NFL-National Football League roundup

March 1 (The Sports Xchange) - Former NFL player Darren Sharper, who had been suspended by NFL Network in the wake of rape charges in Los Angeles, was fired after he surrendered to authorities on new charges out of New Orleans, according to the New York Daily News. The former All-Pro safety had been working as an analyst for the league-owned network. Sharper turned himself in to police in Los Angeles on Thursday, hours after an arrest warrant was issued in New Orleans. He is accused of raping two women in New Orleans last year. Sharper was charged with seven felonies in Los Angeles earlier this month related to cases in which he is accused of drugging and raping two women he met at nightclubs. He pleaded not guilty. Sharper is also being investigated in connection to sexual assault cases in Arizona, Florida and Nevada. He is being held in Los Angeles without bail. If Sharper is convicted of aggravated rape in Louisiana, he faces life in prison. In California, he faces more than 30 years in state prison. Sharper, 38, was a six-time All-Pro and selected to five Pro Bowls during his 14 season career with Green Bay, Minnesota and New Orleans. He also played in two Super Bowls. He retired in 2010. - - - New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard reported to a Lincoln, Nebraska, jail to start serving a sentence for a 2012 assault on a police officer, according to ESPN.com. Corrections officers with the Lancaster County Adult Detention Facility, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to jail policy, told ESPN that Dennard reported to the facility Saturday morning. Dennard, 24, will serve at least 35 of the 60-day sentence. A judge sentenced the former Nebraska star in April to two years' probation, 30 days in jail and community service for assaulting an officer and resisting arrest outside a Lincoln bar just days before the 2012 draft. The judge later doubled Dennard's jail time after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, which was dismissed after a plea bargain. - - - Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields will test free agency after he and the team were unable to come to an agreement on a new contract, ESPN reported Saturday. The Packers wanted to re-sign Shields, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the 26-year-old will try the open market after negotiations failed. Shields played under a restricted free-agent tender of $2.023 million last season. He tied a career high with four interceptions in 14 games. - - - Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has made the talk show rounds and even reported to the Texas Rangers' spring training this week, but the Super Bowl winning quarterback said he turned down an offer to compete on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Wilson told "Access Hollywood" that he has been invited to participate on the show twice. "I need to focus on my football career right now," Wilson said. "I'm trying to do as much as I can in terms of winning football games for the Seattle Seahawks and our franchise. But I will do it at some point, for sure." Wilson, 25, said he is a big fan of the show. "I'm gonna do it at some point," Wilson said. "I'm gonna definitely do it. I love 'Dancing with the Stars.' I love watching it. I love dancing myself. So hopefully I can win it." Wilson runs a passing academy during the offseason that will travel to six locations this year, including his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and Seattle. - - - The Miami Dolphins promoted John Benton to offensive line coach and Jack Bicknell Jr. was named assistant offensive line coach on Saturday. "We have two experienced football coaches who have an impressive history working with and developing quality offensive line units," coach Joe Philbin said in a statement. "They are both excellent teachers and are highly respected within the coaching community." Benton and Bicknell replaced former line coach Jim Turner, who was fired by owner Stephen Ross in the wake of Ted Wells' hazing report. Benton joined the Dolphins as assistant offensive line coach on Jan. 29. He brings 27 years of coaching experience, including 17 years in the college ranks and 10 seasons as an NFL assistant, including the last eight seasons as the Houston Texans offensive line coach. Bicknell spent the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Editing by Gene Cherry)