League, Officials Will Meet

Talks between the NFL and its officials resumed Thursday with a heightened sense of urgency as the season approaches without an agreement.

A meeting involving Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and several owners was set for Sunday at an undisclosed location in Chicago.

The negotiators, led by Tom Condon for the officials and Jeff Pash, the NFL’s chief counsel, met in New York in an attempt to agree on a deal. Without one, the two sides believe there could be either a lockout by the league or a walkout by officials before the season begins Sept. 9.

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Defensive tackle Corey Simon returned to the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp in Bethlehem, Pa., less than six hours after being taken off the practice field in an ambulance.

Simon passed a battery of tests at Lehigh Valley Hospital after suffering an injury in the Eagles’ morning practice.

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Denver Bronco fullback Howard Griffith, the lead blocker for three consecutive 1,000-yard rushers, will be sidelined at least two more weeks because of a pinched nerve that is causing pain and numbness in his left arm.

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Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Dale Carter of the Broncos has been denied reinstatement following a yearlong suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

The decision means Carter is suspended indefinitely.

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Grimacing in pain with his shoulder bandaged, Bruce Smith left the field by himself in Carlisle, Pa., then doubled over for nearly 20 seconds just outside the gate at the Washington Redskins’ training camp in Carlisle, Pa.

It looked worse than it was.

X-rays were negative, and Smith was diagnosed with a mild shoulder sprain. It was part of a double scare: Marco Coleman, the Redskins’ other starting defensive end, left the field on a cart after aggravating his sore back.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said both players will sit out Sunday’s exhibition game at Kansas City, but he refused to speculate beyond that.

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Two former Philadelphia Eagle cheerleaders filed a federal lawsuit claiming visiting teams repeatedly spied on them as they changed clothes.

The cheerleaders’ dressing room adjoins the visiting team’s locker room, and a door connects the two. At various times, the suit filed Wednesday in Philadelphia alleged, the players drilled holes through the door or scratched the paint off a small glass window to see through to the other side.

The former cheerleaders--identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2--are seeking damages in excess of $75,000 from each of 23 visiting teams and their players and other employees.

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The Baltimore Ravens have begun an extensive search to find a replacement for Jamal Lewis.

Lewis, who ran for 1,364 yards as a rookie last season, is sidelined for the year because of a knee injury.

Auditions are scheduled to begin today, when the Ravens hold workouts for at least two free agents whom Raven Senior Vice President Ozzie Newsome refused to name.

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Linebacker Dwayne Gordon re-signed with the New York Jets after nearly signing with the Indianapolis Colts.

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L.J. Dupre, a running back on two NFL championship teams with the Baltimore Colts, died in Texas City, Texas, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68.