Sloppy Chargers drop exhibition
Seattle’s Shaun Alexander carried the ball only two times, and San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson didn’t suit up as the Seahawks beat the Chargers, 24-16, in an exhibition Sunday night at San Diego.
Seattle got the go-ahead points on a 36-yard field goal from Josh Brown with 7 minutes 18 seconds left. Brown had missed a 41-yard attempt, but got a second chance when the Chargers were penalized for having 12 players on the field.
Third-stringer Marquis Weeks added a six-yard scoring run with 1:55 left.
Tomlinson, who watched from the sideline to avoid injury, hasn’t played in an exhibition since 2005.
The Chargers were penalized eight times for 45 yards and gave up five sacks. Each team had three turnovers.
“It was a little bit surprising to me, but I thought we were a little bit tentative early in the game,” said Norv Turner, the Chargers’ new coach. “It tells me that we have to get used to each other.”
New York Jets running back Thomas Jones limped off the practice field after injuring his lower right leg. The severity of the injury was unclear, but it appeared to be either to his ankle or calf as he went to plant his right foot and fell.
Buffalo Bills Coach Dick Jauron said releasing defensive end Anthony Hargrove “is an option” a day after the NFL suspended Hargrove for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Minnesota Vikings activated third-year defensive end Erasmus James from the physically unable to perform list and signed free-agent defensive tackle Fred Evans.
Not a finger was laid on Adam “Pacman” Jones on-camera at the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling event at Orlando, Fla., but several were close. A wrestler rushed the stage after jawing with Jones, but four actors with police clothing tackled him just out of reach. Minutes later, the studio TV screens flashed to Jones backstage, lying on the ground after being purportedly attacked.
Jones, the Tennessee Titans and TNA had reached an agreement Friday allowing him to perform under extensive stipulation, including that he could not touch or be touched.
Jones, who has been suspended from the NFL for the 2007 season, was asked by an announcer why he came.
“To show the world that I am the best team player that ever lived,” he said, repeating a statement from last week.