Healthy Gronkowski best news for Patriots
Injury-plagued tight end cleared for training camp
“We were all hoping Gronk would have a good recovery, and so far he has,” Patriots left guard Logan Mankins said. “We’ll just see where he is, how good he is right now. It’s great to have him out there.”
The team could use his sure-handed receiving, powerful blocking and fun-loving personality.
“He’s a tremendous player,” defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. “He’s one of the best guys you could ever meet. He’s a great guy off the field. He’ll say hi to anybody. He’ll do anything for you.”
■ CHIEFS — Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles reached a two-year contract extension with Kansas City.
The deal will keep Charles with the Chiefs through the 2017 season, a person familiar with the contract said. Charles is expected to take part in the team’s first practice today.
“I had no intention on holding out,” Charles tweeted. “I just ran out of gas on the way to camp and my cellphone battery died. It was a long walk I tell ya.”
The six-year NFL veteran ran for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns last year as the Chiefs reached the playoffs. He also had 70 catches for 693 yards and seven more TDs as Kansas City went 11-5 before losing to Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game.
■ BRONCOS — Owner Pat Bowlen is giving up control of the team because of Alzheimer’s disease.
The 70-year-old Bowlen will no longer be a part of Denver’s daily operations, the Broncos announced. Team president Joe Ellis is adding the title of CEO and will have final say on all matters.
The Broncos said the ownership of the franchise is held in a trust Bowlen set up more than a decade ago in hopes that one of his seven children will one day run the team.
“As many in the Denver community and around the National Football League have speculated, my husband, Pat, has very bravely and quietly battled Alzheimer’s disease for the last few years. He has elected to keep his condition private because he has strongly believed, and often said, ‘It’s not about me,’” Annabel Bowlen said in a statement. “Pat has always wanted the focus to be solely on the Denver Broncos and the great fans who have supported this team with such passion during his 30 years as owner.”
■ 49ERS — Tight end Vernon Davis reported for the start of today’s training camp after sitting out the offseason program and mandatory minicamp hoping for a new contract.
Also, right guard Alex Boone was a no-show as he also seeks a deal with two years remaining on his contract, just like Davis.
■ CARDINALS — Safety Tyrann Mathieu and nose tackle Alamdea Ta’amu will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list as they recover from last season’s injuries.
Considered a risky pick after his legal
Rob Gronkowski was a training camp spectator last summer while recovering from surgery.
This summer, after another operation, the New England Patriots star tight end is expected to be on the field for the first practice today.
“He’s been cleared to play,” coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday.
That’s welcome news to his teammates after a season in which Gronkowski played just seven regular-season games. He missed the first six following back surgery about a month before camp and the last three, plus both playoff games, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
NFL NOTES troubles at Lousiana State, Mathieu rehabilitated his image with a superb rookie season after the Cardinals drafted him in the third round. Mathieu’s season ended in early December when he tore two knee ligaments while returning a free kick against St. Louis.
Ta’Amu tore his ACL in a season-ending loss to San Francisco.
■ SEAHAWKS — Wide receiver Sidney Rice announced his retirement from the NFL after an injury-filled career that included issues with concussions.
The Seahawks announced Rice’s decision two days before the start of training camp.
Rice played seven seasons and is retiring at age 27. He missed half of last season with the Seahawks after tearing his ACL against St. Louis.
Rice re-signed with Seattle in the offseason on a $1 million, one-year deal. But he was going to be pushed to make the Seahawks’ final roster with the additions of draft picks Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood and a healthy Percy Harvin.
■ REDSKINS — Coach Jay Gruden said defensive end Jason Hatcher and three other players will be sidelined when training camp practice begins today. Hatcher, defensive end Stephen Bowen and receiver Leonard Hankerson are recovering from knee surgeries, while backup guard Maurice Hurt is out of shape.
■ JETS — New York agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free-agent defensive end Jason Babin, giving Rex Ryan’s defense a veteran pass rusher. Babin had 7½ sacks last season for Jacksonville, and was released in the offseason.
■ BILLS — Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus can finally start focusing on football again, even though he spent much of his first day of training camp riding a stationary bike on the sideline.
Dareus released a statement through the team, saying he hoped to regain his teammates’, coaches’ and fans’ trust after a troubled offseason. Dareus was arrested twice in the span of four weeks in May, and then reported to camp out of shape and failed a conditioning test Saturday.
■ COLTS — Fullback Stanley Havili will open training camp today on the physically unable to perform list.
Havili was Indianapolis’ primary fullback last season after being acquired from Philadelphia in an offseason trade.
■ BROWNS — Rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert, one of Cleveland’s firstround draft picks, was signed to a fouryear, $12.8 million contract.
Cleveland selected Gilbert with the No. 8 overall pick in May’s draft. He’s expected to start on the opposite side from Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden.
■ EAGLES — Offensive tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Johnson will be eligible to return to the Eagles’ active roster Sept. 29. He’ll miss games against Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Washington and San Francisco.