PANTHERS WR Smith punches teammate SPARTANBURG, S. C. — Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith was sent home from training camp Friday after he punched teammate Ken Lucas at practice, leaving the starting cornerback holding an ice pack to his left eye before he was carted to the locker room. Panthers Coach John Fox said Smith and Lucas returned to Charlotte, about 80 miles away, after the fight. Neither player was present for the team’s second practice Friday night. The Panthers didn’t provide an update on the extent of Lucas’ injuries and club officials declined to say if the volatile Smith, the team’s top receiver, would be suspended. “We’re going to handle this matter internally,” General Manager Marty Hurney said.
The fight occurred on the sidelines and after both players had taken off their helmets in a break for starters during a special teams drill. It was unclear what provoked the fight. While the two have routinely jawed at each other in practice since Lucas signed with Carolina in 2005, they’ve never come to blows in view of reporters.
When attention turned from the field to the fight, several players and Fox rushed to the scene. Fox tried to separate the two, but it took linebacker Jon Beason to pull Smith off Lucas.
Lucas walked to a tent, holding a hand to his face while accompanied by a trainer. After being treated for several minutes, Lucas walked to a nearby cart and was taken to the locker room.
“Anytime something like that happens you’re obviously disappointed,” Fox said. “It’s part of football and you deal with it.” A three-time Pro Bowl pick, Smith has had trouble controlling his temper. He was suspended for a game in 2002 after punching teammate Anthony Bright during a film session. Smith received counseling for anger management, and a lawsuit filed by Bright was eventually settled out of court.
JAGUARS Jones shines in scrimmage JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Troubled receiver Matt Jones wants to make it as difficult as possible for the Jacksonville Jaguars to part ways with him. The former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback, who is facing a felony drug charge in Fayetteville, had the offensive highlight of Jacksonville’s first preseason scrimmage Friday night. The former first-round pick slipped by Drayton Florence along the sideline and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from David Garrard. Jones got a wild cheer from most of the 12, 000 in attendance, many of whom figured his days might be numbered after three far-from-impressive seasons and his arrest last month. “Right now, I’m concentrating on football,” said Jones, who was arrested July 10 after police said he was inside a car cutting up cocaine with a credit card. “When we met, [Coach Jack Del Rio ] told me there’s a roster spot on this team and I can go out there and earn it. That’s all I’m trying to do.” Del Rio raved about Jones earlier in the day, saying the former college quarterback was having his best camp in four years. “The key is will he continue to do that and sustain that ?” Del Rio said. “You see from the things that he’s doing that he can be pretty darn good if we can get him to fight through soreness, fatigue, all those types of things, and continue to play at a high level.” PACKERS Favre considering new role GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre’s reinstatement to the NFL was held up again Friday as the three-time MVP mulled getting paid not to play through a marketing deal with the Green Bay Packers that could resolve the standoff over his retirement. The potential agreement, worth a reported $ 20 million over 10 years, might end Favre’s bid to return just months after retiring. It also would likely keep him from reporting to Packers training camp and a team that is not planning to start him at quarterback for the first time since 1992. After talking to Packers President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Murphy about the marketing deal Wednesday, Favre confirmed to ESPN he was considering it on Thursday. “There isn’t a perfect solution to this, but Mark Murphy is at least trying,” Favre told ESPN. “We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end.” Packers Coach Mike McCarthy made it clear Friday that, from the team’s perspective, the agreement would be more than a buyout to make an awkward situation go away. In fact, it’s been in the works for months. He first heard about it at Favre’s retirement news conference in March. Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sat on Favre’s reinstatement letter for the fourth consecutive day, giving the two sides more time to resolve the situation. “The commissioner will take no action today on Brett Favre’s reinstatement request. Discussions are continuing between the Packers and Brett,” league officials said in a statement issued by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.
RAVENS Washington suspended WESTMINSTER, Md. — Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington was suspended one game without pay for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, a punishment stemming from a domestic violence arrest in February involving his girlfriend. Washington is allowed to participate in all preseason practices and games until his suspension begins Aug. 30 and ends after the Ravens’ Sept. 7 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Acquired in a trade from the Oakland Raiders for a fourth-round draft pick during the NFL Draft, Washington was arrested at his home in East Manatee County, Fla., after an altercation with his 21-year-old girlfriend. Washington, 24, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was told by a judge that he would be allowed to avoid prosecution if he completed a 26-week intervention program for first-time offenders and stayed out of trouble.
BRONCOS MRI of Nalen’s knee OK ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A precautionary magnetic resonance imaging turned up nothing wrong with the sore left knee of Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen. The 14-year veteran still didn’t take part in practice Friday. Nalen had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee June 6. The MRI was done Thursday.
COLTS Harrison likely out Sunday TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Even with his strong recovery from surgery on both knees, Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison likely won’t play Sunday in the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Washington Redskins. The 13-year NFL veteran will make the trip to Canton, Ohio, but is expected to watch from the sideline, Colts Coach Tony Dungy said Friday. “We’ll see what the doctors have to say, when they actually want him to go,” he said. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison injured his left knee early last season, causing him to miss 11 games. He also had surgery on his right knee during the off-season to clean out old scar tissue. Dungy said nothing has happened in camp to hinder Harrison’s return. “It’s more a doctor’s schedule,” Dungy said. “He’s right on schedule in terms of practicing and running.” — The Associated Press
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