Career of Giants' RB Wilson is over

NEW YORK Giants running back David Wilson's NFL career is over after two seasons because of a neck injury. The 23-year-old Wilson was told by doctors yesterday that he risked more serious problems if he kept playing.

He underwent fusion surgery to repair vertebrae and a herniated disk in his neck in January. Then at practice last Tuesday, Wilson caught a pass and ran with his head down into the back of an offensive lineman, a hit that caused numbness in his hands and lower extremities.

He missed the final 11 games last season after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal cord.

"I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me, or pity me," he said in a statement released by the team. "I lived my dream. A lot of people only get to dream their dream. I lived that dream. Now I have a chance to dream another dream and live that, too."

Wilson was drafted in the first round, 32nd overall, out of Virginia Tech in 2012. As a rookie, he rushed for 358 yards and scored four touchdowns while making his mark as a kick returner. Wilson led the NFL with 1,533 kickoff return yards, a team record.

But he got off to a slow start last season before the injury.

Wilson's condition is not expected to require additional surgery or therapy. He met yesterday morning with Dr. Russell Warren, the team's physician, and Dr. Frank Cammisa, the chief of spine service at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. Cammisa performed the spinal fusion surgery on Wilson.

They told him he needed to stop playing football.

Wilson then returned to the Giants' training facility and met with team president John Mara, general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin.

Coughlin was prepared for the worst before getting the official medical reports about Wilson.

"We had pretty much braced ourselves for not good news, although trying to be optimistic and not trying to go ahead and make some kind of a statement prior to getting that information," he said on a conference call. "We were certainly excited thinking that everything was going to be OK with David."

Wilson had only 146 yards on 44 carries and one touchdown in five games last season before the injury. He struggled with holding onto the ball, losing three fumbles.

* The Cincinnati Bengals made Andy Dalton one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.

Dalton signed a 6-year extension. According to multiple reports, the deal is worth up to $115 million and will prevent Dalton playing out the final year of his rookie contract.

Dalton has passed for more than 3,000 yards in each of his three seasons. He led the Bengals to an 11-5 record and AFC North title in 2013. He set career highs with 33 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions.

Dalton was a second-round draft choice in 2011 out of TCU.

Despite his regular-season success, Dalton has been criticized for throwing six interceptions with only one touchdown in three postseason losses.

* Tony Romo wrapped up his most strenuous day so far at training camp by saying his surgically repaired back would get a rest: He will not play in Dallas' preseason opener at San Diego.

The quarterback also planned to sit out a day of practice this week, the latest indication that the Cowboys are closely managing the 34-year-old Romo's recovery from back surgery.

Romo has tested the back by going through consecutive afternoon practices several times in camp. But he hasn't done three in a row yet, and won't this week.

* Johnny Manziel took a planned trip one slot up the depth chart. There's no telling how long No. 2 will stay No. 1.

The rookie quarterback took snaps with Cleveland's starters for the first time in practice, moving ahead of Brian Hoyer for at least one day.

Coach Mike Pettine said Manziel's promotion was simply the next step in the club's evaluation of the two quarterbacks in the second full week of their competition for the starting job.

"It's just part of our plan," Pettine said. "We said we were going to allow the quarterbacks to compete, at some point you've got to mix up the supporting cast a little bit. It's all part of it."

In another matter, Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon returned to training camp and practiced as his appeal hearing with the NFL took place for a second day in New York.

Gordon ended his workout earlier than his teammates so he could participate in the hearing via teleconference with his legal team, which fought his potential one-year suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Also, the Browns waived guard Jason Pinkston after reaching an injury settlement with the former starter whose NFL career has been threatened by a serious medical issue in which he had blood clots in his lungs.

* Former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, estranged from the franchise he helped resurrect during his 16-year career, will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and have his number retired next July 18. Favre's No. 4 will be unveiled on the Lambeau Field north end-zone facade at halftime of a yet-to-be-determined game during the 2015 season.

After retiring in March 2008, Favre changed his mind and finished his career with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

* Washington wide receiver Jerry Rice Jr. was placed on injured reserve after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder at camp.

* Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy entered a not-guilty plea at an arraignment hearing and his jury trial has been set for Nov. 17.

Hardy is appealing a July 15 conviction on misdemeanor charges of assaulting a female and communicating threats.

* Denver starting running back Montee Ball is sidelined with appendicitis and isn't expected back until the AFC champs' opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 7.

In another matter, prosecutors have agreed to drop charges against safety T.J. Ward in exchange for 4 hours of community service. Ward previously pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace charges for allegedly throwing a glass mug at a female bartender at PT's All Nude Club in May.