Raiders make Russell richest rookie
JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders agreed in principle Monday night to a six-year contract that will guarantee the quarterback more than $30 million in the richest contract ever for a rookie.
The two sides met in person Monday for the third time in four days and were hashing out final details of the contract, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not finalized.
The final contract needs to be approved by the NFL, but it will be worth at least $60 million with about $31 million guaranteed, the person said. An official announcement could come Tuesday.
The previous record deal for a rookie came when the Detroit Lions gave No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson $27.2 million in guarantees this year. Top pick Mario Williams got $26.5 million in guaranteed money a year ago from Houston.
Russell's agent, Eric Metz, did not return a phone call seeking comment. But coach Lane Kiffin said earlier in the day the two sides were almost done with the contract.
Russell became the first top pick to remain unsigned by the season opener since Bo Jackson sat out the 1986 season to play baseball after being drafted first by Tampa Bay.
The last first-round pick not to be signed by the season opener was offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie, who missed the first eight games in 2002 after being selected with the seventh overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
Russell went 25-4 as LSU's starting quarterback, capping his career by throwing for 332 yards and 2 TDs in a 41-14 Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame. He finished his career with the Tigers by throwing the second most touchdown passes (52) and having the second highest completion percentage (61.9 percent) in school history.
Jets concerned about Pennington: Chad Pennington has an injured right ankle. The New York Jets acknowledged that much, but they wouldn't say how badly the quarterback is hurt or how long he will be sidelined.
"It is the ankle, same as what was announced during the game," coach Eric Mangini said Monday. "We'll review it during the course of the week, like we do every injury situation."
Pennington injured the ankle when he was sacked during the third quarter of the Jets' 38-14 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and Pennington wasn't available for comment at the team's practice facility.
Mangini said he wasn't yet aware of the severity of the injury, but planned to talk with head trainer John Mellody, director of orthopedics Dr. Ken Montgomery and team physician Dr. Elliot Pellman.
Is Quinn ready to go in? In the aftermath of a 34-7 drubbing against Pittsburgh in Sunday's season opener, Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel didn't rule out Brady Quinn making his NFL debut this week against Cincinnati.
Quinn served as Cleveland's emergency quarterback on Sunday, but after both starter Charlie Frye and backup Derek Anderson failed miserably against the Steelers, the Browns may soon turn to their high-profile rookie from Notre Dame.
Is Quinn ready?
"You'll have to ask Brady that," said tight end Steve Heiden, one of the Browns' co-captains. "But from what I've seen, I think he is."
Quinn missed 16 practices during a holdout in training camp, and the Browns might feel he hasn't taken enough practice snaps to effectively run their offense against a rugged early schedule that includes Pittsburgh, Oakland, Baltimore and New England -- all top 10 defenses last season.
Reid's son waives hearing: The 22-year-old son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid waived a preliminary hearing Monday on DUI and drug charges in connection with a traffic stop last month.
Britt Reid waived the hearing before a district judge in suburban Philadelphia, according to Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office, which is prosecuting the case because of a potential conflict of interest involving the county prosecutor's office.
Reid appeared at the hearing by video from the county jail, where he has been held since his bail was revoked last month.
Earlier last month, Reid pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges stemming from a January incident in which police say he brandished a gun at another driver. While out on bail, he was required to remain drug-free and drive only to his community college classes.
Pace sidelined: St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener Sunday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
An MRI exam Monday revealed the damage to Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers.
The 31-year-old Pace has been injured in consecutive games. He was placed on injured reserve last November with a torn triceps -- also sustained while pass blocking -- that knocked him out for the last seven games. He also missed an early season game in 2006 with a concussion.