NFL | Simon fails his Colts physical

Corey Simon's mysterious absence from the Indianapolis Colts entered its second season yesterday with no immediate resolution.

Nearly 10 months after the Colts put the former Eagle on the non-football illness/injury list with an undisclosed ailment, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle was absent from the Colts' training camp in Terre Haute, Ind.

Published reports last week indicated Simon planned to report on time. But he was missing again when his teammates took the field for the first time yesterday morning.

Colts coach Tony Dungy said Simon had failed the team physical.

Team president Bill Polian acknowledged that the Colts had only two options if Simon was cleared to practice - keeping him on the active roster or releasing him.

The Super Bowl champions placed former Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders (shoulder surgery) and linebacker Keith O'Neil (sports hernia surgery) on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Giants. Michael Strahan's holdout from New York is serious, and so is the 35-year-old defensive end's threat to retire, teammate Osi Umenyiora said.

"I know what he is telling me, and it's still 50-50 whether he is going to come back," Umenyiora said of the seven-time Pro Bowler.

The holdout reached its fourth day, and the Giants informed Strahan through his agent, Tony Agnone, that he would be fined $14,288 for every day of camp he misses retroactive to Friday, the day the team reported to the University at Albany.

Redskins. Washington agreed to terms with No. 6 overall draft pick LaRon Landry, a safety out of LSU.

Landry was expected to sign a five-year deal worth about $41.5 million, pending a final review of the contract by the Redskins.

Steelers. Pittsburgh claimed linebacker Marquis Cooper on waivers from the Seattle Seahawks and released rookie wide receiver Chris Jackson and first-year safety Harrison Smith.

The Steelers re-signed wide receiver Gerran Walker, a former Lehigh star who was released two weeks ago.

Seahawks. Seattle safety Jordan Babineaux will miss the next three to four weeks of training camp in Kirkland, Wash., with a bone bruise in his right knee.

Oft-injured offensive lineman Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack injured his hamstring.

Broncos. Split end Brandon Stokley, a nine-year pro, has been the most impressive newcomer during the first two days of Denver's training camp in Englewood, Colo.

Stokley suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in December, leading to his off-season release from the Colts.

Elsewhere. Green Bay running back Vernand Morency will be out "a couple of weeks" with an unspecified knee injury, coach Mike McCarthy said. . . . St. Louis Rams cornerback Fakhir Brown said he was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy because he accidentally missed a drug test. Brown is appealing the penalty. . . . New England Patriots defensive back Chad Scott will miss this season because of a knee injury. . . . Cincinnati tight end Sean Mulcahy hurt his neck during the Bengals' practice in Georgetown, Ky., and was taken off the field in an ambulance as a precaution . . . Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn missed his fourth day of training camp in Berea, Ohio, in a contract holdout.