• Seahawks S Ellison to appear in court: Seattle Seahawks safety Kevin Ellison has a court date of Oct. 5 after pleading not guilty to drug possession in Southern California. A court clerk confirmed Friday that Ellison entered the plea Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Torrance. He remains free on $10,000 bail. The 23-year-old former All-Pac-10 safety and USC defensive captain was released by the Chargers after he was pulled over for speeding by police in Redondo Beach May 24. He was arrested after officers allegedly found he had about 100 Vicodin pills but no prescription for the painkiller. The Seahawks and former USC coach Pete Carroll then claimed Ellison off waivers.

• NFL suspends Packer: The NFL suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly without pay for the upcoming season and perhaps beyond for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Jolly’s suspension begins immediately and will continue through at least the 2010 season. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after the Super Bowl. Jolly is facing drug charges in Houston after his July 2008 arrest outside a club for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison.