GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Chad Clifton vows to return to the Green Bay Packers and insists he doesn't hold a grudge against Warren Sapp.
Still, he wishes Sapp had called on him in the hospital after delivering the blind-side hit that left Clifton with a career-threatening hip injury.
"I'm not bitter toward him. You assume the risks when you play this game," Clifton said in his first extensive interview since he was hurt in November. "It was a perfectly legal hit. I honestly don't think he went out trying to hurt me purposely."
Sapp's hit came after Tampa Bay's Brian Kelly intercepted a pass and headed for the goal line. After the game, Packers coach Mike Sherman confronted Sapp on the field after the game, saying it was unnecessarily rough.
The league later ruled the hit legal and Sapp was not disciplined.
Clifton spent four days in a Tampa hospital before returning home with a sprained pelvis, a sprained back, swelling and internal bleeding but never heard from Sapp.
"I know this: If I had injured someone and they were in a Green Bay hospital for four days, I would definitely go to see him," Clifton said.
Reached by phone Thursday, Sapp said: "I wish him all the health and success in his life, and I'll see him next year."
But they haven't spoken since the hit. Sapp has said he wouldn't call Clifton until he knew if Clifton considers him a dirty player.
Clifton said he doesn't.
"It was a freak accident, the way I landed on my hip," he said.
Clifton said doctors have told him he's made a remarkable recovery so far. His next test comes later this month when he runs for the first time.
"I'm confident that I can come back and do it, but just like any other injury, you have to go out and test it," Clifton said. "We'll definitely find out in a couple months."
REDSKINS REMAIN BUSY
The Washington Redskins continued to be the most active NFL team in free agency, making a five-year, $8 million offer to New York Jets kick returner Chad Morton.
Morton is a restricted free agent, so the Jets have one week to match the offer, which includes a $2.5 million signing bonus. If they don't, the Redskins will owe the Jets a fifth-round draft pick as compensation.
The Redskins have added nine players in the week since free agency began -- eight free agents and one by trade.
Also, Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith, said Smith was planning to return for another season. Smith is only three sacks short of Reggie White's all-time record, but he is expected to lose his starting job to newly signed free agent Regan Upshaw.
HILLIARD WANTED TO STAY
Veteran receiver Ike Hilliard didn't seriously test the free agent market because he feels the New York Giants have something special heading into next season.
"This is where I wanted to be from the start," Hilliard said after signing a five-year, $12.5 million contract that was agreed upon Sunday. "Everyone knew that to a certain degree, regardless of what happened in the past. ... You just want to keep it going."
Hilliard, who missed the final nine weeks of the regular season and playoffs because of a shoulder injury, said he is just about ready to begin workouts.
"I'm feeling good," the Giants' 1997 first-round draft pick said. "I started catching balls last week. I'm ready to go."
NFL OPENER
The New York Jets will play at Washington in the NFL's season opener Sept. 4, the second straight year the league will begin its schedule on a Thursday night.
This year's game will be televised by ABC instead of ESPN, which last season carried the first Thursday opener -- San Francisco at the New York Giants.
The rest of the season openers will take place Sunday (Sept. 7) and Monday night (Sept. 8). The rest of the schedule has yet to be announced.
The opening game will be preceded by what the league is calling "Kickoff Celebration II." No details on the festivities were given. Last year, there was a concert in New York's Times Square.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Journeyman safety Rich Coady signed with the Colts. ... Veteran defensive end David Bowens re-signed with the Dolphins. ... Safety Blaine Bishop, a four-time Pro Bowl player, was released by the Eagles. ... The Texans continued to bolster their offensive line by trading a fifth-round pick in the April draft to the Patriots in exchange for right tackle Greg Randall. ... The Ravens signed former Vikings fullback Harold Morrow to a three-year contract. ... The Lions hired eight-year coaching veteran Johnny Holland as a defensive assistant.
