Edgerrin James' Longtime Girlfriend Dies of Leukemia

The long time girlfriend of Edgerrin James and mother of his four children died of leukemia on Tuesday.

Andia Denise Wilson, 30, died at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa after battling acute myeloid leukemia. James, who plays for the Arizona Cardinals, is listed as Wilson's "loving spouse and significant other'' in an obituary notice. James and Wilson had four children: Edquisha, 11, Ehyanna, 7, Edgerrin Jr., 4, and Euro, 2.

Pierre Rutledge, head of the Edgerrin James Foundation, said the family would not be doing any interviews this week but would like to invite people to attend the funeral to honor Wilson's life.

A funeral service and celebration of Wilson's life will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Naples, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive in North Naples. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday, prior to the service, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, 34105.

Former Bear/Razorback Ken Anderson Dies

Ken Anderson, the former Chicago Bear and Arkansas Razorback defensive lineman, has died of a heart attack in Fayetteville Arkansas, he was 33 years old.

Anderson's death was confirmed by Dexter Howard, Anderson's Pastor at Life Harvester Church, where Anderson was a Minister.

Anderson lettered for the Razorbacks from 1994-97 and played for the Bears in 1999.

Former Notre Dame/Detroit Lions Player Cifelli Dies

Gus Cifelli, a star tackle who helped lead Notre Dame to three national championships and the Detroit Lions to the 1952 NFL title, has died of natural causes at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, according to Terry Desmond, owner of A.J. Desmond & Sons funeral home. He was 84.

Cifelli was born in Philadelphia in 1925 and served in the Marines during World War II. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1950, after which he was drafted by the Detroit Lions. He also played for Green Bay, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

He was elected in 1973 as a judge to the 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills. He retired from the bench in 2000. Cifelli will be buried Wednesday at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, Ind.

Detroit to Retire Corey Smith's Jersey

The Detroit Lions will retire the number 93 for the 2009 football season in memory of player Corey Smith, one of three men lost when their fishing boat capsized off the Florida Gulf Coast three weeks ago.

The announcement was made during a memorial service for Smith. Lions player development director Galen Duncan told several hundred mourners in Smith's hometown church Saturday that Smith's number would be retired for a year in honor of a player of extraordinary heart and competitive drive.

Many of Smith's teammates from the Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers where he played his first four NFL seasons attended the memorial service. So did former teammates and coaches from North Carolina State and from Richmond's John Marshall High School.

His high school coach, Kevin Burden, tearfully conceded that he was never impartial about the quiet giant who was the team's undisputed leader.

"You're not supposed to have a favorite player when you are a coach, but he was the one who got under your skin. He was a great football player but he was an even better man," Burden said in a faltering voice. "Tonight, when I say my prayers, I will ask God to assign me a guardian angel and he'll be wearing number 93," Burden concluded, leaving many in the crowd sobbing or wiping their eyes.

Cooper's Wife Files for Death Certificate

TAMPA, Fla. - NFL player Marquis Cooper's wife is seeking a presumptive death certificate a week after the Coast Guard called off its search for the missing boater and two friends.

Rebekah Cooper filed a petition for the certificate Wednesday in civil court in Florida.

The Oakland Raiders linebacker departed from Clearwater Pass west of Tampa Feb. 28 in a 6 1/2-metre boat. He was with free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith and two former University of South Florida football players.

Their boat overturned after encountering rough waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nick Schuyler was found clinging to the boat two days later. The other men have not been found.

With the presumptive death certificate, Cooper's beneficiaries can collect life insurance and other benefits.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Hall of Famer McAfee Dies at 90

Per Associated Press,

College and pro football Hall of Famer George McAfee, who was a star for the NFL's Chicago Bears and at Duke, has died. He was 90.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Durham, where McAfee attended church, confirmed Thursday that McAfee died Wednesday night.

In eight seasons with Chicago, McAfee gained more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and had 21 interceptions. His 35-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Chicago to a 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship.

"George McAfee helped establish the proud tradition of the Chicago Bears. His versatility led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as he played offense, defense and special teams on three championship teams (1940, 1941 and 1946)," the Bears said in a statement.

"George also served his country in the Navy during WWII. We are proud to have him as an integral part of our history and are saddened by his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

McAfee helped the Blue Devils to a 24-4-1 record and two Southern Conference titles between 1937 and 1939. McAfee led Duke in rushing, receiving, scoring, kickoff returns, punt returns, interceptions and punting during his senior season. He earned first-team All-America honors and Duke went 8-1.

Report: Coast Guard Calls Off Search at 6:30 PM

The Coast Guard called off the search Tuesday for two NFL players and a third man lost at sea off the Florida coast after their boat capsized during a fishing trip.

Officials said the search would end at sundown, with Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith, who played with the Detroit Lions last season, and former South Florida player William Bleakley still missing in the rough, chilly seas.

"We're extremely confident that if there are any survivors on the surface of the water that we would have found them," said Coast Guard Capt. Timothy Close, who added that searchers scoured the equivalent of 24,000 square miles over more than 60 hours.

One survivor was found on Monday afternoon. The 24-year-old former South Florida player Nick Schuyler, who managed to stay with the boat after it overturned Saturday evening.

Prospects for survival became more grim throughout the day, with Cooper's father saying the Coast Guard told him privately officials were losing hope because so much time had passed and hypothermia risks were high. Coast Guard officials said publicly that they were still hopeful.

"I think the families understood that we put in a tremendous effort," Close said. "Any search and rescue case we have to stop is disappointing."

Information from the associated press was used in this report.

Chet Bulger, 91, of Chicago Cardinals’ 1947 Title Team, Dies

Chet Bulger, a member of the 1947 Chicago Cardinals Championship team has passed away at age 91.

Bulger played in the NFL from 1942 to 1950, starting with the Chicago Cardinals and spending his final season with the Detroit Lions. In 1947, he helped the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-21, for the NFL championship.

The Cardinals lost the 1948 title game to the Eagles, 7-0, then did not play for the championship again until reaching Super Bowl XLIII.

“I’m still a Cardinal, always a Cardinal,” Bulger told The Associated Press in a telephone interview a few days before the Super Bowl. “I can’t see too well anymore, but I’m going to get up real close to the TV to watch that game. Maybe we’ll win that Super Bowl. Wouldn’t that be something?”

Bulger scored seven points in his N.F.L. career, kicking an extra point in 1943 and returning a fumble for a touchdown in 1945.

Bulger stayed in Chicago after his playing days and taught and coached at De La Salle, where he stayed through 1982. He became the athletic director, and the school named its main athletic field for him. In later years, he helped raise money for De La Salle.

Former Giants LB Van Pelt Dies

Brad Van Pelt, a giants linebacker and member of the team "Crunch Bunch" died of an apperent heart attack Tuesday at age 57.

He was found slumped in his chair by his fiancée Tuesday at the house they recently purchase together in Michigan, according to teammate Harry Carson.

"I'm saddened," Carson told the Daily News. "I lost a teammate and my very good friend, He went much too soon at 57."

Former Redskin Kaufman Dies

Mel Kaufman, a linebacker who played in three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins and was a former scout for the NFL team, has died. He was 50. Kaufman died in his Santa Margarita home Saturday night, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced Monday. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.

A team captain and defensive leader Kaufman started 78 of his 91 games. He played on Washington's victorious Super Bowl teams in 1983 and 1988, and in the 1984 title game, when the Redskins lost to the Los Angeles Raiders. After retiring Kaufman became a supervising scout for the redskins, a post he held until 1998. He scouted for the Redskins in the 1992 Super Bowl, when they beat the Buffalo Bills.

After 10 years out of football Kaufman was hired by his alma mater to coach the linebackers, guiding the Cal Poly SLO Mustangs to an 8-3 record, a Great West Conference title and their second NCAA FCS playoff berth.

"It's a tragedy. He was a good man and a compassionate man," said former Cal Poly coach Rich Ellerson, who became Army coach in December. "I pray that the stress of the coaching business wasn't a contributing factor. He was just a good guy, a passionate guy, a Mustang."

Former Lions O-Lineman Gordy Dead

John Gordy, a former offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and University of Tennessee who helped form the NFL Players' Association, died Friday after a long battle with Cancer. He was 73.

The Lions picked him in the second round of the 1957 draft, and the rookie starter helped the team win the NFL championship, the last time Detroit claimed the league title.

"All of us who knew John Gordy and were teammates and colleagues are very deeply saddened by his passing," said former UT coach Johnny Majors, who played tailback and was alternate captain the year Gordy was captain. "He was a great friend to many, was outgoing and an outstanding leader of our football team."

Gordy served as president and executive director of the NFL Players' Association and was instrumental in negotiating the first collective bargaining agreement in major professional sports.

Billy Wilson, star receiver on Niners in 1950s, dead of cancer at age 81

Former 49er star receiver Billy Wilson, a 6-tme pro bowler who played in San Francisco in the 1950's died on Tuesday, at age 81. He died peacefully surrounded by family in southern california after a battle with cancer, the team says.

Wilson career lasted from 1951-1960, during that span he led the NFL in receiving 3 times and finished his career with 407 catches for 5,902 yards and 49 touchdowns. Wilson also made the pro-bowl six times.

"He was one of the fiercest competitors I ever played with," said Wilson's former quarterback, Y.A. Tittle. "He was our No. 1 receiver. Whenever we needed a big catch, I went to him, because I knew he would make the play."

After his playing career was over Billy Wilson also worked for the Niners as an assistant coach and scout.

Former NFL Lineman Fowler Dies After Surgery.

Former NFL Lineman Jerry Fowler died on Monday in post-op. recovery, he was 68. Fowler played for the Houston Oilers in 1968 before moving on to politics, as an elections commissioner in Louisiana.

"He had surgery Friday night, and he was recuperating from that surgery and operation, and I don't know, but he just had heart failure, and he died suddenly," said James A. Wayne Sr., executive director of a nonprofit indigent defense firm in Baton Rouge and a longtime Fowler family friend.