of witnesses omitted - to the point that it's hard to understand the report in some places. Prosecutors say they have concerns about the safety of witnesses whose names are made public.

State District Judge Camille Buras ordered everyone to her chambers to discuss whether the defense should have an un-redacted report.

Hayes is charged with second-degree murder in Smith's shooting in April, which occurred after a traffic accident in New Orleans. Read more...

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Broncos' Siemian the QB with the answers, if not the resume

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Mark Sanchez has thrown 2,424 passes in the NFL.

That's 2,424 more than Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, the two other quarterbacks vying to replace Peyton Manning for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos with the start of the 2016 NFL season 100 days away.

So, you'd think part of Sanchez's duties in Denver would be tutoring the younger QBs.

Not exactly.

''That's an interesting dynamic,'' coach Gary Kubiak said. ''Mark is the guy with the most experience, but he has no experience here. He's got his own problems right now getting everything down. I'm not going to try to ask him to do too much.''

Plus, Sanchez is recovering from surgery to his left thumb that prevented him from taking any snaps during the first few days of OTAs last week.

So, it's actually Siemian who finds himself in the unusual position of being the QB providing guidance despite having never thrown a pass in the pros.

''Even though Trevor is only in his second year, he is a vet to me,'' Lynch said. ''He's the only quarterback in this system who has been here for a year. He was here when Peyton was here, too. I'm sure that he took a lot of stuff from Peyton and what Peyton did in that short time he was here. He kind of does some stuff that he does. I know that's what I would have done.'' Read more...

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