Dungy returns, will coach team on Sunday
Two days after burying his son, Tony Dungy rejoined the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, hugging his players and assistant coaches and thanking the public for its support while he dealt with his personal tragedy.
“It was the right time to come back,” he said following an afternoon workout. “I talked about it with my wife, and we went through the grieving process and now we’re starting with the healing process.”
Dungy left the team Dec. 22 when his 18-year-old son, James, died. A preliminary autopsy report indicated the teen took his life, but the exact cause of death won’t be released until a toxicology examination is completed in four to six weeks.
Team president Bill Polian and owner Jim Irsay urged Dungy to stay with his family as long as needed while assistant head coach Jim Caldwell filled in.
Dungy said he would coach Sunday’s regular-season finale in Arizona.
Leftwich close to returning
Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich said his mending left ankle is getting better. Leftwich broke the ankle Nov. 27 against Arizona and has been out since.
He practiced for the second consecutive day and said he hopes to be ready when the Jaguars open the playoffs Jan. 7 or 8.
His status for Sunday’s final regular-season game with Tennessee remains a question.
Bengals extend Palmer’s contract
The Cincinnati Bengals reworked and extended quarterback Carson Palmer’s contract, giving themselves more salary cap flexibility and a chance to keep their franchise quarterback through 2014.
They added six years to a deal that still had three to go, providing Palmer with a chance to make $118.75 million in salary and bonuses over the next nine years.
Former Broncos receiver Sampson dies
Clint Sampson, a former wide receiver for the Denver Broncos in the 1980s who played an important role in John Elway’s first fourth-quarter comeback, has died. He was 44.
Sampson died Sunday in a car accident in Los Angeles, said Linda Johnson, one of his five sisters.
Sampson, a third-round pick in the 1983 draft, appeared in 59 games – starting 10 – for the Broncos from 1983-86. He finished his career with 66 catches for 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns.
On Dec. 11, 1983, Sampson caught the first of three fourth-quarter touchdown passes as Elway led the Broncos to a 21-19 victory over the Baltimore Colts after trailing 19-0 at the start of the quarter.
Raiders place Woodson on IR
The Raiders placed Charles Woodson on injured reserve, ending the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback’s season and possibly signaling the end of his career in Oakland.
Woodson has not played since breaking his right leg in an Oct. 23 win over the Buffalo Bills.
As Oakland’s franchise player, Woodson is earning more than $10 million this season. That number would jump to nearly $13 million in 2006 if the Raiders were to keep the franchise tag on Woodson, something owner Al Davis might be hesitant to do.