Saints sign linebacker Hawthorne

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday that the club agreed to terms on a five-year contract with free-agent linebacker David Hawthorne.

The 6-foot, 246-pound Hawthorne has spent the past four seasons with Seattle, where he began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

Last season, Hawthorne started 14 games at middle linebacker and led the Seahawks with 115 tackles to go with three interceptions, one of which he ran back 77 yards for a touchdown against Philadelphia.

Texas prepares to revoke Leaf’s probation

Ryan Leaf, the former Washington State quarterback, remained in a Montana jail, waiting to learn if he will be released on bail after he was arrested first on Friday afternoon and again early Monday morning in his hometown of Great Falls.

Those arrests could trigger trouble in Texas. James Farren, the district attorney of Randall County, said Tuesday that his office received copies of the incident reports and charging documents from the recent arrests. Farren was preparing a motion that would have the effect of revoking Leaf’s probation in Texas and subjecting him to a potential prison sentence there. Farren said he expected to file the motion late Tuesday or early today.

Leaf is serving a 10-year probation sentence in Texas stemming from a case that involved his illegal acquisition and use of painkillers while he was at West Texas A&M as an assistant coach. He pleaded guilty to eight drug-related charges in Texas in April 2010, entering deferred adjudication. He submitted a guilty plea, and if he completed the 10-year probation period he would not have a conviction on his record. If he did not comply with the terms of the probation, he could face a sentence of up 20 years.

Quick kicks

Saints head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt are set to have their NFL appeals heard Thursday regarding the punishment they’ve received for their roles in New Orleans’ bounty system … Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested in Mobile, Ala. on a charge of possessing marijuana, authorities said. Fairley was released on $1,000 bail. Fairley was a standout at Auburn University. … Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin will have minor shoulder surgery to address a nagging injury he played with last season.