ANDERSON, Ind. — Andrew Luck isn’t sure how much he will play in Sunday’s preseason opener, and he’s not lobbying for more time.
The No. 1 overall draft pick was asked Tuesday about his expectations for his first NFL game. Indianapolis’ new franchise quarterback says he will let new coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians make the call because he trusts their judgment.
On Monday, Arians told reporters Luck likely would play 20 to 25 plays against the St. Louis Rams. That’s comparable to the number of plays four-time MVP Peyton Manning got in his first preseason game when Arians was the Colts’ quarterbacks coach.
Luck had a rough practice Monday, completing 15 of 29 passes, with three TDs and one interception.
Goodell among more than 900 at Garrett Reid funeral service
BROOMALL, Pa. — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Browns President Mike Holmgren and Patriots coach Bill Belichick were among more than 900 people who packed the church for the funeral service of Garrett Reid, son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.
Garrett Reid, 29, was found dead in his dorm room Sunday morning at Lehigh University, where he was assisting the Eagles strength and conditioning coach during training camp. The recovering drug addict seemingly had turned his life around.
Many current and former players, coaches and other league officials traveled from all across the country to pay their respects Tuesday morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The list included Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Colts general manager Ryan Grigson and Browns general manager Tom Heckert.
Holmgren called Andy Reid the “son I never had.” Harbaugh said Reid was the one comforting mourners.
Study: Kickoff rule changes led to concussion decline
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Changes to the NFL’s kickoff rules appear to account for a slight decline in the number of concussions reported across the league last season. That’s according to a new study of injury data provided by the NFL Players Association.
Jesse David, senior vice president at Edgeworth Economics, tells the Associated Press that the number of concussions reported on kickoffs decreased by about 43 percent from 2010 to 2011. The resulting slight dropoff in the overall number of reported concussions reverses a trend toward more head injuries in recent years.
There were 266 overall concussions reported last season, a decrease from the 270 reported in 2010. The number of concussions that occurred on kickoffs dropped from 35 in 2010 to 20 in 2011.
Around the league
BRONCOS: Pro Bowl defensive end Elvis Dumervil won’t be charged in a road rage incident in Miami Beach, Fla. His attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said the Miami-Dade County state’s attorney informed him Tuesday that Dumervil had been cleared in the case. Dumervil was arrested last month on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
CARDINALS: Arizona removed running back Beanie Wells from the physically unable to perform list, clearing him to begin practicing with the team. Wells has been unable to practice since undergoing knee surgery after last season.
BEARS: Chicago signed defensive end Derek Walker to a one-year contract and waived offensive lineman Tyler Hendrickson. Walker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks in 2009 out of Illinois and spent part of last season with the Chicago Rush, an arena team.
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