TITANS: Suspended Tennessee player Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded no contest Thursday to a reduced charge in a Las Vegas strip club melee which preceded a triple shooting that left a man paralyzed.
The Titans cornerback appeared in Nevada’s Clark County District Court to take a plea deal that officials said will get him probation in return for his testimony about the gunman who opened fire outside the club at the end of NBA All-Star weekend in February.
The 24-year-old Jones, who is seeking reinstatement to the Titans, will be sentenced to one year of probation for agreeing not to contest a charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, and to testify about the gunman. Prosecutors dropped two charges of coercion, a felony carrying a possible sentence of one to six years in prison.
Clark County prosecutor Victoria Villegas has said authorities hope Jones can help identify the gunman. Defense attorney Robert Langford has declined to say if Jones knows the shooter’s identity.
Under the plea deal, Jones will receive a suspended one-year jail sentence, must attend an anger management program, complete 200 hours of community service within a year and submit to random drug testing.
FALCONS: Quarterback Chris Redman, who was out of the league the last three seasons, became the third starter this season, getting the nod after a strong performance in relief of Joey Harrington last Sunday. With Byron Leftwich still hurting and Harrington clearly not the answer, the Falcons (3-9) had little choice except to go with a quarterback — who was selling insurance a year ago — for their Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints.
BILLS: Backup running back Anthony Thomas’ season is over, but Buffalo could have starter Marshawn Lynch back for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Thomas was placed on injured reserve, two weeks after he tore a calf muscle in a 36-14 loss at Jacksonville. The good news is Lynch could be ready to return after missing the past three games with a sprained left ankle. Lynch practiced Thursday in full pads for the first time since he was hurt, leading coach Dick Jauron to say he’s “optimistic” the rookie first-round pick will be ready to play.
LOS ANGELES: The hope of an NFL team returning to the Los Angeles area seems to be fading after city officials in Anaheim said they plan to sell a potential stadium site to a developer who plans to build shops and office towers.
“The NFL’s train has left,” councilwoman Lucille Kring said. “It would cost the taxpayers too much money, and the return on the investment does not warrant it.”
Anaheim is expected to officially end its chase of an NFL team in a few months when it sells the 53-acre stadium site to Archstone-Smith and Hines.
And, with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa saying last week that the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is no longer a viable option, NFL fans may have another season without a hometown team.
DOGS: The remaining 47 pit bulls seized from suspended NFL star Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation are being placed with rescue organizations.
RAMS: Kick returner Dante Hall, who has been hobbled much of the season by a high ankle sprain, was put on injured reserve, coach Scott Linehan said.
Associated Press
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