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Broncos WR Smith Expected To Retire

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The Associated Press

Published: July 24, 2008

DENVER - Broncos receiver Rod Smith is planning to hold a news conference today amid published reports he will retire.

Smith's agent, Jack Mills, confirmed the event but declined to give details.

The Broncos said they were aware of the reports, but didn't know about a news conference.

Smith, 38, has been on the reserve/retired list since February and has had two hip operations in the last year and a half. He's the franchise's career leader in every major receiving category.

In June, Smith visited the Broncos and passed out pointers to the younger receivers as they ran their routes. He said at the time he wasn't sure if he was ready to walk away from football.
Army Orders Lions Pick Campbell To Withdraw

DETROIT - Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.

Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy.

In a letter to Lions president Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."
Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010.
Liba said Campbell was allowed to enter the draft "in good faith."

BEARS: Devin Hester, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped the first training camp practice Wednesday in a holdout.

Hester, a two-time Pro Bowler, was placed on the Bears' Reserve/Did Not Report list.

"I'm not coming," Hester told the Chicago Tribune in a phone interview. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to organized team activities that I was a team player. But then, I just felt like they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal."

Hester, who also played wide receiver last season, has two years remaining on his initial deal. He was the Bears' second round-draft pick in 2006.

Also, Chicago and first-round pick Chris Williams agreed to a five-year contract. Williams, an offensive tackle from Vanderbilt, was the No. 14 choice overall.

BROWNS: Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius (two right knee operations) and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker (broken hip) were placed on the active physically unable to perform list as Cleveland opened training camp.

CHARGERS: Released wide receiver Eric Parker on Wednesday, two days before their first full-squad practice.

PANTHERS: Claimed tackle Charles Spencer off waivers from Houston and released offensive lineman Rueben Riley.

RAMS: Defensive end Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

SAINTS: New Orleans and wide receiver Marques Colston have agreed to a three-year contract extension.

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