Tuesday's NFL: Brown practices with NFL-approved helmet
Alameda, Calif. — Star receiver Antonio Brown practiced in a certified helmet with the Raiders on Tuesday, two days after being given an ultimatum by general manager Mike Mayock to be “all in or all out.”
“He’s all in, ready to go,” coach Jon Gruden said. “That’s my understanding. Really happy to have him out here. He’s a great player.”
Brown didn’t attend practice Sunday as he worked to find a helmet he was comfortable using and that met safety standards set by the NFL and NFLPA. He lost a grievance last week in which he sought to be allowed to use the Schutt Air Advantage helmet he has worn throughout his career. But the helmet was too old to be certified as safe.
He had hoped to find a newer version of his preferred helmet that could be approved but the one he submitted failed a safety test conducted by the league and union.
He filed a second grievance Monday seeking a one-year grace period, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because it wasn’t made public. But he is back practicing with the team while that gets resolved.
Luck out another week
Andrew Luck will miss another week of practice as he continues recovering from a lower left leg injury.
He last practiced July 28. The Colts already had said the injury probably would keep Luck out of the entire preseason.
Luck was initially diagnosed with a strained calf in March and did not participate in any of the team’s offseason workouts. When training camp opened, he was limited to individual drills and seven-on-seven but no full team drills. But when the pain persisted, Luck returned to rehab and was only permitted to run the starting offense in walkthroughs.
The Colts also signed running back James Williams and waived defensive end Dadi Nicolas amid a rash of running back injuries.
Mayfield throws shade
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens says he doesn’t care if comments by brash quarterback Baker Mayfield put a target on his team.
In an interview with GQ, Mayfield took a swipe at the New York Giants and rookie QB Daniel Jones. Mayfield said it “blows my mind” the Giants drafted the Duke quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick. He questioned why the Giants would select a player like Jones, who went 17-19 in college.
Asked if Mayfield’s remarks would put a bull’s-eye on the Browns, Kitchens said, “We don’t care.”
Kitchens said he’s not worried about his quarterback going too far.
Mayfield tried to clear up the issue Tuesday, saying on Instagram he was taken out of context and that he “has heard nothing but good things and wish nothing but the best for Daniel.”
‘Sunday Night’ tune team
This season, the “Sunday Night Football” show on NBC will open with the original “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” song, but this time Carrie Underwood will be joined by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett. Jett’s band, the Blackhearts, also performs.
Fan settlement OK’d
A proposed settlement would give St. Louis Rams fans a 25% refund on years of tickets and merchandise they bought before the team announced it was moving to Los Angeles.
If approved, the settlement would end a class action lawsuit that claimed fans would not have purchased Rams-related merchandise if they knew about the impending move.
The Rams denied wrongdoing.
Jay-Z plays heavy
The Dolphins’ sound system played more than half a dozen songs by Jay-Z at the start of practice Tuesday, one day after receiver Kenny Stills objected to recent comments from the rapper about social activism by current and former NFL players, including Stills.
It’s unclear whether coach Brian Flores was sending Stills a message. But the Dolphins confirmed that Flores picks the songs for practice, and also confirmed that Stills was told before practice the playlist would go heavy on Jay-Z. Earlier this month, Flores said he wished Stills had not gone public with criticism of team owner Stephen Ross for hosting a fundraiser for President Trump.
Personnel dept.
Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock suffered a jammed right thumb Monday night in a preseason game against San Francisco. The second-round pick said his X-rays were negative. There was no immediate timetable for his return.
... The Chiefs placed Marcus Kemp (torn ACL) on injured reserve with a torn ACL and signed fellow wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas. The team also signed offensive linemen Jeff Allen and wide receiver Jalen Tolliver while releasing wide receiver Davon Grayson and offensive lineman Abdul Beecham.