The Associated Press

DENVER - Shannon Sharpe's decision to return for another season does more than just solidify the Denver Broncos' tight end corps.

It also assures the Broncos of having another year of Sharpe's veteran leadership and locker-room presence. It also gives new quarterback Jake Plummer another productive target.

"We're excited that Shannon is returning," general manager Ted Sundquist said Wednesday. "All along, we were counting on him coming back. We had a feeling he would return, and that's one of the reasons we didn't go in that direction in the draft."

Sharpe, who turns 35 next month, ranks No. 1 among tight ends in receptions (753) and receiving yards (9,290) and is second in touchdown catches (54).

Despite missing three games last season with a dislocated right elbow, he ranked third on the team with 61 catches for 686 yards and three touchdowns.

SAINTS: New Orleans draft pick Talman Gardner was sentenced to a year of probation and 250 hours of community service Wednesday after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and having a concealed, loaded handgun.

GIANTS: New York signed defensive end John Frank, who has never played in a regular-season NFL game.

He was a sixth-round draft choice in 2000 by the Philadelphia Eagles but retired on the eve of training camp that year. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Frank rejoined the Eagles in 2001, spending the season on their practice squad, then was signed and waived by the Jets in 2002.

FORMER COWBOY CHARGED WITH ASSAULT: Former Dallas Cowboys star Erik Williams was charged with attacking his wife at their home outside Philadelphia. Williams, a four-time Pro Bowl player, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of simple assault and harassment and released on $7,500 bail.

Return to Bengals front page...