Packers’ Herron fends off burglar

Green Bay Packers running back Noah Herron thwarted a would-be burglar by hitting him with a bed post during a break-in at his home in Green Bay, Wis.

Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken said Tuesday that the break-in happened late last Friday and the injured intruder remained hospitalized but is expected to recover.

“Noah Herron used necessary, reasonable and justifiable force in protecting his life and property,” Kocken said in a statement. “Herron, the victim in this random home invasion, is cooperating with law enforcement.”

Herron, 26, missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Chief Deputy John Gossage said Herron called police at 11:19 p.m. Friday after he heard glass breaking in the lower level of his home. He said an unknown number of people had entered the house.

One of the intruders entered Herron’s bedroom, and Herron hit the person with a post he had unscrewed from his bed, Gossage said. Herron was not injured.

The injured burglar was taken to a hospital, and a second suspect was arrested outside the home, Gossage said.

Owens signs; Jones practices

When Terrell Owens signed with the Dallas Cowboys two years ago, he told everyone to get their popcorn ready. When he signed an extension Tuesday, the club had the popcorn ready for him – a giant bowl big enough to feed the entire offensive line.

“That’s funny,” Owens said, scooping a few kernels into his mouth.

Owens signed a three-year extension worth around $27 million, plus a $7 million bonus, the same day cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was allowed to practice with Dallas for the first time.

With those two as teammates, passing drills at the Cowboys’ practice field just got a lot more interesting to watch, probably good enough theater for popcorn.

Jones didn’t wait long to make his first highlight, either. On the final play of drills, he intercepted a pass – from third-stringer Richard Bartel, not Tony Romo – and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown.

“I would’ve prevented that in a second,” said Owens, who missed Jones’ first workout because he was in New York until Tuesday afternoon.

Owens’ deal prevents him from going through this season as a free-agent-to-be and locks him up through 2011, when he turns 38. It also puts him in the same salary range as Randy Moss.

Around the league

Former Cincinnati Bengals fullback Pete Johnson was found guilty in Urbana, Ohio, of writing a bad check to buy a pickup truck and faces up to one year in prison and a fine of $2,500. He was acquitted by a jury of a second charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle. Johnson, 53, will be sentenced July 21. … The Houston Texans have signed general manager Rick Smith to a four-year contract extension – keeping him with the team at least through 2012. Smith, one of three black general managers in the NFL, was hired in 2006 and is the second general manager in Texans history. … Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard skipped the team’s voluntary workout amid dissatisfaction with his contract and uncertainty about his role on the team. Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowler, lost his starting position at left cornerback when the team signed free agent Asante Samuel, who agreed to a six-year, $57 million deal in the off-season.

Safety LaRon Landry rejoined the Washington Redskins for off-season practices, following his unexcused absence the day before. “I was at home taking care of a lot of family issues,” the second-year safety said. “But I came back and I am ready to work.” … Jeremy Newberry’s tour of California NFL teams is complete. The offensive lineman joined the San Diego Chargers for an off-season workout, a day after signing a one-year contract. “I wanted to be down here. I’ve already played for the two other California teams,” said Newberry, a two-time Pro Bowl center while with San Francisco who played last year with the AFC West rival Oakland Raiders. … “Inside the NFL” has found a new home on Showtime. The studio show ended its 31-year run on HBO in February. The program will air on Wednesdays starting Sept. 10 on the cable channel. It will be produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films.