|
 James, his two sons -- LeBron Jr. and Bryce -- and some friends
attended the closed practice in Berea, Ohio.
James spent an hour on the sideline as the Browns went through a
morning workout in preparation for Saturday's exhibition opener in
Detroit. It was James' first public appearance since re-signing with
the Cavaliers last month.
After practice, the four-time MVP took time for the usual greetings
and photos.
James met players inside, then spent time chatting with Manziel on
the field.
Head coach Mike Pettine said James had reached out about visiting
the Browns and that "it was something we had been looking forward
to."
"I do know that I'm going to be father of the year now," Pettine
said. 'My daughter got a picture with LeBron. She could care less
about a picture with me."
---University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler doesn't want to see
the Redskins' nickname anywhere in TCF Bank Stadium when Washington
plays at the Minnesota Vikings in November.
The Vikings are using the university's campus facility for the next
two seasons to play their home games while a new stadium is built in
downtown Minneapolis.
Kaler said he assured U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), who
believes using the name would violate school policies on equity and
diversity, that Redskins would not be used in promotional and
game-day material when the Vikings play host to Washington on Nov.
2.
Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley said the team will continue to
discuss the use of the nickname with university and Native American
community leaders.
---Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly joined with one of the
undisclosed bidders for the Buffalo Bills and he was meeting with
the team's trust Thursday, the Buffalo News reported.
The Bills' trust has begun making in-person presentations to
prospective buyers, with as many as eight scheduled over the next
three weeks, according to the report.
The newspaper doesn't specifically name which bidder Kelly has
joined. Kelly reportedly was approached previously by Jeffery
Gundlach, a bond investor from East Amherst, N.Y.
Initially it was believed three bidders were in on the team:
rocker/businessman Bon Jovi, billionaire Donald Trump and Buffalo
Sabres owner Terry Pegula. Those three submitted bids by the July 29
deadline, but that date turned out to be flexible.
---Houston Texans owner Bob McNair is healthy and cancer-free after
undergoing an aggressive therapy regimen for more than 10 months.
"I didn't think I was going to die. I knew some did," McNair told
the Houston Chronicle. "I knew there were some rumors. That's one of
the reasons I'm talking about it. I don't want people to think it's
something it's not. I'm not ill. I'm healthy. I'm not going
anywhere. We've got Super Bowls to win."
McNair, 77, established his wealth as chairman of Cogen Technologies
and was instrumental in bringing football back to Houston with the
Texans' inaugural season in 2002 and a Super Bowl to newly
constructed Reliant Stadium two years later.
---New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is assigned clipboard
duty Thursday night when Ryan Mallett starts the preseason opener
against the Washington Redskins.
[to top of second column] |
Brady will not play in the game as Mallett, the subject of offseason trade
rumors, works with the first-team offense. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is
out for the Patriots, who are taking their time bringing back the
All-Pro from a torn ACL and two injury-riddled seasons.
This is the third time since 2004 that Brady didn't play in the
preseason opener. He also sat in 2005, 2008 and 2011.
---Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin was waived by the Detroit Lions on
Wednesday when knee issues led to a failed physical physical
designation.
On Thursday, the Lions signed veteran cornerback Drayton Florence, who
started five games for the Carolina Panthers last season.
---Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Marquis Spruill will miss the
entire 2014 season after suffering a torn ACL in practice, the team
announced.
Spruill injured his leg in Wednesday's practice. Head coach Mike Smith
said the Falcons will be making a roster move in the near future.
Spruill (6-foot-0, 224 pounds) was selected by the Falcons in the fifth
round.
---Veteran linebacker Ernie Sims, who was signed by the Arizona
Cardinals in June, was released.
The 29-year-old Sims was the ninth overall player taken in the 2006
draft by the Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu said he is getting closer to
coming back from last year's torn ACL.
"I expect to be at practice the next two to three weeks," Mathieu said,
according to the team's website. "Hopefully we can stick to that
timetable." Mathieu remains on the physically unable to perform list.
---The Jacksonville Jaguars signed third-year tight end Fendi Onobun and
waived/injured rookie tight end Reggie Jordan (hamstring).
Onobun (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) spent three weeks on the Jaguars' active
roster in 2011. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick of the St.
Louis Rams in 2010 and has also spent time with Seattle, Washington,
Buffalo and Chicago.
Jordan, an undrafted free agent from Missouri Western, was injured in
practice earlier this week.
-----------------------------------------------
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
