Steelers’ WR Sweed injures a leg tendon

May 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed injured his left Achilles tendon during the final day of a three-day minicamp, and coach Mike Tomlin says the injury could be serious.

Sweed was hurt during a routine passing drill on Sunday and was taken off the Steelers’ indoor practice field on a cart. He later left the team’s practice facility on crutches.

“I didn’t have direct eyes on him [when he was hurt]. It’s just one of those things,” Tomlin said.

If the Achilles is ruptured, Sweed likely would miss the season.

Sweed, a second-round draft pick from Texas in 2008, had seven catches in his first two NFL seasons and was a major disappointment to the Steelers. He was removed from the active roster Dec. 22 for what the team said were personal reasons and not the result of an injury.

“There were just some personal things that I went through in my life, but my family and the Steelers helped me get through it,” Sweed said Friday. “But I feel like a kid again. It’s good to be back playing.”

Saints

NEW ORLEANS

Federal authorities are looking into allegations made in a civil lawsuit accusing the New Orleans Saints of trying to cover up a senior staff member’s theft of prescription Vicodin pills from the club’s training headquarters.

“The DEA was referred this case and there is a pending investigation,” said Special Agent Roberto Bryan Jr., a New Orleans-based spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The civil suit was filed Friday by former Saints security director Geoffrey Santini, a retired FBI agent who gave federal authorities evidence he collected before resigning from the team last August.

The accusations also could constitute state offenses, but local authorities say they have yet to begin a probe of their own.

Jefferson Parish sheriff’s spokesman Col. John Fortunato said his department did not become aware of the allegations until after the civil lawsuit was filed.

“It hasn’t been turned into a criminal investigation as of yet,” Fortunato said.

The Saints have said the allegations are false and represent an attempt by Santini, who resigned last August, to shake down the club. Team spokesman Greg Bensel has said the club will aggressively defend itself in court.

Head coach Sean Payton is so far the only member of the franchise other than Bensel to comment on the case.

Payton issued a statement through the team, asserting he has never abused or stolen Vicodin, a narcotic used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas

Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips praised wide receiver Dez Bryant on Sunday while also passing along some advice.

Phillips said Bryant showed a lot of potential during the team’s three-day rookie minicamp but also told the first-round pick — as well as the other 25 rookies, eight first-year prospects and three tryout players — to be sharper when they join Cowboys veterans for the primary minicamp in June.

“I think we got over the point we needed to, and that is they need to get physically better when they come back, and mental,” Phillips said. “We threw a lot at them mentally. When I sent them home, that’s what I told them, that’s what we’ve got to have when they come back here.”

Milloy back with Seattle to add depth

Seahawks

RENTON, Wash.

Lost in the news of all the moves the Seahawks made around last week’s NFL draft, the team quietly re-signed safety Lawyer Milloy on Friday at the start of Seattle’s three-day minicamp. It’s a reunion for Milloy and new Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, who were together in New England during Carroll’s second stop as an NFL head coach.