Trial for accused Collier shooter
An ex-convict accused of shooting and paralyzing Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier is going on trial.
Jury selection began Monday in Jacksonville, Fla., in the trial on attempted murder and weapons charges against 33-year-old Tyrone Hartsfield.
The Jacksonville man is accused of shooting Collier 14 times in September 2008 as the player sat in an SUV. He and a teammate were waiting outside an apartment for two women they met at a nightclub.
Police say Hartsfield’s motive was revenge. He and Collier allegedly got into a fight months earlier at a sports bar.
Collier was left paralyzed from the waist down and his lower left leg was amputated because of blood clots.
Hartsfield has denied any involvement in the incident.
Johnson comments land him in hot water
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson used a gay slur for the second time in as many days Monday, the Kansas City Star reported on its Web site.
Johnson refused to speak with reporters, a day after the Chiefs’ 37-7 home loss to the Chargers. Sitting in front of his locker, he turned away and muttered the slur in telling reporters to get “out of here,” according to the Star, which recorded the comment.
On Sunday, Johnson belittled rookie head coach Todd Haley on Twitter in a series of posts that also included the same gay slur.
Haley said the Chiefs were looking into “a couple of situations” involving Johnson, but declined further comment. Asked about the slurs, he said the team was “gathering facts.”
Cowboys award Ware with extension
Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware finally has his big contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He just won’t be getting paid as much as some of the elite quarterbacks he will be trying to sack.
After months of talks that intensified over the past two weeks, Ware agreed to a $78 million, six-year deal through the 2015 season that guarantees him $40 million.
“I feel like I work really hard and am really deserving of what they’ve given me,” Ware said. “All this is behind me now. It’s time to get to work. You know what it’s time to bring home. I’m not going to say what it is, we’re just going to show you, and I’m going to show you.”
Around the league
San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary announced that Alex Smith will be the 49ers’ starting quarterback Sunday at Indianapolis. … Houston receiver Andre Johnson has a bruised lung and will be listed as day to day this week as the Texans prepare for the Buffalo Bills. … New York Jets running back Leon Washington has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after having surgery in which a rod was inserted into his broken right leg. … Will Allen’s season-ending left knee injury will force the Miami Dolphins to go with two rookie cornerbacks beginning Sunday against the New York Jets. He’ll be replaced in the lineup by 2009 first-round draft pick Vontae Davis. Second-round pick Sean Smith has been starting opposite Allen. … The Denver Broncos made their first in-season roster move of the year, bringing in punter Mitch Berger and waiving Brett Kern.