Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ó When it comes to dealing with new players, Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron starts every relationship with a clean slate.
And that includes T.O.
Though well aware of Terrell Owens’ disruptive reputation, Jauron said Wednesday that he is keeping an open mind in welcoming the Bills new receiver to Buffalo.
“Our relationship will grow from when we met in my office this weekend. That’s where our relationship started and it’ll develop from there,” Jauron said in his first comments since the Bills signed Owens to a one-year contract on Saturday. “I approach every guy that comes here as a unique guy.”
Unique might not begin to describe Owens, whose combination of great talent and mercurial personality has left mixed impressions with each of his previous three teams, including Dallas, which cut him last week.
And Jauron isn’t putting on blinders either, but insisted he’d rather decide on his own whether Owens deserves a bad rap.
“I’m not trying to cover anything up,” Jauron said. “But if you think that emotional outbursts don’t occur on every sideline every Sunday, you’re sadly mistaken. … To the degree he’s had them? Maybe. Do they get the publicity that he gets? No.”
LT HAPPY
SAN DIEGO ó Chargers president Dean Spanos seemed to have the best perspective on the LaDainian Tomlinson saga.
“The alternative was just unthinkable. He belongs in San Diego,” Spanos said after the Chargers and Tomlinson agreed to a reworked three-year deal late Tuesday.
“That Charger uniform, that 21, with the bolt on the side of my helmet, that’s pretty special,” said Tomlinson, who was dressed in a black T-shirt and tan shorts. “You really can’t replace that. So I’m just happy to be putting that helmet on again.”
Tomlinson said he’s healthy after being slowed last season by toe and groin injuries, and is eager to prove that he’s still explosive. He also reiterated that he’d like to pursue Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing record of 18,355 yards.
BROWNSCLEVELAND ó The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, who missed last season after getting a staph infection in his right knee.
Jurevicius played two seasons for his hometown Browns. He caught 40 passes in 2006 and had 50 receptions with three touchdowns in 2007.
In 11 seasons with the New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Seattle and Cleveland, he had 323 receptions for 4,119 yards and 29 TDs.
NEW LEAGUE
Former NFL coaches Dennis Green, Jim Fassel and Jim Haslett will lead teams in the new United Football League.The league plans to debut in October with four teams in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Orlando and New York.
PATRIOTSFOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó The New England Patriots have signed free agent cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden.
Springs spent the past five seasons with the Washington Redskins after playing the previous seven with the Seattle Seahawks.
BOSWORTHLOS ANGELES ó Former NFL player-turned-actor Brian Bosworth has been charged with drunken driving after being arrested in Hollywood last Friday.
REDSKINSASHBURN, Va. ó Safety Reed Doughty has re-signed with the Washington Redskins.