Jim Irsay: Chuck Pagano has leukemia, “He can beat this thing”

AP

Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed on Monday morning that head coach Chuck Pagano is hospitalized with leukemia, but Irsay said the cancer is treatable and that everyone is optimistic.

“It’s been a very difficult week,” Irsay said. “The coach was feeling some fatigue over the last two weeks, had noticed some bruising on his body that at first he thought could have been from contact on the field, coaching, or playing with his grandkids or whatever, and eventually through talking to his wife, Tina, she said, ‘You need to check that out.’”

As it turned out, Pagano was informed that he has leukemia. Irsay said he doesn’t expect Pagano to come back as the head coach this season, although he does think Pagano may be ready to coach from the press box at some point late this year. Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will take over as the interim head coach while Pagano is away, and Irsay said he’s confident in Arians and wants Pagano focused on getting better.

“Knowing Chuck, his first concern is going to be for his children, his grandchildren, his wife, for others: That’s just how he is,” Irsay said. “I feel with every fiber of my body, and Chuck feels the same way, that he can beat this thing.”

Still, Irsay said it’s tough for Pagano to think about anything other than football.

“He was disheartened that NFL Network wasn’t on in his hospital room,” Irsay said.

Irsay said that his message to Pagano was that they’re going to triumph over this: “When we grab the Lombardi Trophy some day,” Irsay said he told Pagano, “it’s going to be that much sweeter.”

AP

Jaguars receiver Tandon Doss was arrested on Wednesday in Indianapolis for disorderly conduct, but he will not be charged.

An Indianapolis police report describes Doss as “out of control” during a disturbance with another man. But the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office decided not to file charges.

The Jaguars have acknowledged they are aware of the matter but made no other comment.

Doss, who grew up in Indianapolis, was a 2011 fourth-round draft pick of the Ravens and spent his first three years in the NFL in Baltimore before signing this offseason with the Jaguars.

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Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb was arrested for driving under the influence in January, agreed to a plea deal and has already served his sentence of one day in jail, according to TMZ.

Although the arrest is months old, it went unreported until McNabb’s mug shot was released today.

There are still no details about exactly what McNabb’s plea was, and no explanation about why the arrest took so long to become public.

McNabb did not address the matter on his NBC Sports Radio show today.

AP

As the NFL Draft creeps ever so slowly closer, you’ll hear lots of talk about “late-risers.”

Usually, they’re more cases of the media catching up with what teams have thought all along. Regardless, one of this year’s hot names of the last few weeks is quarterback Tom Savage.

According to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the former Pitt passer has been invited to New York for the draft, but hasn’t decided whether he’ll attend.

That goes along with reports that there are more teams wanting to talk to him than he has time to talk to, and it’s becoming clear that Savage’s stock is higher than many anticipated.

He has the size and the arm strength teams covet, which could lead him into the late-first, early-second round neighborhood.

Which side of that line he’s on, and how much he likes sitting around a green room, could ultimately influence his choice to attend the proceedings.

AP

Rolando McClain wasn’t the only former Alabama linebacker to pay the Ravens a visit this week.

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens had C.J. Mosley in for a pre-draft visit. For Mosley’s sake, let’s hope it went better than McClain’s attempt to restart his NFL career.

Mosley is considered the top inside linebacker prospect in this year’s draft and is expected to be a first-round pick next month. Mosley suffered a handful of injuries during his time with the Crimson Tide, but said recently that he got a clean bill of health at the combine.

The Ravens re-signed Daryl Smith this offseason and also bring back Arthur Brown, Albert McClellan and Josh Bynes at inside linebacker, but saw Jameel McClain sign with the Giants. That doesn’t make it the most pressing of needs, especially with a hole at safety next to Matt Elam.

On that front, Wilson reports that the Ravens have also met with Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward recently. Ward is coming off a foot injury, but has been able to work out this spring and is projected to be selected in the first two rounds.

Thursday’s edition of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN expands back to an hour.  And we’ll be covering plenty of ground during that time.

It’s Bengals and Chargers draft preview day, and we’ve interviewed Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis and San Diego coach Mike McCoy.

Also joining the program will be Washington running back Bishop Sankey, who would be a first-round pick based on name alone.

Then there’s the poll question.  As posted below.  Please answer below.

And please tune in at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN for a full hour of the latest NFL news and analysis.

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The Jaguars were among the league’s most prolific transaction-makers a year ago, and they’re doing some more business before they start adding players again before the draft.

The team announced they had released veteran linebacker Russell Allen, and waived three other players — defensive ends Will Pericak and D’Aundre Reed and wide receiver Jabin Sambrano.

Allen had started 29 games for the Jaguars the last two seasons, and 44 total in five years with the team. The former undrafted rookie from San Diego State was scheduled to make $1.975 million this year, the final year of his contract.

He was a solid enough player for them, and they don’t exactly need the cap room, so the reason for his release is a bit unclear.

UPDATE 4:24 P.M. ET: Via Mark Long of the Associated Press, the Jaguars said Allen failed his physical. He ended last season on injured reserve because of a concussion.

AP

The Falcons went into this offseason hoping to put together a defense that makes more impactful plays than the 2013 version and they’re devoting a good chunk of next week to meetings with players that might help them do that.

We’ve already seen reports that South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr are headed for visits with Atlanta next week and Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports that the Falcons are also expected to meet with Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack. That gives them a clean sweep of the top three defensive edge players in this year’s class.

The Falcons aren’t locked into going that route, however. They’ve also shown interest in the top two offensive tackles — Auburn’s Greg Robinson and Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews — and they can use the help in either area.

Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff made a big trade up to get wide receiver Julio Jones a few years ago and the Falcons could make another move this year if they don’t think the player they want will make it to the sixth pick. Next week’s meetings will likely help inform that decision.

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Raiders owner Mark Davis has repeatedly said that he wants Oakland to address the team’s stadium situation sooner rather than later, especially since the Raiders signed a one-year Band-Aid stadium lease through 2014.

Davis apparently has gotten the city’s attention.

Via SportsBusiness Daily, the Oakland A’s hope to sign a 10-year lease to remain at the outdated, sewage-ridden (at times) Coliseum.  Oakland, however, hopes to work something out with the Raiders first.

The A’s would pay little rent and would make $10 million to $12 million in improvements, including a new scoreboard and a ribbon scoreboard between the two decks.

The Raiders presumably want their own place.  Davis has called the presence of a dirt infield in the only venue shared with the local baseball team “a travesty.”

Some Raiders fans would say it’s fitting, given the franchise’s performance over the last decade.

AP

The Colts start their offseason workouts on Monday, which may explain why guard Joe Reitz decided to bring his time as a restricted free agent to an end on Thursday.

The team announced that Reitz has signed the tender offer extended to him earlier this offseason. Reitz will make $1.431 million as a result.

Reitz was claimed off waivers from the Dolphins in 2010 and has played in 34 games over the last three seasons. He’s started 20 of those games, including three in 2013, but is slated for a reserve role next season with Donald Thomas expected back to full strength after last year’s injury-marred season.

With Reitz back in the fold, the Colts return most of last year’s offensive line. Center Samson Satele was cut and sometime-starter Jeff Linkenbach signed with Kansas City while Phil Costa and Lance Louis were signed to join Reitz in the mix for depth roles.

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Yes, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb has been arrested in Arizona.  The details of the arrest remain largely vague.

Via KTAR.com, the arrest relates to a “criminal traffic” situation.  The incident apparently occurred on January 6, with an arraignment on January 15.

The list of court dates shows three different “change of plea” entries.  It’s possible there was only one change of plea, and that the hearing relating to the change of plea was postponed twice.

Trial is set for May 16, 2014.  It remains unclear what McNabb allegedly did.

It’s unclear why a mugshot has been taken of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.  But a mugshot of McNabb has indeed been taken.

The mugshot also has been released publicly by the Maricopa (Arizona) County Sheriff’s Office, with no explanation of the purpose or reason for the mugshot.

It’s rare for a law enforcement agency to release a mugshot without explaining why the mugshot was taken.  But that’s precisely what has occurred.

AZFamily.com, which has posted the mugshot on its website, says that more details are coming.  The details, frankly, already should have arrived.

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After his workout for NFL teams Thursday, Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley said his knee was “about 80 percent” and that he’d be ready to minicamp practices this spring.

His coach is 100 percent sure he’ll make some team very happy.

According to Jeff Barlis of ESPN.com, Easley worked out for 17 teams Thursday, showing them he was largely recovered from his second ACL tear from last September.

The fact he’s torn both ACLs will drop his draft stock, but he could still be a second-rounder. Many think his ability to rush from inside could push him even higher.

He said he’ll start seven straight days of visits to teams starting Sunday.

“I felt real good out there,” Easley said. “I wanted to show them that I can move, that I still have the quickness, I still have my get-off and my tenacity in everything that I do.”

Easley has plenty of experience rehabbing, after tearing his left ACL in 2011 and then the right one last fall.

“He was very impressive,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “The [NFL scouts] all commented you could see what he does on tape in the workout. His competitive edge is one of his greatest talents.

“I think he’s got a great ceiling. . . .He would have been [a sure first-round pick]. It’s unfortunate, but his best football is ahead of him. I know one thing: Nobody is going to work harder than him to get it done. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s got a great competitive edge. All the intangibles are there.”

Imagine that. An SEC coach saying one of his star players has a good work ethic. Interesting concept.

AP

An intriguing slow-day skirmish has emerged regarding the status of the knee of Jets running back Chris Johnson.  Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that the Jets have “some concerns” about the knee, and that it contains arthritis.  Johnson has said there’s no arthritis.

Here’s what we know, from a source close to the situation.

His knee is normal, for a player who has six years in the NFL at running back.  It would look no different under close scrutiny than the knee of any other running back who has spent six years in the NFL with significant use.  He has 2,014 regular-season offensive touches, an average of 335.6 per year.

Does his knee show wear and tear?  Of course it does.  Can he play on it?  Of course he can.

If the Jets had concerns, why would they have signed him?  G.M. John Idzik is conservative, thoughtful, and deliberate.  He’s not going to roll the dice with $3 million of owner Woody Johnson’s money.

“It flies in the face of common sense,” the source said.

There were, we’re told, no alarms or red flags.  While either or both knees could keep him from spending another decade in the NFL, the NFL is a year-to-year proposition.  For the coming year, the knee is good enough for Johnson to play at a high level.  Eventually, it won’t be.

But that’s no different than any other NFL running back.

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Chad Johnson will resume his football career in Canada.

The Montreal Alouettes said Thursday that Johnson had signed with their club, the CFL’s website reported. The Alouettes also tweeted a picture of Johnson ostensibly signing a contract with the team.

The 36-year-old Johnson participated in the Alouettes’ minicamp in Vero Beach, Florida before officially joining the CFL team. Johnson was out of football in 2013 after a summer stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2012.

Johnson spent more than a decade in the NFL, reaching stardom with Cincinnati (2001-2010). He also had a one-season run with New England (2011) before signing with Miami. The Dolphins released him after his arrest in connection with an altercation with his wife.

Johnson joins an Alouettes receiving corps which includes Duron Carter, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter. Ex-Jets wideout David Clowney is also on the Montreal roster.

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Jets running back Chris Johnson had knee surgery earlier this year, but he nevertheless passed a physical on his way out the door in Tennessee and on his way in the door in New York.

Despite being healthy enough to play professional football, that could change in time.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Jets have “some concerns” about Johnson’s knee.  Schefter specifically reports that the knee has arthritis.  Which means that cartilage is either gone or disappearing.  Which means that Johnson could have chronic issues with the knee as his career continues.

Johnson disputed the report during his introductory conference call with the Jets.  Johnson said there’s no arthritis in his knee.

Either way, it hasn’t stopped the Jets from reportedly paying Johnson $3 million to sign.  Or from paying him another $1 million in salary this year.  But it could put a cap on the number of years that Johnson will be able to play, for the Jets or anyone.