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Payton's son having impressive season in NFL Europe

Associated Press
Published May 28, 2005

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Former Miami Hurricane Jarrett Payton prefers to skip the comparisons to his father. Besides, he's already doing a fine impression.

Payton, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, is a running back with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, and he's trying to make it big on his own merits.

"My dad was the greatest, but I just want to be the guy who can play the game and not because of my last name," Payton said. "I was born into this and I've got to take it. I can't go out there and be like him. I've got to be myself."

Walter Payton, who died of cancer in 1999, played for the Chicago Bears from 1975-87 and was the league's top career rusher when he retired.

The 24-year-old Payton has rushed for 492 yards on 88 carries - an average of 5.6 yards per carry - and scored a league-leading seven touchdowns to help the Admirals to a 5-3 record.

"I have some good yards, but that's not the most important thing. The biggest thing I'm happy about is that I'm playing consistently," Payton said.

Payton is hoping to earn a spot with the Tennessee Titans, the team that allocated him to Amsterdam.

The Admirals are on the verge of qualifying for a spot in the World Bowl for the second time. The Admirals, who are unbeaten at home, host the Hamburg Sea Devils on Sunday. A win could be enough to clinch a berth in the title game.

Bucs change scouts

The Bucs added scouts Jim Abrams and Brian Gardner, named Mike Martin national combine scout and moved Seth Turner to college scout. Abrams spent the last 13 years with the 49ers and Gardner rejoins the Bucs after 10 seasons with the 49ers. He was a Bucs scout from 1992-94.

Arrest warrant for Burress

New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress failed to pay part of his taxes, according to a collection agency.

A district judge in Pittsburgh issued an arrest warrant for Burress on Thursday after he failed to appear at a delinquent tax claim hearing Wednesday.

Burress, who played for the Steelers before signing with the Giants in March, could be arrested and fined $2,500 upon returning to Pennsylvania, said Coraopolis District Judge Mary Murray.

Keystone Municipal Collections attorney Tom Kratzenberg said Burress owes taxes for 1998 through 2002. The 1 percent wage tax was to be split between Moon Township and the Moon Area School District.

The amount of taxes was not specified.

Romanowski suit settled

Former Oakland Raiders teammates Marcus Williams and Bill Romanowski are settling their legal dispute.

Williams sued his former teammate after getting hit in the face by Romanowski during a practice drill in 2003. The pair announced that Romanowski is agreeing to pay $415,000 to resolve the litigation.

Williams' career ended after his eye socket was broken by Romanowski, who ripped off Williams' helmet during a practice drill and hit him in the face.

Romanowski retired that year, and a jury in March ordered him to pay Williams $340,000 in damages.

Williams was not happy with the jury's verdict, and was seeking a new trial until the two sides agreed to end the dispute.

Parcells: Bledsoe mature

Drew Bledsoe is finding there's a difference between playing for Bill Parcells fresh out of college as the No. 1 overall draft pick and as a 12-year veteran quarterback.

On their first day back on the field together in eight years, Parcells on Friday was content mostly watching Bledsoe from a distance during the start of the Dallas Cowboys' only veteran minicamp before training camp.

"A lot of times when I was young, he would stand right behind me when I'd drop back to throw. He was yelling in my ear," Bledsoe said. "It was to the point that I couldn't wait until Sunday so I could get out on the field and get away from him."

Parcells said the 33-year-old Bledsoe is a lot more mature now.

"Obviously, he's been through a lot as a player," he said. "So we'll just see. I just want to see him round into shape and get his timing."

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]

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