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| Thursday, June 5 Franchise found in violation of practice guidelines ESPN.com news services |
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Because of the violation, of which Rams president Jay Zygmunt was notified Wednesday, the team will not be allowed to convene for offseason sessions that were scheduled for June 16-20. Rams coach Mike Martz will instead conclude the club's offseason program June 13. While the nature of the violations were not revealed, the league has strict guidelines for organized offseason activities -- now known as "OTAs" in the NFL vernacular -- and the rules are a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. One veteran player reported the Rams to the NFLPA, which led to an investigation by the Players' Association and the league. In the past few years, the NFLPA has encouraged players to report teams for offseason excesses. The Browns, for instance, have been receiving warnings in each of the last three years, citing potential breaches of the OTA guidelines, but they have not been sanctioned. A first violation, under league rules, calls for a team to forfeit a full week of its program. A franchise would forfeit a fourth-round draft choice if found to have committed of a second infraction. Under the guidelines, teams can conduct only one mandatory full-squad mini-camp in the offseason, and convene for just 14 days of OTA practices. Teams are allowed to be on the field for only 90 minutes. Players are permitted to spend only four hours per day at their teams' training facilities in the offseason and a team can only make two hours of that time mandatory.
-- Len Pasquarelli
The Indianapolis Colts signed Arena Football League quarterback Jim Kubiak, who established passing records this season with the Dallas Desperados, and that move led to Druckenmiller's release. Kubiak signed a three-year contract for the NFL minimum base salaries and a signing bonus of $15,000, solidifying his third tour of duty with the Colts. He previously was in the team's training camps in 1998 and '99. The former Naval Academy star also played two seasons in NFL Europe. The 31-year-old Kubiak could win the No. 3 job behind Peyton Manning and Brock Huard. He threw for 4,762 yards and 97 touchdowns, while posting a complete rate of 69.7 percent in the AFL this spring. Druckenmiller, a first-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1997, has not played in an NFL game since 1998. He was released by the Dolphins prior to the 2000 season.
The Colts also released wide receiver Joey Getherall.
The extension calls for a base salary of $644,000 and includes a $5,600 workout bonus. Jackson, 26, will earn a base salary of $389,000 for 2003.
A third-round choice in the 2001 draft, Jackson, who played for coach Butch Davis at the University of Miami, started 10 games as a rookie and carried 195 times for 554 yards and two touchdowns. But with Green emerging as the club's top back last season, spelled by the reliable White, who recently signed an extension as well, Jackson logged just 12 carries and rushed for only 54 yards in 2002.
"He is a productive receiver and I'm sure there are a number of
teams interested in him," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "I don't know how long
it will take him before he makes a decision, which direction he
will go or what type of offers will be out there for him."
Burns' deal includes a signing bonus of $39,500 and rookie minimum base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004) and $380,000 (2005). The cap charge for 2003 is $238,167.
The 217th prospect selected overall, Burns was a three-year starter in college. Although he lacks speed, he is a physical hitter with good awareness, and should at some point be able to contribute as a nickel defender.
The former Princeton standout was believed to be the kind of physical, in-line blocker new coach Bill Parcells would want, and at worst figured to provide depth for a line that was devastated by injuries in 2002. Tucker, who entered the league with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001, is subject to waivers for 10 days now.
It is the same injury that troubled the safety throughout his senior season at Southern California.
Polamalu injured his left hamstring last August. He said he
re-aggravated it after working out with the Steelers, but is not
worried about it becoming a chronic problem. |
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