Edwards sues, says restaurant cost him

San Francisco 49ers receiver Braylon Edwards filed a $14 million slander lawsuit, claiming allegations that he was directly involved in a fight at a suburban Detroit restaurant cost him a big guaranteed contract from another NFL team.

Edwards, a former standout at Michigan, makes the claims in a civil suit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court. It accuses the South restaurant and bar in Birmingham and three of its employees of slander, extortion and malicious prosecution.

Edwards claims he had an offer from an NFL team with $15 million guaranteed, the suit says.

Urlacher leaves team

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher left the team following the death of his mother.

It wasn’t clear whether Urlacher will be back for practice or in time for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

Giants to sign Stokley

A person familiar with the deal says the New York Giants agreed to terms with free-agent receiver Brandon Stokley.

The 35-year-old Stokley had 31 catches for 354 yards last season with the Seattle Seahawks.

Retirees file lawsuit

Twenty-eight former NFL players filed a class-action federal lawsuit against the NFL Players Association, seeking at least $5 million in damages. They’re alleging current players interfered with negotiations on the new collective bargaining agreement and kept money from the retirees.

Attorney Shawn Stuckey said the group includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Famers and a player from every decade since the 1940s.

Former Minnesota defensive end Carl Eller, an outspoken proponent of better retiree benefits, leads the list.

Woodson fined $10K

Cornerback Charles Woodson was fined $10,000 for throwing a punch in the Green Bay Packers’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Woodson was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter of last Thursday’s game at Lambeau Field after throwing a punch at Saints tight end David Thomas.

Neal to miss lot of time

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says defensive end Mike Neal will miss a “significant” amount of time after having surgery this week.

There’s still hope for Neal to return this season. McCarthy doesn’t think he’ll go on injured reserve.

Neal hurt his left knee during a non-contact drill in training camp.