Namath Offers Some Advice to Johnson

The most famous New York Jet chastised the franchise’s most self-absorbed figure since Mark Gastineau on Thursday.

Joe Namath, the former quarterback who is now a TV analyst, suggested that outspoken wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson owes teammates Wayne Chrebet and Neil O’Donnell an apology for publicly criticizing them in his book “Give Me The Damn Ball.”

“Keyshawn has to realize it’s not always his way,” Namath said. “Until Keyshawn can accept that fact that he could be wrong or that he is wrong, he’s going to have to struggle.”

Namath hasn’t read Johnson’s book, but said there’s an unwritten code that governs teammates.

“I’ve never approved of talk going outside the framework of the team. . . . That’s the way I was taught. That’s the way I believe.”

Johnson didn’t sound sorry Thursday.

“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Johnson said. “Players have different attitudes nowadays. This is Generation X. This is a different generation.”

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Defensive end Israel Ifeanyi struggled in practice and rarely got into games after the San Francisco 49ers made him their top draft pick a year ago. On Thursday, the former USC star was released.

Ifeanyi had been sidelined since July 18, when he suffered a bruised right knee on the second day of training camp. He was waived with an injury settlement.

Coach Steve Mariucci said the injury played a part in the decision to release Ifeanyi because it prevented the coaching staff from evaluating him.

Also, 49er veteran Harris Barton, the starting right tackle on three Super Bowl teams, might need arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is not expected to be ready for the Aug. 31 season opener at Tampa Bay.

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Erie County and the Buffalo Bills have agreed on a state-funded lease for Rich Stadium that would keep the team in western New York for 15 years, the Buffalo News reported.

The deal, which still requires legislative approval and hinges on the sale of new stadium luxury boxes, ends a two-year struggle between the team and lawmakers over its future.

New York State reportedly will pay $63.2 million for the stadium improvement package. The county would raise an additional $5 million a year to offset revenue that under the new lease would now go to the team.

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Rookie Brett Conway, taking over as Green Bay’s kicker for departed Chris Jacke, missed three field goals in the Packers’ 7-3 exhibition victory over the New England Patriots at Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Patriots, 35-21, in the Super Bowl last January.

Conway, a third-round draft pick out of Penn State, has missed four consecutive field goals in the Packers’ two exhibition victories. Jacke, an unrestricted free agent who signed with Pittsburgh in early July, kicked three field goals for the Steelers last Sunday.

The Packers’ touchdown came with nine minutes left in the game on Doug Pederson’s 11-yard pass play to former San Diego Charger running back Aaron Hayden.

Green Bay, meanwhile, came to terms with offensive lineman Ross Verba of Iowa, the Packers’ No. 1 draft pick--reportedly a four-year deal worth at least $750,000 a year.

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The Denver Bronco defense suffered a setback when linebacker Jumpy Geathers ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during a routine pass-rushing drill and will be sidelined for the season. . . . Dallas Cowboy cornerback Wendell Davis will be sidelined at least four weeks because of torn cartilage in his left knee.