nfl news and notes

Steelers

Pouncey lawsuit heading for trial

A lawsuit against Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey for his alleged role in a fight at a Miami nightclub in 2014 will go to trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs announced Friday. Law enforcement officials did not file criminal charges against Pouncey for the incident at his birthday party at the Cameo Nightclub, but attorneys for Riquan James are seeking $500,000 in damages. The trial date in Miami-Dade County circuit court is set for March 6. The lawsuit claims Pouncey verbally taunted James, a gay man also known as Ricky Vasquez, with homophobic remarks and then physically attacked him. “Ricky was standing by the VIP section and can only be acting as described to be flamboyant calling attention to himself. This greatly upset Maurkice Pouncey who called him” homophobic slurs. The witness added: “Maurkice left the VIP area to go over to where Ricky was and then began to punch Ricky in the face. He was very aggressive. Stating that Ricky was ruining his party by acting gay.” The attorneys also released surveillance video of the altercation. A Steelers spokesman said the team has no comment. A message left with Pouncey’s agent was not immediately returned.

Browns

Four teams get more draft picks

NEW YORK

Denver, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Kansas City each will get four compensatory picks in April’s NFL draft while Seattle will have two additional selections in the third round. The NFL announced the distribution of the 32 compensatory picks Friday. Teams losing more or better free agents than they acquire the previous year are eligible to receive additional picks, based on a formula that factors salary, playing time and postseason honors. The choices are distributed at the end of the third through the seventh round. Rule changes also allow the picks to be traded this year for the first time. Miami received two compensatory selections while Los Angeles and the Seahawks received two each. Arizona, Baltimore, Carolina, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and the New York Jets also received a compensatory selection. This year’s draft begins April 27 in Philadelphia.

Buccaneers

Winston makes questionable comment

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, who was accused of raping another student when he was in college, says he made a “poor word choice” in comments about women in a recent talk to students at a Florida elementary school. The Tampa Bay Times reports Winston spoke to third- through fifth-grade students at Melrose Elementary in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, telling them about his three rules of life. When the kids got fidgety, Winston told the boys to stand up, reminding them that they’re “strong.” Then, he said the “ladies” are “supposed to be silent, polite, gentle.” Several hours later, Winston was asked by reporters about the speech and reflected about what he’d said. He said he was making an effort to interact with a young boy in the audience who didn’t appear to be paying attention. He said he didn’t want to single him out so he asked all the boys to stand. Winston was accused of raping a student in 2012 when they were both Florida State University students. Winston has said they had consensual sex. He was not arrested. Winston and the accuser settled a civil lawsuit in December.

49ers

WR Carter signs 2-year deal

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.

The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver DeAndre Carter to a two-year contract on Friday.

Carter has not played in the NFL but spent part of the 2015 season on the practice squads in Oakland and New England.

Associated Press