Herndon signs five-year deal with Seahawks

Kelly Herndon was on the verge of falling out of football so often he had no choice but to be mentally strong.

After being cut three times and spending a season on the Denver practice squad before catching on with the Broncos, Herndon’s perseverance has paid off with a five-year, $15 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

“I am elated and it’s just a blessing,” Herndon said Tuesday at team headquarters in Kirkland, Wash., adding he can tell his story back in his hometown of Twinsburg, Ohio, to prove “that you can keep working at what you do and never give up.”

Herndon started all 16 games for the Broncos last season. He led the team with 20 passes defensed and had two interceptions.

He will join a talented but young secondary in Seattle, including cornerback Marcus Trufant and safeties Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware. He is expected to take the spot of Ken Lucas, who signed a six-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.

Reported Rivers-to-49ers trade debunked

Rumors that the San Diego Chargers might trade Philip Rivers to the 49ers for the No. 1 pick in the April 23 NFL draft were shot down by officials from both teams.

“It’s never going to happen, not in a million years,” San Diego team president Dean Spanos said. “There have been no talks with the 49ers regarding such a deal.”

Speculation about the possible trade has been swirling on various Internet sites, including Profootballtalk.com and ESPN.com. The rumored deal also has been fodder for sportstalk radio, but like Spanos, 49ers Coach Mike Nolan said there is nothing to it.

“It is simply a rumor and there is no truth to it,” Nolan said through a team spokesman.

Colts’ Harrison named in lawsuit

Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts and two other men are accused in a lawsuit of attacking three boys seeking the wide receiver’s autograph a day before the Pro Bowl.

The suit, made public Monday, seeks general, special and punitive damages to be determined at trial. It alleges Harrison “violently and physically attacked” the minors, including placing a “potentially deadly choke hold” on one of the boys.

Police interviewed Harrison while he was in Honolulu and forwarded their report to city prosecutors, who are considering whether to pursue charges. Harrison was not arrested and no one has been charged.

Panthers focus of steroid investigation

Carolina Panthers Todd Sauerbrun and Jeff Mitchell and former player Todd Steussie had steroid prescriptions filled by a West Columbia, S.C., doctor now under investigation by federal authorities, according to a “60 Minutes Wednesday” report.

In a release, the CBS News show said the players all had prescriptions for testosterone cream filled within two weeks of the Panthers’ appearance in the 2004 Super Bowl.

The prescriptions were reportedly written by Dr. James Shortt, who is the subject of a Drug Enforcement Administration probe for allegedly prescribing steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Broncos to take a shot on Brown

The Denver Broncos are close to signing former Browns defensive lineman Courtney Brown to a free-agent contract.

Brown, the top pick in the 2000 draft, was pursued by Denver, Washington, Seattle and Jacksonville after his release by the Browns earlier this month but decided to sign with the Broncos, a source close to the team, told the AP on condition of anonymity.