With case put off, Burress back in NFL market

NEW YORK -- Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is negotiating with several NFL teams to return to pro football this season after a judge delayed his trial yesterday on gun-possession charges.

Burress, a Norfolk native, made a brief appearance in court yesterday, accompanied by his wife and attorney Benjamin Brafman. Judge Felicia Mennin adjourned the case until Sept. 23.

Outside court, Brafman said it was "inconceivable" that Burress would face trial on the charge before 2010, said several teams were trying to sign his client, and "physically he's in the best shape of his life. He's ready to play."

Burress' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he hopes to have a deal with an NFL team for Burress before training camp starts, and said he's confident the NFL won't have grounds to discipline Burress until after his case is processed in court.

Brafman said he didn't believe the case would be resolved through a plea agreement, that prosecutors would take it to a grand jury, and that Burress would plead not guilty if the case went to trial.

Broncos get Lloyd, could lose Marshall

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd on the same day a radio station reported holdout Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall wants to follow Jay Cutler out of Denver.

Lloyd is a seventh-year pro with 15 career touchdown catches who played for Chicago last season. He's also played for Washington and San Francisco.

His signing comes as Adam Schefter, who will join ESPN in August, reported on the Broncos' flagship radio network, KOA in Denver, that Marshall requested the trade during a meeting Friday with team owner Pat Bowlen.

Marshall walked out of the meeting with several boxes of belongings and didn't speak with reporters.

Rooney Rule expanded

The NFL has broadened its "Rooney Rule" by requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate when seeking to fill its senior football operations positions.

Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the NFL's 32-member teams by memo of the new requirement, which received strong endorsement after being recommended at league meetings last month. The change is expected to provide minorities more opportunities to fill each franchise's one senior football post, which varies in title from team to team.

Currently, there are five minorities filling top executive positions in the NFL: Rod Graves (Arizona), Martin Mayhew (Detroit), Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore), Jerry Reese (New York Giants) and Rick Smith (Houston). The NFL's senior football executive, Ray Anderson, the executive vice president of football operations, is black.

Patrick suspended

PHOENIX -- Arizona Cardinals tight end Ben Patrick was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Patrick tested positive for the drug Adderall, an amphetamine, his agent Kevin Omell said.

The agent said Patrick took the drug to stay awake while driving from Flagstaff to Phoenix during the team's bye week in mid-October.

Patrick will be eligible to return to the team for its Oct. 18 game at Seattle.

Jets sign Greene

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets signed third-round draft pick Shonn Greene to a four-year deal. The running back out of Iowa was the first pick of the third round after the Jets traded up to select him. Greene rushed for a school-record 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns, and was selected the Big Ten's offensive player of the year.

Falcons sign Newberry

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons added depth to their offensive line by signing Jeremy Newberry, the former longtime starting center for the San Francisco 49ers. Newberry (6-5, 315 pounds) started three games for San Diego last season after starting each of his 14 games with Oakland in the 2007 season.