Bruschi to sit out ‘05 season
New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out this season because of a stroke he suffered 10 days after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years.
Bruschi, 32, suffered a mild stroke on Feb. 16, three days after playing in the Pro Bowl and 10 days after helping New England beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in the Super Bowl. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Bruschi has made daily progress in his rehabilitation.
He has attended team meetings, helped new players learn the defense and worked out in the Patriots’ weight room, but he didn’t practice during the team’s June minicamp. Training camp begins July 28.
Gilbertson to rejoin Seahawks
Former University of Washington football coach Keith Gilbertson plans to become an offensive assistant for the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL team has yet to announce the arrangement, but numerous sources confirmed the move. The news broke Wednesday in Gilbertson’s hometown newspaper, the Everett Herald. Gilbertson, 57, spent the last two seasons as the Huskies’ head coach. The university dismissed Gilbertson following the 2004 season.
Gilbertson was a Seahawks assistant from 1996 to 1998, serving one year as defensive specialist and two coaching tight ends. This time, Gilbertson was expected to help offensive line coach Bill Laveroni. His precise role was not yet clear.
Odds ‘50-50’ whether Owens will be at camp
Terrell Owens hasn’t decided whether he will report to training camp on time because of a contract dispute with the Eagles, his agent said.
“The odds are 50-50,” Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. “We probably won’t make any determination until the start of camp.”
Owens, who helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in his first season in Philadelphia after eight years with San Francisco, fired longtime agent David Joseph in April, hired Rosenhaus and started asking for a new contract just one year into a seven-year deal worth almost $49 million.
The Eagles have said they won’t redo the contract.
“Javon Walker will be a no-show at training camp next week unless the Green Bay Packers agree to give the Pro Bowl receiver a big pay raise or trade him, his agent said.
“The Packers say they aren’t going to change their position, so we are leaning that way. We’re hoping for a change of heart or a trade,” Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press.
The Packers would not comment.
“Edgerrin James knows where he’ll be next week when the Indianapolis Colts report for training camp. So does his agent. They’re just not telling anybody.
James signed a one-year deal worth slightly more than $8 million in March, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has repeatedly said James wants a long-term deal. That has created speculation that James might hold out.
“Of course, he’s told me his plans,” Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. “But we’ve decided not to comment on that particular question. It’s something we’d really like to hold off on.”
James is the Colts’ all-time rushing leader.
Eagles sign draft picks Moats, Cole
The Philadelphia Eagles signed two of their draft selections, agreeing to four-year deals with third-round pick Ryan Moats and fifth-round pick Trent Cole.
Moats, a 5-foot-8, 210-pound running back, set school records for rushing yards (1,774), touchdowns (18), and carries (288) at Louisiana Tech.
Moats finished his college career with 499 carries for 3,176 yards and 28 TDs. He also received first team All-WAC honors as a sophomore following a 1,364-yard, 10-touchdown performance.
Cole, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end, was a two-time first team All-Conference USA selection at Cincinnati. Cole finished his career with 238 tackles and 19 sacks, which ranks third on the school’s career list.
“The Chicago Bears signed fifth-round draft pick Airese Currie, wide receiver from Clemson, to a five-year contract.
“The Houston Texans signed fifth-round pick Drew Hodgdon, a guard-center from Arizona State.
“The Cincinnati Bengals signed fifth-round draft pick Adam Kieft, an offensive tackle out of Central Michigan, to a three-year deal.
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed sixth-round draft pick Anthony Bryant, a defensive tackle from Alabama.
“The New England Patriots signed third-round draft choice Nick Kaczur, a tackle from Toledo, and fourth-round draft choice James Sanders, a safety from Fresno State.
“The Carolina Panthers signed fifth-round draft choice Ben Emanuel, a safety from UCLA, and sixth-round draft choice Jovan Haye, a defensive end from Vanderbilt.