Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Matt Jones is receiving notice in training camp for his improved performance. His cocaine bust remains the primary reason his name is in the headlines, however.
Jones was in Fayetteville on Monday for a court appearance and pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine, a charge that carries up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Jones, who is free on a $2,500 bond, faces an Oct. 10 trial date — two days before the Jaguars play at Denver.
The 25-year-old Jones, a former Arkansas quarterback who was taken in the first round by Jacksonville in 2005, was arrested July 10 when a police officer saw him nside a car allegedly cutting up cocaine with a credit card.
Jones' father, Steve Jones, has denied the cocaine was in his son's possession. He acknowledged it was in the vehicle, however, and in "closest proximity to Matt."
During his time with the Jaguars, Jones has been criticized for not living up to his potential. But Jones stood out in the team's first preseason scrimmage and drew praise from coach Jack Del Rio.
Jones' prospects appeared dim when the Jaguars added receivers in the off-season, signing Jerry Porter (six years, $30 million) and acquiring former first-round pick Troy Williamson. But injuries to Porter (torn hamstring) and Reggie Williams (right knee) have led to more repetitions for Jones.
Giants lineman finally misses a day
ALBANY, N.Y — Five-plus years into his career with the New York Giants, offensive lineman David Diehl finally became a spectator.
In a league known for tackling, blocking and hitting, the starting left tackle missed his first NFL practice due to injury.
The rarity happened on Sunday night when Diehl had to watch practice at training camp at the University of Albany because of bruised ribs. He wasn't happy about it, either.
"I hate missing practice,"
Diehl said Monday before heavy rain forced the Super Bowl champions indoors for a walkthrough. "I have never missed practice. It is frustrating. It was awkward for me, very awkward."
For Diehl, missing anything to do with football falls in the blue-moon category. The fifth-round draft pick from Illinois has started all 86 regular-season and playoff games since joining the team.
Extra points
● Montrae Holland was winded, rusty and a step slow — and he couldn't have been happier. He'd much rather be a pulling guard than pushing a sled. The Denver Broncos' incumbent right guard, who spent the first two weeks of camp pushing sleds on an adjacent field after reporting out of shape and overweight, practiced for the first time Monday after getting down to his playing weight of about 325 pounds.
● Coach Mike Nolan isn't saying who the 49ers' top quarterback is going to be, but he might be displaying it. For the fifth straight practice plus their first exhibition game, J.T. O'Sullivan took all the snaps with the starting offense.
● The Oakland Raiders signed former ASU safety Adam Archuleta to a contract Monday in a move to add depth to their defense.
● Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia returned to practice Monday after being sidelined 10 days by a right calf strain, an injury overshadowed by the Bucs' pursuit of Brett Favre as a possible replacement.
