Steelers draft pick Holmes apologizes for second arrest
The Rams have reduced the number of their front-office executives.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes apologized Tuesday for his latest arrest on charges he assaulted a woman.
The 22-year-old Holmes was charged by Columbus police Monday with two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence and simple assault. It was his second arrest since he was chosen in the first round of the NFL draft.
Holmes said in a statement that he was sorry for the negative attention his arrest brought to the organization, and he understands that being a Steelers player demands responsible behavior off the field.
Holmes' attorney has said his client is wrongly accused.
Holmes was arrested previously in Miami Beach, Fla., on a charge of disorderly conduct during a Memorial Day weekend crackdown by local authorities.
Rams
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have restructured their front office, eliminating the general manager position and hiring two vice presidents.
Tony Softli was selected vice president for player personnel, the Rams said Tuesday.
Softli, who was formerly director of college scouting for the Carolina Panthers, will lead the player personnel department that will include longtime general manager Charley Armey, whose new title is vice president for pro personnel.
Jay Zygmunt will remain as president of pro football operations.
The moves come after a tumultuous 2005 season that featured infighting between some in upper management and coach Mike Martz, who missed most of the season with a heart ailment. Martz was fired after the season and replaced by Scott Linehan.
Armey, 67, had considered retiring but agreed to stay on in the new position.
Softli, 46, began working in scouting when the Panthers entered the league in 1995 and took over as director of college scouting in 2000. He is credited with helping draft standouts Julius Peppers, Steve Smith and Kris Jenkins.
Lawrence McCutcheon will continue as director of player personnel for college scouting.
The Rams haven't had a director of pro personnel since after the 2000 season, when Mike Ackerley left to work for the Tennessee Titans.
Softli has ties to Linehan. The two worked together on the University of Washington coaching staff. Before that, Softli was a linebacker for the Huskies.
Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rookie running back LenDale White said the hamstring injury that has bothered him since the spring has healed, and he is now working on conditioning.
"It feels a lot better getting in there with the team and coming along," said White, who participated in team drills for a second consecutive minicamp practice Tuesday. "It definitely feels good to finally be running the football, instead of rehabbing all day."
Tennessee picked the Southern California standout in the second round of the NFL draft last April. White dropped out of the first round in large part because of the injury.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he likes what he's seen so far from White, who will compete with veterans Chris Brown and Travis Henry for playing time.
"It was good to see him out there," Fisher said. "I think we see a little more each day."
White, who has lost 11 pounds since playing in the Rose Bowl at 250 pounds, has a personal trainer who will help get him in shape for camp.
"I'll work out for the whole month, and hopefully come back and win a spot and get ready to play football games," White said.
Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs signed Jerald Brown, the Arena Football League's defensive player of the year, to a two-year contract Tuesday.
The 5-foot-11 defensive back had 65 tackles and a franchise-record 11 interceptions for the Columbus Destroyers in 2006.
He had two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
Brown played college football at Division II Glenville State in West Virginia from 1998 to 2001. He played for the AFL's New York Dragons in 2004 and the Arizona Rattlers in 2005.
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