Friday, April 19, 2002
NFL notes: James on schedule for return to Colts
Titans sign FB Comella
The Associated Press
![[img]](http://bengals.enquirer.com/2002/04/19/james_150x200.jpg)
Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James.
(AP file photo) | ZOOM | |
INDIANAPOLIS Edgerrin James should be back for training camp this summer.
How much he does and how soon he looks like a two-time NFL rushing champion remains the question as he recovers from knee surgery.
It's all positive, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said Thursday. Everything is on schedule, maybe even ahead of schedule.
James won NFL rushing titles in his first two seasons with the Colts and was on pace to contend for a third straight crown before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Oct.25 at Kansas City.
James was injured when he was tackled awkwardly by Chiefs linebacker Marvcus Patton.
James has spent most of the time rehabilitating the injured knee in Miami, and Polian said team doctors were updated on James' progress in the past few days.
We may have to slow him down a little, because you know Edge, he wants to do everything at full speed, Polian said. Prudence and caution would be the watch words right now.
The plan calls for James to ease into training camp and work toward preparing for the regular season.
Still, Polian remains cautious about how quickly James can resemble the powerful, speedy back he has been throughout his NFL career.
It's likely it will be a full year from the injury before he's himself again, Polian said. No one would be surprised if that's the case. For right now, we have every reason to believe that everything is going along fine.
Until the injury, James was one of the league's most productive and durable backs.
He started his first 38 games and tied Jim Brown as the second-fastest to reach 3,500 yards rushing, achieving the feat in 34 games. Last season, he gained 662 yards on 151 carries in the six games.
In James' absence, backup Dominic Rhodes emerged as a valuable replacement. Rhodes set an NFL record for undrafted rookies by rushing for 1,104 yards.
Polian is confident enough in James' recovery and Rhodes' presence that he said Thursday the Colts did not intend to use a high draft pick on a running back.
It's not high on our list of priorities, Polian said. Very few teams have one, but we have two 1,000-yard rushers.
TITANS: Tennessee agreed to terms Thursday with free agent Greg Comella, giving star halfback Eddie George a fullback once again. Comella, who negotiated the contract without an agent, agreed to a five-year deal with an option for a sixth year worth approximately $7 million, with a $1 million signing bonus.
The 26-year-old player, who spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants, did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press.
The Titans also agreed to terms with offensive lineman Gennaro DiNapoli.
RAY LEWIS: A jury ordered two women to pay Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis $5,000 each, deciding Thursday their assault and battery lawsuit against the NFL star was filed in bad faith.
The jury deliberated for several hours before announcing the verdict. Lewis' attorney, Ronald Cherry, said his client was satisfied with the outcome.
I feel that the jury listened to the facts and the evidence, and I'm pleased that they came to a proper verdict, Cherry said. I believe he (Lewis) feels vindicated.
Sherita Williams and Catrice Parker Hill sued Lewis for $6 million, claiming he punched Hill in the face and hit Williams on the shoulder during a fight at a Woodlawn bar in 1999. The fight started when a Lewis family friend got into an argument with the two women.
Lewis testified he considered himself a ladies man and that he didn't have the time to disrespect these two women and hit them in the face in bars.
Jurors said there was no evidence to support the women's claim.
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