NFL notes
Published 11:10 pm Saturday, February 23, 2008
CHARGERS: Tight end Antonio Gates is leaning toward having surgery to repair the dislocated left big toe that slowed him during the playoffs.
According to various reports out of Indianapolis, site of the NFL Scouting Combine, Gates said he’ll decide by Wednesday whether to have surgery. Gates was at the combine to meet with medical specialists.
“There’s a higher chance I’m going to have surgery,” Gates told reporters in Indianapolis.
FALCONS: Atlanta coach Mike Smith said he was disappointed to hear reports that cornerback DeAngelo Hall no longer wants to play for the Falcons.
Hall told reporters at the combine on Friday that he doesn’t want to stay in Atlanta after learning the Falcons might trade him.
“I’m really sorry that DeAngelo feels that way,” Smith said. “It’s our policy not to make comments on speculative roster moves, and that’s a speculative roster move. I think he’s an outstanding player.”
Hall was unhappy all last season and often spoke negatively about coach Bobby Petrino. He was fined $100,000 for getting into a shouting match with Petrino, and later openly criticized Falcons management after the team released defensive tackle Grady Jackson.
Hall has 228 tackles and 17 interceptions in four NFL seasons and has been to two Pro Bowls.
EAGLES: Jevon Kearse’s agent expects that the veteran defensive end will be released by Philadelphia. “We tried to work out a restructure with the Eagles and it didn’t work out,” Drew Rosenhaus told reporters. “He had a wonderful career there.”
TITANS: Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt said off-the-field conduct is more important than ever for teams considering prospects at the combine.
“I think character has become a bigger and bigger thing,” he said. “I think the money’s a part of it. I think the clubs and coaches are very, very careful.”
Adam “Pacman” Jones, the Titans’ star cornerback, has been one of the most troubled players in the league in recent years. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones for the 2007 season for his off-field conduct. The sixth pick in the 2005 draft has been arrested six times since being drafted.
Jones is prohibited from working out at the Tennessee Titans’ facility and may not be reinstated until at least the opening of training camps in July. Teams want to avoid such scenarios by doing their homework on troubled prospects before draft day.
“I think part of the process is getting as much information as you can gain,” Reinfeldt said. “I think it’s understanding all the facts as to what happened. It also involves interviewing the young man. From there, it’s a gut call.”
Reinfeldt wouldn’t say if Jones’ uncertain status would affect the way his team drafts. The Titans have the 24th pick.
“Our cornerbacks did a good job for us last year,” he said. “You can never get enough good corners. You get too many good corners, somebody’s going to be happy to trade for them.”
Associated Press
