Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
OWOSSO, Mich. ó Brad Van Pelt, a five-time Pro Bowl player with the New York Giants who helped form one of the NFL’s best linebacking corps in the early 1980s, has died. He was 57.
Van Pelt was found dead Tuesday by his fiancee at his home, the Giants said Wednesday. He died from an apparent heart attack, the team said.
A second-round draft choice out of Michigan State in 1973, Van Pelt played 14 seasons in the NFL, 11 with the Giants. Although he played on only one winning team in New York, he made the Pro Bowl five consecutive seasons from 1976-1980.
OT RULES
INDIANAPOLIS ó Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay doesn’t like hearing people say the overtime coin toss usually determines the winner. He’s even more unhappy seeing statistics back it up.
McKay, the co-chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, said Wednesday he believes the group needs to discuss possible overtime rules changes even though there may not be overwhelming support to change it.
“Sudden death is a good procedure. It’s fun and everyone knows the rules,” McKay said. “I would like to see the stats change because I don’t like the fact that that the team winning the coin flip now wins 60 percent of the time, and the team winning the coin flip, 40-plus percent of the time, wins it on the first possession.”
RAVENS
OWINGS MILLS, Md. ó The Baltimore Ravens used the franchise tag on Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs for the second consecutive year Wednesday, a transaction that costs the team $10.2 million against the 2009 salary cap.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection who led the team with eight sacks while recording a career-high 102 tackles last season, Suggs was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.
Now, he’s under contract for at least one more year after playing last season under an $8.5 million franchise tag.
CHARGERS
SAN DIEGO ó The San Diego Chargers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Darren Sproles on Wednesday, virtually assuring that the speedy little running back-returner will be back next season.
BRADY UPDATE
BOSTON ó New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says his recovery from knee surgery remains on schedule and he doesn’t see any reason he won’t be ready for the 2009 opener.
But Brady stopped short of predicting when exactly he’ll return to the field.
“I’m feeling great. I’m feeling really good. Everything is progressing just as I expected,” said Brady told reporters Wednesday at a charity event.
BYE, BLY
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ó The Denver Broncos continued their salary purge Tuesday by releasing 11-year veteran cornerback Dre’ Bly, who had spent two years starting opposite star Champ Bailey.
In his two years in Denver, Bly recorded 134 tackles, a sack and seven interceptions, including 77 stops and two pickoffs last season.
TITANS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee agreed to terms with kicker Rob Bironas on a multiyear contract.