Dungy Comes Back to Coach the Colts

Two days after the funeral of his son, Tony Dungy rejoined the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, hugging his players and assistant coaches and thanking the public for its support while he dealt with his personal tragedy.

“It was the right time to come back,� he said after an afternoon workout. “I talked about it with my wife, and we went through the grieving process and now we’re starting with the healing process.�

Dungy left the team Dec. 22 when his 18-year-old son, James, died. A preliminary autopsy report indicated the teen took his own life, but the exact cause of death won’t be released until a toxicology examination is completed in four to six weeks.

Team President Bill Polian and owner Jim Irsay urged Dungy to stay with his family as long as needed while assistant head coach Jim Caldwell filled in. His return surprised and excited everyone, as did his announcement that he would coach Sunday’s regular-season finale in Arizona.

A locker room that had been subdued during Dungy’s absence suddenly came alive. The Colts also appeared to walk off the field with more pep, and after practice, Polian and Dungy even shared a laugh.

“It’s great to have him back,� Polian said. “It’s been a long ordeal for him and his family, and I think it will be a long, long time before they have a sense of peace and consolation. But I hope this is one place he can find some peace and consolation.�

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The Cincinnati Bengals reworked and extended Carson Palmer’s contract, giving themselves more salary cap flexibility and a chance to keep their franchise quarterback through 2014.

Under the reworked deal, Palmer will get a $15 million bonus on Dec. 31 and a base salary of $6.75 million next year. The Bengals owe him a $9 million option by Jan. 1, 2007 -- they’ll have the option of letting the rest of the deal take effect or nullifying it at that time, but have to pay the same amount either way.

His base salaries will increase over the final eight years on the deal, topping out at $14 million in 2014. He’ll also get $1 million roster bonuses for each of his last three seasons, bringing the total amount of the reworked nine-year deal to $118.75 million.

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The Raiders put Charles Woodson on injured reserve, ending the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback’s season and possibly signaling the end of his career in Oakland.

Woodson has not played since breaking his right leg in an Oct. 23 win over Buffalo. Though the team and Coach Norv Turner hoped Woodson would be able to return this season, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been slow to recover and only recently began jogging.

As Oakland’s franchise player, Woodson is earning more than $10 million this season. That number would jump to nearly $13 million in 2006 if the Raiders were to keep the franchise tag on Woodson, something owner Al Davis might be hesitant to do with so many other problems plaguing his team.

Tight end James Adkisson was elevated from Oakland’s practice squad to take Woodson’s roster spot.