NFL: Packers TE Finley cleared to practice after concussion

Donte Stallworth is in his second tour with the Patriots.
Donte Stallworth is in his second tour with the Patriots. (STEPHAN SAVOIA / Associated Press)
Posted: August 02, 2012

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley has had a concussion before. He is not entirely sure what he had last week qualified as one.

Finley was cleared to return to full workouts Tuesday, saying he was thankful trainers pulled him out of practice last week and put him through the requisite concussion safety protocols. He was hurt when he fell while running a pass pattern in Thursday's practice.

"I had run a 10-yard comeback route, and slipped," Finley said. "My helmet came off and I busted my chin on the ground."

That's not what happened to him when he was in college at Texas, though, when he absorbed a huge hit and his only previous concussion was diagnosed.

"It wasn't nowhere near like this. The one I had in college, I didn't know nothing. This was pretty mild," he said. "I don't know if it was [really] a concussion. I appreciate the Packers and the training staff looking out for me and pulling me out."

Finley went through all the testing and spent Friday and Saturday's practices resting. He also joked about how hard some of the post-concussion tests were.

Pats add familiar faces

When the New England Patriots sought to add receivers through free agency, the reinforcements they found looked very familiar.

That's because both 11-year veteran Jabbar Gaffney and 10-year veteran Donte Stallworth are doing their second tours in Foxborough.

Then came Brandon Lloyd, a 10-year veteran, who was immersed in the Patriots' offense when he played under Josh McDaniel in Denver and St. Louis. He's now been reunited with McDaniel, who returned to the Patriots last season and is again the offensive coordinator.

Fairley hearing delayed

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley's court hearing on a marijuana possession charge in Alabama has been delayed until Nov. 27.

Fairley was scheduled to appear in Mobile Municipal Court on Tuesday over his April 3 arrest. Police say he was arrested after people complained that his Cadillac Escalade was speeding through a Mobile neighborhood.

Officers smelled marijuana coming from the SUV and found a small amount in an ashtray.

Luck takes the field

In three plays, Andrew Luck showed Indianapolis Colts fans how tough life can be for a rookie quarterback.

He threw one interception, had another pass broken up and nearly picked off, and then ran for a score on a quarterback draw. One defensive coach even urged Jerry Hughes to celebrate the interception.

Welcome to the NFL, kid.

Luck looked calm during most of the afternoon practice, completing 27 of 38 passes during team drills, throwing for three touchdowns and one interception in his first workout in full pads since being selected No. 1 overall in April's draft.

Giants' Sash suspended

Giants safety Tyler Sash was suspended four games for violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Sash, a rookie last season after being selected out of Iowa in the 2011 draft, is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games, according to an NFL statement, and will be eligible to return to the Giants' active roster on Oct. 1, following the Sept. 30 game against the Eagles.

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