"  ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP) Police say Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure was caughtchewing marijuana during a recent traffic stop in southwesternMichigan.The incident on March 12 occurred less than a month after policein a different Berrien County community say they caught Leshourewith marijuana. Prosecutor Art Cotter says Leshoure was due incourt Monday for the more recent case but hadn't appeared by 4p.m.A police report said Leshoure was a passenger in a car stoppedon Interstate 94 in Lake Township. The officer reported seeing himchewing marijuana and noticed small pieces on his shirt. Leshoureand the driver were ticketed for marijuana possession.The Lions said they were ''aware of the reports'' and weregathering more information."

"  METAIRIE, La. (AP) New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the clubhas agreed to terms on a five-year contract with free agentlinebacker David Hawthorne.The 6-foot, 246-pound Hawthorne has spent the past four seasonswith Seattle, where he began his NFL career as an undrafted freeagent in 2008.Last season, Hawthorne started 14 games at middle linebacker andled the Seahawks with 115 tackles to go with two sacks, a fumblerecovery and three interceptions, one of which he ran back 77 yardsfor a touchdown against Philadelphia.Hawthorne has appeared in 61 games in his career with 41 starts.His addition comes a day after the Saints learned one of theirformer regulars at linebacker, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, had signed a freeagent deal with St. Louis."

"  NEW YORK (AP) NFL BOUNTY SCANDAL Players suspended for roles in scandal Czar: Vilma can turn to courts NFL denies Saints' appeal Vikings duo rips Williams Director defends release of audio Whitner: Saints 'tried to knock QB out' Report: Tape captured bounty offer Payton meets with Parcells Saints' punishment ushers in new era Sapp claims Shockey is whistleblower NFL hands down severe penalties Players react at NFLPA meeting NFL's statement regarding Saints Williams apologizes, accepts discipline Fisher: Williams punishment warranted Czar: How severe are the penalties? Glazer: Breaking down punishment Goodell orders bounties to end Was it worth it for Saints? League pinpoints Rodgers bounty--> NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is meeting with players' union officials about possible player punishments in the New Orleans Saints bounty case. Goodell said that after Monday's meeting he hopes ''we'll have some information and hopefully a recommendation from the NFLPA.'' The union has asked the NFL to provide it with all the information from the league's investigation that revealed 22 to 27 defensive players were part of the Saints' pay-for-pain bounty pool, which awarded thousands of dollars of cash bonuses from 2009-11 for vicious hits that knocked targeted opponents out of games. Goodell also said the meeting on Saints coach Sean Payton's appeal of his one-year suspension will take place this week, but was unsure when. Also appealing their suspensions are assistant coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis. The team is appealing its $500,000 fine and the loss of draft picks. ''I think we all need to move forward,'' Goodell said."

"  NEW YORK (AP) Fasten your seat belts. Coach Rex Ryan, Tim Tebow and the NewYork Jets might be ready for a sequel on HBO's ''Hard Knocks.''Jets owner Woody Johnson says he's heard talk that HBO isinterested in signing up the team for its training-camp documentaryshow. He's not ruling it out.Johnson said Monday the team has not received a ''formalinvitation,'' but ''when we do, we will take a look at it.''HBO said there will be a ''Hard Knocks'' before the 2012 NFLseason begins following a hiatus last year because of the lockout.HBO spokesman Greg Domino said ''we do not discuss theprocess.''Speculation began after the Jets acquired Tebow in a trade withthe Broncos.Asked if there have been informal discussions with HBO, Johnsonsaid, ''yeah'' but ''it's a formal invitation that we can respondto, not an informal (one).''Johnson, who made his comments at the NFL's new pop-up storefeaturing new team apparel, said the Jets' 2010 appearance on theshow brought ''tremendous value'' and that the feedback was onlypositive. The Jets went on to reach the AFC championship game.If invited, Johnson said there would be a discussion about areturn appearance.''It's something we would take a look at with (GM) Mike(Tannenbaum), and the coach, and (director of media relations)Bruce (Speight), and others that we think would add value to thatdiscussion, to see whether it is something we want to do,'' Johnsonsaid.Tannenbaum said he was ''looking forward to another team on itthis year'' during a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. Heclarified that comment in a statement issued by the team Mondaynight.''When I made that comment, I never had an expectation that we'dbe asked to do it again,'' Tannenbaum said. ''Obviously, if we'reasked, we'll sit down and talk about it.''A possible drawback could be the way last season ended, whenlocker-room issues became public and there was much finger-pointingat quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jets missed the playoffs afterreaching the AFC title game the previous two seasons.''I think all those concerns, the positives and negatives, we'dhave to look at, sit around the table and say yay or nay,'' Johnsonsaid. ''It's not a perfect science. But we'd use our best judgmentat that point.''Also chiming in was Jets tight end Dustin Keller, one of severalcurrent and former players who attended the store opening.''We would be good for Hard Knocks, especially with Rex'spersonality, the Tebow trade. I definitely see how we would beappealing,'' Keller said. ''With everything that's going on rightnow, there couldn't be any more exposure.''"

"  Roger Goodell, the same man who levied the suspension, will hear Sean Payton’s appeal on Thursday. And the odds are slim that Goodell will shorten his season-long suspension of Payton for basically misleading NFL investigators and not putting a stop to Bountygate when the league first checked out the allegations at the end of the 2009 season, just weeks before Payton and the Saints won their biggest prize, Super Bowl XLIV. NFL BOUNTY SCANDAL Players suspended for roles in scandal Czar: Vilma can turn to courts NFL denies Saints' appeal Vikings duo rips Williams Director defends release of audio Whitner: Saints 'tried to knock QB out' Report: Tape captured bounty offer Payton meets with Parcells Saints' punishment ushers in new era Sapp claims Shockey is whistleblower NFL hands down severe penalties Players react at NFLPA meeting NFL's statement regarding Saints Williams apologizes, accepts discipline Fisher: Williams punishment warranted Czar: How severe are the penalties? Glazer: Breaking down punishment Goodell orders bounties to end Was it worth it for Saints? League pinpoints Rodgers bounty--> In too many ways, Payton is the Saints. Louisiana fans view him as some kind of superhero or modern-day Huey Long to the underclass masses even while he parties with millionaire country singers and bands. Some would say Payton is too arrogant for his own good, and that Goodell is punishing him a little for that, too. Who really knows, but some believe (and I’m one of them) that the banishment for an entire season was over the top, considering Bill Belichick stole signals, basically cheated, for so many years and never was forced to leave the New England sideline. Payton is adamant that he plans to be on the Saints’ sidelines for the 2013 season. He believes Goodell should allow him to coach some this season. But if Goodell declines to lessen his suspension, it makes perfect sense for Bill Parcells to replace Payton. Parcells gave Payton his big chance, running the Dallas offense, and the two are best friends. Parcells is definitely a mentor-like figure in the coach’s life. If you believe ProFootballTalk, some of the Saints’ assistants, men who would be in line to serve as interim head coach this season, don’t like this idea, viewing Parcells as some interloper. And that’s exactly why it’s a good idea! Power and control can do strange things to a football assistant’s ego. Parcells, who has Hall of Fame credentials as a coach, would be simply keeping the office warm for Payton. His presence would allow Payton’s assistants to focus on their jobs of coaching the players, exactly what they are paid to do, while negating any back-biting or infighting or any of the other silly things that happen when the boss is away. Payton wouldn’t need Parcells if his able assistant, Joe Vitt, hadn’t also been suspended for six games for his role in Bountygate. In fact, Parcells may only have to stay on the job until Vitt is cleared to coach by mid-October. Payton is right in his thinking. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who definitely has a bright future, should concentrate on running the offense and calling the plays that help Drew Brees create his magic. Carmichael just started play-calling some last season. No way he needs the added burden of being the interim boss. New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the guy replacing Mr. Bounty Gregg Williams, shouldn’t be considered because he still needs to build a relationship with the Saints’ defenders. He doesn’t know them, plus he needs to focus on a system foreign from Williams’ teachings. Of the three assistants mentioned the most as Payton’s replacement, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer makes the most sense. He’s the closest to Payton and he will be a NFL head coach some day. If Payton wanted to play favorites, he would have selected Kromer already. DRESSED UP Nike gets into the game as it launches a new line of NFL uniforms. The bottom line is that the Saints remain one of the NFL’s best teams. As long as they have Brees running the offense, they are championship contenders. Even the champion Giants know that they probably would have lost to the Saints in the playoffs last season and felt very fortunate that the 49ers upset them. This is why it’s best to bring in an outsider. At 71 when training camp opens, Parcells doesn’t have long-range plans on returning to the sidelines should the Saints end up in the playoffs or better yet actually playing in the Super Bowl that they are hosting this season. Who knows what owner Tom Benson, who is upset with the suspensions, would do with Payton if Kromer, Carmichael or Spagnuolo led the Saints to another title? But we all know it would wreck whatever chemistry Payton is trying to rebuild in New Orleans. It sounds ridiculous that Benson would cut Payton loose because many owners would rush to hire him, starting with Jerry Jones if Jason Garrett doesn’t win this season in Dallas. The man risking the most in this replacement scenario would be Parcells. He’s retired now, enjoying watching baseball, betting the ponies and playing golf. He’s had coronary health issues in the past and if he does return to the sidelines, it would push his candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame back another five years and that’s not good because there are no guarantees in life. If he’s selected one day, Parcells would like to make his own acceptance speech. And, believe me, such an honor means a lot to the two-time Super Bowl winning coach. If Payton’s assistants are truly loyal to him, they should accept whatever decision he makes about a potential replacement. He’s the boss. And this is the confusing predicament in New Orleans. Based on the Saints’ hierarchy, many would think Benson and GM Mickey Loomis, who is appealing an eight-game suspension, are really Payton’s bosses. And does Benson want to pay Parcells what was supposed to be in Payton’s paycheck? Time will tell on all of this, but his many supporters believe Payton will make the right call, one that’s best for his team this season. Lockout fallout As teams wait to greet their players later this month, the new CBA rules that prevent quarterbacks and others from hanging out at their respective facilities are being either criticized or lamented by some head coaches. It’s difficult to argue with Rams new boss Jeff Fisher when he says that if Sam Bradford wanted to come by and visit and talk about the new playbook that it should be his prerogative. WORKOUT WARRIORS How does new CBA affect NFL offseason? Read Article 21 But while the owners fought to protect their billions during last year’s lockout, the players opted for more days off and less practice time. Union leaders like center Jeff Saturday, who will now snap for Aaron Rodgers, helped write these new limitations on OTAs and mini-camps and fewer in-season practice days with shoulder pads. None of these rules would be adopted by a head coach, but the owners weren’t thinking about them and what would really improve the game of football. And what Saturday and his fellow veterans on the union’s executive board did was protect themselves and their future jobs. With fewer practice days, teams like the Green Bay Packers are at a disadvantage. The Packers prefer to build their team through the draft and not via free-agency or multiple trades. And that means that rookies and young free-agents will have less time to be taught by Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his staff. Both rookie and coach will have to squeeze time either before or after practice once camps open in order for those players to catch up and for McCarthy’s system to work. But, ultimately, how can a young player prove himself to the coaches if padded practices and overall sessions are limited? The advantage will always go to the veteran in such a scenario. It’s like McCarthy was saying. Many of his players now prefer to spend the off-season in Green Bay, but it makes no sense that his punter and kicker can’t use the Packers’ indoor facility for three months. “A high school field simply isn’t the same,” McCarthy said.  "

"  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Running back LeGarrette Blount and receiver Preston Parker havesigned exclusive-rights tender offers from the Tampa BayBuccaneers.The third-year pros will earn about $540,000 next season.Meanwhile, the Bucs announced third-string quarterback RudyCarpenter was waived on Wednesday.Blount led Tampa Bay in rushing the past two seasons, gaining1,007 yards as a rookie in 2010 and finishing with 781 yards andfive touchdowns last year.Parker had 40 catches for 554 yards and three TDs in 2011."

"  OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb agreed to terms on afive-year extension Thursday that includes a $10 million signingbonus and a $5 million option bonus.Webb, who was already signed for next year, is now locked in forthe next six seasons.''It feels amazing,'' he said. ''I feel blessed and proud. Now Ican relax and play ball and not worry about anything. This settlesmy mind down.''Webb intercepted a career-high five passes in the regular seasonand broke a team record with three interceptions in the playoffs.He had a career-high 68 tackles and 20 pass deflections and emergedas one of the NFL's top young cornerbacks.''Lardarius is an important player for the Ravens and we're veryhappy he will be with us for a long time,'' Ravens general managerOzzie Newsome said. ''We have a good history of completing secondcontracts for targeted players we want to keep for the longhaul.''Webb's highlights last season included a 73-yard interceptionreturn for a touchdown against the New York Jets and a 68-yard puntreturn for a score against the Cleveland Browns. He had 30 puntreturns for 301 yards for a 10.0 average in 2011.A former third-round draft pick from Nicholls State, Webb alsoforced a fumble and had 1 1/2 sacks last season. In three NFLseasons, Webb has 164 tackles, seven interceptions, two sacks and37 pass deflections.Now that Webb's deal is completed, the Ravens still have twolong-term deals they want to finish: quarterback Joe Flacco and ProBowl running back Ray Rice, their franchise player.The Ravens are also working on a contract extension forrestricted free agent cornerback Cary Williams."

"  LOS ANGELES (AP) A group seeking to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles unveiled amassive environmental plan Thursday, laying out ways to deal withthe traffic nightmare that throngs of fans could create around theproposed $1.4 billion downtown stadium on game days.Required under a state agreement to make the planned 72,000-seatFarmer's Field environmentally friendly, Anschutz EntertainmentGroup said it will spend about $35 million to reduce the trafficfootprint by, among other things, expanding the nearby U.S. 101freeway and a commuter train station.The environmental impact report has a goal of having 25 percentof fans use alternative transportation, with 5,000 people estimatedto walk or bike to games.''We have to change people's habits from the day they buy theirfirst ticket,'' AEG President Tim Leiweke said at a City Hall newsconference.Leiweke stressed the stadium's green credentials in unveilingthe 10,000-page document, which is a key step in returningprofessional football to Los Angeles for the first time since 1994.Leiweke said he hopes the stadium will be ready in time for the2017 season and added that if an NFL team arrives before thestadium is ready, it can use temporary venues such as the Rose Bowlin Pasadena or the Los Angeles Coliseum.The report, which took two years to complete, is a milestone onthe way to luring back a team to Los Angeles, which lost both theRaiders and Rams in 1994. After a 45-day public comment period, thereport goes to the City Council. It also could face legalchallenges but Leiweke praised the completion the $27 millionreport, which he called ''the world's most expensive piece ofpaper.''''In terms of football, we are now in the offensive zone, notthe defensive zone,'' Leiweke said at the news conference where hewas surrounded by helmeted construction workers, janitors and otherunion laborers who back the stadium.The report estimates the stadium could provide 11,000 permanentnew jobs in addition to thousands of construction jobs, andgenerate $1.7 billion for the local economy. However, some analystshave argued that the benefits are overstated.Traffic is a crucial concern. The report itself says the stadiumwill have ''unavoidable significant impacts,'' including nearly20,000 additional car trips downtown on weekends.Leiweke said he was confident that the mitigation plans coulddeal with the upsurge and even the crush from a Super Bowl, notingthat 365,000 people currently travel in and out of downtown everyday.''We can do that on a Sunday for 68,000 people,'' he said. ''Wecan do this. We just have to teach people and reward them for usingmass transportation.''One idea would be to give mass transit users first crack attickets, he said.Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a statement of support for theproject - and especially for returning pro football to thecity.''As the development of Farmer's Field moves forward, LosAngeles is closer to bringing an NFL team here than any time sincethe Raiders and Rams left,'' Villaraigosa said. ''I'm working hardto bring a team to LA, and a world-class stadium is an importantpart of that effort.''But some critics were skeptical. Kevin James, who is running formayor next year, said football's tailgate party culture is hard tochange. He said the percentage of fans who take publictransportation to games in other cities has been low.''You can't put your barbecue on the subway,'' he said.The environmental review could be approved by late this year orthe first quarter of 2013, Leiweke said. With a political plan and$1 billion in private funding in place, Leiweke said, ''we'll beable to look the NFL in the eye and tell them there is no moreexcuse, there is no more reason, there is no more delay, and thereshould be no more negotiation on why we cannot bring football backto Los Angeles.''A rival group, Majestic Realty, has proposed building a stadiumin the City of Industry, outside Los Angeles.Farmer's Field got help from the state in September with thepassage of a law that will help it quickly resolve legal challengesto the project by sending lawsuits over its environmental impactdirectly to the California Court of Appeal and bypassing theSuperior Court. The appeals court would have to make a rulingwithin 175 days.In return, AEG pledged to build a ''green stadium'' and make itpublic-transit friendly.Earlier in the week, Leiweke addressed reports that the companyand the NFL were at odds over team ownership and stadium revenue,saying developer Philip Anschutz is willing to buy a team himselfin order to make the deal work.Leiweke told the Los Angeles Times that Anschutz is ready towrite a check for both the downtown stadium and a team as long ashe can get a ''reasonable'' deal out of the football league.Reports, including one from Yahoo sports, said the NFL wasunhappy with Anschutz's proposal that he own just a small part ofthe team but collect stadium revenues usually reserved forowners.Leiweke has said he has spoken with several teams about movingto Los Angeles, but declined to specify which ones. He said heplans to follow the guidance of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodellabout which teams would be candidates."

"  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) About the only thing that hasn't changed is the horseshoelogo.The Colts are adjusting to drastic moves as they go throughtheir first week of workouts. Among the new faces: general managerRyan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator BruceArians.There's a new defense. The Colts will switch from a 4-3alignment to the 3-4 that Pagano had success with in Baltimore.There's a new attitude. The quiet Jim Caldwell has been replacedby the more outgoing Pagano, who has distributed T-shirts with thephrase ''Building a Monster'' emblazoned on the back.And there are new players. Quarterback Peyton Manning is gone.The new No. 1 guy? Drew Stanton, who recently was traded from theNew York Jets. That will change, too. The Colts are expected totake Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III with the No. 1 overall draftpick and start him.New faces, new schemes, and hopefully, new results after lastseason's 2-14 finish.''It's the mentality,'' said safety Tom Zbikowski, who playedfor Pagano in Baltimore. ''Either get with it or say goodbye.''Along with Manning, the team has released defensive captainsGary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt and former Pro Bowlers DallasClark and Joseph Addai. The Colts also lost longtime center JeffSaturday to Green Bay, emerging receiver Pierre Garcon toWashington and backup tight end Jacob Tamme to Denver in freeagency.Those losses don't mean the Colts are giving up. Defensive endRobert Mathis said he's too old to be part of a rebuilding projectand ''can't stand'' the term.''We're all professional football players,'' he said. ''I didn'tcome here to lose any games. I don't have rebuilding years in me.So you come to play.''Zbikowski doesn't care for the term, either.''I don't even know what those words mean,'' he said.The remaining Colts are ready to move forward.''I like the vibe here,'' linebacker Pat Angerer said.''Everybody is fired up and motivated. Everybody is excited.''Some players will have different roles. Mathis will be a standupdefensive end for the first time in his pro career.''But it's still being active and bringing the heat. It's stillthe same,'' he said. ''I feel like a freshman all over again. It isa lot more wide open than in the past. Everybody's excited andthey're ready to get going.''Mathis believes he and Dwight Freeney will excel like they didbefore in the old 4-3 defense.''We're football players, so we don't have any doubt we can dothis,'' he said. ''If there's anybody that has a chip on theirshoulders, it's us. So we've got to get it done.''Defensive end Corey Redding, who also played for Pagano inBaltimore, said his teammates are learning quickly.''They're soaking it up,'' he said. ''They are literallylearning right now, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. It'sabout learning the base. Right now, it's about work. It's gettinginto the playbook, learning the playbook, studying the playbook.It's about watching tape, watching film.''Mathis knows expectations will be the lowest since he joined theteam.''We've been counted out already, so you've just got to takethat and use it as positive motivation,'' he said.--Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap"

"  TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals have reached agreement on a one-yearcontract for free agent free safety James Sanders.The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Sanders played for the New EnglandPatriots for his first six NFL seasons before going to the AtlantaFalcons last year. He appeared in 15 games for the Falcons, six asa starter, with 48 tackles and one fumble recovery.The former fourth-round pick of the Patriots has appeared in 99NFL games, 56 as a starter, with 348 tackles, eight interceptions,two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Sanders has 40tackles in 11 postseason games, seven as a starter."