Roundup

Vikings' Bennett undergoes foot procedure

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings expect to know in four weeks whether running back Michael Bennett will be available for any part of the 2003 season.

Bennett underwent a procedure Thursday in Charlotte N.C., hoping it can heal a stress fracture in his left foot sufficiently enough to get him back on the field by midseason.

Head coach Mike Tice said tests in about a month will determine whether the procedure worked. If it does, Bennett will begin a running and rehabilitation program immediately. If not, he will miss the entire season.

In the procedure performed Thursday, Dr. Robert Anderson drew bone marrow from Bennett's hip, mixed it with protein and injected the fluid into Bennett's foot. The procedure is designed to stimulate bone growth. Bennett also will undergo electric stimulation while his foot is in the cast.

Bennett, who rushed for 1,296 yards last season and made the Pro Bowl, injured his left foot in March when he came down on it awkwardly while running on a treadmill. He had surgery a few weeks later, but the injury has been slow to heal.

Among the top candidates to fill-in for Bennett are Doug Chapman, Moe Williams and this year's fourth-round pick Onterrio Smith from Oregon.

Six draft picks agree to terms with Bucs

Simms, a third-round pick who is the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, received a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Dewayne White, a defensive end taken in the second round, got a four-year deal. Tackle Lance Nimmo and center Austin King, both drafted in the fourth round, also agreed for four year contracts.

Guard Sean Mahan (fifth round) and cornerback Torrie Cox (sixth round) got three-year contracts.

Packers sign three draft picks

The signees were defensive lineman Kenny Peterson from Ohio State, a third-round pick in the draft; and linebackers Hunter Hillenmeyer, a fifth-round pick from Vanderbilt, and Steve Josue, a seventh-round choice from Carson-Newman.

The team said Andrew Brandt, vice president of player finance, was working overtime with linebacker Barnett's agent in an effort to reach an agreement that would get the former Oregon State star into camp.

Rookies and free agents begin two-a-day workouts Saturday. Veterans report Sunday and the first day of full-squad workouts is Tuesday.

Texans sign pair of draft picks

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Texans have signed offensive tackle Seth Wand, a third-round selection in the 2003 draft, the team said Friday.

The 6-foot-7, 327-pound Wand, out of Northwest Missouri State, played both left and right tackle and led a line last season that yielded only 15 sacks.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

The Texans also signed Domanick Davis, a running back and kick returner from LSU who was drafted in the fourth round.

Davis was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference back. He finished as LSU's career leader in punt return yards (1,126) and kickoff return yards (2,078), giving him the league record for combined return yardage.

Davis also ran for 1,971 career yards from scrimmage, with 20 rushing touchdowns.

Woman sentenced in carjacking of NFL player's car

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -- A woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for luring an NFL player to the Cajundome parking lot, where others laid in wait with guns to carjack the man.

Keaha M. Alexander, 22, of Lafayette, was one of four people who pleaded guilty in the carjacking of Detroit Lions football player Scotty Anderson in January 2002.

U.S. District Judge Richard Haik sentenced Alexander on Thursday after she called the carjacking an "idiotic scheme."

"If I would have thought about the consequences, I wouldn't be here in front of you," Alexander said.

The other defendants received sentences ranging from three to 12 years in prison, and all have been ordered to share in paying Anderson $42,426 in restitution for the stolen vehicle.

Prosecutors said that Alexander and another woman asked Anderson to meet them at the Cajundome.

When Anderson and his cousin, Rodney Gatlin, arrived, three men with guns ordered them out of the vehicle, an extensively customized Cadillac DTS, and then drove away after pistol-whipping Gatlin, prosecutors said.

A high-tech security system directed police to the car's location, a remote area in the Cade community. It was still being stripped when police arrived.

Vikings agree to terms with WR Howry

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Wide receiver Keenan Howry signed on Friday with the Minnesota Vikings.

Howry was selected by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2003 draft.

Howry played for Oregon, where he was a four-year starter. He finished his career with 173 receptions for 2,698 yards and 24 touchdowns.

He also returned 104 punts for 1,221 yards and four TDs.

 

Related information

Stories

Texans close to deal with No. 3 overall pick Johnson Don Banks' Burning Questions Holt agrees to seven-year extension with Rams

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video