Advertisement

NFL roundup: Barkley, Lacy won't participate fully at combine

Two prime NFL prospects -- Alabama running back Eddie Lacy and USC quarterback Matt Barkley -- will not take part fully in the upcoming NFL combine as a result of injuries.

Contrary to previous reports, Barkley will not throw at the NFL Combine this week as he continues to rehab his throwing shoulder injury, according to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The NFL combine begins Wednesday with quarterbacks arriving on Thursday and scheduled for their on-field workouts on Sunday. While he won't throw, Barkley might still participate in the agility drills, such as the 40-yard dash, and is expected to impress teams throughout the interview process.

Barkley is currently rated as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 2 quarterback and is a projected first-round pick.

Lacy, NFLDraftScout.com's No. 1-rated running back and No. 36 prospect overall, will miss this week's scouting combine after injuring his hamstring, according to Schefter.

Lacy suffered a "small tear in some tissue around his hamstring while training last week," according to Schefter, but hopes to be able to work out for scouts on Alabama's March 13 pro day.

Lacy is projected as a borderline first-round pick.

--Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was arrested at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday morning after police discovered he was carrying a handgun illegally, WNBC in New York reported.

Bowers was about to board a flight to Raleigh, N.C., when he was arrested at a check-in counter after he was found with a loaded .40-caliber firearm in his carry-on bag, a spokesmen for the Port Authority and the Queens District Attorney's office told the TV station. He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was scheduled to appear in court Monday night.

--Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome's optimism and Joe Flacco's expectations will be put to the test this week in Indianapolis when representatives from the Ravens, including Newsome, have an audience with the quarterback's agent, Joe Linta.

With the deadline for designating franchise players and the start of free agency March 12 rapidly approaching, Newsome said the franchise tag remains a realistic failsafe if negotiations don't yield the new long-term deal Flacco covets.

--Center Jeff Saturday, who intends to retire following 14 NFL seasons, was officially released by the Green Bay Packers.

Saturday was voted to the Pro Bowl in his lone season with the Packers despite being replaced late in the season as the starting center by Evan Dietrich-Smith.