Football

August 5, 2008

Apologetic Smith makes return to Panthers practice

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Steve Smith apologized and talked about winning back the respect of his teammates, coaches and fans. A battered Ken Lucas accepted Smith’s apology and discussed his impending surgery.

And the Carolina Panthers’ coaching staff tried to keep the team together after an ugly incident involving two of the team’s highest-paid players.

A subdued, apologetic Smith returned to practice Monday, three days after the three-time Pro Bowl receiver punched Lucas in the face at practice, and two days after he was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games.

“I’m completely wrong,” Smith said in a rambling, four-minute meeting with reporters that ended with him declining to answer questions. “It was an asinine decision. And I’ll move forward better than I probably have ever had to. It’s the first time in my life that I really haven’t forgiven myself.”

Lucas also appeared on the field for the first time since Smith slugged him while he was on one knee and not wearing a helmet.

The starting cornerback, with a black left eye and swelling near his nose, rode a stationary bike while the team worked out, thanks to the broken nose that will sideline him two to three weeks.

“Depending on the surgery,” Lucas said. “We’re still waiting on the doctors to give us the timetable on when we’re going to have this procedure done.”

Smith never mentioned Lucas by name. Nor did he explain the incident. During a break in Friday morning’s practice, the 5-foot-9 Smith hit Lucas after a heated discussion over a previous play.

“I will not put myself into a position where I have to defend myself, to state my side of the story. There’s no side,” Smith said. “There’s only one side, a lack of judgment on my part.

“I have no excuse. All I have is the opportunity to gain the respect of my fans, to gain the respect of my family, gain the respect of my co-workers and gain the respect of the organization.”

Smith was sent home from training camp after the incident, and did not practice Friday night or Saturday morning. He rejoined the team Sunday night and apologized in a team meeting.

“He was very remorseful, and we accepted it,” safety Chris Harris said. “We’re moving on. We’ve got our eyes looking forward.”

Smith, the team’s top receiver the past three years, worked with the first team at Monday’s practice. But it was clear things had changed.

Smith, who led the NFL in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns in 2005, didn’t talk trash with defensive players. He never spun the ball on the turf after making catches, as he’s done in the past. He said little to teammates.

It was a major setback for Smith, who had seemingly overcome the anger issues that defined him early in his career. Players had talked about Smith’s maturity in recent years. He was even voted an offensive captain last year by his teammates.

Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles guard Shawn Andrews says he is battling depression and might end his training camp holdout this week.

Andrews tells the Philadelphia Daily News in an exclusive interview Monday that he has decided to get professional help and is on medication. The two-time Pro Bowl selection says the depression began more than a year ago and has worsened.

Andrews says he is to meet a doctor Thursday and could return to the team this weekend.

He confirmed he is being fined $15,000 per day by the team because his absence is unexcused.

Andrews says he has been working out and is in top shape at 335 pounds.

Giants

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Giants halfback Ahmad Bradshaw said Monday he has to serve another 30 days in jail after the season for violating terms of a probation he received as a 15-year-old.

Bradshaw, who led the Super Bowl champions in rushing as a rookie during the playoffs, served the first of two 30-day sentences in June and July at the Abingdon (Va.) Regional Jail.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Joe the milkman, or whoever,” said Bradshaw, speaking for the first time since training camp opened July 25. “Regardless of whether you go to the Super Bowl, or not, you’ve got to learn from your mistakes. You’ll get punished for them.”

Bradshaw said the 30-day sentences resulted from an underage drinking offense at Virginia in 2004 and a petty larceny charge at Marshall in 2006. He had been placed on probation in Virginia in either 2001 or 2002 for a crime as a juvenile.

The records from that case have been sealed.

“No one wants to go to jail, but like I said, you’ve got to learn from your mistakes, you get punished for them. I did what I had to do just to get through this,” the 22-year-old said.

Bradshaw said he has done nothing wrong since being drafted by the Giants in the seventh round last year.

“There is no question about that,” Bradshaw said before a team official ended an interview after less than six minutes. “It should be over with after the (second) 30 days. All of this comes from the juvenile thing.”

After a six-week investigation, the NFL announced last week that Bradshaw would not be suspended.

Texans

HOUSTON — Houston Texans running back Chris Brown returned to practice Monday after sitting out last week with a sore back.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Brown, who signed as a free agent in March, is expected to back up Ahman Green this season. Brown rushed for 462 yards and five touchdowns last year for Tennessee and missed four games with injuries.

Brown took a painkilling injection last week and said his back felt fine after Monday’s workout.

“Everything held up great,” Brown said. “Hopefully, I can just build on that.”

When Brown got hurt, the Texans signed Mike Bell, who was cut by Denver. Bell sat out Monday with a sore hamstring.

Houston coach Gary Kubiak watched Brown closely and cut his schedule short by six plays as a precaution.

Kubiak planned to hold Brown out of an afternoon workout indoors on artificial turf, but the coach moved the practice outside. Brown felt good enough to practice again.

“My body held up pretty good,” Brown said. “I knew I’d be able to run around out here. This morning, just taking those shots, I feel like I did fine.”

Brown took about 15 snaps in the morning and got the contact he wanted to test his back.

“You don’t know until you start taking hits how it’s really going to react,” he said. “No issues, no flare-up. It didn’t bother me at all.”

Bills

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills linebacker Alvin Bowen is scheduled for surgery next week on a torn right knee ligament, likely ending his rookie season before it starts.

Coach Dick Jauron said Monday the Bills’ fifth-round pick will need months to recuperate. The team hasn’t determined whether to place Bowen on season-ending injured reserve. If he returns, it will be late in the regular season.

Bowen tore his ACL during practice Friday when he pulled up to avoid tackling fullback Jonathan Evans during a non-contact drill. Bowen’s right cleat stuck in the turf, his knee buckled and he fell awkwardly, yelling in pain.

Bowen had been competing for a backup spot and a regular role on special teams.

Starting strong safety Donte Whitner was held out of practice Monday because of a minor ankle injury. Jauron didn’t disclose the nature of the injury, but said Whitner will have tests as a precaution.

Receiver Josh Reed also missed practice because of a lower back injury.

Cowboys

OXNARD, Calif. — A refreshed Terrell Owens was back in pads and catching passes from Tony Romo when the Dallas Cowboys held their second practice Monday.

Owens got a break the previous two sessions, when he was on the field but didn’t actively participate Monday morning or in the only workout Sunday.

“He’s a little, not sore, just precautionary,” coach Wade Phillips said Monday in his daily briefing between practices.

T.O. came out from the morning practice in white shorts and a long-sleeve shirt, as he had Sunday. Owens stood behind the offense during some drills after going to the edge of the huddle to listen to the plays being called by Romo.

During that workout, which Phillips described as “teaching session,” the team wasn’t in pads and Romo made only light throws.

“We’re trying to rest his arm a little bit,” Phillips said.

Phillips is starting to give some veterans a break from practice. The Cowboys have been on the field 11 straight days since opening camp and don’t have a day off scheduled until Sunday, the day after their preseason opener.

“It wasn’t like I was looking for a day off. ... I’m just doing what the coaches are telling me to do,” Owens said after the morning session. “If I was hurt, I’d be in the training room somewhere, or be out working with the trainers. But I feel fine, I feel good.”

Flozell Adams, the four-time Pro Bowl left tackle going into his 11th season, also didn’t participate in team and position drills Monday morning, but like Owens was back in the afternoon. Adams also got a break from the first of two practices Saturday.

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