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SAN DIEGO >> Rookie guard Toniu Fonoti sprained his left knee in the first practice of the San Diego Chargers' minicamp yesterday and was held out of the afternoon workout as a precaution. Fonoti hurt in first practice
Associated Press
Coach Marty Schottenheimer said he didn't know if the Kahuku alumnus would take part in today's two practices.
"We'll certainly err to caution," said Schottenheimer, trying to turn around a team that's won only six games in two seasons.
Fonoti was taken in the second round of last weekend's draft. He had a wrap on his knee while watching the afternoon practice from the sideline.
James skips Colts minicamp: Edgerrin James, who missed 10 games last year with a season-ending knee injury, skipped the Indianapolis Colts' mandatory mini-camp yesterday in an apparent contract dispute.
Colts president Bill Polian said James' agent had repeatedly asked for a renegotiation of the six-year contract the running back signed after the team drafted him in 1999.
The Colts say the two-time NFL rushing champion breached his contract by not attending this weekend's workouts and by not making himself available for team doctors to examine his injured left knee.
Polian said James would be fined up to $5,000 per day.
Polian was unsure whether the dispute could be resolved by the time training camp opens July 25.
Buckhalter suffers serious knee injury: Running back Correll Buckhalter, who was expected to play a bigger role in Philadelphia's offense this year, is likely gone for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The injury occurred at the Eagles' first offseason minicamp yesterday. Buckhalter stumbled while making a cut after catching a short pass and was taken off the field.
Restructured contract keeps Testaverde with Jets: Vinny Testaverde will spend the rest of his NFL career with the New York Jets after restructuring a contract that had been salary-cap prohibitive.
The new five-year deal announced yesterday stretches bonus money through the life of the contract, allowing the Jets to avoid a $9.5 million bonus due in June. Testaverde, who is recovering from surgery to remove a benign tumor in his right foot, will earn about $4 million this year in base salary and could earn another $2.5 in bonuses.
The contract calls for the 38-year-old Testaverde to earn a base of $1 million, with incentives based on playing time, in the other four years. That could bring his earnings to a much as $6.5 million per season and the entire value of the contract to $32.5 million should he meet every incentive.
Lineman in good condition after crash: Miami Dolphins guard James Wagstaff was upgraded to good condition yesterday, a day after he severely injured his left hand when his sport utility vehicle flipped repeatedly near the team's training camp.
Wagstaff had surgery Thursday to begin to repair broken bones, soft tissue damage and hand and wrist dislocations. He was scheduled for another surgery today, said Harvey Greene, senior vice president of media relations. Wagstaff was expected to remain in the hospital at least through the weekend.