Chiefs say Sampson improving

Kansas City offensive lineman Kevin Sampson was improving a day after being hospitalized in New Jersey following a seizure, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said Friday.

“He’s better, he’s coherent,” Vermeil said. “They’re not allowing him to speak to anybody. We have no other information, but that seems to be good news.”

The coach did not disclose the source of his information about Sampson, but said he was told he was in intensive care.

Vermeil said he had not been able to talk to the player’s family.

“His mother’s going there right now,” he said.

Vermeil said he did not know where Sampson, in his second year with the Chiefs, was hospitalized. Early reports were that he had been taken to St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken, N.J. However, a spokeswoman said that Sampson was not at that hospital.

The Jersey Journal in Jersey City reported that Sampson called 911 about 10 a.m. Thursday complaining of not feeling well. An ambulance came to a Hoboken apartment and Sampson, 24, asked to be taken to a hospital, but collapsed.

The Journal reported that Sampson was taken to the emergency room of a local hospital and was passing in and out of consciousness.

“I’m shocked, I’m praying, and I’m frantically trying to get hold of someone,” Joe Linta, Sampson’s agent, said Thursday. He said he had tried to get information from the hospital but was denied.

Sampson, a 6-foot-4, 312-pound right tackle, started his first game with the Chiefs on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He played college football at Syracuse, and Linta had planned to meet him Friday night at the Syracuse-Connecticut football game.

Sampson’s collapse was not the result of drugs or steroids, Chiefs director of player development Lamonte Winston said.

Vermeil had given Chiefs players the week off going into their bye weekend after their 37-31 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Edwards probably out rest of year

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ron Edwards will probably miss the rest of the year after having surgery on his injured right shoulder earlier this week, coach Mike Mularkey said.

The Bills haven’t placed him on injured reserve.

Edwards was hurt in the first half of Buffalo’s 19-7 loss to New Orleans on Sunday and didn’t return.

Jaguars acquire Winborn

The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired linebacker Jamie Winborn from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.

Winborn started two of the 49ers’ three games this season and had 13 tackles and a pass deflection. Last week, Winborn cleaned out his locker and left the team after coach Mike Nolan abruptly announced plans to trade him. Winborn had lost his job to Andre Carter. The Jags released defensive tackle Martin Chase to make room for Winborn.

Pennington undergoes surgery

New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, and the team is optimistic he will be ready next season.

The surgery repaired a small rotator cuff tear, the anterior capsule and labrum.

Pennington was injured Sept. 25 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he was sacked on consecutive plays. This is the second straight season the sixth-year player has torn his rotator cuff. Last season, Pennington tore it in November but returned to lead the Jets to the playoffs.

McMichael signs extension

Randy McMichael signed a four-year extension worth a reported $18 million with the Miami Dolphins, making him one of the highest paid tight ends.

McMichael is the Dolphins’ leading receiver this season with 15 catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns. His current deal was scheduled to run out at the end of next season, but the new deal will keep him with the team through 2009.

Packers short-handed

The Green Bay Packers might be without running back Ahman Green, tight end Bubba Franks and left tackle Chad Clifton against New Orleans on Sunday.

The Packers completed a short week of practice with Green, Franks and Clifton nursing injuries. All three are listed as questionable.

Foley says he’ll be ready

Outside linebacker Steve Foley, the Chargers’ top pass rusher, gingerly went through practice and said he’ll be available to play when San Diego hosts Pittsburgh on Monday night.

Foley missed practiced on Wednesday and Thursday with an abdominal strain.