The Detroit Lions suspended their coach Troy Lakes for their home opener against the Denver Broncos due to his 4 recent DUI arrests. Considering everything happening in the league right now, this is probably the right call.
Officer “trapped”: An off-duty police officer inadvertently was “trapped” in a suburban cul-de-sac without backup before he shot San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley, a prosecutor said.
Aaron Mansker, an officer with the Coronado Police Department, had decided to drop his pursuit because no other officers responded to his calls for help, but found himself blocked Sunday morning in the dead-end street where Foley lives, said San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Jim Koerber.
Mansker was on his way home from a shift when he spotted a suspected drunken driver on the freeway weaving through traffic at speeds up to 90 mph.
Koerber’s account came during an arraignment hearing for Lisa Maree Gaut, 25, who was a passenger in Foley’s restored 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
Gaut pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and assaulting a police officer. She faces up to five years in prison if convicted of all charges. Superior Court Judge David Szumowski ordered her held in custody in lieu of $35,000 bail.
The shooting occurred after Foley got out of the car near his home in Poway and began walking toward Mansker, who said he was armed and fired a warning shot, according to a sheriff’s department report.
“At this time, the officer was trapped,” Koerber told the judge.
There was no update Thursday on Foley’s condition. Earlier in the week, his agent, David Levine, said Foley was hospitalized in stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Smith out: Carolina Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith missed practice again and remains questionable for the season opener against Atlanta.
Smith was limited to 10 practices in the preseason because of a strained left hamstring and an ingrown toenail that required stitches. He did not play in any of Carolina’s four preseason games.
Smith then tweaked his right hamstring in practice Tuesday and was held out of Wednesday’s workout.
Bruschi returns: Tedy Bruschi returned to practice about one month after having surgery on his broken wrist and three days before the New England Patriots begin their season.
The inside linebacker, who broke his wrist on the fourth day of training camp July 31, was listed on the team’s injury report as questionable for Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills.
Hill questionable: Seattle Seahawks starting outside linebacker Leroy Hill was added to the team’s injury list as questionable for Sunday’s season opener at Detroit.
Hill, who set a Seattle rookie record with 
71/2 sacks last year, injured his left shoulder early in Wednesday’s full- pads practice. D.D. Lewis would start against the Lions if Hill does not.
Lewis, an undrafted free agent signed in 2002, started 12 games last season before Hill’s emergence.
Stroud joins Peterson: Jacksonville could be without two of their top defensive players in the season opener against Dallas. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud sprained his right ankle in practice and linebacker Mike Peterson returned to practice, but said he wouldn’t know how his injured right knee reacted to drills until today.
