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NFL

Cardinals' Wilks won't rush Bradford's recovery

TEMPE, Ariz. — When it comes to quarterback Sam Bradford, Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks has one concern.

He wants him ready to play 16 games — or more. The short term isn’t as important as the long term.

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“I’m not concerned about getting him out there as quick as possible to be able to throw the ball,” Wilks said. “We’ve come up with a plan.

“We’re going to make sure that we’re giving Sam everything that he needs to be successful, and we’ve created a plan, and we’re trying to follow that plan accordingly.”

Bradford is still recovering from having his left knee scoped in November after he injured it in Week 1 last season and re-aggravated it in Week 5. During the workouts the team opened to the media last week, Bradford went through a stretching routine and lifted weights but didn’t participate in the running portion.

With the Cardinals’ first voluntary minicamp scheduled for next week, Wilks doesn’t plan to hurry Bradford’s recovery to get him on the field for that.

“I’m not trying to rush it,” Wilks said. “He knows his body more than us. We’re trying to give him the things that he needs on a day-to-day basis to make sure that he feels healthy when he goes out there, and he feels very confident about that. I feel great where he is right now.”

Arizona has a voluntary three-day veteran minicamp scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday next week, and the Cardinals begin their three weeks of OTAs on May 15, followed by minicamp June 12-14.

Wilks did not say if he expects Bradford to be on the field for any or all of those practices.

“I think he’s making progress in everything that we’re doing,” Wilks said. “But once again, we want to make sure that he’s here for the long haul, particularly 16-plus games.”

NFL

Falcons' Ryan grateful for health of wife, twins

DULUTH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan expressed relief about the health of his wife, Sarah, and their newborn twins following complications related to the pregnancy.

Sarah Ryan revealed on Instagram she was placed on hospital bed rest on Jan. 9 due to those complications. Six weeks later, she gave birth to the couple’s first children. The twin boys were in the NICU — an intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants — for more than a month each. Sarah Ryan thanked the staff at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital for helping the family in a trying period as the “small but tough” boys fought through.

Matt Ryan expressed the same gratitude.

“Like any parent, obviously you want everything to go well,” he told ESPN on Monday at a celebrity golf event for charity. “We’re not alone in having gone through this. I know other families, parents, children go through things like this all the time. You just want things to shake out well, and we’re fortunate that they did. Obviously your mind really never leaves there because that’s the most important thing in your life — your family.”

Ryan missed the Jan. 9 practice leading into his team’s divisional playoff matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles to be by his wife’s side. Despite the circumstances, Ryan said he was able to focus upon returning to the team. The Falcons lost that weekend’s game against the eventual Super Bowl champions by a score of 15-10.

“It was one of those things, my mind was there,” Ryan said of not letting the situation weigh him down. “Even in the week we were playing in the playoffs, it was there. I felt like I was really well prepared for that game and played well.

“Yeah, it’s tough [missing practice]. At the same time, perspective is key. In the grand scheme of things, there’s more important things in life. I think we’d all agree that health and family are No. 1.”

When asked about the tense moments related to the health of the babies, Ryan admitted he was nervous without revealing details of what doctors told him could have happened.

“I mean, everybody is [nervous], I think, in those situations,” he said. “You want everything to go smooth, and sometimes it doesn’t. But it was OK.”

Asked if he’s relieved now, Ryan responded, “I imagine you never feel like that as a parent. You’re always worried about something. Obviously things have went really well for us. I’m just happy that they’re home and healthy. And my wife is doing great, too.”

Marshall Thomas Ryan, who carries his mother’s maiden name, was born first and followed by Johnny Matthew Ryan, named after family members named John on both sides. Marshall was sent home after five weeks in NICU while Johnny was sent home a week later, Sarah Ryan said in her post.

Matt Ryan, the 2016 MVP, is focused on making a return trip to the Super Bowl. He is in the final year of his contract, and the Falcons said extending him is a top priority without giving an exact timetable on completing the deal.

“I think things are good,” Ryan said of the contract talks. “Obviously, I’ve been through this before. I’ve always had the mindset that you kind of let your agents handle the business and let our front office take care of it. I think we have great people on both sides. I’m excited about that. I’m excited about being a Falcon for a long time.”

NFL

LB Smith arrested again, held on $500K bond

Aldon Smith is being held by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department on $500,000 bond after he was arrested Friday for the third time in two months.

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According to online records, the former Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers linebacker’s next court date is Wednesday.

Smith was arraigned Thursday on three charges of violating a protective order, which was issued when he was arraigned March 12 for his original domestic violence charges stemming from a March 3 incident with his fiancée. He turned himself in on those charges on March 23 but failed to show for a court appearance two weeks ago before making his appearance Thursday. He was ordered to wear an ankle monitor, which monitors alcohol use through sweat, and released.

Smith was booked for violating a condition of his electronic monitoring, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Nancy Crowley told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Smith’s fiancée, Shawna McKnight, said in a statement to TMZ Sports that, “Unfortunately through these circumstances Aldon and I are no longer together.”

“Although it’s with a heavy heart, I truly wish him the best and pray he gets the help he needs. I will always have love for him, but at this point I’m simply the victim in this ongoing case,” she said.

Smith, a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2011 and a first-team All-Pro in 2012 who had 44 sacks in his first three seasons, has had several run-ins with the law. He has been arrested on DUI charges multiple times and has previously faced weapon charges that were later reduced.

The 28-year-old played nine games for Oakland in 2015, with seven starts, and had 3.5 sacks. But the NFL, in reaction to his numerous brushes with the law and the league’s substance abuse policy, suspended Smith for a year on Nov. 17, 2015, and has yet to reinstate him.

NFL

Manziel tosses TD in first game in 832 days
11:30 PM ET

  • Kevin SeifertNFL Nation

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    • ESPN.com national NFL writer
    • ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2008-2013
    • Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008

AUSTIN, Texas — Quarterback Johnny Manziel played in a football game Saturday for the first time in 832 days, a modest step in his long road back to elite-level football.

Playing the equivalent of two quarters at a high school stadium in the Austin suburbs, Manziel threw one touchdown pass but was also sacked three times in what looked like the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason game. The outing followed nine days of practice among 170 players who paid a fee to participate in The Spring League, which bills itself as a developmental league that provides opportunities for players who are not on NFL rosters but hope to be.

Johnny Manziel played in a football game for the first time in almost three years Saturday, hoping to garner interest from NFL teams. Eric Gay/AP Photo

Manziel completed his first seven passes and finished with nine completions in 15 attempts for 82 yards. He said he was frustrated with the sloppy nature of the game but made clear he was thrilled to have returned to the field.

“It’s disappointing, some of the things that happened,” he said, “but nevertheless, it’s a huge step for me. I put pads back on. A lot of people wrote me off just to even get to this point. I’m definitely emotional about it. I’m definitely happy about it. This isn’t the end goal for me, but I’m having fun again. I have a smile on my face.”

The league has one more set of games scheduled for April 12, after which Manziel hopes to receive interest from NFL teams. If not, he has said he likely will make a two-year commitment to play in the Canadian Football League.

“The message that I’m sending is showing up every day and going to meetings,” he said. “Being engaged in everything that is going on during practice and in the game. I can’t control what is going on [with NFL teams’ interests] and I don’t know what’s going on in NFL meetings. If that’s the case, if the NFL is something that pops up, cool. If not, I’m going to work until I get back there. We’ll see how things play out.”

Manziel’s CFL rights are owned by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Their general manager, Eric Tillman, was among the NFL and CFL representatives in attendance. A total of 17 NFL teams have sent scouts to practices, according to The Spring League CEO Brian Woods.

Manziel attended high school about two hours away in Kerrville, Texas, and most of the estimated 2,500 in attendance Saturday at Kelly Reeves Stadium appeared to be in support of their local hero. Manziel showed some glimpses of his playmaking ability, leaving the pocket twice for completions — including the touchdown — while also producing scrambles of 11 and 10 yards. The competition was inferior to what he would face either in the NFL or the CFL, but he gave scouts of both leagues an important check-in on his progress.

“You can get there only by working in this kind of environment,” said Terry Shea, a longtime NFL and college coach who is leading The Spring League’s football operations. “If he were back home throwing to his buddies against air, he wouldn’t get any of this, so from this standpoint, I would say he’s really grown here.

“I’ve never been around Johnny Manziel until this moment of time, but I see a very quick arm. I see very active eyes. He sees things, and those classic Johnny Manziel plays, particularly when he’s on the move, I’ve seen those come up here.”

Manziel last played in a game on Dec. 27, 2015, near the end of his second season with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns released him in March 2016, and he plunged into a two-year spiral of substance abuse that he often chronicled on social media. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has been treated for depression.

NFL teams are opening their offseason programs this month. CFL training camps start May 16 for rookies, and the league’s regular season begins June 14.

Realistically, Manziel has about a month to decide whether to hold out for an NFL job or make a two-year commitment to the CFL. If it’s the latter, he wouldn’t be eligible to play in the NFL until November 2019 at the earliest.

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