Oilers Free To Move

Harris County and Houston have signed off on the Oilers’ lease with the Astrodome, finally freeing the NFL franchise to move to Tennessee, team owner Bud Adams said.

“We still have some legal work, some paper work to get done on that, but the Astrodome signing today should put everything to bed pretty quick,” Adams said.

A day after sports agent Leigh Steinberg accused Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley of prosecuting Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer for the sake of publicity, Romley fired back.

“He is doing exactly what he’s paid to do, which is represent his client,” Romley spokesman Bill FitzGerald said.

Plummer was charged with felony sex abuse after four women accused him of groping them.

Missing outside linebackers were the rule at the Carolina Panthers’ minicamp as Lamar Lathon failed to show for practice or meetings.

The absence of Lathon and Kevin Greene meant the Panthers had to go through the second day of their three-day minicamp with rookies.

Pass rusher Henry Thomas, a free agent who has played for Minnesota and Detroit, has joined the AFC champion New England Patriots.