Indy prepares for non-super bowl
NFL officials and the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee have a contingency plan if a work stoppage postpones the 2012 Super Bowl.
Committee president and CEO Allison Melangton told The Associated Press on Monday that the league wanted Indy's Super Bowl venues and hotel room blocks left open for the weekend of Feb. 5, the scheduled Super Bowl date, and the following weekend. Melangton said Indy has kept both weekends open.
The NFL Players Association fears team owners will lock out players before next season.
"We are working with the NFL, I'm not going to say every day, but we are working closely on any other plans that need to be made," Melangton said. "But we all know that it is their (the NFL's) priority to resolve these contract issues as soon as possible and we are confident that they will."
The current contract expires March 5, and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has said he does not expect a new CBA to be completed until then.
Paying Peyton: Jim Irsay won't let Peyton Manning walk away from the Colts next season, no matter the cost.
Indy's owner reiterated Monday that he intends to make Manning the NFL's highest-paid player even if it takes the prohibitive franchise tag to keep the only four-time MVP in league history in blue and white.
"The bottom line is we'll get something done and when it happens just depends," Irsay said during the Colts' first training camp practice. "I said he'd be the highest-paid player and he may already be if we go with the tag. I'd love to see him be here and break all those records as a Colt."
Suh still on sidelines: Ndamukong Suh missed his third straight day of practice Monday with the Detroit Lions. Coach Jim Schwartz said it's disappointing Suh has missed some opportunities in training camp that are gone forever.
Suh is the former Nebraska defensive lineman who was the No. 2 pick overall in the NFL draft. The Lions have had only one player, Calvin Johnson, miss more than a couple days since Bryant Westbrook was a long-term holdout in 1997. Westbrook's agents were Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, both of whom are representing Suh.
The skinny on Williams: When Pat Williams reported to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings, he proudly proclaimed that he was 18 pounds lighter than he was last year. "I've been training hard. I've been feeling good," the defensive tackle said. "I just want to feel good this year, so if I want to take some days off at practice, coach won't get mad at me. I'm down to 324. I feel good, ready to go."
Hunter passes away: Former Detroit Lions cornerback James Hunter has died. The team says he died Monday from an apparent heart attack at age 56.
Hunter played for coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State and was from Silsbee, Texas. Detroit drafted Hunter with the 10th pick overall in 1976. He had a career-high 7 interceptions in his debut season and was NFL Rookie of the Year runner-up behind future Hall of Famer Mike Haynes.
Signs of the times: Tyson Alualu has a surprise waiting for him when he gets to Jacksonville's training camp: a matchup in the "Oklahoma drill" against fellow Hawaiian and childhood friend Vince Manuwai.
Alualu, the 10th overall pick in April's draft, ended a five-day holdout Monday by agreeing to a five-year contract worth $28 million. The deal, which came a day after the Jaguars prematurely announced it, includes $17.5 million guaranteed.
• The Arizona Cardinals and first-round draft pick Dan Williams have agreed on a five-year contract. The 6-foot-3, 327-pound nose tackle from Tennessee is expected to practice with the Cardinals in training camp today. He was the 26th overall selection.
• The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a five-year deal with first-round draft pick Jerry Hughes. The agent for the defensive end from TCU confirmed the deal through an e-mail to The Associated Press but neither the team nor the agent provided financial details.
• The Baltimore Ravens traded reserve quarterback John Beck to the Washington Redskins in exchange for cornerback Doug Dutch, who was undrafted out of Michigan last year and spent time on the Redskins' practice squad. The 5-foot-11, 199-pound Dutch was signed to a reserve/future contract in January.