NFL
Falcons nose tackle will come to training camp after all
By Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 22, 2003
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Nose tackle Ellis Johnson has told the Atlanta Falcons that he will report to training camp Friday after abruptly leaving a mandatory minicamp 12 days ago to return to his family.
Training camp begins Friday in Greenville, S.C., and players have until midnight Thursday to check in. Ray Anderson, the Falcons chief administrator, said Monday: "I have spoken with his agent, and it appears Ellis has reconsidered."
Johnson returned to his farm outside Indianapolis before workouts began at team headquarters July 10. Neither he nor his agent, David Levine, has returned phone calls.
"It's been an organizational effort to assure him that we would like him to be a Falcon and that he would be welcome back on Thursday," Anderson said. "I'm optimistic that he will do as he has said and report to camp ready to go and get after it."
Johnson, 29, was a first-round draft pick of the Colts in 1995 but was released at his own request Aug. 28 after his style appeared ill-suited to the defenses of new coach Tony Dungy. He has said being away from his wife and two children was one of the hardest things he had to do.
Atlanta signed Johnson to a three-year, $4.3-million contract three days later. When he told coach Dan Reeves he wanted to retire after Atlanta was eliminated from last season's playoffs, his contract was extended through 2005.
BRONCOS: Seventh-round draft pick and former Florida Gator Clint Mitchell of Clearwater and free-agent running back Antwon McCray signed. Terms of the contracts were not released.
CHIEFS: Wide receiver Sylvester Morris will miss the rest of camp because of torn tissue in the back of his hip and defensive end Eddie Freeman dislocated his elbow and will be out up to four weeks. Morris was hurt during the team's first practice Sunday. Coach Dick Vermeil said Morris is expected to be out at least six weeks.
JETS: Center Dennis O'Sullivan and cornerback Will Hunter went on the physically unable to perform list. O'Sullivan, a third-year player from Tulane, injured his biceps during offseason drills. Hunter, a rookie free agent from Syracuse, has an injured ankle.
PATRIOTS: Defensive tackle Ty Warren signed. Warren, who played at Texas A&M, was the 13th overall pick in April's draft.
STEELERS: Punter Josh Miller will miss the start of training camp after arthroscopic knee surgery.
TITANS: Second-round draft pick Tyrone Calico, a wide receiver from Middle Tennessee State, and third-round selection Chris Brown, third in the nation in rushing with 1,841 yards on 303 carries for Colorado, signed multiyear deals. Terms were not announced.
ARENA: An autopsy did not indicate what killed a 31-year-old arenafootball2 player. Authorities will await results of toxicology reports on Julian Yearwood, a fullback/linebacker for the Bakersfield Blitz of the developmental league. Yearwood passed out while on the bench during a game against the Wichita Stealth on Saturday.
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