Chicago RB Cedric Benson Arrested

AUSTIN, Texas-Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was charged with failing a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat, then resisting arrest before being hit with pepper spray and dragged ashore by officers.

Benson faces charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest after the incident Saturday night on Lake Travis, Travis County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Roger Wade said Sunday.

Benson was released from jail early Sunday on a $14,500 bond. The charges are class B misdemeanors, each punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. A call to Benson’s agent was not immediately returned.

Fantasy Football Update: The Bears wish Cedric would try as hard to break his on-field tackles!

Seahawks release Shaun Alexander

Fantasy Football News:

The Seattle Seahawks have released former MVP running back Shaun Alexander. Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said Tuesday that Alexander was released unconditionally after passing a physical.n

Another Bengal 'Crook' Bites The Dust

Fantasy Football News: Another Bengal 'Crook' Bites The Dust

Running back Quincy Wilson has been waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.

It is the second time in the past five days the Bengals released a player who had been arrested.

The second-year running back from West Virginia was arrested last June 17 in Huntington, W.Va., and charged with disorderly conduct for failing to disperse after a weekend wedding party. The Bengals waived him Monday.

Wilson was the 10th Bengals player arrested in a 14-month span.

The Bengals recently released receiver Chris Henry, another former West Virginia star, after he was arrested last week on an assault charge, his fifth arrest while he was with the team.

QB David Garrard Gets Richest Contract in Jaguars' History

Fantasy Football News: QB David Garrard Gets Richest Contract in Jaguars' History

Quarterback David Garrard probably could have gotten the Jacksonville Jaguars to pay him more money.

But he was tired of negotiating.

So Garrard ended the contract process Monday, signing a seven-year, $60 million contract that is the richest in franchise history.

"I pretty much had to say, 'Let's go ahead and wrap it up. I'm done,"' Garrard said. "It's too much stress on me and my family. My wife was done five weeks ago. She's already been on board with everything. We just kept working on it and I finally just said, 'You know what, I'd rather be happy now, have the city happy now, have the team, the organization, the owner happy now than trying to string something out having everybody on edge."

Garrard and his agent, Albert Irby, had been seeking something similar to the six-year, $67.5 million contract Dallas quarterback Tony Romo signed last season.

But Garrard settled for the latest offer because he "felt like it was time."

"I’ve just seen it too many times," he said. "I just didn’t want to go through it myself. There's way too many things that can happen to you between here and now and when you're trying to get this done and that done. Is it really worth it? I just said, 'It’s time to make everybody happy because I was already happy."'

A career backup who beat out Byron Leftwich last preseason, Garrard was entering the final year of a four-year deal that paid about $2 million annually.

Did Romo-Simpson Secretly Get Married?

Jessica Simpson's mother claims her daughter has secretly remarried. As Simpson and her mother Tina were leaving Chili's restaurant in Los Angeles Tuesday, Tina revealed that her 27-year-old daughter has secretly wed.

Asked if Simpson was planning to marry football star Tony Romo, whom she had been dating since last November, Tina laughed and responded to the inquiry, "Jessica is already married to Tony. What are you talking about?"

Simpson, who was previously married to singer Nick Lachey, giggled and told gossip Web site TMZ.com, "Well I guess if my mom said it, it must be true."

Romo-Simpson secretly get married? Who Cares? (Maybe Cowboy fans wondering when the curse of Tony Romo will finally pass)



iPod Defects Blue Efficiency

Niners Forfeit Draft Pick

The San Francisco 49ers forfeited their fifth-round pick in next month’s NFL draft on Monday after commissioner Roger Goodell deemed them guilty of tampering with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs.

Goodell also determined the teams will switch picks in the third round of the April 26-27 draft. Chicago, which had the 12th pick, will get San Francisco’s seventh pick and the 49ers will get Chicago’s choice.

Goodell determined the 49ers violated the NFL's anti-tampering policy by contacting Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about his client during the 2007 season.

"The 49ers organization respects Commissioner Goodell's ruling today, however we do disagree with it," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement. "This was not a malicious act; we believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines. Going forward, we will take the necessary steps to ensure we are in compliance with the NFL’s interpretation."

Briggs, an all-Pro in 2007, had been designated as Chicago's franchise player, signing a one-year tender that meant he could not leave the Bears.

He had been expected to leave as a free agent after last season but instead re-signed with Chicago for $36 million over six years. Briggs will earn $21.6 million in the first three years of the deal and $13 million of the contract is guaranteed.

"We are appreciative of the efforts of the league office on this matter and support the commissioner's decision," Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said in a statement.

There had been reports of contact between the 49ers and Rosenhaus last season, and the Bears filed a tampering charge with the NFL. Goodell said both teams cooperated with his investigation into the allegations.

49ers Sign DeShaun Foster

From 49ers.com:

Foster (6-0, 222) enters his seventh season after seeing action in 63 games with 40 starts during his six-year career with the Carolina Panthers. Originally a second round (34th pick overall) selection by Carolina in the 2002 NFL Draft out of UCLA, Foster has recorded 851 carries for 3,336 yards with 10 touchdowns and 126 receptions for 996 yards with four touchdowns. He has posted more than 800 rushing yards in each of the past three seasons. In 2007, Foster started all 16 games and totaled 876 rushing yards and 182 receiving yards.

Reports: QB Brett Favre Will Retire

After 17 Seasons - Brett Favre to retire!
FOX Sports first reported Tuesday that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. ESPN.com said that according to Favre’s agent the quarterback told coach Mike McCarthy of his decision.

The team did not immediately confirm or deny the report. An assistant to Packers general manager Ted Thompson said he was in meetings all day but would release a statement later Tuesday morning.

The news was a surprise to at least one of Favre’s teammates. Most players expected Favre to return after a successful 2007 season.

Patriots Re-sign WR Randy Moss

Randy Moss is staying with the New England Patriots. The defending AFC champions re-signed the record-breaking receiver on Monday to a three-year deal worth $27 million, his agent said. The signing was confirmed by the team shortly after Moss posted a message to fans on his Web site.

Seahawks Name Jim Mora as New Coach

Jim Mora will succeed Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, beginning with the 2009 season.

After serving as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for one more season, the 46-year-old Mora will be promoted.

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said in a news conference Wednesday that the move gives the team stability and unity.

The former Atlanta coach took the Falcons to the NFC championship in 2004, his first season in Atlanta. The Falcons, 26-22 under Mora, fired him on New Year's Day, 2007.

The 59-year-old Holmgren announced two weeks ago that he would fulfill only the final season of his contract in 2008 and then leave the team after 10 seasons. He's the team's all-time leader in coaching victories with 170. and will then leave Seattle after 10 seasons.

Ruskell said Mora will get a new, five-year contract, including four years as head coach.

Report: Tony Dungy to Return as Colt's Coach for 2008

Fantasy Football News:

The NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy will return for the 2008 season. The team has scheduled a press conference for today at 4:30 p.m. ET.