WHITESTOWN, N.Y. -- New England Patriots offensive lineman Nick Kaczur pleaded guilty Tuesday to speeding in a deal with prosecutors that will put a misdemeanor drug possession charge on hold.
The 28-year-old Kaczur was ordered to pay $355 in fines and fees by Whitestown Town Justice Stanley Wolanin, who said the drug possession charge will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the next six months.
The plea deal also requires Kaczur to comply with any type of treatment, monitoring or employee assistance program imposed by the Patriots, Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Grant Garramone said.
"We are pleased with this disposition," said Louis Viviani, a Syracuse lawyer who represented Kaczur at the 10-minute proceeding Tuesday.
Viviani said Kaczur is ready to go to Patriots camp on Wednesday.
Kaczur was originally charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. He was also charged with going 76 mph in a 65 mph zone.
According to police reports, Kaczur had 202 OxyContin pills labeled as made in Canada when he was pulled over April 27 by state troopers near Utica. Full story
Rams to ease in Pace
ST. LOUIS -- Seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace is close to returning from a shoulder injury, but will not be cleared for full contact at the start of training camp.
Rams coach Scott Linehan said the team would be conservative with Pace, who tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the second quarter of the 2007 season-opener against Carolina.
Pace missed the remainder of the season, and his injury was among several that left the offensive line in shambles, a big reason for the Rams' dismal 3-13 record.
It was the second straight season with a significant injury for the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace suffered a season-ending left triceps tear in Seattle during Week 10 of 2006.
Browns sign entire draft class
CLEVELAND -- The Browns have signed all five of their 2008 draft picks to four-year contracts.
Cleveland had no picks in the first three rounds of the April draft. They had to wait until the fourth round to select UNLV linebacker Beau Bell and Missouri tight end Martin Rucker with picks acquired in trades with Dallas.
Rucker was a consensus first team All-American last year, and Bell won the Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year award.
Also signed are Ahtyba Rubin, an Iowa State defensive lineman, Paul Hubbard -- a receiver at Wisconsin and Alex Hall, a defensive end from St. Augustine in North Carolina.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Jets give shot to Carroll
NEW YORK -- The Jets signed free-agent defensive back Ahmad Carroll, a former first-round pick of Green Bay who was out of the NFL last season, to a contract.
The Jets waived defensive back Nate Lyles to make room on their roster for Carroll, the 25th overall pick in 2004.
The speedy Carroll played this year in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators after being waived by Jacksonville in May 2007, two days after he was arrested on weapon and drug charges.
The Jets brought Carroll, 24, in for a visit in December. Though they didn't sign him at that time, they believe his troubles are behind him.
Bengals sign seventh-rounder
CINCINNATI -- Receiver Mario Urrutia signed a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The seventh-round draft pick played at Louisville.
The Bengals still have six picks unsigned. They haven't signed any of their first five picks from the draft, including first-round pick Keith Rivers, a linebacker from Southern California.
Bengals players are expected to report for training camp Sunday in Georgetown, Ky., and hold their first workout the next day.
Reid's son sentenced
NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- The son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid was sentenced to two years in a drug rehabilitation program.
Garrett Reid had pleaded guilty in May to trying to smuggle dozens of pills into the Montgomery County Jail.
Reid, 25, was serving time in the jail for a heroin-fueled car crash that injured a motorist.
When Reid surrendered on charges related to that crash in October, prison guards found 89 prescription pills inside his rectum.
Reid will spend at least five more months behind bars as part of the program intended to integrate drug and alcohol addicts back into society.
