Yahoo! Sports

Latest news and information about the NFL.

• Merriman to put off surgery, play season (AP)

  The surgeon's knife can wait. Shawne Merriman is going to play football, two torn knee ligaments and all. A day after visiting a fourth doctor, the San Diego Chargers' star outside linebacker decided Wednesday to play this season rather than have his damaged left knee repaired now. "To be as simple as possible, I just want to play football," Merriman said.

• Jags DE Harvey signs 5-year, $23.8M deal (AP)

  

  Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout Wednesday by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harvey was the last first-round draft pick to sign, a lengthy holdout that frustrated coach Jack Del Rio and left the former Florida standout behind in preparation for the regular season.

  
  
• NFL earns B+ in annual diversity study (AP)

  The NFL has kept a steady number of black head coaches, while slightly increasing the ranks of Asian and Latino players, earning a B+ in an annual diversity study Wednesday. However, the league didn't get a grade for gender diversity for the fourth year in a row. The NFL is the only pro sports organization that refuses to share its league office data with University of Central Florida's Institute...

• Ravens acquire Bucs DE Marques Douglas (AP)

  The Baltimore Ravens traded for Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Marques Douglas on Wednesday, reacting quickly to defensive lineman Dwan Edwards' season-ending back injury. Former second-round pick Dan Cody was cut to make room for Douglas. The 31-year-old Douglas was acquired for a late-round draft choice in 2009 and a conditional 2010 draft selection.

• Peyton's practice workload increased (AP)

  Now Peyton Manning can start fine-tuning the mechanics, timing and rhythm. Just don't expect him to try it in Thursday night's preseason game against Cincinnati. Coach Tony Dungy increased the two-time league MVP's workload Wednesday, one day after he finally returned to practice and showed no lingering effects from the knee surgery that kept him out for the past six weeks.

• Seahawks LB Tatupu OK for opener (AP)

  

  The Seattle Seahawks finally have some good injury news. Lofa Tatupu has a bone bruise in his right knee, and coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday the Pro Bowl linebacker will be fine for the season opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo. Tatupu, a Pro Bowler for each of his first three seasons, reportedly had crutches near his locker in San Diego on Monday night after injuring his knee in the second quarter of a...

  
  
• Warner to start Cards' preseason finale (AP)

  Kurt Warner will be the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback Friday night in their preseason finale against Denver, but coach Ken Whisenhunt says no decision has been made yet about who will start the opener at San Francisco. Warner has been battling Matt Leinart for the starting job. "We all want to know," Warner said after practice Wednesday in a story posted on the Cardinals' Web site.

• Pregnant woman: Northcutt set up assault (AP)

  A pregnant woman has sued Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Dennis Northcutt, saying he arranged for his cousin to beat her up. Sharri Henry, who claims to be four months pregnant with Northcutt's baby, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. She accuses Northcutt, a nine-year NFL veteran, of trying to harm her unborn child and permanently disfigure her face May 17 at a Hollywood...

• Packers' Jolly faces Sept. 16 court date (AP)

  Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly Jr. faces a Sept. 16 court date on a felony drug possession charge, according to court records. Jolly, 25, was arrested July 8 in Houston for possession of at least 200 grams of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, according to court documents.

• Chiefs cut K Feely after 1 day with team (AP)

  

  Kicker Jay Feely has been cut by the Kansas City Chiefs, a day after signing a one-year deal. Feely was an eight-year veteran who kicked for Miami last season. He was brought in to challenge Connor Barth and Nick Novak for the starting job. The three had what coach Herm Edwards called a "kick off" on Monday and Tuesday to determine who would make the team.