James wants Cardinals to release him, team says no

TEMPE, Ariz. — Benched running back Edgerrin James wants the Arizona Cardinals to release him, his agent said Wednesday night.

Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said the team declined to even consider such a move.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said he would continue to talk to the Cardinals to try to persuade them to grant James his release.

“The reason is simple. Edgerrin is healthy, he’s still in his prime and we know he can still play at the highest level,” Rosenhaus said. “Quite frankly, he’s not used to being a bench warmer and not playing and would like to go to a team where he can play.”

According to Graves, Rosenhaus asked if the team would consider releasing James “and we declined it as a consideration.”

Bucs place Graham on IR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading rusher Earnest Graham will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right ankle during last week’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Fourth-year pro Noah Herron was signed to fill Graham’s spot on the roster. With Graham out, Warrick Dunn moves into the featured tailback role.

Pacman Jones reinstated

The NFL is giving Adam “Pacman” Jones another chance.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the suspended cornerback has been reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell, but he must miss two more games — this Sunday and the following game on Thanksgiving. He’ll be back Dec. 7 at Pittsburgh.

Goodell suspended Adam Jones indefinitely on Oct. 14, saying he’d put a timeframe on it after the cornerback missed at least four games. This decision means it will be a six-game suspension. Jones also missed the entire 2007 season. By the time he returns, he will have been suspended from 22 of a possible 28 games.

Jerry Jones said Adam Jones could return to practice Monday. The owner said the player would have “limited participation” this week, but would not be part of full-squad practices or conditioning.

Brandon Jacobs looks good, to test knee today

While he seemingly had no problem moving side to side and running forward during individual drills Wednesday, New York Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs wants to wait another day before saying whether he will play against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend.

“I feel good,” Jacobs said. “The last time I had this injury I couldn’t walk the next day and I was out for three weeks. This year it’s just a nagging thing that’s been there, but I don’t think it will hold me out.”

Jacobs tweaked his left knee in the first half of the Giants’ 30-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. An MRI showed no structural damage.

“There is no pain and I don’t feel restricted,” Jacobs said.

Childress: Allen fined 25K, but not suspended

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will not be suspended for a spate of late hits.

Coach Brad Childress said he was told by the NFL that Allen will be fined $25,000, but not punished further. Allen was summoned to the league office Tuesday to talk about his play. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier went with him.

Allen was fined $50,000 for two late hits earlier this month on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, one that injured his knee. The following week against Green Bay, Allen was called for roughing the passer after knocking down Aaron Rodgers

Three Saints players took no steroids, says lawyer

The lawyer for three New Orleans Saints players facing suspension said the NFL’s independent drug adminstrator acknowledged he did not inform NFL players that the supplement StarCaps contained a banned diuretic.

During the players’ appeals hearing, attorney David Cornwell said that Dr. John Lombardo’s testimony proved none of his clients — Deuce McAllister, Will Smith or Charles Grant — took steroids.

Cornwell said in an e-mail that Lombardo testified he learned in late 2006 that StarCaps contained Bumetanide, a diuretic considered a masking agent for steroids. Lombardo’s reasoning, according to Cornwell, is that “he feared that a specific warning regarding StarCaps could be used as a defense to alleged violations of the steroid policy that involved weight reduction products other than StarCaps.”

Suspect in Williams death indicted in 2nd slaying

The man accused of killing Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams now faces murder charges in another slaying.

Police and prosecutors said Wednesday Willie D. Clark was indicted in the December 2006 shooting death of Kalonniann Louisa James Clark.

Prosecutors say they don’t believe the two were related.

Also indicted was Brian Hicks, who police say owned an SUV that was used in Williams’ drive-by slaying on New Year’s Day 2007.

Clark and Hicks were indicted on charges of murder, solicitation to commit murder, conspiracy to commit murder and witness intimidation in Kalonniann Clark’s slaying. Clark also faces a burglary charge.

Shaun Birch was indicted on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and burglary.