The Sports Xchange

LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins, a possible first-round pick Thursday in the NFL draft, left Chicago on Wednesday to return to Louisiana to meet with police about the shooting death of a pregnant woman.

A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Collins is leaving in an effort to clear his name.

Police, who said Tuesday that Collins is not a suspect in the case, are trying to get more information about the death of 29-year-old Brittney Mills, who was shot and killed Friday night in Baton Rouge. She was found in her apartment and rushed to the hospital, where her infant was delivered. The child survived and remains under medical care.

According to ESPN, police believe Mills is the former girlfriend of Collins and are trying to determine who killed her and whether Collins is the father of the child delivered after Mills’ death.

—If the Cleveland Browns want the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, a two-for-one won’t get it done.

That was the message Wednesday from the Tennessee Titans, who are interested in trading down at the right price but would stay put to draft Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota if a big offer doesn’t come their way.

The Browns drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft and signed Josh McCown after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. But the Browns are hoping to land Mariota, a uniquely gifted athlete who at 6-4, 220 pounds, has very good speed and enough arm strength to function in a pro-style offense.

The Browns offered the No. 12 pick and the 19th overall selection, acquired from the Buffalo Bills in the draft-day trade that netted Buffalo Sammy Watkins last year, to the Titans for No. 2. The Titans would like a future first-rounder and possibly more, according to ESPN’s John Clayton.

—The Chicago Bears will not pick up the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Shea McClellin, and they reportedly are entertaining trade offers for tight end Martellus Bennett.

General manager Ryan Pace said Wednesday that the team will not exercise the 2016 option on McClellin, their 2012 first-round pick. The option would have cost the team $7.75 million.

Bennett wants a new contract and the team has been fielding offers for him, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bennett signed a four-year, $20.4 million deal in 2013 and is due about $5 million in each of the next two seasons. He will become a free agent in 2017. The top tight ends make at least $7.5 million a year.

According to Schefter, the Bears discussed trading Bennett to the Seattle Seahawks before the Seahawks acquired Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints last month.

—The Arizona Cardinals reportedly will exercise the fifth-year option on wide receiver Michael Floyd.

The move, reported by Kent Somers of AZCentral.com, will guarantee Floyd $7.3 million in 2016 if he is on the roster at the start of the league year.

The No. 13 overall pick in 2012, Floyd has averaged 52 catches for 814 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons.

—The San Diego Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers reportedly have talked a contract extension beyond the 2015 season.

FOX Sports 1 NFL Insider Mike Garafolo reported the Chargers met with Rivers’ agent late last week with the intent of extending his current deal.

Rivers would become an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season without an extension. His future with the Chargers has been in question since reports surfaced that he declined a contract extension because he is wary of the team’s possible move to Los Angeles.

—Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, cited for marijuana possession just days before the draft, opted to join 27 fellow prospects for a public appearance and NFL “Play 60” event in a gorgeous spring morning in Chicago.

Ray, even in the face of public projections that he could fall into the second or third round, vowed to stand for something other than ill-advised decisions.

“I don’t think a lot of people expected me to still come and be here, and face this,” Ray said. “But I’m a man and I’m not going to run from anything. I’ve been open with everybody with what happened and of course I’m very sorry that it did happen; but, like I said, all I can do is learn from my mistakes as a person, just like everyone else, and continue to grow.”

—Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan, suspended for the season due to a positive drug test, apologized Wednesday and said he will work on finishing his college degree during his time away from the NFL.

Jordan, the No. 3 overall pick out of Oregon in 2013, was suspended Tuesday because of a diluted test sample which counts as a positive test.

In a statement released by the NFLPA on Wednesday, Jordan said:

“I’m very disappointed that I will not be playing in the NFL in the 2015 season. Because of past positive tests and my status in the drug program, the consequence of diluted tests is severe. I deeply regret putting myself in this position, and I apologize to my teammates and the Dolphins organization. I will use the time away from playing to finish my college degree. I will stay in excellent physical shape and look forward to returning to the NFL as soon as possible. I’m deeply grateful to my family and friends for their continued support.”

—NFL commissioner Roger Goodell required a mea culpa in 2014 after admitting he failed to “get it right” when running back Ray Rice was suspended for two games for domestic violence.

But after heavy scrutiny of that decision and a Goodell-led overhaul of the personal conduct policy to enact harsh penalties in abuse cases, the NFL got it right punishing Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy with a 10-game suspension, the commissioner said Wednesday.

“Because of the process. Because we have the facts,” Goodell said. “We had the right people involved who were able to pull all the facts together, give us the kind of information that was necessary for us to make a decision that would reflect the values and the integrity of the league but also the personal conduct policy.”

Hardy is appealing the decision. A formal appeal was filed through the NFLPA last week.

—Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman practiced with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday — his first action with the team since he suffered a gruesome knee injury in the NFC Championship Game in January 2014.

“I’m out there,” Bowman said. “I’m putting my jersey on just like everyone else and doing as much as I can do and that my knee allows me to do.

“I’m passing all the tests. My knee is still stable and holding up the way they expected. Just continue to work through the little bit of aches that I have, but it’s going to be there for at least another year and I just have to figure out how to deal with it.”

—Free-agent safety Stevie Brown told NFL Network that he has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans.

Brown had an up-and-down season in 2014, his first back from ACL surgery. While he finished strong, he lacked the same ballhawking skills and speed that helped him lead the Giants with eight interceptions in 2012.

In Houston, Brown adds depth as the Texans reportedly look to trade D.J. Swearinger.

—Defensive tackle Damon Harrison signed his restricted free agent tender offer from the New York Jets.

Harrison, in his fourth season with the Jets, will make $2.356 million under the terms of the second-round tender.

Harrison, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jets out of William Penn in Iowa, finished his second consecutive season as a 16-game starter. He had 55 tackles last season and 66 tackles in 2013.

—The Cincinnati Bengals waived linebacker L.J. Fort, who spent time on the team’s practice squad last season.

Fort, out of Northern Iowa, was on Cincinnati’s practice squad for the last five games of 2014 and was signed in January to the offseason roster.

Fort played in one game for the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 and appeared in all 16 games with the Cleveland Browns in 2012. He had 20 tackles, one sack and one interception while with the Browns.