The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - Attorneys for the Minnesota Vikings say the diet supplement ephedra contributed to Korey Stringer's death from heatstroke in 2001.

The team was responding to a motion filed by Stringer's widow, Kelci, in her $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the team, scheduled for trial June 9. Kelci Stringer's attorney, Paul DeMarco, said the team was trying to smear her husband's reputation.

Team lawyers cited testimony from Stringer's roommate, guard David Dixon, who said Stringer told him he had taken a supplement containing ephedra July 31, 2001. Stringer collapsed from heatstroke later that day and died the next morning.

The NFL discouraged ephedra use when Stringer played, and banned it after he died. The supplement has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and seizures.

Court records show a bottle of Ripped Fuel, which contains ephedra, was found in Stringer's locker on the day he collapsed. Toxicological tests of Stringer's body found no trace of ephedra.

"Plaintiffs have long suggested that no evidence of Stringer's ephedra use exists because blood tests after his death didn't reveal the presence of ephedra," Vikings attorney James O'Neal wrote in papers filed in Hennepin County District Court. "However, the truth as revealed in discovery in this case is that Stringer's blood was never actually tested for the presence of ephedra."

O'Neal said it isn't clear if there are any existing samples of Stringer's tissue to be tested for the substance. Blue Earth County medical examiner Dr. Dennis Gremel did not return a call for comment.

PACKERS: The agent for wide receiver Terry Glenn said Green Bay granted his request to seek a trade.

"We asked for and we received permission from the Packers to try to get a deal," Jimmy Gould said.

The Packers' front-office staff couldn't be reached for comment.

Glenn is due a $500,000 roster bonus Friday and a $1.5 million base salary during the upcoming season. The Packers also owe New England a fourth-round pick in the April draft to complete the deal that brought over Glenn from the Patriots a year ago.

Glenn had 56 catches for 817 yards and two touchdowns last season. Waiving Glenn now would clear $1.4 million of salary cap room for the Packers.

LIONS: Detroit released receiver Germane Crowell and kick returner Desmond Howard.

Howard, a 12-year veteran, missed the final seven games of last season because of a neck injury.

Crowell played in just 10 games last season but was plagued by knee injuries, finishing with 22 receptions for 201 yards and one touchdown.

BRONCOS: Denver, about $20 million over the salary cap, cut starters Chester McGlockton, Kavika Pittman and Denard Walker.

McGlockton led the defensive line with 63 tackles but was due $4 million in 2003. Walker started every game at cornerback last season, but his 2003 salary would have been $1.3 million. Pittman, a defensive tackle, was due $2.75 million next season.

MAXWELL AWARDS: Quarterback Rich Gannon, who led Oakland to the Super Bowl, received the Maxwell Football Club's player-of-the-year award Tuesday in Philadelphia. But he'd rather have another piece of hardware.

"You would trade all those awards to hoist that Super Bowl trophy," said Gannon, who threw five interceptions - half his regular-season total - in Oakland's 48-21 Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay.

Gannon set records last season for most completions (418), 300-yard games (10) and consecutive completions in one game (21).

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid was named the top professional coach, and Notre Dame's Tyrone Willingham the best in college.

Penn State running back Larry Johnson won the college player-of-the-year award, and Maryland linebacker E.J. Henderson was named defense player of the year.

BILLS: Buffalo signed defensive end Keith McKenzie, a seven-year veteran who has 29.5 sacks in his career.

RAVENS: Guard Edwin Mulitalo signed a seven-year contract.