NFL NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati Bengals add Owens to cast of characters

CINCINNATI — A year after they were featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the Bengals have scripted their own reality show.

T.O. and Ocho. Two self-conscious stars, one NFL team.

How will they fit? How will it work? Which receiver will provide most of the drama?

And, more importantly, will any of it help the Bengals get back to the playoffs?

The Bengals reached a contract agreement with receiver Terrell Owens on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. He’s expected to report to training camp in a day or two.

The Bengals were his first choice, giving him a chance to team with close friend Chad Ochocinco, who has already dubbed the pair Batman and Robin. The Bengals made an offer on Monday, and Owens accepted a day later.

Former Raider Tatum dies at 61

COLUMBUS, Ohio — He was called the “Assassin.” Jack Tatum was one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, a Pro Bowl safety who intimidated opposing players with bone-jarring tackles that helped make his Oakland Raiders one of toughest teams of its era. He’s also a player who will always be tied to one of the game’s most tragic moments — a hit in a preseason game that left New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley paralyzed from the neck down. Tatum died Tuesday at age 61 in an Oakland hospital. The cause was a massive heart attack, according to friend and former Ohio State teammate John Hicks. Tatum had battled diabetes and other health problems for years, Hicks said.

Ravens’ rookie Cody flunks conditioning test

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Baltimore Ravens second-round draft pick Terrence Cody failed his conditioning test Tuesday and was not permitted to participate in the team’s first training camp practice. The 360-pound defensive tackle out of Alabama signed a three-year contract Monday and arrived at McDaniel College eager to launch his NFL career. But after flunking his physical, he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Giants rookie safety Jones leaves hospital

NEW YORK — New York Giants rookie safety Chad Jones is heading home to New Orleans after a nearly monthlong stay in the hospital. The Giants say the third-round draft pick from LSU was scheduled to be released from the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Tuesday morning to return to home. Jones was transferred to the hospital June 29 after suffering serious injuries to his left leg and ankle in an early morning car accident in New Orleans on June 24.

League employs harsher language on concussions

NEW YORK — The NFL will distribute a new poster to teams that warns of the dangers from concussions in much harsher language than the league had previously used. Traumatic brain injury “may lead to problems with memory and communication, personality changes, as well as depression and the early onset of dementia,” the document reads. “Concussions and conditions resulting from repeated brain injury can change your life and your family’s life forever.” The acknowledgment of such risks is a significant change from a pamphlet previously distributed to players, starting in 2007. That pamphlet said: “Current research with professional athletes has not shown that having more than one or two concussions leads to permanent problems if each injury is managed properly.”

Tebow new pitchman for Jockey

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tim Tebow has agreed to a multiyear contract — not with the Denver Broncos, but with Jockey International Inc. to be an underwear spokesman. The quarterback will work with several of the underwear company’s product lines in catalog, TV and print advertisements and on jockey.com. Tebow said in a statement that he’s “long been a fan and consumer of Jockey and think they make a quality product with a great fit.” The Broncos selected Tebow, who won two championships at Florida, in the first round of the NFL draft. Rookies are due to report to camp Wednesday but Tebow won’t be allowed to do so until he has a contract with the team, one that figures to be worth $12 million over five years.