NFL notebook: Pro Football Hall of Famer Marchetti dies

[May 01, 2019]  Former Baltimore Colts defensive end and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti died Monday night. Conflicting media reports listed his age as 92 or 93.

The Hall of Fame confirmed the news of his death, which was met by an outpouring of support for the family in Indianapolis and Baltimore.

A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge against Nazi Germany in World War II, Marchetti was a nine-time All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowl selection. The Colts won back-to-back championships with Marchetti anchoring the defensive line.

Marchetti was one of three defensive ends named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994. The others were Deacon Jones and Reggie White. Marchetti played for the Colts from 1953-66 after one season with the Dallas Texans in 1952.

--Jamaal Charles plans to sign a ceremonial contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, then formally announce his retirement from the NFL.

Charles spent 11 seasons in the NFL after the Chiefs drafted him 73rd overall out of Texas in 2008. He rushed for 7,563 yards and had 2,593 receiving yards on 310 career catches.

Charles is the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher with 7,260 yards in a Kansas City uniform.

--New York Giants draft pick Corey Ballentine is out of the hospital and is expected to attend the team's rookie minicamp starting Thursday.

Ballentine, a cornerback selected in the sixth round on Saturday, and Washburn University teammate Dwane Simmons were shot early Sunday near the school's campus in Topeka, Kan. Simmons was killed and Ballentine was shot in his gluteal muscle.

Multiple outlets reported that Ballentine had been released from the hospital, but it's not clear when he will resume football activities.

--No one has worn No. 7 for the Washington Redskins since Joe Theismann retired in 1985, but that could change this season.

Theismann told NBC Sports Washington he might just share it with Dwayne Haskins, the team's first-round draft pick, who wore No. 7 while playing quarterback at Ohio State.

Navy defensive end Gino Marchetti (98) celebrates a third quarter fumble recovery with teammate Brad Wimsatt (rear) during the third quarter of the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia, December 4. Navy defeated Army 19-9 in the centennial meeting. TMS

"I'm anxious to sit down and talk to Dwayne about that," Theismann said. "I'm not opposed to it. I'm not saying yes yet, but I really want to sit down and talk to the young man and get a chance to meet him. I know he's reached out and said he wants to ask me."

--The Minnesota Vikings are expected to decline the fifth-year option for wide receiver Laquon Treadwell by Friday's deadline, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The option on Treadwell for the 2020 season would be for roughly $10 million.

Treadwell, who turns 24 in June, has largely been a disappointment since the Vikings made him the 23rd pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. He has 56 catches for 517 yards and just one touchdown in 40 games.

--Free agent running back Spencer Ware agreed to a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard was with the Kansas City Chiefs when the team utilized Ware as its No. 1 running back.

Ware posted a career-high 1,368 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in 2016 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in August 2017. Rookie Kareem Hunt took over for Ware in 2017. The 27-year-old gained 470 yards from scrimmage in 13 games last season.

--Field Level Media

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