CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton has "expressed regret" for his response to a female reporter's question at a news conference Wednesday, a team spokesman said.
When Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked Newton about wide receiver Devin Funchess' route running, the former league MVP smiled and said, "it's funny to hear a female talk about routes. It's funny."
After Newton's comments, the quarterback proceeded to answer Rodrigue's question.
Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement to The Associated Press that Newton had a conversation with Rodrigue after the news conference ended and expressed regret for his remarks.
Rodrigue released a statement through The Charlotte Observer via email saying that Newton did not apologize when they spoke after the news conference.
She said she "was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs. I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments" (see full story).
Steelers: Brown apologizes for ‘all the noise'
PITTSBURGH -- Antonio Brown is nearly getting as much practice at saying "I'm sorry" as he is at catching touchdowns.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver apologized via Twitter on Wednesday for his sideline outburst early in his team's victory in Baltimore last Sunday. Brown broke free on Pittsburgh's second possession and was wide open down the left sideline.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't see Brown and instead threw the ball short. Brown briefly lost his cool afterward, taking out his frustration on a Gatorade cooler in the process.
"Apologize for all the noise and the distractions Steeler nation let's stay focus," the All-Pro posted.
Roethlisberger described Brown's actions as a "temper tantrum" during the quarterback's weekly radio show and coach Mike Tomlin encouraged Brown to be "professional," though it hardly seemed to create any sort of rift in the team's locker room (see full story).
Titans: Mariota's status still unclear for game vs. Miami
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans coach Mike Mularkey says quarterback Marcus Mariota's status is still unclear for their upcoming matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
The Titans coach remains hopeful that Mariota will play despite a strained hamstring .
Mariota, who was hurt in last week's loss to Houston, was limited in practice, stretching and throwing passes during the open portion of the workouts on Wednesday. The quarterback did not speak with the media after practice.
"We didn't ask him to do very much, we were smart with him," Mularkey said. "We did what we thought he could do, and that wasn't very much, but enough. We're going to be smart with him; positive for what he had to do."
Mularkey says he would be comfortable playing the quarterback Sunday even without a full practice (see full story).
Colts: Luck faces limitations after returning to practice
INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck put on his familiar red No. 12 jersey, trotted onto the practice field and got back into his normal Wednesday routine.
A little stretching, a little footwork, even a little throwing.
Even he figured it's about time.
After missing all of the Indianapolis Colts' offseason workouts, all of training camp, all of the preseason and Indy's first four regular-season games, the Colts' quarterback made his long-awaited appearance on the practice field.
"It was fun to be back on the field and put on a jersey and a helmet and get to go out there and throw a couple passes with the guys," Luck said in his first comments since July 29 (see full story).
Packers: Adams back at practice after taking bit hit
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Receiver Davante Adams was back on his feet, in uniform, bouncing around the practice field and joking with teammates.
It was a welcome sight for the Green Bay Packers.
Adams returned to practice Wednesday after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan that led to the receiver being carted off the field on a stretcher.
Adams was taken to a hospital for evaluation after being knocked out of the game on Sept. 28 and was released the next day. Adams is in the concussion protocol, though his return to practice on a limited basis is a good sign.
"I'm just glad to see him walking again, more importantly," receiver Randall Cobb said. "When I went to the hospital and saw him the other night he was back to his normal self, joking around, trying to break out of the hospital. I'm just glad to see him in good health" (see full story).
