News briefs: NFL to update teams on umpire repositioning
CBSSports.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- The NFL will update its teams this week on the repositioning of the umpire to the offensive backfield.
A memo will be sent to the 32 clubs outlining how the change will work during the season.
A meeting of the referees and umpires will be held Friday, one day after the season opener between Minnesota and New Orleans. That meeting will "simply be to review the mechanics of the umpire position," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday.
In March, the league decided for safety reasons to move umpires from the middle of the defense near the linebackers to behind the deepest running back. But Colts quarterback and four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning complained in a preseason game at Green Bay after he twice was called for illegal snaps when the umpire couldn't get into position quickly enough.
The league moved umpires back to their old spots during the final five minutes of last Thursday's final exhibition games. Previously they were in the old spot for only the final two minutes of each half.
Moving the umpires was an easy decision for safety's sake, NFL vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said. After reviewing video showing dozens of collisions and near-collisions with players or even the ball, it became clear to the competition committee that the umpires were endangered.
"We needed to get them out of harm's way," Anderson said. Full Story
Jets quickly bring back FB Richardson
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan says the team will re-sign veteran fullback Tony Richardson a day after cutting the popular player. The Jets will add Richardson to the 53-man roster, and Ryan says he will play in the season opener against Baltimore next Monday night.
Ryan said cornerback Brian Jackson will be released to clear a roster spot.
Ryan says the team was able to re-sign Richardson so quickly because it received a roster exemption from the league after signing Darrelle Revis on Sunday night, ending the cornerback's lengthy holdout. The move to cut the 38-year-old Richardson on Sunday was surprising because Ryan repeatedly said the team would go with two fullbacks to help the Jets' run-heavy offense.
Woman sues Giants, claims injury at '09 game
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants have been sued by a woman and her husband who claim she was attacked by fans during a New York Jets game played at Giants Stadium last year.
Michelle Munoz says she attended the Sept. 20 game against the New England Patriots and was assaulted by Jets fans and thrown to the ground, causing her to suffer back injuries.
The suit, filed in late July, names the Giants and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operated Giants Stadium. The stadium was torn down this year to make way for a new stadium that is owned by the Giants and Jets.
The Jets were not sued.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers waived third-string quarterback Nate Davis, just more than a year after drafting him in the fifth round out of Ball State. Shortly after announcing they had parted ways with Davis, the team said it signed quarterback Troy Smith to a one-year deal.
Coach Mike Singletary had been openly frustrated with Davis' slow development and work ethic despite the quarterback's dyslexia that makes it difficult to grasp the playbook. Singletary hinted after Thursday night's preseason victory over San Diego that Davis was a question mark to make the team, but he was still around Friday when the Niners trimmed their roster to the 53-player limit.
The move was made Monday as San Francisco prepares for its opener at NFC West rival Seattle, but announced hours after Singletary addressed the media.
The 49ers already have starter Alex Smith and backup David Carr, two former No. 1 overall picks. Singletary had said they could get by with only two quarterbacks, but opted to add Troy Smith. He was a fifth-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2007 and has appeared in 14 games with two starts in three seasons. The Ravens cut Smith on Saturday.
Vikes CB Griffin iffy for opener
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have not ruled out cornerback Cedric Griffin playing this week in New Orleans.
Griffin blew out his left knee in the NFC Championship Game against the Saints last January, an anterior cruciate ligament injury that typically requires about nine months of recovery. Griffin recently returned to practice, but he was listed as a limited participant on the injury report released by the Vikings.
Griffin is clearly ready mentally, whether his legs are truly in game shape or not.
Griffin said he's been taking turns in practice with the first team defense this week. Only individual position drills are open for media viewing.
Seahawks release safety Babineaux
RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran safety Jordan Babineaux, fullback Owen Schmitt and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson.
They were replaced on the roster Monday by defensive end Raheem Brock, running back Michael Robinson and defensive tackle Junior Siavii.
Seattle also hired Pat Ruel as the offensive line coach. Ruel served in the same capacity at Southern California under head coach Pete Carroll the last five years.
Babineaux signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted rookie in 2004 and appeared in 83 games at cornerback and safety, making 319 tackles, 2½ sacks and eight interceptions. He started at safety in all 16 games last season, finishing with a career-high 105 tackles.
Bills sign FB McIntyre to two-year extension
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have signed fullback Corey McIntyre to a two-year, $1.85 million contract extension that runs through the 2012 season. The deal could be worth more if McIntyre meets several incentive clauses and comes as he prepares for his third year in Buffalo and sixth in the NFL.
Used as a fullback and on special teams, he has five carries for 34 yards and nine catches for 54 yards in 26 games with the Bills. He also played in Cleveland, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Saints bring back linebacker Clark
METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints added veteran linebacker Danny Clark to their roster, marking his second stint with the club since the Sean Payton era began in 2006.
The 33-year-old Clark, now in his 11th season, also was with the club in 2006. His addition adds depth to a linebacker corps depleted by a season-ending foot injury to projected weakside starter Jonathan Casillas.
Clark, who is 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, began 2010 training camp in Houston, but was released on Sunday. Clark started eight games for the Texans in 2007 and 26 games over the past two seasons with the New York Giants. he Saints got a good look at Clark in August when they held joint training camp practices and a preseason game with Houston.
Chargers sign quarterback O'Sullivan
SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers have signed free agent quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan to a one-year contract.
He'll be added to the roster Tuesday and a corresponding roster move will be made then. He'll line up on the depth chart behind Philip Rivers and Billy Volek.
O'Sullivan spent 2009 with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing in three games.
The Chargers cut third-string quarterback Jonathan Crompton on Saturday and signed him to the practice squad Sunday.
'Boys OL Colombo, Kosier still sidelined
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys were still without two starting offensive linemen at practice Monday. Right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier have been out several weeks with knee injuries.
Colombo is expected to return before Kosier. Coach Wade Phillips said Colombo could play the opener Sunday night at Washington if he practices later this week.
Defensive lineman Marcus Spears, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and linebacker Keith Brooking are over injuries that kept them out of several preseason games and are expected to start against the Redskins.
Cards cut three, claim three off waivers
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals have cut three players and claimed three off waivers, including veteran cornerback Brandon McDonald.
The Cardinals released cornerback Marshay Green, fullback Reagan Maui'a and linebacker Pago Togafau. They claimed off waivers McDonald, from Cleveland, outside linebacker Cyril Obiozor and fullback Jerome Johnson.
McDonald started 27 games over the last three seasons for Cleveland but was released by the Browns over the weekend. Obiozor was cut by Green Bay and Johnson was released by the New York Giants.
In other moves, Arizona re-signed three players to the practice squad: offensive lineman Herman Johnson, guard Tom Pestock and wide receiver Isaiah Williams.
Broncos sign RB Hall to practice squad
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have signed running back Bruce Hall to their practice squad, one day after waiving him to make room for Andre Brown.
The Broncos also signed offensive lineman Jeff Byers and defensive lineman Lionel Dotson to their practice squad.
Hall is a second-year pro who rushed 30 times for 88 yards and caught a dozen passes for 73 yards during the preseason.
Byers is a rookie from Southern Cal who was waived by Seattle on Saturday. He grew up in Loveland, Colo. Dotson is a third-year pro who spent his first two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who waived him over the weekend. He was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona in 2008.
