COWBOYS
Trial delay rejected
DECATUR, Ala. -- An Alabama judge has denied a motion from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain to delay his trial because of training camp.
Decatur Municipal Court Clerk Jessica Haggard said Tuesday that Judge Bill Cook Jr. declined to push back the trial set for Friday on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. McClain's local attorney, Carl Cole, had filed a motion to reschedule because the Cowboys start camp on Thursday.
Dallas acquired the rights to McClain from the Baltimore Ravens on July 1. He was the eighth overall pick by the Oakland Raiders from Alabama in 2010 but had retired and hasn't played since 2012.
Haggard said the case had been postponed three times since McClain's arrest in April 2013. It was his third arrest in Decatur since 2011.
McClain has played in 41 games over three seasons.
BRONCOS
Elway on links
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. -- The greens and not the greenbacks are what held John Elway's attention on the eve of training camp.
The Denver Broncos boss spent his last hours of summer vacation playing a nine-hole exhibition Tuesday at Cherry Hills Country Club, site of this year's BMW Championship, in a friendly foursome that included defending champion Zach Johnson.
Before teeing off, Elway told The Associated Press he hopes to get a long-term deal done with star receiver Demaryius Thomas within the next two weeks.
Elway would have preferred to reach agreement with Thomas before the Broncos report for training camp today, but he said the sides have exchanged proposals and "we're a ways apart right now."
Elway added that he doesn't want talks to drag beyond the start of the preseason Aug. 7, when Denver hosts Seattle, which beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl in February.
Ward faces charges
Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward is scheduled to be in court for charges stemming from an incident at a strip club.
Ward faces misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace charges for allegedly throwing a glass mug at a female bartender May 10 at PT's All Nude Club. Ward's hearing in Denver County Court is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Ward, 27, signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with Denver this spring. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland, where he also earned second-team All-Pro honors last year.
BILLS
Opinions differ
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel and coach Doug Marrone have widely conflicting assessments on how the offense performed on the third day of training camp.
Despite numerous errant throws, Manuel didn't see much go wrong Tuesday. He calls it "a good day."
Marrone saw things differently. He provided one-word answers over what he didn't like, such as "execution" and "communication."
Marrone also wasn't pleased with Manuel's decisions to tuck the ball and run rather than throw the ball during several seven-on-seven drills.
Aside from rookie receiver Sammy Watkins making a few highlight-reel catches, not much else went right for the Bills' passing game on the first day players wore pads.
Marrone said the offense isn't close to where he wants it to be.
Dareus enters program
Marcell Dareus' attorney said the Buffalo Bills' defensive tackle has agreed to enter an NFL substance abuse program in a bid to have felony drug charges in Alabama dismissed.
Rod Giddens wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Monday that Dareus was allowed to enter the program during a hearing at Cleburne County Court in Alabama earlier in the day. Dareus attended the hearing while being excused from training camp in suburban Rochester, New York.
Buffalo's WKBW-TV first reported the agreement.
Dareus, who is from Alabama, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia after being stopped by a state trooper on May 5.
The charges will be dismissed and potentially expunged should the 2011 first-round draft pick successfully complete the program.
BENGALS
Hall, Atkins expected
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals expect cornerback Leon Hall to be ready for the start of training camp and defensive tackle Geno Atkins to join them for full workouts sometime later.
Hall and Atkins are their two biggest questions heading into camp. Both are starters who mean a lot to a defense that ranked third in the NFL last season.
Hall tore his right Achilles tendon midway through last season, the second time he's sustained such an injury. Coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday that he expects Hall to be cleared for full practices when camp opens Thursday.
Atkins tore a knee ligament Oct. 31 at Miami. Lewis said Atkins won't be cleared to practice at the outset, but he expects him to be back sometime during camp.
CHARGERS
English released
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers have released outside linebacker Larry English, a former first-round pick.
San Diego parted ways with English on Tuesday. He was limited to nine games last year, including five starts in place of Dwight Freeney, because of a pectoral injury he had after sacking Peyton Manning in a loss to Denver.
The Chargers drafted him 16th overall in 2009 and he played in all 16 games as a rookie. He played in just 13 games over the next two years because of foot injuries. English has 11 career sacks in 52 games, nine starts, over his five-year career.
Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco said English gave everything he had on the field and made "significant contributions" in the community.
-- The Associated Press
Sports on 07/23/2014