Owens joins buddy Ochocinco in Cincinnati
Receiver Terrell Owens agreed to a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday and will report to training camp in a couple of days, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press.
The Bengals were his first choice, giving him a chance to team with close friend Chad Ochocinco, who has already dubbed the pair Batman and Robin. The Bengals made an offer on Monday, and Owens accepted a day later.
Players are required to report for the start of training camp today in Georgetown, Ky. Owens is expected to show up when workouts begin on Thursday, said the person speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had made no announcement.
Rams optimistic about Bradford
The St. Louis Rams are optimistic they’ll sign No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford soon, perhaps by Thursday when quarterbacks and rookies are due for their first training camp workout.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo said talks are proceeding with Bradford and he was hopeful a deal would be reached soon. The coach added that Bradford, the former Oklahoma quarterback, has said in the past that he wanted to be in camp on time.
Welker put on PUP list
Star receiver Wes Welker was placed on the New England Patriots’ active physically unable to perform list as he continued his strong recovery from knee surgery.
The team made the move two days before it opens training camp.
Also, the Patriots placed linebacker Shawn Crable, a third-round draft pick in 2008, and rookie defensive lineman Kade Weston, a seventh-round pick, on the active physically unable to perform list.
Ex-Raider Tatum dies
Jack Tatum, the All-Pro safety for the Oakland Raiders best known for his hit that paralyzed Darryl Stingley in an NFL preseason game in 1978, has died. He was 61.
Nicknamed “The Assassin,” Tatum died of a heart attack in Oakland, according to friend and former Ohio State teammate John Hicks.
On Aug. 12, 1978, Stingley, playing for the New England Patriots, ran head-on into the hard-hitting Tatum on a crossing pattern. The blow severed Stingley’s fourth and fifth vertebrae and left the receiver paralyzed.
Stingley died in 2007.
• NFL veteran offensive lineman Harry Galbreath has died. He was 45.
Galbreath, an All-SEC selection in 1987, was an eighth-round selection by Miami in the 1988 draft. He played five seasons with the Dolphins, three with Green Bay and two with the New York Jets before retiring in 1997.
Around the league
Baltimore Ravens second-round draft pick Terrence Cody, a 360-pound defensive tackle out of Alabama, has failed his conditioning test and was not permitted to participate in the team’s first training camp practice. … The New England Patriots have signed second-round pick Brandon Spikes, a linebacker out of Florida. … The Jacksonville Jaguars got a much-needed financial boost, striking a five-year deal with EverBank that includes changing the name of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to EverBank Field.