Eagles agree to terms with Smith
The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms with former New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith on a one-year deal Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Smith had 220 catches for 2,386 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Giants. In his 2009 Pro Bowl season, he caught a franchise-record 107 passes for 1,220 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Smith sustained a season-ending left knee injury in the Giants’ win over the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 13 and had microfracture surgery eight days later.
He said Wednesday night he believes he’ll be able to play soon.
“I think I’m pretty close,” Smith said. “I think I can realistically be out there (the first month). It could be Week 1. You never know.”
Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters Wednesday after meeting with Smith that he believed Smith faced a “long haul” before he could play again.
“I would disagree with that,” Smith said. “I feel good. I’ve been running, cutting, doing different things. I haven’t had any setbacks.”
Vikings staying put:The Minnesota Vikings are in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, funding for a new stadium hasn#146;t been secured, and a developer has taken another step toward building an NFL-ready facility in Los Angeles.Vikings owner Zygi Wilf tried to disconnect those dots again Wednesday. He said Vikings fans need not worry about the progress to the west.#147;No,#148; Wilf said sternly when asked whether fans in Minnesota should be nervous that the Anschutz Entertainment Group got an endorsement from the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday for the funding and timeline of the project there.#147;We have momentum here in Arden Hills,#148; Wilf said, referring to the suburb 10 miles north of Minneapolis where Vikings and Ramsey County officials have agreed to put a stadium if the state signs off on the deal.Tebow not worried:Tim Tebow insists he#146;s happy and unfazed by his many critics who are blasting him over his inconsistent performances at the Denver Broncos training camp.#147;I just have fun, you know, playing football,#148; Tebow said. #147;I love doing that, and so when I get an opportunity, just play. It feels good. And I love doing it, so you know I#146;m not really down, no.#148;Tebow has been the subject of intense scrutiny this summer. Many expected him to be thrust into the starting role this season, but trade talks regarding Kyle Orton fizzled and Orton has been the clear No. 1 QB in Denver since the first day of camp.Six-year deal for Mankins?New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wanted to keep Logan Mankins with the team for a long time. It looks as if he got his wish.The three-time Pro Bowl left guard who missed the first seven games last season because of a 4frac12;-month contract holdout has agreed to a six-year deal with the team, according to ESPN.The Patriots had no comment on the report. Mankins#146; agent, Frank Bauer, didn#146;t respond to a request for comment.Bills#146; Parrish out:Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish left practice Wednesday night after an apparent leg injury and was ruled out of the team#146;s first preseason game this Saturday against the Bears at Soldier Field.Parrish was running a fly pattern during a full-field drill when he came up limping and grabbing his left leg. Bills head coach Chan Gailey expects him to miss extended practice time.Uphill fight for retirees:A federal judge said that a group of retired players led by Hall of Famer Carl Eller faces an uphill battle as it seeks to press forward with a lawsuit over unresolved issues stemming from the NFL lockout.U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson convened a status conference to decide whether it would be worthwhile to order the three sides to sit down again next week with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who brokered the agreement that ended the lockout but did not settle the retirees#146; still-pending lawsuit.The retirees claim they were illegally left out as the contract negotiations progressed.