Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CINCINNATI ó Coach Marvin Lewis emphatically closed the door Tuesday on the possibility of receiver Chris Henry rejoining the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals released Henry in April after he was arrested for the fifth time, and the NFL suspended him indefinitely. His court case ended in a mistrial and prosecutors dropped the charges, prompting Henry to seek reinstatement and a chance to play in the NFL again.
Lewis said it won’t be with the Bengals.
“I’m not interested,” Lewis told reporters Tuesday, before the team’s annual preseason luncheon. “I don’t think it would be productive for our football team. You have to be a productive part to be an NFL player, and there’s responsibilities to being an NFL player. It’s a privilege, it’s not a right. There’s a lot that comes with being an NFL football player.”
The 25-year-old Henry was suspended for the first eight games last season for repeatedly violating the league’s conduct policies. He played in the last eight games, but had only 21 catches for 343 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the No. 3 receiver.
BEARS
LAKE FOREST, Ill. ó The Chicago Bears and linebacker Brian Urlacher agreed to a contract extension Monday through the 2012 season, according to published reports.
The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times reported that the extension is worth $18 million, including a $6 million signing bonus. The Bears declined to confirm the deal.
Players were scheduled to report to training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais on Tuesday. The Bears are still looking to sign top draft choice Chris Williams, an offensive tackle.
Urlacher, entering his ninth season, signed a nine-year, $57 million contract in 2003 that would have expired after 2011.
Last season, Urlacher played with an arthritic back condition and also had minor offseason neck surgery. Urlacher, 30, has been selected for the Pro Bowl six times and has 15 career interceptions and 371/2 sacks.
CHARGERS
SAN DIEGO ó Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo came up with a huge sack on Tuesday ó a huge sack of money, that is.
Castillo agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2014 valued at about $43 million. The deal will pay Castillo a guaranteed $17.5 million in signing and roster bonuses.
CARDINALS
TEMPE, Ariz. ó The Arizona Cardinals signed second-round pick Calais Campbell on Monday, leaving first-round selection Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as their only unsigned draft choice heading into training camp.Campbell, a defensive end out of Miami, signed a four-year deal.
PATRIOTS
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó The New England Patriots signed free agent tackle Anthony Clement on Monday, along with a wide receiver and two of their draft picks.
The team signed linebacker Shawn Crable and quarterback Kevin O’Connell, two players drafted in the third round this year. Also getting a contract was wide receiver Chris Dunlap, who was released by the Patriots last Sept. 1 after signing as a rookie free agent out of Georgia Tech on May 14.