Pace, Zgonina return to practice for Rams

New Orleans St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace and defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina practiced for the first time this week in the team’s final pre-Super Bowl workout Friday. Pace injured his right knee in the NFC championship game and Zgonina has a hyperextended left elbow.

Receiver Isaac Bruce, who missed part of Thursday’s workout with tightness in his groin, was listed as probable. It’s the first time this week Bruce has been on the injury report. The Rams practiced in shells and helmets for about 112 hours at the New Orleans Saints’ practice facility. Coach Mike Martz cut the practice short about an hour.

Raiders’ Russell arrested, booked for sexual assault

Alameda, Calif. Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell and two other men were arrested Friday on suspicion of drugging and sexually assaulting a 27-year-old woman.

Russell, already serving a one-year NFL suspension after testing positive for the drug Ecstasy, had not been formally charged and was being held in jail, Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff said.

Alameda Police Lt. Jim Brock said Russell would be charged with seven counts of rape. He said the woman was an acquaintance of Russell.

Former Panthers aides named to Texans staff

Houston Houston Texans coach Dom Capers will be reunited next season with two former assistants who worked under him with the Carolina Panthers. Chick Harris, the running backs coach at Carolina, will take over the same duties when the expansion Texans make their debut in the NFL. Greg Roman, who coached the offensive line with the Panthers, will handle the tight ends in Houston.

Bettis wins Payton Award

New Orleans Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, who has become a community icon in Pittsburgh, is this year’s winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Report: Favre out of Bowl

Green Bay, Wis. Brett Favre will skip the Pro Bowl because of a sore back, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Friday. Favre was voted the NFC’s starting quarterback for the NFL’s annual all-star game in Honolulu but decided to rest his back, which bothered him for the last two months.

Ex-Bear Hampton charged

Little Rock, Ark. Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Dan Hampton is charged with drunken driving. Hampton is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.