Bowe signs franchise offer from Chiefs
Perhaps receiver Dwayne Bowe was just waiting for the Chiefs to break training camp to finally sign his franchise tender.
The team said in a statement Friday that Bowe had signed after missing the entire offseason program and training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. Bowe is due about $9.5 million this season after the two sides failed to reach a long-term deal by the July 16 deadline.
It was unclear whether Bowe would join Kansas City for its trip to St. Louis for a preseason game today. The team will resume practice at its facility near Arrowhead Stadium next week.
The more pressing question is whether Bowe can learn new coordinator Brian Daboll’s offense in time to play against Seattle on Friday.
Union challenges Goodell’s statement
The NFL Players Association filed documents in federal court in New Orleans disputing Commissioner Roger Goodell’s sworn statement that he was prepared to discipline players for their involvement in the Saints bounty pool back in March but waited until May as a courtesy to the union.
Attorneys for four players suspended in the bounty investigation have argued the punishment handed down by Goodell should be overturned, in part because the commissioner’s public statements last spring showed he had improperly pre-judged the players’ actions.
The documents include sworn declarations by sanctioned linebacker Scott Fujita and union chief DeMaurice Smith.
Patriots sign Demps
The New England Patriots agreed to terms with Olympic silver medalist Jeff Demps, who played running back at Florida but was not drafted by an NFL team because he said he wanted to focus on his track career.
Demps had 2,470 career yards rushing and 23 touchdowns in four seasons with the Gators, but he did not attend any college football all-star games or take part in any NFL draft workouts to focus on track.
Quick kicks
The Steelers made a surprise move in activating nose tackle Casey Hampton and running back Rashard Mendenhall from the physically unable to perform list. Each veteran has been rehabilitating a torn ACL suffered in January. … Veteran offensive tackle Ray Willis told the Chiefs that he is retiring. Willis made 26 starts and played in 44 games in five seasons with the Seahawks, where he had the most success. He had bounced through the Dolphins, Saints and Jets over the past couple of years before signing with the Chiefs for training camp. … Former Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy said she is no longer romantically involved with Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.