NFL Roundup: Deacon Jones remembered as author of sack

Accolades and sympathies poured in from the football world Monday and Tuesday, as contemporaries of Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones reacted to the NFL legend's death at 74.

Considered by many to be the greatest defensive player in league history, Jones combined with Merlin Olsen, Rosy Grier and Lamar Lundy to form "The Fearsome Foursome" with the Los Angeles Rams. Jones was selected to seven straight Pro Bowls with the Rams from 1964 to 1970 and made eight overall.

Olsen died in March 2010 and Lundy in February 2007. Grier, 80, is the only surviving member.

"Farewell, DEACON JONES, author of the 'QB sack,' tweeted Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. "An all-time superstar and a big help in making this sport as popular as it is."

"RIP to my friend, mentor and idol Mr. Deacon Jones," former defensive end Michael Strahan tweeted. "Was always there for me from the beginning and led the way for all if us DE's! #headslap."

---Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson won't participate in minicamp and might sit out even longer as a team-ordered precaution.

Richardson, the third overall pick in the 2012 draft, has had a string of leg injuries, the latest of which is a pulled muscle in his shin. ESPN Cleveland reported Tuesday that coach Rob Chudzinski and the Browns would hold Richardson out of action until August. Richardson said last week that missing ongoing organized team activities "ain't no biggie." According to the report, Richardson is also taking medication for migraine headaches.

---Commissioner Roger Goodell said he expects the NFL to play a third game annually in London "pretty soon" and that the Jacksonville Jaguars could play two games per year in the city in the near future.

Goodell was speaking at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference on Tuesday, and per New York Post writer Bart Hubbuch, said the "NFL's hope is to eventually put an actual franchise in London," as the league "likes the reception games are getting there."

Goodell added that future games could be played in additional venues to Wembley Stadium thanks to upgrades English Premier League franchises have made to their stadiums.

As the NFL also looks into the agency started by Jay-Z, Goodell said he supports the rapper's presence in the sport "as long as he goes through the proper channels."

---New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul underwent surgery Tuesday morning to fix a herniated disc in his lower back, and is expected to be ready for the season.

Pierre-Paul will need about 12 weeks to recover, the team said. Pierre-Paul, 24, visited two doctors last week at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and both felt surgery was best.

The condition affected him last season.

---A second man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing and attempted carjacking of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Mike Adams on Saturday night, leaving one still at-large, police told multiple news outlets.

Detectives arrested Dequay Means, 26, of Hazelwood, Pa., on Monday night after a foot chase. He was charged with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault, attempted carjacking, former convict not to possess a firearm, terroristic threats, criminal conspiracy and escape.

Earlier Monday, police arrested 25-year-old Michael Paranay of Pittsburgh, and charged him with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, attempted robbery and conspiracy. Both men are in prison.

---The San Francisco 49ers named former NFL coach Eric Mangini as a senior offensive consultant.

Mangini comes with 15 years of NFL coaching experience. He was head coach of the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets, but worked as an NFL anaylst for ESPN since 2011 Mangini also spent six seasons as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, where he was part of three Super Bowl champions.

In personnel moves, the 49ers signed wide receiver Kassim Osgood to a one-year deal and waived receiver Joe Hastings.

---Former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is scheduled to be part of a veteran free agent workout at the Chicago Bears' Lake Forest, Ill., practice facilty on Friday.

ESPN first reported Russell, along with multiple quarterbacks and other veterans, was invited to a tryout by the Bears. He last played in 2009, when he was released by the Oakland Raiders having earned nearly $40 million, compiling seven wins over three seasons. Russell was charged but not indicted on felony possession of a controlled substance -- a purple syrup containing codeine -- in a home raid.

Meanwhile, backup tight end Gabe Miller was suspended without pay for four regular-season games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances.

Miller will be allowed by participate in the team's offseason and preseason practices and games but no team activities during the first four weeks of the regular season. He was with the Bears for their organized team workout on Tuesday.

---Pro Football Weekly is out of business, publisher Hub Arkush wrote on the company's website Tuesday.

In a farewell to readers of what he long referred to as the "bible of the NFL" Arkush said PFW failed to keep up with the times. He said the 2013 season preview and fantasy annuals will be available later this month "were sold to help raise money for the assignment for the benefit of the creditors." A link on the site showed liabilities of $8.5 million.