NFL adds $10 million to retirement fund

The NFL added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players Wednesday, designating the money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening and assisted living.

The sum will be added to a $7 million fund agreed upon in July by the league and its players’ union. It will be supplemented by money from player fines, plus contributions from the NFL Players Assn. and other retired players groups.

This is the latest step in a dispute concerning retired players and their pensions.

A group of prominent retirees has accused Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA’s executive director, of paying too much attention to current players and not enough to former players.

Meanwhile, the NFL approved the sale of a 20% minority interest in the Oakland Raiders to a small group of investors, led by businessmen Paul Leff, David Abrams and Dan Goldring.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard could be sidelined up to a month by a badly sprained left ankle, Coach Jack Del Rio said.

Del Rio said Quinn Gray will make his first start Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Drew Bledsoe declined to come out of retirement for a tryout.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew (sprained knee) missed practice but said he expected to play Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich underwent surgery on his right ankle and will be sidelined three to four weeks, giving Joey Harrington another chance as the starter.

In his first start, Leftwich suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (groin) practiced after missing four games and will play Sunday against Cleveland if he doesn’t have a setback, Coach Scott Linehan said.

Middle linebacker Zach Thomas might not make the Miami Dolphins’ trip to London because of whiplash suffered when his vehicle was rear-ended while leaving Sunday’s loss to New England.

Carolina Panthers Coach John Fox says David Carr (back) will play Sunday if he’s healthy, but may not start ahead of Vinny Testaverde.

Five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour practiced with New England for the first time this season after being on the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury.. . . With the New York Jets struggling at 1-6, Coach Eric Mangini said Chad Pennington will remain his starter at quarterback.. . . Houston quarterback Matt Schaub practiced but is still listed as day to day because of a bruised hip.. . . Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry returned to practice with the NFL’s permission, allowing him to work back into shape while serving the last two games of his eight-game suspension for violating the league’s conduct policy.. . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released running back Zack Crockett, who had been signed Oct. 10 to bolster the depleted tailback position following injuries. . . . Oscar Allen, who sold a champion pit bull to suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation, pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge in Richmond, Va. Allen, 67, will be sentenced Jan. 25.