Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
SANTA CLARA, Calif. ó Veteran cornerback Dre’ Bly signed a one-year deal Thursday with the San Francisco 49ers, who moved quickly to fill the spot created by Walt Harris’ knee injury.
The Denver Broncos released the former North Carolina star in a salary dump in February after he spent two of his 10 NFL seasons with the club, starting all 32 games and intercepting seven passes.
Bly was chosen for two Pro Bowls during his four seasons with the Detroit Lions, and he won a championship during four years with the St. Louis Rams.
COWBOYS
ARLINGTON, Texas ó The Cowboys won’t return to their practice fields until after training camp and have no immediate plans to replace the indoor facility destroyed in a storm.Owner Jerry Jones said Thursday the team is letting a federal investigation into the collapse of the tentlike structure “run its course.” Jones said he’s making plans to have the practice fields ready when the Cowboys return from San Antonio in August.
LOTTERY DEAL
BOSTON ó Just one day after the NFL decided to allow its teams to make deals with lotteries, the New England Patriots became the first to announce a licensing agreement.
Other states said they were talking about sponsorships that could put NFL team logos on scratch-off tickets across the country.
The Patriots said Thursday they had a deal with the Massachusetts State Lottery on an instant ticket that is expected to be for sale by the start of the 2009 season.
“This is going to be a hugely successful collaboration,” owner Robert Kraft said.
OBAMA, STEELERS
WASHINGTON ó President Barack Obama may be a Chicago Bears fan at heart. But at least on Thursday, the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers were his football favorites.
The president celebrated the Steelers’ title at a White House ceremony. Obama and the players also met with wounded U.S. service members and assembled care packages for troops serving overseas.
Obama joked that no matter how big those Steeler players are, he told them he’ll always be a Bears fan first. But the president said he rooted for the Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl.
PERRY RELEASED
AIKEN, S.C. ó William “The Refrigerator” Perry has been released from the hospital after a monthlong stay for complications of a nervous system disorder.
Aiken Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Melissa Summer said the former Chicago Bears star was released on Wednesday after being treated for Guillain-Barre Syndrome.