ion after prosecutors say he threatened to assault a Houston-area deputy during a traffic stop.Court records show the 39-year

HOUSTON -- Former NBA all-star Steve Francis has been charged with felony retaliation after prosecutors say he threatened to assault a Houston-area deputy during a traffic stop.Court records show the 39-year-old Francis also faces a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge stemming from the Saturday incident. Online jail records show he was released on $5,500 bond. Hes scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.KHOU-TV reports Francis was pulled over in Harris County, Texas, for speeding. The station says a deputy smelled alcohol and Francis was belligerent. The report says more deputies were called to the scene and Francis was arrested. Authorities say no deputies were assaulted.No attorney is listed for Francis in online court records.Francis played for 11 seasons in the NBA, including seven in Houston. Roquan Smith Bears Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Jim McMahon Youth Jersey . 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The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. PITTSBURGH -- After the Steelers second straight season with injuries to key players, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is concerned about the teams physical practices affecting the health of players.Roethlisberger said he understands the Steelers desire for a physical edge on Sundays, but he said he feels compelled to stand up for his offensive linemen, running backs and others taking a pounding during an NFL season, particularly at training camp. The Steelers will likely play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday without three of their most talented defensive players: linemen Cam Heyward (hamstring), linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) and outside linebacker Bud Dupree (injured reserve, sports hernia).When youre doing it over and over and the guys shoulders are getting sore and knees start getting sore and hips and hamstrings and quads and things, and then they re-occur, youve got to maybe take a look at what youre doing,?Roethlisberger said.We pride ourselves as the Pittsburgh Steelers being a physical football team, so its a fine line you have to walk.After Wednesdays practice, coach Mike Tomlin said the balance between physicality and protecting players is a conversation we continually have. The team will evaluate this issue and others at the end of the season.Were a transparent group. Opinions are valued, said Tomlin of Roethlisbergers comments. We dont care where good ideas come from. Were just trying to win football games. Bens been around here long enough to have an opinion and also express it.Roethlisberger said on his weekly appearance with 93.7 The Fan that physical practices might be taking a toll on the roster. He referenced the joint practices with the Detroit Lions in August, when Detroit was undergoing its first live hitting session while the Steellers had been hitting for two weeks.ddddddddddddLast season, running back LeVeon Bell, Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey were among offensive players sidelined by injuries. Asked Wednesday what should change, Roethlisberger said he didnt know.Im not the coach or the owners or the league or the office, Roethlisberger said. Im just a player.All NFL teams are limited to 14 padded practices per regular season, but the Steelers are known to have one of the most physical training camps in the league.Roethlisberger got several rest days during camp, and the Steelers sometimes give key veterans off days during the season. Roethlisberger said the Steelers sometimes, not always reduce hitting in-season.You see those pads on top of the locker being worn all year long, so like I said, for me, I cant complain too much because Im not the one getting hit, but I will stand up for the big boys, Roethlisberger said.Tomlin has said in the past that physical practices are a team-building requirement for his team, especially while trying to reduce a 90-man roster to 53 during camp.The Steelers have listed 25 different players as out for a game this year, which is eight more than the next-closest teams, the Colts and Browns (17), according to ESPN Stats and Info.Guard Ramon Foster said his recent chest injury came from in-game action, but he understands his quarterbacks perspective. The starting offensive line takes a lot of the training camp reps while in full pads.Im glad he spoke out on it, Foster said. If he gets us less days in pads, Im OK with that, too. We would have to see whats the correlation next year if we took the pads off more. ' ' '