That timeframe pushes up against the Giants' regular-season opener September 8 at Detroit. The Giants, while confirming the report of the injury, said that Beason is scheduled to visit foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte on Monday, and that a decision won't be made about what to do until then.
“I expect to be back (for the opener). If not, I’ll be back as soon as I can,'' Beason said, according to the Giants. "That’s really how you have to look at it. If it’s not 16 (games played), maybe it’s 15 or 14. Whatever it is, you want it to be that number as opposed to one.''
Citing sources, the NFL Network described the injury as a sesamoid fracture; the sesamoid bones in the foot are in the ball of the foot beneath the big toe joint. Beason said he had had "a bad feeling" as soon as the injury happened in practice, while changing directions defending a pass play. "I literally felt like I stepped in like a sprinkler head hole. I just felt it give right away, so the next step I knew I couldn’t put the foot down,'' he said.
The Giants traded for Beason, a three-time Pro Bowler, last October after he had played his first 6 1/2 seasons with the Panthers; he re-signed with the Giants in March.
The Giants signed former Raven Jameel McClain as a free agent this offseason, and he, Mark Herzlich and fifth-round pick Devon Kennard will fill Beason's spot for the time being.
FLOWERS RELEASED BY CHIEFS, LIONS CUT HOUSTON
Brandon Flowers is a former Pro Bowl cornerback — and now a former Kansas City Chief.
The Chiefs announced Friday that they have released Flowers, a move that saves them a lot of money.
Flowers, 28, would have made $5.25 million this year. Now that Kansas City has cut him, they can spread that salary — dead money — out over two years.
He signed a five-year deal worth $50 million, including $22 million guaranteed, in 2011. After the 2012 season, he was selected to the Pro Bowl. But last season, he was rated only the 87th best cornerback in the league by Pro Football Focus.
The Chiefs were reportedly interested in trading Flowers for draft picks, but that did not pan out. The extra money allows the Chiefs to better negotiate new deals for linebacker Justin Houston and quarterback Alex Smith.
In Detroit, the Lions also cut cornerback Chris Houston. Houston, 29, underwent toe surgery this offseason. He's been a starter the past four seasons for the Lions.
CLOWNEY HAS HERNIA SURGERY
Texans’ rookie defensive end Jadeveon Clowney underwent sports hernia surgery Thursday.
The surgery came after Clowney had struggled with a groin issue, according to ESPN.com reporter Tania Ganguli.
The operation is not expected to keep Clowney out of training camp starting late July.
He participated in OTAs and last week signed his four-year, $22.72 million contract.
Clowney was the first overall draft pick and the presumption was that he really didn’t have to do anything special to earn his starting job. After all, he was hands down the top prospect in the draft. However, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel suggested this week that Clowney will have to work for it.
“He’s going to earn his spot, in my eyes,” Crennel told the Houston Chronicle. “If he learns, then chances are that he’ll get playing time. If he doesn’t learn, then he probably won’t get as much playing time. And now then that’s where (Whitney) Mercilus, he’s going to be there and he’s going to play. Or if it’s Brooks (Reed), Brooks is going to play.”
So far, there’s nothing to indicate that Clowney isn’t coming along as he should — the hernia issue and surgery being the exceptions.
FAVRE, PACKERS PLANNING VISIT
This year, it looks like it will happen. Brett Favre’s high school football team in Mississippi was busy winning a state championship last season, which made it difficult for Favre to peel away for a trip to Green Bay.
But the team is apparently eager to host him this year — and he seems eager to get there, as well. Whatever hard feelings that may have existed after Favre was traded away to the New York Jets in 2008 after he unretired have long since dissipated.
Favre said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he’d been touch with team president Mark Murphy and general manger Ted Thompson. Favre, a 16-year Packer, went on to play one season with the Jets and two with Packers’ rival Minnesota Vikings.
“Time heals a lot of things, and I think in this case, you’re playing for the rival team, things are going to change,” Favre said. “There’s no better history than there is in Green Bay — the tradition, and people love their team there, and they usually hate the other team. So when you join their opponent, that’s going to happen. Again, time heals a lot of things.”
Favre also talked about his relationship with current Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay drafted Rodgers in the first round and began grooming him to replace Favre.
“I’m no idiot; I know that there’s always someone who’s going to replace you. The face he was drafted in the first round, it was time for him to give it a shot. When I did retire, he became that guy. I understand that. I have no ill feelings or animosity towards Aaron. In fact, I thought we got along well. We watched tons of film together to help him along the way.”
BRUINS OWNER INTERESTED IN NEW BILLS STADIUM
The family of Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is proposing to build a stadium to help secure the Buffalo Bills' long-term future in the region, two people involved in discussions told The Associated Press.
Executives of Jacobs' Buffalo-based Delaware North hospitality and management company are to meet with at least one prospective ownership group and members of a firm hired by New York state to evaluate potential new stadium sites in Erie and Niagara counties, the people said.
They spoke this week on the condition of anonymity because Delaware North has not publicly revealed its plans.
Delaware North specializes in sports-related hospitality service, and has a long track record in land development. The company controls the TD Garden in Boston, home to the NHL's Bruins and NBA's Celtics, and owns and operates resorts, restaurants, casinos and horse racing tracks across the country.
It also has food-service concession contracts at numerous sports facilities, including the Bills' home, Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Jacobs' son, Jeremy Jr., told the AP last month his family was part of discussions to keep the Bills in Buffalo, including possible involvement in a stadium development plan.
"We do have an interest in what's happening with the stadium in town," said Jacobs, a Delaware North principal. "Clearly, there's a lot we can offer when the time is right. But I think at this stage it's more of a political process than anything else, and so it's really not our role to play at this stage."
Delaware North spokeswoman Wendy Watkins this week deferred questions regarding stadium plans to those previous comments by Jacobs. Watkins said nothing has changed since that interview in early May.
One person familiar with the Jacobs' plans said Delaware North officials will meet with state officials involved in the stadium search process. Another person said there have been initial discussions regarding the Jacobs' teaming with prospective ownership groups, including one led by former NHL Sabres owner Tom Golisano.
The timing of the discussions comes as ownership groups prepare to start bidding for the Bills, who are on the market after owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March.
Jacobs had previously not ruled out the possibility of buying the Bills. But he also noted there are obstacles that could prevent the family from making an ownership bid. The biggest involves Delaware North's casino and racetrack holdings, which the Jacobs would have to sell off because league rules bar owners from having links to gambling-related interests.
The Jacobs family would not face those restrictions if it limited its scope to building a stadium.
Contributors: David Steele, Rana L. Cash, The Associated Press
