June 1st 7:00 PM Update

[minibronco]

San Francisco mayor, 49ers owners offended by training video
By MICHAEL WARREN, Associated Press Writer
June 1, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An in-house video meant to prepare San Francisco 49ers players for dealing with the media backfired on the NFL team Wednesday when it was learned that it featured racist jokes, lesbian soft-porn and topless blondes.

The 15-minute video, a copy of which was sent anonymously to the San Francisco Chronicle, features the team's public relations director, Kirk Reynolds, impersonating Mayor Gavin Newsom in the mayor's office and other places around town.

The mayor is outraged, the team's owners are embarrassed and Reynolds has lost his job.

THE REST

Rice gets acquainted with new team
June 1, 2005

AP - Jun 1, 3:18 pm EDT

DENVER (AP) -- Jerry Rice began his first day as a Denver Bronco doing something unheard of for a player of his stature: he walked around the locker room and introduced himself.

``It caught a lot of the guys off guard when I walk up and say, 'Hey, I'm Jerry Rice,''' he said. ``I noticed a lot of these guys might have been 3-year-olds when I came into the league.''

``I couldn't believe it was him,'' said wide receiver Triandos Luke, 19 years younger than the 42-year-old Rice. ``I had seen him making catches all these years and there he was.''

With that formality out of the way, the best receiver in NFL history went about getting ready for the first day of the team's three-day minicamp. He gazed at his new threads.

``I looked at my uniform and said this is OK,'' Rice said. ``It's not that hard to get used to, it will look good on me.''

THE REST

Salary issue may stall Ricky's return
BY JASON COLE, jcole@herald.com


There could be one hiccup in Ricky Williams' return to the Dolphins, and it has nothing to do with drug use.

In fact, the NFL might be willing to cut Williams a small break in his return to the game based on his willingness to be tested again earlier than required under the league's substance abuse policy.

But a more vexing issue for the Dolphins could be a debate over whether Williams is due to make a $3.7 million base salary next season or the league minimum of $540,000 based on the language in the contract. The difference could have a huge impact over whether Williams is even on the team by late July when the Dolphins are scheduled to begin training camp.

The $3.7 million figure would be far too much for the Dolphins to handle under the salary cap this season and could force the team to cut Williams. The $540,000 figure would be easy for the Dolphins to deal with.

THE REST