Jim Kelly’s son, Hunter, dies at age 8

Hunter Kelly, whose battle with a fatal nervous system disease inspired his Hall of Fame father Jim Kelly’s charitable works, died Friday. He was 8.

Hunter’s doctor, Patricia Duffner, said he died of respiratory failure.

Hunter’s Hope Foundation released a statement saying the Kelly family is grateful for the support people have shown.

“It is the family’s hope that all who mourn for their son, Hunter, would join them in thanking the Lord for his precious life,” the statement read.

Jim Kelly, a Hall of Fame quarterback with the Buffalo Bills, established Hunter’s Hope Foundation with his wife, Jill, in 1997 in honor of their son. It has raised more than $6 million and awarded more than $3.8 million to leukodystrophy and other neurological disease-related research.

Born in 1997, Hunter Kelly was given no more than three years to live after being diagnosed with Krabbe disease, an inherited degenerative disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The disease hinders development of the myelin sheath, a fatty covering that protects the brain’s nerve fibers.

The disease has no known cure.

Records are scarce, but experts believe Hunter was one of the longest living of people who developed Krabbe as an infant. The disease can also develop in juveniles and adults.

Eagles’ Pinkston out for season

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Todd Pinkston ruptured an Achilles tendon in practice and is out for the season.

Pinkston injured his right ankle when he was tripped up on a route down the sideline. He remained down for several minutes before limping to the medical tent. A few hours after the injury, the team said he was out for the season.

The injury is a blow to the Eagles, who aren’t deep at wide receiver. Receiver Terrell Owens, day-to-day with left groin inflammation, did not practice Friday morning.

“We feel bad from a team standpoint for Todd,” coach Andy Reid said. “He worked very hard this off-season. He was having a heck of a camp, and it’s a shame this happened.”

Cowboys’ Spears leaves with injury

Cowboys rookie defensive end Marcus Spears, one of the two first-round draft picks considered potential defensive starters in Dallas, could miss a month after spraining his right knee and ankle and pulling his groin during a team drill.

Spears was hurt at the end of a running play during the team’s first practice Friday when a lineman was knocked down and rolled up on his leg. After remaining down briefly, Spears had to be helped up by teammates before limping to the sideline.

Negotiations stall for top draft pick

Negotiations between the Tennessee Titans and their top draft pick stalled, and general manager Floyd Reese said he isn’t sure when a deal for cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones will be reached.

Reese had been optimistic Thursday after receiving a counter proposal from agent Michael Huyghue and thought both sides were close enough that they could conclude a contract quickly.

“Today I get a letter saying we’re too far apart to give a counter proposal,” Reese said.

Reese and Huyghue talked for two hours, and Reese said the agent was going to send him another proposal that he hadn’t received before leaving for a night practice at the team’s stadium.