Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

NFL notes: Feeling ignored, Peppers doesn't want long-term deal with Panthers

NEW ORLEANS -- CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Julius Peppers no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina, saying the Panthers have ignored him this offseason.

In an interview aired Tuesday morning on Charlotte radio station WFNZ-AM, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end indicated he's irritated by the team's "silence" and has changed his stance on whether he wants to continue his career in Carolina.

"Last year, at the time, that was the option that I wanted most," Peppers said. "Now it's not."

While agent Carl Carey said last week he believes the Panthers aren't interested in retaining Peppers, Carolina's career sacks leader, team officials haven't announced their plans for the impending free agent. General manager Marty Hurney didn't immediately return a phone message Tuesday.

"How can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you there because they're not even talking to you?" Peppers said.

It's another twist in a long-running saga between the two sides.

Saints celebrate with Mardi Gras-like parade

Only a Super Bowl victory parade could upstage Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Carnival floats carrying Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, two days after the 43-year-old franchise won its first NFL championship.

Players, wearing team jerseys instead of traditional Carnival masks and costumes, tossed beads into the crowd and signed autographs for throngs of screaming fans. Benson shouted "Who Dat!" into a microphone from his perch atop a float. Head coach Sean Payton blew kisses and held the Lombardi Trophy over his head.

Ten Carnival krewes lent floats for the team to ride. More than a dozen marching bands joined the team on its route, which started at the Louisiana Superdome, passed by the edge of the French Quarter and ended at the city's convention center.

Vegas police find lack of evidence in Jackson case

LAS VEGAS St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson won't face criminal charges over allegations that he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple's child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Investigators found insufficient evidence that Jackson, 26, attacked Supriya Harris of Mableton, Ga., in March 2009, Las Vegas police Officer Barbara Morgan said.

Morgan said the case will be closed, and that records relating to the investigation would not immediately be released.

Nevada casinos win $6.86M on Super Bowl

LAS VEGAS Gambling regulators say Nevada casinos won almost $6.9 million on this year's Super Bowl as bettors wagered $82.7 million on the NFL title game.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board said Tuesday that the win was $179,000 more than sports books won last year, on $1.21 million more in bets.

The underdog New Orleans Saints beat the favored Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Sunday game.