NFLPA is focus of inquiry

The NFL Players Assn. has confirmed it is the target of a federal investigation into whether union leaders attempted to collude with NFL officials by holding secret meetings to discuss labor talks.

NFLPA official George Atallah said Tuesday the union has been cooperating with the Department of Labor probe, which came to light in a lawsuit filed against the union last week by NFLPA employee Mary Moran. Moran claims she was wrongfully removed from her job as director of human resources and put on administrative leave with pay on Aug. 3 because of her role as a confidential informant in the investigation.

Smith breaks foot

Rookie right tackle Andre Smith broke his left foot during practice, only two days after he ended his holdout with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The first-round pick suffered a small fracture in the foot during a non-contact drill in his third workout since signing his deal, another major setback to his chances of winning the starting job this season.

“Our medical staff tells me the injury will not require surgery,” Coach Marvin Lewis said, “but it looks like he’s going to miss a few weeks.”

Etc.

Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will wear a cast on his injured left wrist but isn’t expected to miss the team’s opener. . . . The St. Louis Rams cut ties to their top two picks from the 2006 draft, trading cornerback Tye Hill to the Atlanta Falcons for an undisclosed draft pick and releasing tight end Joe Klopfenstein. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs have released Amani Toomer, ending the veteran receiver’s short-lived stint with the team.