Atlanta Falcons wait to hear status of DT Peria Jerry, who sprained knee in mini-camp session

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons can only hope that first-round pick Peria Jerry stays healthy in his rookie season.

Offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, at center of Sooners’ NCAA case, agrees to deal with Dolphins

MIAMI — Undrafted offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, whose brief career at Oklahoma led to NCAA sanctions, has agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins.

Jenkins makes a good impression on Saints, but coaches not making any promises yet

METAIRIE, La. — Malcolm Jenkins already talks a good game.

Will he or won’t he? Favre questions continue, amid reports Vikes are looking at his X-rays

MINNEAPOLIS — Is Brett Favre healthy and hungry enough to end his retirement again? And how badly do the Minnesota Vikings want him?

Raiders top picks Heyward-Bey, Mitchell get introduction to NFL in first minicamp

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Darrius Heyward-Bey ran an inside route against Nnamdi Asomugha only to see the pass from JaMarcus Russell broken up by the Raiders’ All-Pro cornerback.

QB Ryan excited to work with 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan isn’t trying to hide his excitement about the arrival of Tony Gonzalez.

Ex-Lions executive Matt Millen joins ESPN as college football and NFL analyst

BRISTOL, Conn. — Matt Millen is a lot more popular as a broadcaster than he was as an NFL executive.

Bengals sign former Cowboys safety Roy Williams

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have signed veteran safety Roy Williams, a five-time Pro Bowl player for the Dallas Cowboys.

Former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams signs with Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI — Safety Roy Williams hopes that a reunion with his defensive coordinator from Dallas will get his career turned around.

Potential Favre return may be Vikes’ missing link, but has spite supplanted his love of game?

MILWAUKEE — For most of his career, he was celebrated as a tough guy playing a man’s game with the joy of a little boy. Now Brett Favre stands on the verge of plunging the sports world into yet another offseason’s worth of waffling on his retirement.

Former NFL player Sam Rayburn facing drug charges in Oklahoma hometown

CHICKASHA, Okla. — Former NFL player Sam Rayburn is facing drug-related charges in his Oklahoma hometown.

Report: Favre tells Childress he’s still retired; coach still in Minnesota

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings’ dalliance with Brett Favre has yet to reach the stage of face-to-face, close-the-deal talks.

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL commissioners focus on economy when they gather for panel discussion

NEW YORK — Major league baseball attendance is down 7 percent and the average crowd for 19 of the 30 clubs has dropped from a year ago. The NFL, NBA and NHL are nervously monitoring the recession but hopeful they will weather the downturn.

NFL free agent linebacker Larry Foote signs 1-year deal with hometown Detroit Lions

ALLEN PARK, MICH. — Larry Foote had other offers in other cities and from teams who weren’t coming off one of the worst seasons in NFL history.

Wal-Mart agrees to pay $2M to avoid charges in probe of stampede death at Long Island store

MINEOLA, N.Y. — Wal-Mart agreed Wednesday to pay nearly $2 million and improve safety at its 92 New York stores as part of a deal with prosecutors that avoids criminal charges in the trampling death of a temporary worker.

NFL free agent linebacker Larry Foote says he’s close to 1-year deal with hometown Lions

DETROIT — Larry Foote says he is close to agreeing to a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.

NFL free agent linebacker Larry Foote says he agreed to 1-year deal with hometown Lions

DETROIT — Larry Foote says he has agreed to a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.

LeBron James presented with MVP trophy by commissioner David Stern before Game 1

CLEVELAND — LeBron James pressed the trophy high above his head and gave 20,000 Cleveland fans another chance to chant “M-V-P!”

NFL free agent linebacker Larry Foote says Lions offered him a contract during his visit

DETROIT — Larry Foote says the Detroit Lions have made him a contract offer and the linebacker’s first choice is to sign with his hometown team.

Colts re-sign DL Johnson after 2008 arrest, suspension

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed defensive tackle Ed Johnson after they waived him last season following an arrest on a drug possession charge.

NFL schedules 16 legacy games to honor history of American Football League

NEW YORK — The NFL will stage 16 games this season to honor the American Football League, which turns 50 in 2010.

Tomlinson happy to be healthy and running around again

SAN DIEGO — LaDainian Tomlinson was back where he wanted to be: Chargers Park.

Red Sox executive Michael Dee hired as Miami Dolphins’ chief executive officer

DAVIE, Fla. — Boston Red Sox executive Michael Dee has been hired as chief executive officer of the Miami Dolphins and Dolphin Stadium.

Cardinals’ Warner practices, says he’s ahead of schedule in hip surgery recovery

TEMPE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner says he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery to repair a hip injury that bothered him much of last season.

NJ trooper’s trial hinges on whether deaths of 2 teen sisters were reckless or accidental

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — From opposite sides of tragedy, they came together for a few brief seconds: the grieving mother, full of pain and questions about the deaths of her two teenage daughters, and the state trooper who killed them.

Heavy lifting: Jets rookie RB Greene assembled furniture before realizing NFL dream

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Shonn Greene’s mind drifted a few times while he unloaded trucks and assembled furniture in a store warehouse in Iowa.

Jack Kemp, star quarterback, politician and tax crusader, dies at age 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

Jack Kemp, star quarterback, politician and tax crusader, dies at age 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

Jack Kemp, former football star, politician and tax crusader, dies; he was 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

Spokeswoman: Jack Kemp, former quarterback, one-time vice presidential nominee, dies at 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described “bleeding-heart conservative,” died Saturday. He was 73.