NFL notes: Former Seahawk Sam Adams charged in wage-theft case

Former NFL player Sam Adams failed to pay wages and health care premiums for workers at his fitness clubs in Washington state, investigators say.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson said that his office charged Adams, 41, with theft and tax fraud charges in Seattle and that it would seek a sentence above the normal prison term of three to nearly five years.

Among the allegations are that Adams and his business partner, Dana Lynn Sargent, failed to turn over to the state $446,000 in sales tax collected from customers.

Adams, 41, was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle during his 14-year career. He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and played six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2007.

He ran four gyms in Oregon and two in Washington – West Seattle Athletic Club in Seattle and Lincoln Plaza Athletic Club in Tacoma. But about two years ago, employees began reporting that they weren’t being paid for their work, and some gym members said their credit cards continued to be charged after their memberships were canceled.

Adams’ gym in Tacoma closed in December 2013. The Tacoma News Tribune reported at the time that Adams had been evicted for failing to pay $160,000 in back rent at the facility. The gym in Seattle closed last October when the building’s owner evicted Adams, claiming he had failed to make rent.

Cowboys RB Randle facing abuse claims

Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle’s ex-girlfriend has filed a request for a protective order, saying he threatened to “blast the vehicle” with their son inside after pointing a gun at her friend.

Dalia Jacobs wrote in a request filed Wednesday in district court in Wichita, Kansas, that Randle smashed the windshield of the car with his fist, “causing glass to shatter across my friend and my child.”

The incident occurred the same night the 23-year-old Randle was arrested on a marijuana possession charge at a Wichita hotel after a woman called 911. He was not taken into custody, and no charges related to domestic violence have been filed.

Police dropped the marijuana charge Friday, but spokesman Lt. James Espinoza says other charges are possible.

Bell gets 15 months of probation for pot

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will spend 15 months on probation in a first-offender’s program in Pittsburgh stemming from his arrest on marijuana possession and DUI charges with former teammate LeGarrette Blount.

Defense attorney Robert Del Greco Jr. said that Bell likely faces up to a two-game NFL suspension.

Bell, 22, and Blount, 28, were arrested Aug. 20 after a motorcycle officer in Ross Township, a suburb just north of Pittsburgh, smelled marijuana coming from a vehicle Bell was driving.

Blount, who faced a marijuana possession charge, had that dismissed last week after completing 50 hours of community service.