Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
NEW YORK ó Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is negotiating with several NFL teams to return to pro football this season after a judge delayed his trial Monday on gun possession charges.
Burress made a brief appearance in court Monday, accompanied by his wife and attorney Benjamin Brafman. Judge Felicia Mennin adjourned the case until Sept. 23.
Outside court Monday, Brafman said it was “inconceivable” that Burress would face trial on the charge before 2010, said several teams were trying to sign his client, and “physically he’s in the best shape of his life. He’s ready to play.”
AIKMAN GRADUATES
LOS ANGELES ó Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman graduated from UCLA 21 years after starring for the Bruins.
Aikman participated in Saturday’s graduation ceremony on the Westwood campus along with 450 other graduates. He earned his sociology degree earlier this year, having left college as the No. 1 pick in the 1989 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
He quarterbacked UCLA to a 20-4 record during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. He later was enshrined in both the college and pro football halls.
ROONEY RULE
NEW YORK ó The NFL has broadened its “Rooney Rule” by requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate when seeking to fill its senior football operations positions.
Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the NFL’s 32 member teams by memo Monday of the new requirement, which received strong endorsement after being recommended at league meetings last month. The change is expected to provide minorities more opportunities to fill each franchise’s one senior football post, which varies in title from team to team.
MILLEN’S JOBS
NEW YORKó Matt Millen has had no trouble finding work since he was fired by the Detroit Lions.
Millen is adding analyst duties for the NFL Network’s “Thursday Night Football” games to his commentator job at ESPN.
NFL Network announced Monday that Millen would replace Cris Collinsworth, who’s joining NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” booth.FAVRE ON TV
NEW YORK ó Brett Favre broke his silence.
The quarterback was scheduled to appear Monday night on the premiere of “Joe Buck Live” on HBO, his first public comments since he retired from the New York Jets in February.
JETSFLORHAM PARK, N.J. ó The New York Jets have signed third-round draft pick Shonn Greene to a multiyear deal.
The bulldozing running back out of Iowa was the first pick of the third round after the Jets traded up to select him.
Greene rushed for a school-record 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns, and was selected the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year.
CARDINALS
PHOENIX ó The Arizona Cardinals are looking to avoid the almost inevitable hangover that afflicts Super Bowl losers, and they’re not off to a strong start. Three of their star players are disgruntled ó receiver Anquan Boldin, defensive end Darnell Dockett and outside linebacker Bertrand Berry ó and have skipped voluntary practices this off-season.
Before their dazzling 2008 playoff run, the Cardinals had not made the playoffs since 1998 ó and they fell off the table in 1999, finishing 6-10.