Associated Press
The NFL roundup …
NEW ORLEANS ó The New Orleans Saints have released running back Deuce McAllister.Team officials said Tuesday they have granted McAllister his release so he could seek offers from other teams.
He has had reconstructive surgery on both knees and was due over $7 million next season from the Saints.
McAllister, the Saints’ career rushing leader with 6,069 yards, was due over $7 million next season ó part of a more than $50 million, eight-year contract McAllister signed in 2005, before the first of reconstructive surgeries on both knees. The Saints could no longer afford to pay that much to McAllister, who played a limited role last season with 107 carries for 418 yards. The team said it granted his release so he could seek other offers around the NFL.
PANTHERS LAYOFFS
CHARLOTTE ó As the Carolina Panthers negotiate a lucrative contract with impending free agent Jordan Gross, they’re making cuts elsewhere in the organization because of the economic downturn.Team spokesman Charlie Dayton said Tuesday that the Panthers have laid off approximately 20 employees. That number does not include longtime director of player development Donnie Shell, who announced his retirement.
UNC LOSES COACH
CLEVELAND ó Browns coach Eric Mangini added two college assistants to his staff Tuesday ó Steve Hagen of North Carolina as tight ends coach and Gary Brown of Rutgers as running backs coach.
Hagen coached Cleveland’s tight ends under Butch Davis from 2001-03 and the Browns’ quarterbacks in 2004. He spent the past two seasons with Davis as the Tar Heels’ tight ends coach.
CHIEFS COACHES
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó The Kansas City Chiefs retained offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and hired former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs on Tuesday as new coach Todd Haley filled out his staff.
Also hired were Bill Muir, who was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Tampa Bay, and Joel Collier, Pat Perles, Steve Hoffman, Clancy Pendergast and Dedric Ward.
VICK UPDATE
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. ó Michael Vick’s suburban Atlanta home will be sold at auction March 10.
The judge in the imprisoned NFL star’s bankruptcy case scheduled the auction Tuesday for the eight-bedroom home and set a minimum bid of $3.2 million.
LIONS
ALLEN PARK, Mich. ó The Detroit Lions have restructured the contract of Daunte Culpepper.
Culpepper, who came out of retirement midway through last year’s 0-16 season, was due to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus. Culpepper is still on the last year of a two-year contract.
GIANTS
RICHMOND, Va. ó New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw has returned to a jail in Virginia to finish serving a 60-day jail sentence for a parole violation, his attorney said.