Guilty plea by doctor in steroid case

February 14, 2006, Tribune news services

A doctor accused of writing illegal steroid prescriptions to football players has agreed to plead guilty to one federal conspiracy charge as part of a plea agreement, according to court documents.

James Shortt will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, according to papers filed Monday in U.S. District Court in South Carolina.

The indictment didn't specify who received the drugs Shortt prescribed. But a person familiar with the indictment said they were current and former members of the Panthers.

A report last spring on CBS' "60 Minutes Wednesday" identified Panthers center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie and punter Todd Sauerbrun as having filled steroid prescriptions written by Shortt.

The NFL is considering an ESPN doubleheader for the first Monday night game of the '06 season on Sept. 11, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

The Bills added Turk Schonert as quarterbacks coach, Charlie Coiner as tight ends coach and Alex Van Pelt as offensive quality control coach.

The Rams added Purdue offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to their staff. Chaney will be the assistant offensive line coach.

Michigan defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann is leaving to coach the Jets' linebackers.