Police: McNair’s mistress talked to seller of gun for weeks

Ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair’s mistress exchanged messages for weeks with the man who sold her the gun she used to kill McNair and herself, police in Nashville, Tenn., said Tuesday.

The findings came a day after investigators released 50 text messages between McNair and Sahel Kazemi they say supports their conclusion of a murder-suicide because she was desperate over money and feared their relationship was ending.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said Kazemi also was in contact weeks before the July 4 killings with Adrian Gilliam, who pleaded guilty to gun charges for selling her the weapon.

Aaron declined to say more about the exchange of messages, first reported by CBS News, because Gilliam was awaiting sentencing in December. Police say Kazemi bought the gun from Gilliam the night of July 3 and used it hours later.

“The Police Department has been aware that their relationship was more than we were initially led to believe,” Aaron told the Associated Press.

According to the CBS report, Gilliam and Kazemi exchanged more than 200 contacts more than three weeks before the murder-suicide, including 49 texts and calls the day before.

Police also said Kazemi texted McNair on July 3 to say she was so stressed she might have a breakdown and asked for $2,000 to pay bills. Texts show McNair had someone transfer the money.

Aaron repeated Tuesday that there’s no reason to believe the case should be reopened.

“Given the totality of the evidence as we know it now… the conclusion of the murder-suicide classification has not changed,” he said.

BROWNS: Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Cleveland placed its leading tackler on injured reserve Tuesday, two days after the former Maryland standout injured his shoulder in a 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh.

“It’s disappointing any time you lose a player for the season, and this is especially true with someone like D’Qwell, who has proven to be an outstanding leader for us both on and off the field,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said in a statement.

Jackson got hurt in the second quarter Sunday. He faces possible surgery.

He led the NFL with 154 tackles last season. A second-round pick in 2006, Jackson is eligible for free agency after this season. He had been trying to get a new contract from the Browns, who may have to play rookie David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava at inside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme.

STEELERS: Coach Mike Tomlin said kicker Jeff Reed will play in Sunday’s home game against Minnesota despite a recent brush with the law.

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