“He had a late night getting some pizza or something in his kitchen and slipped and re-tore it,” Gruden said, describing how Hall was injured. “He has to go back in and get it fixed. That just is going to delay his rehab obviously and unfortunately, but hopefully we will still be able to get him back by the start of the season next year. It might impede his progress as far as OTAs and maybe training camp and all that.”

The date of the surgery is unknown.

Rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland has replaced Hall in Washington’s lineup and has shined, collecting 26 tackles so far this season. However, Breeland tweaked his knee at the end of Friday’s practice and is questionable for Sunday’s game.

Hall is signed through 2017 and will count $4.8 million against the salary cap next year. The Redskins, however, would save $2.375 million if they don’t feel he can return and subsequently release him.

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Bush’s contract is reportedly worth $16 million.

The Lions also agreed to deals with former Houston Texans safety Glover Quin, cornerback Chris Houston and former Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Jason Jones on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Bush proved that he can be an every-down tailback in Miami, rushing for 2,072 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons with the Dolphins.

He called the Lions’ offense “a running back’s dream.”

“The first thing we talked about, we’re watching film, seeing those safeties deep … it’s a running back’s dream. We have to be able to run the ball in that situation. That’s part of the reason I wanted to come here and be part of a balanced attack and take the pressure off Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford.”

Lions great Barry Sanders welcomed him to the Lions on Wednesday afternoon, in a tweet.

“Proud to be a @DetroitLionsNFL and excited to welcome @ReggieBush to the family,” he wrote.

In 2012, Bush played in every game for the first time since 2006 and fell just shy of his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, finishing with 986.

In 91 career games, Bush has 4,162 yards rushing, 2,730 receiving and 48 touchdowns (29 rushing, 15 receiving, four return).

Quin led the Texans with 84 tackles last season, along with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack.

Quin moved from cornerback to safety when Wade Phillips took over the Texans defense in 2011. The 27-year-old defensive back has 314 tackles and five sacks in 63 career games.

Houston agreed to a five-year deal to return to the Lions. The terms of Jones’ agreement weren’t immediately known.

“I’m excited that it’s all over,” Houston told the Detroit Free-Press. “I’ve been through free agency before, and it was crazy that time. It was crazy this time, also, but I’m just happy that I have a home, a place to go and finish out my career. I’m not one of those guys out there who’s worried about where they’re going to be, so I feel pretty good.”

Houston had two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 56 tackles last season for Detroit, his third season with the Lions. He had a career-best five interceptions in 2011.

In 87 career games, he has 332 tackles, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Jones’ agent tweeted the news of his client’s agreement with the Lions.

Jones went to high school in Lathrup Village, Mich., and played college football at Eastern Michigan. He was a backup defensive tackle last season for the Seahawks. His season ended in December due to a lingering knee injury.

But the 6-foot-5, 276-pound Jones could play a bigger role with the Lions, who may lose defensive end Cliff Avril to free agency.

Detroit also released veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch last month.

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The 29-year-old Hall was set to count $8 million against the Redskins’ salary cap. He had four interceptions last season, his fifth in Washington, and had 39 career picks in 133 games.

Hall had two years remaining on the six-year, $54 million deal he signed at the end of the 2008 season.

The talkative Hall was a thorough mix of big plays and blown coverages during his time in Washington. The Redskins’ defense ranked 30th in the league last season against the pass.

Washington’s salary cap situation is hampered because of an $18 million penalty due to violations in the NFL’s uncapped year in 2010.

The league took issue with how the Redskins, Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders restructured contracts to take advantage of a year of uncapped salaries in the NFL during the 2010 season. The Redskins were penalized $36 million in total, and chose to split the penalty over the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

The Cowboys were the only team besides the Redskins to receive a salary cap penalty ($10 million).

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The trade is expected to include the Seahawks’ 2013 first-round draft choice being sent to the Vikings, sources told ESPN.

It also is contingent on Harvin agreeing to a new contract, which is expected to be finalized in the next 48 hours.

The trade agreement, contingent on Harvin passing a physical, was earlier reported by Fox Sports.

Harvin is scheduled to fly to Seattle on Monday night and will undergo his physical in next 24 hours, a source said.

The trade cannot be officially completed until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, when the 2013 league year officially begins.

Seattle has a connection to Harvin. The team’s offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, held the same job with Minnesota when the Vikings drafted Harvin in 2009. Harvin also will be reunited with receiver Sidney Rice, who was his one-time teammate in Minnesota.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman posted a message on Twitter, welcoming Harvin to the team.

“Welcome to the Team bruh @Percy_Harvin … Happy to have ya,” he wrote.

When asked about the trade, Seahawks receiver Golden Tate, whose spot on the Seahawks’ depth chart will be altered with the addition of Harvin, told Josina Anderson that “it’s a business.”

“The Seahawks are trying to do whatever they think is necessary to put together a Super Bowl quality team. If this is one of the steps they think works to accomplish that, then that’s their choice. I don’t think it will impact any of our work habits. We are still going to grind and let the cards play out the way that they will,” he said.

Last month at the scouting combine, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman insisted he had no intent to deal the receiver, who he called a “dynamic playmaker,” and said he wouldn’t even take phone calls about a trade.

Harvin, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, badly sprained his left ankle on Nov. 4 at Seattle last season and didn’t play again. The Vikings placed him on season-ending injured reserve a month later.

Harvin made waves last summer when he expressed unhappiness with the organization and requested a trade. By the time training camp arrived, he had simmered down. He went home to Florida for his rehabilitation after he was placed on injured reserve, but coach Leslie Frazier downplayed his absence, noting that others have chosen to do the same.

He started last season playing like a Most Valuable Player award candidate, leading the league in total yards (receiving, rushing and returning) through nine games in 2012 until he was hurt.

Harvin still led the team in receptions (62) and yards receiving (677) despite playing barely half of a season, and he had a kickoff return for a touchdown as well as 96 yards rushing and one score on the ground.

The 24-year-old Harvin has 7,168 all-purpose yards in his four-season career with 29 touchdowns (20 receiving, five return, four rushing). He also has 280 receptions in 54 career games.

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The move costs the Cowboys $10.6 million, but it is possible the sides could work out a long-term deal, according to Spencer’s agent, Jordan Woy.

“We will be working on a long-term deal,” Woy said. “Anthony played very well last season and he would like to know he has a home here for several years.”

However, it is also possible the Cowboys could look to trade Spencer for draft picks.

Spencer had a career-high 11 sacks in 2012 and was named to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. Spencer led the Cowboys with 95 tackles, and his eight tackles for loss and 26 quarterback pressures were second on the team.

He reached double digits in sacks last season for the first time in his career while only playing in 14 games. He even took over the play calling later in the season due to injuries to Sean Lee and Bruce Carter.

Spencer will move to defensive end with the Cowboys switching to the 4-3 scheme this year, if he remains on the roster. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted at the NFL scouting combine that Spencer does not have the preferred size for Monte Kiffin’s scheme.

Spencer played defensive end at Purdue.

Jones also said Spencer’s price on a long-term deal would be too expensive for the team’s liking, but added there would be a reasonable way to keep him. While the franchise tag is costly, it is not unreasonable.

The Cowboys will have to restructure more contracts to get under the $123 million cap by March 12 and have worked out agreements to do so with defensive tackle Jay Ratliff and guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick and quarterback Kyle Orton could also have their deals re-worked.

The Cowboys would like to sign Tony Romo to a new deal, which would knock down his $16.8 million cap figure, but have not had substantive talks as of yet.

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Carl Poston, the agent for Woodson, first told NFL.com that the club would be releasing his client.

“They’re getting ready to release him. It’s part of the business,” Poston said. “I just talked to him. He sounds like he has a lot of football left. He’d like to play for a contender, win another Super Bowl.”

Woodson was set to make $9 million in 2013 and would count for $10 million against the Packers’ salary cap.

Woodson, who signed a five-year deal before the 2010 season that was worth as much as $55 million, missed nine games last season because of a broken right collarbone and played in two playoff games for the Packers. He moved from cornerback to safety last season because of diminishing cover skills.

“We had a good run,” Woodson wrote to ESPNWisconsin.com in a text message.

Woodson was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him out of Michigan with the No. 4 overall pick.

He’s the only player in NFL history with touchdowns off interceptions in six straight seasons, a feat he pulled off each year from 2006 to 2011, and leads the league with nine touchdowns off interceptions since 2006.

Woodson was productive for the Packers, but they have some tough decisions to make this offseason to manage the salary cap. Woodson had a year left on his lucrative deal and linebacker A.J. Hawk is under contract next year for a team that probably wants to give long-term deals to receiver James Jones, linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive tackle B.J. Raji because each of the relatively young standouts could potentially be free agents following next season.

Despite his age and recent injury, Woodson will likely be an in-demand free agent. He was injured last October, bounced back in time to defend two passes in the playoffs.

“Charles has been a stud in this league for 15 years, so whenever he’s on the field with us, he’s always a huge threat,” Hawk said in January. “Not only is he a threat to make huge plays throughout the game, but quarterbacks, I think they know where he’s at every single play. He seems to know what receivers are running before they do. And I think he has an intimidation factor as well.”

Woodson had a career-high nine interceptions in 2009 and picked off seven passes in 2011 and made one interception in seven games during last year’s injury-shortened season.

The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner led Michigan to the 1997 national championship and has donated more than $2 million to the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital, where he supports pediatric clinical research. With the Packers, he was a leader as one of the best players on the team and as a mentor to younger players.

“He’s like a big brother to all of us,” former Green Bay safety Nick Collins once said.

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“I’m sorry if I offended anyone. They were very ugly comments,” Culliver said during an hour-long media session. “Hopefully I learn and grow from this experience and this situation.”

A league official told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder that Culliver is unlikely to face discipline because of his inappropriate remarks.

Culliver on Thursday said he would welcome a gay teammate to the 49ers, a reversal of his remarks to Lange two days earlier during an interview at the Superdome.

“I treat everyone equal,” Culliver said. “That’s not how I feel.”

He added that he realized his comments were especially offensive to many people in San Francisco and the Bay Area, which is home to a large gay community.

“I love San Francisco,” Culliver said.

49ers CEO Jed York told reporters that he met with Culliver regarding his comments.

“All I said was, it’s up to you to live up to your apology,” York told reporters. “… He made a very bold statement that he wants to get to know the LGBT community. And I said, ‘it’s up to you. You can either live up to that, and if you don’t, people are going to vilify you and probably rightfully so.’ And I don’t think that’s what Chris is going to do. I think he’s going to step up and be a man about it.”

During the interview with Lange, Culliver responded to questions by saying he wouldn’t welcome a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didn’t have any gay players, and if they did those players should leave.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh met privately with Culliver to discuss the remarks.

“I reject what he said,” Harbaugh said. “That’s not something that reflects the way the organization feels, the way the rest of the players feel.”

The coach would not discuss if Culliver would face discipline from the team, such as a fine or loss of playing time.

“He pledged to grow from it,” Harbaugh said.

Culliver’s remarks came one day after a pretrial hearing for former 49ers offensive lineman Kwame Harris, who was charged with felony domestic violence and assault charges from an August beating involving a former boyfriend.

The interview began with Lange asking Culliver about his sexual plans with women during Super Bowl week. Lange followed up with a question about whether Culliver would consider pursuing a gay man.

“I don’t do the gay guys, man. I don’t do that,” Culliver said during the one-minute taped interview. “Ain’t got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”

Lange asked Culliver to reiterate his thoughts, to which the player said, “It’s true.” He added he wouldn’t welcome a gay teammate — no matter how talented.

“Nah. Can’t be … in the locker room, nah,” he said. “You’ve gotta come out 10 years later after that.”

The 24-year-old Culliver, a third-round draft pick in 2011 out of South Carolina, made 47 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble this season while starting six games for the NFC champion Niners (13-4-1).

He had his first career postseason interception in San Francisco’s 28-24 win at Atlanta for the NFC title.

The 49ers participate in the NFL’s “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign. Three organizations working for LGBT inclusion in sports — Athlete Ally, You Can Play, and GLAAD — reacted to Culliver’s remarks and later acknowledged his apology.

“Chris Culliver’s comments were disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him,” said Athlete Ally executive director Hudson Taylor. “His words underscore the importance of the athlete ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players.”

Meanwhile, Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin is adding his voice to the number of NFL athletes who are combating homophobia in sports. Athlete Ally announced that Barden would be the fourth NFL player on a roster of over 6,000 college and professional athletes who have pledged to support fellow athletes regardless of sexual orientation.

“My older brother is gay, and I was raised to respect and value all people. Embracing diversity is something I was always taught to do,” Barwin said. “Becoming an Athlete Ally Ambassador gives me a great opportunity to engage other players, coaches and fans about the importance of inclusiveness. It’s about sportsmanship.”

Other NFL players who have done the same are Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe. The goal of the group is to show that athletes like Culliver don’t speak for everyone, and to provide a voice for inclusion in the locker room.

“It’s disappointing to see Culliver’s remarks about gay rights, but it reminds us all that we need to continuously strive for compassion, tolerance, and respect toward everybody,” Kluwe said. “Hopefully we can use this as a learning experience to create a much better atmosphere in the league so every player can feel free to be who they are.”

Culliver had made it clear to Lange that he would not accept a gay teammate.

Ayanbadejo, who made headlines this season with his vocal support of a gay-marriage initiative in Maryland, said Culliver’s comments to Lange were reflective of how many players in the NFL feel, even if they don’t express it publicly. He hopes the 49ers cornerback will learn from this experience and become a positive role model in the quest for equality.

“You can’t fight hate with hate,” Ayanbadejo said. “You’ve got to fight hate with love.”

Culliver, calling Lange’s questions “real disrespectful,” said he realized he was speaking to a comedian and not a journalist.

“That was pretty much in a joking manner,” the player said. “It’s nothing about how I feel.”

49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said Thursday he believed that Culliver’s apology was sincere.

“He said what he said yesterday and I know that’s not his heart. Culliver is a great kid, great guy. I love having him on our team. He’s really helped our team be what we are. He’s just young and it’s unfortunate that he came off the way that he came off. But like I said, I know he didn’t mean it in his heart,” he said.

Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard said Culliver should be allowed to express his views, even if some people found them offensive.

“The guy’s entitled to his own opinion,” said Pollard, who has acknowledged that he disagrees with Ayanbadejo’s stand on gay marriage. “I’m not going to sit here and knock him. I’m not going to sit here and judge him. It’s freedom of speech. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it.”

The post Chris Culliver sorry for ‘ugly’ remarks appeared first on IdealCapper.

With Darrelle Revis upset by trade rumors and a perceived lack of commitment from the organization, Idzik called the star cornerback Thursday in an attempt to clarify the situation.

Revis “reacted well” and appreciated the call, according to Idzik. Only a few hours earlier, Revis tweeted that he was “speechless” by the sudden questions about his future.

“I reached out to Darrelle, and I made sure he knew exactly where we were coming from and that this is my first day on the job and our message to everyone was, ‘Give us a chance to get to know each other and introduce ourselves to each other,’ ” Idzik said Friday in an interview with NBC’s Pro Football Talk.

“A lot of the people in the building you know through football circles, but you’ve never worked alongside each other. So give us that chance, and give us the chance to go through our current roster. Ultimately, that’s the basis of comparison to whatever you may contemplate doing. We haven’t taken that first step, and that’s what I relayed to Darrelle.”

Revis is in Arizona, rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee.

Idzik walked into a firestorm Thursday at his introductory news conference.

The former Seattle Seahawks executive, hired last week, was noncommittal when asked about Revis, who has one year left on his contract and could be dangled in trade talks. Idzik told reporters he needed to evaluate Revis and every player on the roster before making any judgments.

The non-answer made it worse.

Reports surfaced Wednesday night that owner Woody Johnson, concerned about not being able to negotiate a long-term extension for Revis, wants to explore trade talks. Per a clause in Revis’ contract, the Jets can’t use the franchise tag on him, meaning they could lose him for nothing next year as a free agent.

On Thursday afternoon, Revis responded via Twitter.

“I’m speechless by far but more importantly I feel more upset for the jet nation for having to go through this!!!” Revis tweeted. “I guess we’ll see how this plays out.”

The two sides haven’t engaged in any contract talks, but that should change in the coming weeks. Revis is scheduled to make $6 million in 2013, including a $1 million roster bonus due around March 20. Before then, the Jets have to decide what to do with their best player.

It will be hard to receive fair-market value in a trade, as Revis is only three months removed from ACL surgery. However, an opposing personnel executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets still extract at least a first-round pick for the injured corner.

Revis’ asking price could be an obstacle, though. He’s believed to be seeking at least $16 million per year, with $50 million in guarantees, roughly the free-agent contract defensive end Mario Williams received last offseason from the Buffalo Bills.

On Friday, fellow Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie stuck up for Revis.

“We can’t lose a guy like him,” Cromartie told NFL.com while in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. “He’s a great leader in the locker room and also in our DB room, making sure that guys are accountable for each other. To lose a guy like that would be huge. And even though he’s coming off the surgery, I believe he’ll come back as strong as ever.”

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A humbled Peyton Manning, with reporters hammering away on deadline and videocameras shut off after the last postgame question had been answered, took his family into the Ravens’ locker room on Saturday night to visit a fellow future Hall of Famer.

Manning eventually found Ray Lewis, according to Ravens media director Chad Steele in a caption accompanying a photograph he posted to Twitter.

“Great moment @ 1.5 hours after the game, Peyton Manning and his family waited to congratulate @raylewis52,” Steele’s tweet said.

Lewis, who will retire after the playoffs to cap a 17-year career, will play on after the Ravens stunned the host Broncos 38-35 in two overtimes, a loss that goes down with the most devastating in Denver history.

“Certainly we did a lot of good things this season, but as of right now, it’s hard to think about anything besides the loss tonight,” Manning said afterward.

Manning did enough in regulation to help his team win, despite the first two turnovers. But he also was not perfect. He wasn’t at his best, whether it was due to the weather or the pressure of leading his new franchise to a playoff win.

“I probably wasn’t quite as good as I wanted to be,” Manning said, “and it probably cost us a couple scoring opportunities.”

On Denver’s second possession of overtime, he stopped and threw across his body to the middle of the field and into the arms of Ravens cornerback Corey Graham at Denver’s 45. Baltimore ran five plays and gained 16 yards before Justin Tucker sailed his winning kick down the middle.

“Yeah, bad throw,” Manning said. “Probably the decision wasn’t great, either. I thought I had an opening, and I didn’t get enough on it, and I was trying to make a play and certainly a throw I’d like to have back.”

Lewis, who led the Ravens with 17 tackles over this nearly 77-minute game in 13-degree weather, kneeled down to the ground and put his helmet on the rock-solid turf when it was over.

“I’ve never been a part of a game so crazy in my life,” Lewis said.

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Ryan, 6 foot and 190 pounds, had 94 tackles, four interceptions and 17 pass breakups this season.

“Logan embodies everything we look for when recruiting a potential student-athlete,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said in a statement. “He is a smart, tough, disciplined player with a tremendous work ethic and talent.

“He has represented our program in first-class fashion and we know he will continue to excel when playing on Sundays.”

Ryan is rated as the third-best cornerback and the 39th best player in the next NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Scouts Inc.

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