NFL: Jets' Ellis won't miss training camp
--New York Jets defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis will split his 45-day jail sentence in Hampton, Va., so that he does not miss any of the team's training camp, USA Today reported Saturday.
Ellis pleaded guilty to assault and battery in May over an incident that took place two years ago when he attended Hampton University.
He began his sentence Friday night and will be released on July 9. The Jets begin training camp July 26. Ellis would have to complete his sentence starting March 1.
He was originally scheduled to serve out his term until July 29, missing the first three days of camp.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said Ellis should be ready to make significant improvements after making just seven tackles as a rookie last year.
"I think he's a strong man, and I know one thing -- he's looking forward to this season," Ryan said.
--Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said he does not know if holdout running back Matt Forte will arrive on time for the team's training camp, the National Football Post reported Saturday.
Forte, a Pro Bowler last year, missed the Bears' entire offseason program, including minicamp, while holding out for a multi-year contract. The Bears placed the franchise tag on him, which means he will make $7.7 million this year if he does not get a new deal.
There has reportedly been no progress made in getting a deal done for Forte and the deadline is July 16.
"The offseason is the time, if you have an issue with your contract, to take care of that," Smith said. "This is the offseason. That is how I have looked at it. Matt isn't here right now. He'll take care of his contract situation in time. We can't wait to get him back on the football field."
Forte may continue his holdout when training camp starts if he does not get a new contract. Players often do not report to camp if they are not satisfied with their franchise-tag situation.
--Jerry Tubbs, an original member of the Dallas Cowboys who later became an assistant coach under Tom Landry, died this week, the Dallas Morning News reported. Tubbs was 77.
Tubbs played linebacker in the NFL from 1957, when he was a first-round pick of the Chicago Cardinals, until 1966, when he finished as a player-coach for the Cowboys. Dallas acquired him from San Francisco in the 1960 expansion draft, and Tubbs made the Pro Bowl in 1962 as Dallas' middle linebacker.
He became a full-time assistant in 1967 and coached under Landry until 1988.
