>>Rams Report For Camp Today
(Earth City, MO) -- The rest of the St. Louis Rams report for training camp today after the rookies arrived on Tuesday. The Rams will hold their first practice tomorrow and they will continue through August 12th at their facility in Earth City. St. Louis opens the preseason on August 8th with a home game against New Orleans.
>>Fisher: Michael Sam Not A Distraction
(Earth City, MO) -- Rams head coach Jeff Fisher responded to Tony Dungy's comments concerning whether or not he would have drafted Michael Sam. Fisher said on "Mike & Mike" yesterday that Sam has not been the distraction that Dungy thought he would be. The veteran coach called Sam a "very passionate athlete" who is "very focused on trying to make this football team."
>>Bears Have High Expectations As Camps Open
Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery understands expectations are soaring. He's not backing away from them, either.
The Bears are aiming high, hoping to return to the playoffs after missing out for the sixth time in seven years, going into their third training camp under Emery. Practices start Friday.
Emery said Wednesday the goal remains a championship." He said the Bears are "very accountable as an organization to make the necessary adjustments to stay on path toward our goal."
That will hinge largely on how a rebuilt defense that now includes five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen comes together. The Bears couldn't stop anyone last season, and it added up to an 8-8 record and a spot in front of the TV when the postseason started.
>>Chiefs Sign Charles To Contract Extension
(St. Joseph, MO) -- The Kansas City Chiefs are avoiding a potential holdout by star running back Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs have signed Charles to a two-year contract extension. The "Kansas City Star" reports he will earn 18-million-dollars in new money. Charles had two years left on his original deal. He rushed for nearly 13-hundred yards and also had nearly 700 receiving yards last season, while leading the NFL with a combined 19 touchdowns.
>>49ers' Vernon Davis Reports To Training Camp
(Santa Clara, CA) -- The holdout by San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis appears to be over. Niners safety C.J. Spillman posted a video on the social networking site Instagram of Davis returning to the team's locker room, and all of his teammates celebrating. Davis stayed away from the 49ers' voluntary offseason sessions and then he held out of the team's mandatory minicamp last month. He is the fourth-highest paid tight end in the NFL, and wants a new contract. Missing the workouts cost Davis a total of 270-thousand-dollars. If he continued to hold out he would have been subject to several fines, including 30-thousand-dollars per day, and potentially a partial signing-bonus forfeiture.
>>Jets Ink Jason Babin
(Cortland, NY) -- The New York Jets are adding veteran pass rusher Jason Babin [[ BAB-in ]] to their defense. Babin's agents took to Twitter to announce the two sides have agreed to a deal. The 34-year-old defensive end started all 16 games for the Jaguars last year and recorded seven-and-a-half sacks. Babin was drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft by Houston and has also played for Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Tennessee.
>>Patriots' Gronkowski Cleared To Play
(Foxboro, MA) -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is a go for training camp. Pats head coach Bill Belichick says "Gronk" has been cleared to play by doctors and will not be placed on the physically unable to perform list. The former Pro Bowler was limited to just seven games last season after returning from offseason back surgery and then suffering a torn ACL. After playing in all 16 regular-season games in each of his first two seasons, he has played just 18 of 32 since because of multiple surgeries on his forearm, back and knee.
