Rypien Signs With Colts After Lengthy Absence

Former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien is back in the NFL.

Three years after leaving football so he could care for his ill son and wife, the 38-year-old quarterback signed a one-year contract for the minimum salary of $477,000 and incentives with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

“I really got [the urge] last October,” Rypien said after his first practice with the Colts. “I’d watched football for a year and a half, I saw the Rams in the playoffs two years ago, saw some old faces. But maybe the biggest thing was my little girl saying ‘Dad, why don’t you give it another shot?’ ”

Rypien joins a roster that currently lists four quarterbacks--Peyton Manning, Billy Joe Hobert, Roderick Robinson and Dave Meyer. Hobert is listed No. 2, but the Colts had not announced a move that would clear a spot for Rypien.

“He seemed in good condition, very eager to play and his arm strength was good,” Coach Jim Mora said.

Rypien has not played in the NFL since 1997 when he was with the St. Louis Rams.

He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1998, but because his young son, Andrew, was suffering from a malignant brain tumor and his wife, Annette, also was battling a serious illness, Rypien decided to give up football.

The Falcons waived Rypien in July 1998. A month later, Rypien’s son died. His wife has since recovered from her illness.

“When my son passed away almost three years ago to the day, it was important to get myself and my family together,” Rypien said.

The Chicago Bears signed--then unsigned--kicker Jimmy Kibble after learning he recently pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with two students from a Virginia high school where he coached.

Kibble, 23, of Manassas, Va., was indicted June 4 and later pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for the sexual contact with two 16-year-old girls.

He was freed over the weekend after serving one month of a six-month sentence.

The Bears also announced they had placed linebacker Sean Harris on waivers. Harris, 29, announced his retirement Friday but had a change of heart over the weekend. His agent contacted the Bears on Monday.

“I talked to his agent, wished him the best, but we want committed players who have a passion for what we’re trying to do here,” Chicago General Manager Jerry Angelo said.

The New England Patriots shored up their linebacking corps by signing Bryan Cox, reuniting him with Coach Bill Belichick.

The controversial Cox, 33, enters his 11th season as the sixth-leading active career tackler among linebackers in the AFC. He was expected to arrive at training camp in time for practice today.

Cox spent the last three years with the New York Jets, and Belichick was the defensive coordinator for two of those three seasons.

San Diego tight end Freddie Jones, the Chargers’ leading receiver last season, will have hernia surgery today and be out up to six weeks.

On the contract front, it appears that negotiations with top draft picks LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees have hit a significant snag.

Ed McGuire, the team’s contract negotiator, returned to camp after two days of meetings with Tom Condon, the agent for both players.

“I don’t think it went all that well,” Charger General Manager John Butler said.

Minnesota Viking offensive tackle Korey Stringer was hospitalized after workouts conducted in extreme heat in Mankato, Minn.

Viking trainer Chuck Barta said Stringer was taken by ambulance to Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital after going through morning conditioning drills and returning to the team’s locker room.

Barta didn’t elaborate on Stringer’s condition but did refer to it as “serious.” The hospital declined to release any additional information.

The Jacksonville Jaguars held Mark Brunell out of practice because the quarterback had a sore throwing elbow.

“He did it throwing,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “I’m always concerned when a guy can’t work. But hopefully if he makes the same amount of progress as he did from last night to today, he’ll work some [today].”

Defensive tackle Mike Lodish most likely will retire, ending an 11-year career in which he played in an NFL-record six Super Bowls, including two with the Denver Broncos.

His contract with the Broncos expired after last season. Agent Jack Wirth said the 33-year-old lineman from UCLA did not receive any offers during the off-season.

Ki-Jana Carter, the oft-injured running back who was drafted No. 1 overall in 1995, signed with the Washington Redskins. . . . Tampa Bay punter Mark Royals will be sidelined three to four weeks after spraining his right knee when he collided with a teammate during a special teams drill. . . . Falcon linebacker Corey Atkins will be out three to four weeks while recovering from knee surgery.