NFL notes

Bowlen gives up Broncos control

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Even as dementia began to rob him of some of his fondest memories over the past few years, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen reported to work every day to oversee multimillion-dollar upgrades to the team's training facilities and roster.

So his absence from Dove Valley headquarters on Wednesday as players reported for physicals on the eve of training camp was as jarring as the announcement that the 70-year-old Bowlen was giving up control of the team because of Alzheimer's disease.

"This place will never be the same," a choked-up General Manager John Elway said. "... It's going to be very hard to not see him walk through the front doors every day."

Yet, Elway and team president Joe Ellis pledged to continue Bowlen's legacy and the winning culture he fostered during his long stewardship of the franchise.

Ellis is adding the title of chief executive officer and will have final say on all matters.

"Mr. Bowlen has entrusted Joe to take his spot and he couldn't have appointed a better guy to step in," Elway said. "Joe's a guy that bleeds orange and blue."

Ownership of the franchise is held in a trust Bowlen set up more than a decade ago in hopes that one of his seven children will one day run the team. Ellis said Bowlen asked him to run that trust.

Elway, who brought Bowlen two Super Bowl rings during his Hall of Fame playing career, demurred when asked if he aspired to one day own the team.

"That family owns the Broncos. Pat Bowlen still owns the Broncos. We have total respect for that," Elway said. "They've hired me to run the football operations and I'm thrilled to do that. I work for Pat still, as well as the Bowlen family, and I'm going to continue to do that."

Ellis said that with Bowlen no longer able to run the team, the community and fan base deserved to know what was going on, so the family agreed to make public the condition he's dealt with privately for several years.

"Alzheimer's has taken so much from Pat, but it will never take away his love for the Denver Broncos and his sincere appreciation for the fans," Bowlen's wife, Annabel, said in a statement.

After acknowledging in 2009 that he suffered short-term memory loss, Bowlen stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2011 when he promoted Ellis to president. For the first time this offseason, Ellis represented the Broncos at the annual owners meetings.

Under Bowlen's guidance, the Broncos won six AFC titles and two Super Bowls. At 307-203-1, Bowlen and New York Giants founder Tim Mara are the only three-decade owners in pro football history to win 60 percent of their games.

The Broncos' 186 home victories are the most in the NFL since he bought the team in 1984, when Elway was his quarterback, and the Broncos' five losing seasons during those 30 years are the fewest in the league over that span.

Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman said he realized Bowlen was a different type of owner when he signed up for a turkey in his first Thanksgiving in Denver, thinking it was all a joke.

"Then I come into the locker room and there's Pat sticking turkeys into our lockers," Zimmerman recounted.

During Peyton Manning's whirlwind free agency tour in 2012, Zimmerman said, he knew any other teams pursuing the four-time MVP were just wasting their time.

"I knew he'd be a Bronco before he did," Zimmerman said, "because once he visited here and met with Mr. Bowlen, I knew there was no way he could go anywhere else."

CHIEFS

Deal reached with RB Charles

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles has reached a two-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The deal will keep Charles in Kansas City through the 2017 season, a person familiar with the contract said Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the team has not disclosed details. He is now expected to take part in the first practice scheduled for today.

The six-year NFL veteran ran for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns last year as the Chiefs reached the playoffs. He also had 70 catches for 693 yards and seven more TDs as Kansas City went 11-5 before losing to Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game.

Charles comes off a season with career highs in yards from scrimmage (1,980), rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Charles' earned a base salary of $1.75 million in 2013, according to NFLPA records. He was set to earn a base salary of $2.65 million, which ranked 11th among NFL running backs, before the contract extension. Various media reports, including those from NFL.com and ESPN, put Charles' two-year extension at $18 million.

With Charles secured through 2017, the Chiefs can shift focus to quarterback Alex Smith and outside linebacker Justin Houston, both of whom enter the final years of respective contracts.

Smith, 30, comes off a season where he completed 308-of-508 passes for 3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He established career highs in rushing attempts (70) and yards (431), and became the second quarterback in team history to start the season with nine consecutive victories.

SEAHAWKS

Rice announces retirement

RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after an injury-filled career that included issues with concussions.

The Seahawks announced Rice's decision two days before the start of training camp. Rice played seven seasons and is retiring at age 27.

"I have enjoyed my experiences with all of my coaches, teammates and passionate Seahawks fans. I take great pride in knowing I was one of the players signed to help build the foundation of the team that ultimately won the Super Bowl," Rice said in a statement from the team.

"I'll be joining the 12s in support of the Seattle Seahawks as they take on the challenge to repeat."

Rice missed half of last season with the Seahawks after tearing his ACL against St. Louis. Rice re-signed with Seattle in the offseason on a $1 million, one-year deal. But he was going to be pushed to make the Seahawks' final roster with the additions of draft picks Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood and a healthy Percy Harvin.

Rice signed with Seattle as a free agent before the 2011 season. He played in 33 regular-season games with the Seahawks.

Rice's best season came in 2009 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl after catching 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. He added another 10 catches and four touchdowns in the playoffs that season.

ODDS & ENDS

The Minnesota Vikings have waived defensive end Spencer Nealy and signed tight end Mike Higgins. The move was made Wednesday. The NFL announced two weeks ago that Nealy will be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating rules against performance-enhancing drugs. He was a member of the practice squad for six weeks last year. In a statement distributed by the NFL Players Association after the punishment was revealed, Nealy said he took a supplement with a banned stimulant and that he took responsibility for his action. Higgins, out of NCAA Division II Nebraska Omaha, played for New Orleans in 2011 and 2012. ... Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy. The fourth pick in the 2013 draft will be eligible to return to the Eagles' active roster Sept. 29. He'll miss games against Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Washington and San Francisco. Johnson started all 16 games and played all but one snap in a solid rookie year. Johnson is allowed to practice and play in the preseason. ... Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden says defensive end Jason Hatcher and three other players will be sidelined when training camp practice begins today. Gruden said Wednesday that Hatcher, defensive end Stephen Bowen and receiver Leonard Hankerson are still recovering from knee surgeries, while backup guard Maurice Hurt is out of shape. Hatcher, acquired as a free agent from the Dallas Cowboys, had arthroscopic surgery last month. He is expected to return quicker than Bowen and Hankerson, who had more significant injuries. ... Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu and nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list as they recover from last season's injuries. Considered a risky pick after his legal troubles at LSU, Mathieu rehabilitated his image with a superb rookie season after the Cardinals drafted him in the third round. Mathieu's season ended in early December when he tore two knee ligaments while returning a free kick against St. Louis. Ta'amu tore his ACL in a season-ending loss to San Francisco. No timetable has been set for their return. Arizona also released receiver Kelsey Pope on Wednesday. ... The New York Jets have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free-agent defensive end Jason Babin, giving Rex Ryan's defense a veteran pass rusher. Babin had 7 1/2 sacks last season for Jacksonville, and was released in the offseason. The Jets, who reported for training camp Wednesday, released cornerback Lowell Rose to make room for Babin. Guard Willie Colon and linebacker Antwan Barnes were each placed on the active/physically unable to perform list as they recover from knee surgeries.

Sports on 07/24/2014

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