SEC’s Top Receivers Leaving for Draft

All-American wide receivers Josh Reed of Louisiana State and Jabar Gaffney of Florida, along with Tennessee wideout Donte Stallworth, will skip their final seasons of eligibility for the NFL draft.

The trio of top receivers from the Southeastern Conference join an already impressive list of underclassmen who are turning pro.

Others who said Thursday they are leaving school early included Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett and Washington tight end Jerramy Stevens.

Several other undergraduates announced they were returning to school, including All-American linebacker E.J. Henderson, Wisconsin wide receiver Lee Evans and Penn State defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.

Today is the deadline for players with remaining college eligibility to decide whether they want to turn pro early.

Reed, who caught 94 passes for 1,740 yards and seven touchdowns, is expected to be a first-round pick. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver.

Another player who has made himself available for the draft is Colorado linebacker Jashon Sykes, a former Gardena Serra High standout.

Sykes, who spent most of his senior season injured, will pursue an NFL career instead of waiting to hear if he can play a fifth year for the Buffaloes.

Sykes sustained a herniated disk in his neck in October and sat out the rest of the season. Colorado asked the NCAA to allow Sykes to play a fifth year, but the NCAA has not issued a ruling.

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Garrison Hearst hopes he is done with comebacks.

Hearst was a runaway winner of the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in balloting by writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He received 47 of the 50 votes.

“It’s an award that I didn’t really want to win again, but I’m happy,” said Hearst, who has twice returned from career-threatening injuries to resume his position as one of the league’s elite running backs.

Hearst rushed for 1,206 yards this season, his 10th in the NFL, with four 100-yard games and four touchdowns as part of a formidable rushing tandem with rookie Kevan Barlow. Hearst also caught 41 passes, filling the multiple roles demanded of a running back in the West Coast offense.

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Defensive back R.W. McQuarters signed a five-year, $21-million contract extension with the Chicago Bears, a deal that could keep him with the team through 2006.

The contract includes a $6 million signing bonus for McQuarters, who came to the Bears in a trade from the 49ers two years ago.

This season, McQuarters became a starter and play maker for the Bears, who went 13-3 and won the NFL Central Division title.

He intercepted three passes, made 89 tackles and returned a fumble 69 yards for a TD against Arizona.

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New England Patriot wide receiver Terry Glenn was suspended for the playoffs after repeatedly missing practices and meetings.

Patriot spokesman Stacey James announced the suspension, saying Glenn was guilty of “multiple unexcused absences.” It was the third suspension for Glenn this season.

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Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Plaxico Burress missed a court appearance in Cleveland after being cited for carrying an open alcoholic beverage container on a downtown street.

Burress, 24, was cited Dec. 24 in the city’s Warehouse nightclub district, said police spokeswoman Lt. Sharon MacKay.

He was scheduled to be in Cleveland Municipal Court on Wednesday but didn’t show up, MacKay said.

George Yarbrough, a court spokesman, said a warrant was issued directing Burress to arrange another court date.

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Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George had arthroscopic surgery.

McNair had bone spurs removed from his shoulder to give the quarterback more room in his throwing shoulder around the rotator cuff.

George had his right ankle cleaned out to alleviate the pain that plagued him throughout the season. He should be able to run again in eight weeks.

George had a tendon in his right toe reconstructed last February.