Williams Jr. returning to ‘Monday Night Football’

Hank Williams Jr. is bringing his rowdy friends back to “Monday Night Football” six years after ESPN dropped the country singer for his comments about President Barack Obama.

Hank Williams Jr. is bringing his rowdy friends back to “Monday Night Football” six years after ESPN dropped the country singer for his comments about President Barack Obama.

ESPN says a new version of Williams’ longtime “MNF” theme and its “Are you ready for some football?” catchphrase will debut before the first regular-season Monday night game — a Sept. 11 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings.

The network says in a statement that it’s bringing back what it calls “most iconic music video in sports television history” because fans missed it.

ESPN dropped Williams in 2011 after he compared Obama golfing with then-House Speaker John Boehner to Adolf Hitler golfing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

ESPN executive Stephanie Druley tells USA Today Network-Tennessee that she’s not concerned about any backlash over Williams’ return.

Newton getting close

Cam Newton is almost ready to get back to work.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the six-year NFL veteran quarterback is ahead of schedule in his rehab from shoulder surgery and is expected to begin throwing next week at minicamp.

Newton will start by throwing on a side field away from team drills under the supervision of head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion. He isn’t expected to participate in team drills until the team reports to training camp in late July.

Newton has been at practice for all of the team’s voluntary workouts, but has not yet thrown any passes since undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff on his right shoulder in late March.

“He’s ahead of schedule,” Rivera said following Monday’s voluntary workout. “We’re not putting him ahead of schedule. He’s doing all the band-work, all the stretching, all the rehab he’s supposed to.”

Lewis Jr. arrested

New York Giants backup receiver Roger Lewis Jr. was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence over the weekend.

Reynoldsburg Police say Lewis was arrested at 4:16 a.m. Sunday after his 2012 Audi was stopped for several alleged violations. The police report said Lewis was suspected of using alcohol. The report noted that a small amount of marijuana was found.