Hours after sending a gracious yet puzzling middle-of-the-night text message to a former college coach, police say Tennessee Titans receiver O.J. Murdock died in an apparent suicide.
Tampa, Fla., police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said officers found Murdock about 8:30 a.m. inside his car with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
He was on injured reserve all last season with an Achilles injury and was absent from training camp for personal reasons. He was placed on the reserve/did not report list Saturday.
The car was parked in front of Middleton High School, where Murdock made a name for himself as a dynamic receiver and state champion sprinter in track and field.
Al McCray, assistant head coach/receivers coach at Fort Hays State in Kansas, said he woke up at home and saw a text message from the player, thanking him for all he had done for Murdock and his family. The athlete concluded the text with an apology that baffled McCray, who said he had known the 25-year-old since Murdock was in middle school.
McCray helped Murdock resume his career after he was kicked off the team at South Carolina, where he was part of Steve Spurrier’s first recruiting class.
PETERSON OK
Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson returned to training camp after an allergic reaction at lunch sent him to a hospital.
Coach Leslie Frazier said Peterson ate some seafood that caused his face to swell and shortness of breath. An ambulance was called, and Peterson was diagnosed with the allergic reaction at the hospital.
Frazier said he expects Peterson to continue his left knee rehabilitation at full speed today.
“Everything is back to normal now,” Frazier said. “Little bit of a scare, but he’s fine.”
EXTRA POINTS
Projected starting cornerback Terrell Thomas has re-injured his surgically repaired right knee and his status for the Giants’ season is uncertain. … Broncos two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady rejected a $50 million contract extension. The former Boise State star said he won’t discuss a contract until after the season. … Left tackle Bryant McKinnie arrived at Ravens camp after missing three practices last week, getting fined $30,000 for each missed day. McKinnie said he was late because of a strained back. … Redskins starting left guard Kory Lichtensteiger underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose particles from his right knee and is expected to be out until the Sept. 9 opener at New Orleans. … Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley was cleared to practice, the final step in his comeback from reconstructive knee surgery. Shipley tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Sept. 18. He wasn’t allowed to practice when training camp opened Friday.
