Bills G Urbik practices but doubtful vs. Bengals

Urbik worked out on a limited basis for the first time since injuring his left knee against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2. Backup Chad Rinehart has been playing in place of Urbik. Defensive backs Terrence McGee (hamstring) and rookie Aaron Williams (chest), and rookie linebacker Chris White (hamstring) all won't play when the undefeated Bills (3-0) play the Bengals (1-2). Both Williams and White were injured in Buffalo's Week 3 win over the New England Patriots. McGee hasn't played since getting hurt in Buffalo's season-opening win at Kansas City.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Eagles' Vick: '100 percent' I'll play vs. 49ers

Vick practiced Wednesday and said there's a "100 percent" chance he starts when the Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) host San Francisco (2-1) on Sunday. Mike and Mike in the Morning ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter says Eagles QB Michael Vick put the officials on alert about how he's being tackled. Plus, Schefter says the Dolphins could fire coach Tony Sparano if they lose to the Chargers. More Podcasts " The star quarterback was initially diagnosed with a broken, non-throwing hand after getting hurt in a 29-16 loss to the New York Giants three days ago. But tests on Monday revealed he had a contusion on his right hand.

"Even if it was broke, I think I would have probably padded it up and went back out there," Vick said after a morning walkthrough. "You got to take precaution, but this is what I love to do." Vick hasn't finished two of Philadelphia's three games -- both losses. He suffered a concussion in a 35-31 loss at Atlanta on Sept. 18. "I just want to be there for my teammates and hold myself accountable for my responsibilities and what I have to do as a quarterback," he said. "So regardless of what I have to go through, I just want to be there." Coach Andy Reid said he wants to make sure Vick can take snaps without any problems. "Ball handling, obviously is very important, in particular under the center, that's where the problem would be," Reid said. "Shotgun, you can get away with it, but under the center you've got to be able to squeeze and right now that's not 100-percent. So, we've got to see. I don't know how fast it'll come back. I can't tell you that." Vick said he did everything at practice despite a little soreness. "I'm very encouraged," he said. Vick again apologized for criticizing the officials and saying he takes too many late hits without getting the benefit of a roughing-the-passer penalty. "I think I was frustrated because I got hit late and I hurt my hand on that play and I couldn't finish the game because of that," Vick said. "That was one of the reasons I was frustrated. I don't want any special treatment. All I want to do is go out and play my game. If they feel there's a need to make a call, then they'll make it. If not, then I won't say anything about it." Vick got a laugh out of the New York Post cover that had his face attached to a baby's body wearing an Eagles bib and holding a bottle. "My kids were killing me about that. That was a good one," Vick said. "I guess when you sit on the podium and you make excuses like that, then you're going to be labeled a crybaby, so maybe I did deserve it." Though still early, Vick and the Eagles find themselves in last place in the NFC East, as the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys are all 2-1. Notes The Eagles are making more changes at linebacker. After reshuffling all three of their starters last week, the Eagles have benched rookie Casey Matthews and replaced him with rookie Brian Rolle at the weak side. Matthews, a fourth-round pick, started the first two games in the middle before moving to the weak side. Rolle was a sixth-round pick out of Ohio State. "I guess the coaches felt the need for a new body in there," Rolle said. "I just look forward to the challenge and I'm going to have fun and make plays. I'm ready for it. I felt like I was ready out of college."... WR Jeremy Maclin missed practice with a hamstring injury and is day to day. ... WR Riley Cooper was cleared after sustaining a concussion against the Giants, and practiced. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Chiefs rookie WR Baldwin trying to return quickly

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jon Baldwin bristled at the notion that he's a diva, or anything short of a team player, even though the Chiefs wide receiver has missed his entire rookie season so far after hurting his thumb in an altercation with a teammate. The first-round draft pick spoke for the first time Wednesday since the injury. Baldwin said that he's been catching balls and running routes, and he hopes to be back on the field soon, even though he's leaving it up to coach Todd Haley to determine when that might be as the Chiefs prepare to host the Vikings in a matchup of 0-3 teams. "I'm very eager.

I'm a competitor," said Baldwin, who was listed as limited on the practice report Wednesday. "I'm just eager to get back there as soon as I can." Baldwin had a somewhat-tarnished reputation during his otherwise-successful career at Pittsburgh, where he was labeled by some critics as aloof. Still, the Chiefs gambled on his undeniable talent and imposing physical stature -- he's 6-foot-4, 230 pounds -- and selected him 26th overall. He was supposed to provide a deep threat to complement breakout star Dwayne Bowe, but his injury during training camp put the brakes on everything. Even though Baldwin has been at every team meeting and been a staple on the sidelines at practice, the missed time has kept him from getting up to speed and building a rapport with quarterback Matt Cassel. "It's disappointing not to be out there with my teammates," Baldwin said. "I really want to be out there with those guys, so I'm just doing everything as far as rehabbing and being out there." When asked whether Baldwin believes he's a good teammate, he said "definitely." "I'm around them every day, so they know what kind of person I am," Baldwin said, gazing around the locker room. "They know what kind of person I am, what I'm like." Baldwin's big-play potential can't arrive soon enough for a Chiefs offense that has struggled mightily through three losses to start the season. Kansas City is ranked 30th in the league in total offense, and just 31st in passing offense. "It's definitely going to help (having Baldwin available)," running back Dexter McCluster said. "He can run, he's physical, he can block, so that's another person that they have to worry about." McCluster said his rookie season last year was a big adjustment, but he didn't want to speculate how much the missed time has set Baldwin back. "He just needs to get used to game speed again, but the fast he comes along, the better we'll be," McCluster said. "It was a big adjustment for me, but everybody is different, so maybe not (for him). Hope not." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Titans confirm Britt tore ACL, MCL, out for year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Matt Hasselbeck thinks Kenny Britt might be the best player on the Tennessee roster. Now the quarterback and the rest of the Titans must see if they can keep winning without Britt the rest of this season. Coach Mike Munchak announced Monday that Britt tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee and will need season-ending surgery once the swelling subsides. Munchak called it unfortunate news both for Britt and the Titans.

"He was off to a great start this year as we all know, and he's a special player," Munchak said. "He's got a lot of work ahead of him. But he's young. We know that he'll be back next year." The news couldn't come at a worse time for the Titans (2-1) who are tied with Houston atop the AFC South with a two-game winning streak. The injury leaves Tennessee with four receivers, and team officials already are looking for someone to fill the spot on the roster. Munchak said they will be working out receivers Tuesday and should have a player added by practice Wednesday. Munchak also said he wouldn't rule anything out, but he doesn't see Terrell Owens, who remains unsigned as he recovers from his own torn ACL, and Randy Moss, who retired after finishing up last season in Tennessee, as options. Team sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Titans will sign wide receiver Justin Gage. Gage, an eight-year veteran, spent the past four seasons with Tennessee before being released in the final roster cut Sept. 3. Whoever is signed likely won't be able to help as the Titans visit Cleveland (2-1) on Sunday, then head to Pittsburgh (2-1) before their bye week. Replacing Britt will not be easy. The first-round pick out of Rutgers in 2009 was off to the best start of his career with his 289 yards receiving ranked fifth in the NFL even though his knee buckled underneath him in the second quarter of Sunday's 17-14 win over Denver. Hasselbeck called it horrible news for Britt. The quarterback said everyone feels bad for someone who has worked so hard and was enjoying a tremendous start to the season. "Personally from the day I got here, he was one of the guys that I really tried to invest a lot of my time and energy into," Hasselbeck said. "He's probably the most talented player on this team at any position, and he could be really special. I think he's showed glimpses of that, and he was really on fire and off to a great start. So for me, all that work, all that investment is going to have to wait." The Titans kept only five receivers on the roster in the final cuts. Nate Washington is the most experienced and is tied for third in the NFL with 21 receptions and 12th with 258 yards passing. The other three receivers came into this season with a combined 35 career catches. [+] Enlarge Jim Brown/US PresswireKenny Britt, in the midst of the best start of his career, will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL. Lavelle Hawkins, a fourth-round pick in 2008, already has matched the five catches he had in 2010. Damian Williams, a third round pick in 2011 out of Southern California, caught only 16 passes as a rookie. Marc Mariani didn't catch a pass in a game last season as a rookie when he was a Pro Bowl returner but has three so far this year. Tennessee currently is seventh in the NFL, averaging 310.7 yards passing per game with Hasselbeck off to the best start of his career in his 13th season, throwing for 932 yards. Munchak said Hasselbeck already has thrown passes to 12 different players, including 11 against Denver. "It's going to be a group effort," Munchak said. "You just don't make up for losing Kenny Britt and think one guy is going to come in and fill his shoes. He's one of those special players that I don't think you really fill his shoes. A lot of guys just can't do what he does. But I think as a group we can, and that's how we have to look at it." That includes the tight ends Jared Cook, who occasionally lines up wide outside, Craig Stevens and Daniel Graham. Stevens had a career-long 58-yard catch against Denver, while Graham caught his first pass this season for the game-winning touchdown. Hasselbeck said they can't magically create another Britt. He also noted practice got sloppy when Britt was out during training camp or even last week when he couldn't finish practice one day. In the fourth quarter, Hasselbeck said he thought Williams was running one route, while the receiver thought he was running another. The quarterback promised that won't happen again and that those young receivers are about to get experience. Whoever's open will be getting the ball. "It's not going to be business as usual," Hasselbeck said. "It's not going to be, 'Come in on a Tuesday and go through the motions.' You're going to have to work as hard as you've ever worked, and that might not even be good enough. Like people have to step up. I mean everybody." Notes LB Gerald McRath was sent for tests on his own knee Monday after he came in still feeling some soreness. He left the game late after falling on his knee awkwardly. But Munchak said they just want to make sure McRath is OK. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Peyton stands on Colts sideline during warmups

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made his first appearance in front of his home fans in nearly a month. During Sunday night's pregame warmups, Manning stood next to offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen as he threw passes to Dallas Clark. Manning then walked over to another receiver, Austin Collie, and slapped hands with his teammate. Manning's last appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium was Aug. 26 when he dressed in the same khaki slacks and blue-and-white golf shirt for a preseason game.

The four-time MVP has missed all three games this season after having neck surgery May 23 and another surgery Sept. 8. He was in the coaches' booth for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Source: Benson files NLRB complaint vs. NFLPA

Benson filed the charge, first reported by ProFootballTalk.com, over an Aug. 4 agreement the union made with the NFL that allowed eight players to be disciplined by the league for conduct during the league's lockout. The source told ESPN's Mortensen that as part of that agreement, 25 players were made exempt from discipline for conduct during the work stoppage. Among his arguments, Benson claims that since the NFLPA wasn't a union after decertifying during the lockout it had no right to make an agreement with the league on players who could be disciplined. However, the NFLPA reformed as a union before the side agreement.

The NFLPA also is emphasizing it never abandoned the right to challenge any discipline. Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib and Benson headlined the list, according to Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! also listed New England Patriots defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Underwood and defensive end Johnny Jolly and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Clark Haggans on the report. George Atallah, NFLPA assistant executive director, sent this email to ESPN.com on Saturday night: "We believe that no player should be subjected to discipline for incidents occurring during the lockout. The NFL and the NFLPA signed a side letter to the CBA that resolved and absolved the overwhelming majority of players of conduct related issues. We retain all of our rights and ability to challenge any player discipline related to incidents occurring during the lockout." Among those named by Yahoo! Sports, only Benson is facing league discipline. Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Thursday that Benson is facing a three-game suspension for two misdemeanor assault cases that landed him in jail for five days. Benson will have an appeal hearing Tuesday with the NFL to determine his fate, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton on Thursday. Perhaps preparing for Benson's absence, the Bengals will work out running back Larry Johnson, who recently was cut by the Miami Dolphins, on Tuesday, a league source told ESPN's Schefter. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Eagles' Vick practices again, will play against Giants

"There's no reason to think that I won't play on Sunday," Vick said. "I've had two good days of practice. I'm optimistic I'll be able to go out there and very excited to play." Eagles coach Andy Reid said that barring a setback, Vick will start against the team that has lost to Philadelphia six straight times.

Dolphins' Davis ruled out with hamstring injury

The game will be the first Davis has missed in his three NFL seasons. He'll be replaced by Nolan Carroll, who will make his second career start. Two other players in the secondary, safety Chris Clemons and nickel back Will Allen, were listed as questionable with hamstring injuries. Both were limited in practice Friday. Ruled out was defensive end Tony McDaniel, who has been sidelined since he broke his right hand in the season opener.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Colts say QB Collins should be OK to play

The injury limited Collins at Wednesday's practice, but coach Jim Caldwell says Collins should do more work on Thursday. It's unclear when the 38-year-old Collins was injured during last week's loss to Cleveland. The only other quarterbacks on Indy's active roster are Peyton Manning, who is expected to miss at least two months after having neck surgery, and Curtis Painter, who took some snaps with the starters Wednesday. Undrafted rookie Mike Hartline is on the practice squad. Caldwell says Manning could be in the coaches' booth Sunday if doctors clear him.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Source: Eagles believe Vick will play vs. Giants

Team sources told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that Vick split snaps with backup quarterback Mike Kafka with the first-team offense in Wednesday morning's walkthrough. "Kafka took the majority of them," one senior offensive player told ESPN. Vick suffered the concussion Sunday night in Philadelphia's 35-31 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta and was forced to leave the game in the second half. Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder on Wednesday said Vick doesn't have "a whole lot of concussion symptoms," and would undergo further testing, including seeing an independent neurologist in the next day or two. "Just because he doesn't have symptoms today doesn't mean he won't have symptoms tomorrow," Burkholder said.

"You can't predict." Vick did not practice in the afternoon. "It's hard to give you the future because you have to do things the right way and go through the process," Reid said. Vick threw for a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles (1-1), but couldn't continue after getting spun by a Falcons rusher into one of his teammates, right tackle Todd Herremans. He was replaced by Kafka. Kafka, a fourth-round pick last year, played well in his NFL debut. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 72 yards and finished off the touchdown drive after Vick got hurt. Kafka drove the Eagles to Atlanta's 22 in the final two minutes, but Jeremy Maclin dropped a pass on fourth-and-4. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities," Kafka said. "Coach Reid puts a lot on the quarterback and puts a lot on the offense, but I know we haven't made a decision on who's going to be the quarterback yet, so we're all working to get better. We're all working to get better at these little things that we have to hone in on." Vince Young, who was signed to be the backup, has missed the first two games with a hamstring injury. He's close to returning. "We're pretty fortunate to have three quarterbacks who can play the game," Reid said. "My message to all three of them was: 'Get ready accordingly.' Giants coach Tom Coughlin, in his Tuesday conference call with the media, said he expected Vick to play, and that New York was not putting together a different game plan without Vick in it. Since the NFL instituted new guidelines, only one Eagles player -- wide receiver Jason Avant -- has played the next game after suffering a concussion. However, Avant had two extra days off because a snowstorm postponed Philadelphia's game against Minnesota last December. "Every situation is different," Avant said. "I got up right away, immediately knew where I was, who hit me, what the score was." The Giants are hoping Vick plays, safety Antrel Rolle said Tuesday. "I want the best of the best," he said on his weekly radio spot with WFAN. "And he is the best. I hope Michael Vick plays, because at the end of the day, I don't want any excuses when we go down to Philly and put it to them the way we will." Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPN national correspondent Sal Paolantonio, ESPNNewYork.com Giants reporter Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Manning's dad says Colts QB 'in better spirits'

"I do not know. I really don't," Archie Manning, who recently visited Peyton in Indianapolis, said when asked if he thought Peyton would play this season. "He was sore after surgery, but he's finally feeling a little better after a week. ... He's in better spirits.

We'll see what happens." Archie Manning was at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Monday to see his son Eli help the New York Giants defeat the St. Louis Rams. Peyton Manning was at Colts practice on Monday. It was his first public appearance on the field since having neck surgery Sept. 8. Fox Sports, citing an unnamed source, reported Sunday that Manning traveled to Europe for stem-cell treatment before his latest surgery. The procedure has not yet been approved for use in the United States. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian and Tom Condon, Manning's agent, both declined to comment about the report following Sunday's 27-19 loss to Cleveland. On Monday, Manning's surgeons followed suit and Caldwell reiterated that the team would not provide any additional details about Manning's progress. Archie Manning said, "I don't know anything about it," when asked about the procedure reported by Fox Sports. Manning is expected to miss at least two months after having an anterior fusion to treat a nerve injury that was causing weakness in his triceps. The procedure normally involves making an incision in the front of the neck, removing soft disk tissue between the vertebrae and fusing the bones together with a graft. The goal is to ease pain or address a disk problem. Archie Manning said his son is "searching for what he's going to do in the next two months." "He wants to be around to help the Colts but he doesn't want to overload. He doesn't want to be out of place," he said. Peyton Manning had a prior surgery May 23, but that did not fix the problem. "He's convalescing from the surgery and that will take a little while yet, and then at some point, the doctors will bring him back and assess his situation," Polian said on his weekly Monday night radio show. "We're not sure when that will take place. He's up and around, I can tell you that. But it is surgery, and there is a period of time where it takes its toll on you, and that's where he's at right now." Manning's neck injury ended his streak of 227 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, and without him, the Colts have not been the same. They're off to their first 0-2 start since 1998, Manning's rookie season, and have scored only two touchdowns in eight quarters. Information from ESPNNewYork.com columnist Ian O'Connor and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Eagles trainer won't guess on Vick timeframe

Without Vick, Philadelphia couldn't hold onto the lead and lost 35-31 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. The Eagles (1-1) may again be without Vick for their home opener against the New York Giants. [+] Enlarge AP Photo/John AmisMichael Vick wasn't able to finish the game in Atlanta against his former team after leaving with a concussion. Coach Andy Reid didn't rule out Vick's return this week, but head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder wouldn't give a time. "That's foolish on our part medically to put time frame out there," Burkholder said Monday.

"Everybody wants to know time frame, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to play, everybody wants to know whether Mike's going to practice. We're going to go through our protocol and when Mike's ready to practice, I'm going to turn him over to coach and he's going to make a decision whether he's ready to play, had reps, all that kind of stuff." Vick was injured in the third quarter when he was spun around by a defender and slammed into right tackle Todd Herremans. His neck whipped back and he bit his tongue, which led to him spitting blood on his way off the field. Vick wasn't woozy and seemed fully alert. He certainly was aware of the score -- 31-21 in favor of the Eagles -- when he pointed it out to fans in the Georgia Dome on his way in for tests. Vick barely failed those baseline tests, so the medical staff kept him on the sideline. "He was just a little bit off, enough that we acted on the side of caution to hold him back as our standard protocol says," Burkholder said. "I was with him on the airplane. He was absolutely fine last night. As the days go on, we'll see, but last night he was pretty good. He told coach he was fine, he told his teammates he was fine, he told me he was fine, and he was very far along last night." Vick must pass several different tests and be evaluated by an independent neurologist before he can be cleared to return. The Pro Bowl quarterback had thrown for 242 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a starter in Atlanta since going to prison and being released by the Falcons. "There's a whole protocol to go through, and that's why we have it laid out so we're not guessing," Burkholder said. "That's why we have tests that we run, and all the protocol that we go through that we, the NFL and all the medical experts have put together, so there's a lot to do yet." Reid sounded encouraged by a conversation he had with Vick after the game. "He remembered everything," Reid said. "He recalled everything. I tried to quiz him and see where he was at. He was frustrated that he wasn't able to finish. He had a vested interest in finishing." Reid wouldn't say whether Mike Kafka or Vince Young would start if Vick can't play against the Giants. Kafka, a fourth-round pick in 2010, played well in his NFL debut against the Falcons. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 72 yards and finished off the touchdown drive after Vick got hurt. Kafka drove the Eagles to Atlanta's 22 in the final two minutes, but Jeremy Maclin dropped a pass on fourth-and-4. Reid blamed his conservative playcalling for the offense's inability to score on full drives without Vick. "I sent a message to our team and not a positive one," Reid said. "That is something I don't do, in particular given how much trust I have him (in Kafka). I'm kicking myself in the tail for that right now. "When you have a lead, you have to get after it and stay aggressive. Again, I didn't set the tempo from that. We're going to learn how to finish here, starting with me and the coaches and the rest of the guys." Young, a two-time Pro Bowl QB in Tennessee, was signed to be the backup, but he's been out with a hamstring injury. Kafka is more familiar with the offense since he was here last year. "I would have never traded Kevin Kolb if I didn't have trust in Mike Kafka," Reid said. "I didn't show that last night. I didn't prove it to you last night until the last series." Notes Reid said he hasn't decided whether the Eagles will need to add another QB given the injuries to Vick and Young. ... TE Brent Celek has a low back strain. DE Trent Cole has a strained tendon in his hand. DE Juqua Parker has a high ankle sprain and DE Darryl Tapp continues to recover from his pectoral strain that forced him to miss the game. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Sources: NFL likely to have HGH testing soon

The NFL is expected to have HGH testing within five to 10 days on a marginal level, according to sources from both the league and its players union, though there has been no agreement reached yet between the two sides. The NFL and NFLPA have received pressure from politicians, the latest being Sen. John McCain, who has joined those urging the league and union to commence testing. The union has balked at an aggressive program that would include game-day testing because it claims that agencies such as the World Anti-Doping Agency have not provided ample information to specific questions the NFLPA has on the scientific evidence it wants before moving forward with a full testing program. Among the requests that have not been satisfied, according to union sources, is population studies that provide data on the normal ranges of human growth hormone naturally produced by the body.

The NFL has maintained that scientists believe the testing procedures are reliable. If there is HGH testing agreed upon during the next 10 days, the union wants it done on a marginal level, sources said. But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league did not know what "marginal testing" means. Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN.

Texans RB Foster expected to play vs. Dolphins

Foster returned to practice this week after missing the season opener because of a left hamstring injury. "He looks ready to play," Kubiak said after practice Friday. "He's had a good week. I think he'll be fine. As long as there's no setbacks he's ready to go." Foster, who ran for 1,616 yards last season to lead the league, has been bothered with the injury for a month.

While Kubiak said he wouldn't put a play count on Foster, he didn't expect him to play as many snaps as he normally would. "We'll go out and play and I'll watch him and see how he's holding up," Kubiak said. "I would think that he's definitely not going to be a 60-play guy, like he normally is for us. He's a three-down player. We'll listen to Arian, (running backs coach) Chick (Harris) will watch him, we'll all watch him. Hopefully everything goes smooth." Foster said he can't wait to get back on the field, but wasn't sure how much he'd play. "That remains to be seen," he said. "I'm going to go out there and see how I feel and if I feel like it's not an issue and my conditioning isn't an issue, which I don't think it is, I'm going to play like I normally play." While Foster should return Sunday, the Texans will be without running back Derrick Ward who is out with a sprained right ankle. Ward started for Foster against the Colts and scored a touchdown. Kubiak said Ben Tate, who ran for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Colts after missing all of his rookie season last year with a broken ankle, would back up Foster and share the load against Miami. "Both of those guys will play and Steve (Slaton) is available if we need a third guy," Kubiak said. "He's definitely going to play. Our second guy is going to get some carries and play." Receiver Kevin Walter remained out of practice Friday with an injured left shoulder and Kubiak says they will work him out Saturday and Sunday morning and that he will be a game time decision. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Seahawks rule out Rice (shoulder) vs. Steelers

RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh. Coach Pete Carroll said after practice Friday that Rice won't make it back in time for Sunday but is encouraged he'll be available for the team's home opener next week against the Arizona Cardinals. Rice appeared in just two preseason games while nursing a sore shoulder that has carried over into the first two weeks of the regular season. Robert Gallery will get the start at left guard and linebacker David Hawthorne will be back as well after both missed the season opener with knee injuries.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Brees: Contract talks won't be a distraction

"I'm trying to compartmentalize it the best that I can," Brees said. " That's why I hired my agent. They all have a job to do. I'm hoping it will be done sooner rather than later, but for me really it's about focusing on winning games and trying for it to not be a distraction. " -- Drew Brees, on his contract talks "That's why I hired my agent.

They all have a job to do. I'm hoping it will be done sooner rather than later, but for me really it's about focusing on winning games and trying for it to not be a distraction." Brees is in the final year of the six-year, $60 million contract he signed with the Saints as a free agent in 2006. The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported that Brees agent, Tom Condon, was in New Orleans on Tuesday to meet with general manager Mickey Loomis to try to narrow their differences in negotiations. A source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter last week that the sides were far apart. "We spent a good deal of time together and had a substantial talk," Condon told the newspaper. While Brees' contract talks don't appear to be an issue as the Saints prepare to play the Chicago Bears, the health of the Saints' receiver corps is another matter. Marques Colston is out for a month with a sholder injury, but coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that he didn't bother reaching out to any proven free agent to see if they wanted to fill in. "We're deep enough and we feel good about guys we have," Payton said when asked about his receivers. The Saints' coach added that Lance Moore, who missed last week's season opener at Green Bay with a right groin pull, looked "pretty good" in Wednesday's practice and could return when the Bears visit New Orleans on Sunday. Payton said he is optimistic Colston's absence won't be longer than a month. Colston had a plate inserted in his right shoulder, the coach said, and is not wearing a sling. He could be seen on the sideline during Wednesday's practice tossing and catching a ball with his left hand. Moore missed nine games in 2009 with hamstring and ankle injuries, but the Saints still led the NFL in total offense, in part because Robert Meachem had his breakout season with a career-high 45 catches for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. Devery Henderson also had his best season in terms of catches (51) and yards (804) that season. Now that Colston is out again, and with Moore's status uncertain, the Saints are looking for 2008 draft choice Adrian Arrington to finally fulfill the potential he has shown in the past two preseasons. "I think we'll see his snap count go up. He's someone that knows all the different (receiver) positions," Payton said. "We've got a lot of confidence in his ability whether he's playing outside or he's playing in the slot. He's very intelligent, he's a big target and he's been here and knows exactly what we're doing, so the timing and the confidence level in him is very high." Brees also tends to look for running backs out of the backfield, as he did against the Packers, when Darren Sproles had seven catches for 75 yards. So while Brees said that Colston is "a big part of what we do," he also sounded as if he expected a passing game that accounted for more than 400 yards at Green Bay to continue to produce at a high rate. "I feel like what we've been really good at here over the last, going on six years now, is when a guy does go down, there's other guys that step up and fill that void and pick up the slack and usually do a great job," Brees said. "So I feel like Adrian Arrington, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Lance Moore -- all those guys -- will do a great job." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Rams' Bradford shows he's healthy at practice

A special glove designed to increase blood flow to the injury may have helped get him back on the field quickly. "Everyone says I look like Michael Jackson," Bradford said Wednesday, jokingly. "I'm not really sure what it does. They say it works and obviously my hand feels better, so I trust them."

Browns place punter McGee on IR, ink Maynard

CLEVELAND -- Browns punter Richmond McGee injured his back during warm-ups before Sunday's season opener, a possible explanation for his horrendous NFL debut. Agent David Canter said McGee suffered a herniated disk before Cleveland hosted Cincinnati, and that the injury was so bad that McGee was kicking without feeling in his legs. McGee averaged just 36 yards on eight punts, shanking his first one 20 yards and later following it with punts of 28 and 30 yards. The Browns placed McGee on injured reserve Tuesday. "He's extremely disappointed, but grateful he got the opportunity," Canter said of McGee, who was signed after Reggie Hodges went down with a season-ending injury.

The Browns signed veteran Brad Maynard, a 14-year veteran who spent the past 10 years with the Chicago Bears. He punted for Houston during the preseason but was waived by the Texans on Sept. 3. Canter said McGee "felt a twinge" while he was warming up on the field Sunday but decided to play. "He told me it got to the point during the game where he couldn't even feel his legs," Canter said. "I knew something was wrong, either he was hurt or he had forgotten how to kick. I felt bad for him because the fans were on him badly, so I called him after the game and he told me what happened." Canter said McGee does not need surgery. The Browns have been in a bind at punter since losing Hodges, who tore his Achilles in training camp on Aug. 2. Hodges was one of the AFC's top punters last season. Maynard could bring them experience as a punter and holder for Phil Dawson on extra points and field goals. The 37-year-old has kicked for the New York Giants and Bears, who released him on July 25. Maynard has averaged 41.9 yards per punt in his career. However his 40.1-yard average on 83 punts last season ranked him 32nd in the league, and his net average of 35.2 was 29th overall. Browns first-year special teams coach Chris Tabor spent the past three seasons with Maynard in Chicago. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Chargers lose kicker Kaeding for rest of season

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding is out for the season after MRI exams on Monday revealed he tore ligaments in his left knee. "He planted and he kind of got spread out and there was no contact on the play," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "It's about adversity and we'll handle it. Nate is unbelievable. Hopefully we can get someone who can be just as accurate." Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo will also be out for an extended period of time with a broken tibia in his left leg.

Turner wasn't sure yet if Castillo's injury would knock him out for the season and said further tests would be conducted Monday. A source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the team privately does not think Castillo will miss the season. Third year defensive lineman Vaughn Martin is expected to see extended playing time in Castillo's absence. "The way Vaughn Martin went out there and played at a real high level, he's an outstanding young football player," Turner said. "One of the things I felt last year is we played Luis and Jacques (Cesaire) too much, and these young guys we've wanted them to play more and now Vaughn will play a lot more." Kaeding injured his left knee on the opening kickoff of the game and Castillo injured his left leg in the fourth quarter. Both players were carted off the field after their injuries. Kaeding was not in the locker room when the media was allowed in after Sunday's game, but Castillo was wearing a large brace around his left knee and had crutches by his side as he spoke to trainers. Chargers punter Mike Scifres, who hadn't attempted a field goal in a game on any level since 2000 when he was at Western Illinois, took over place-kicking duties after Kaeding's injury. He hit a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game, hit all three extra point attempts he attempted and knocked two kickoffs out of the back of the end zone. Despite Scifres' performance, Turner said the Chargers would sign a replacement kicker immediately from a short list he has already assembled. That list includes Ricky Schmitt, who was with the team in camp, and Kris Brown, who was on the team last season. "I think that you go down the wrong road when you ask a guy to do that," Turner said of Scifres kicking and punting. "The punters I've been around who've had to kick end up with leg problems. We had a guy tear a muscle on the side during the bye week. I just don't know if that's in our best interest." The Chargers were able to avoid another injury scare Sunday when running back Mike Tolbert, who had three touchdowns and 93 yards rushing and receiving, limped off the field in the fourth quarter. Tolbert was walking without a limp after the game and brushed off the injury when he was asked about it. "Mike's doing good," Turner said Monday. "Mike got banged around pretty good. He's obviously a very physical player. I don't expect him to miss any time." Arash Markazi is a reporter and columnist for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow Arash Markazi on Twitter: @ArashMarkazi

Rice, Gallery inactive for Seahawks vs. Niners

SAN FRANCISCO -- Seattle Seahawks receiver Sidney Rice and guard Robert Gallery are inactive for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. The two were among Seattle's biggest offseason acquisitions. Rice has been bothered by a sore shoulder and Gallery has a sprained right knee suffered in the preseason finale against Oakland. Golden Tate started in Rice's place, and Paul McQuistan took Gallery's spot. For the 49ers, starting free safety Dashon Goldson was among the inactives.

He hasn't practiced since last week because of a sore knee. Madieu Williams started in his place. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Sources: Pryor to appeal five-game suspension

The union is seeking confirmation from Pryor before it files the appeal.

Ravens line coach suspended 2 games for DWI

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The NFL on Friday suspended Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller for two games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, and fined him $47,000. The suspension stems from Moeller being found guilty of a driving while impaired by alcohol charge last spring. Assistant line coach and former NFL offensive lineman Todd Washington will coach the line against the Steelers on Sunday, and against the Titans in Tennessee the following week. "We knew this was coming," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

"We've prepared for it. Todd has done a very good job. He's a very good coach. Andy has set things up very well. It's a group effort." The 47-year-old Moeller received a 60-day jail sentence last spring that was suspended for all but two days that were served at a lockdown treatment facility last November. He also was given probation and other requirements related to abstaining from alcohol. It was Moeller's third alcohol-related arrest in the past four years. "I take total responsibility for my actions, and I'm committed to the programs the Ravens and others have afforded me," Moeller said in a statement last spring. "I really appreciate the support the Ravens have given me." Moeller replaced offensive line coach John Matsko after last season when Matsko was fired. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Giants unconcerned about Redskins' Cofield talk

ASHBURN, Va. -- Let's get the friendly trash-talk out of the way first. Washington Redskins defensive tackle Barry Cofield, after playing five years with the New York Giants, is telling tales on his pals as he prepares to face his old team on Sunday. Cofield, with a smile: "Every weakness I think they've got, is going to be shared with my new teammates." Giants defensive end Justin Tuck: "If he thinks we're dumb enough to not change them, he's crazy." Then there's that "Taser dance" that Cofield does when he makes a sack, a shimmy that looks as if it belongs in an old Michael Jackson video. Cofield's not planning a more hyped-up version if he gets to Eli Manning.

Cofield: "It's already a hyped-up dance, I'm just hoping I'm able to bring it out." Tuck: "I'm just going to try to make sure that I do his sack dance before he does." Cofield took fond memories and friendships with him when he left the Giants for a big free agent payday, signing a 6-year, $36 million deal with $12.5 million guaranteed to come to Washington at the end of the NFL lockout. He stays in touch with his old teammates and can't wait to see them. "After the game, I'll hug everybody," Cofield said. "Everybody on the roster gets a hug." Cofield has already proven himself worthy of hugs many times over during his first month or so with the Redskins, if nothing else for simply being the anti-Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth sulked over the idea of trying to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense; Cofield has embraced it. Haynesworth became a pariah; Cofield is a natural leader. "We needed a player like that, a player that's selfless," linebacker Brian Orakpo said, "that's going to come out there, use his big body to fill up those gaps for us and put pressure on the quarterback, push the pocket, everything that a good nose tackle in a 3-4 would do. You see it in Casey Hampton, you see it in all those other guys around the league. That's what they do, and Barry's doing that for us." Cofield is also doing a good job of debunking the notion that NFL players need all of those offseason minicamps and other workouts to learn a scheme and mesh with a new team. Teammates say he fit in seamlessly and picked up the new defense flawlessly in just a few weeks -- even in the compressed timetable caused by the lockout. That's because he's a top-notch student. Remember those awkward days at the start of training camp when the new free agents could attend practice but not take part because of the funky post-lockout rules? While the other non-participants stood and watched, Cofield pulled out a pen and was taking notes on his play sheet. During the long days of camp, Cofield said he put in an extra hour of study every night -- examining film or the play book -- so he could get up to scratch in a hurry. "It's something I knew I had to have coming to a new defense, and being on such a truncated schedule, not having a whole offseason," Cofield said. "I knew it was something that I was going to have to focus on, learning the nuances of playing nose tackle, studying some Casey Hampton tape, guys like that who have been doing it. I feel like I'm ahead of schedule." As of last week, Cofield said his comfort level was at 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. He's also had success lobbying defensive coordinator Jim Haslet to get some playing time on third down as part of the nickel package. "I'm just another piece to the puzzle," Cofield said. "I know I can add that dimension. I'm not your prototypical nose tackle who's 340 pounds and just plays in a phone booth. I play sideline-to-sideline." Cofield is listed at 306 pounds, small for his position. But he says that was his weight from the NFL Combine five years ago and it's never been updated. "I'm a little bigger than a lot of people think I am," he said. "A gentleman never reveals his weight." Cofield realizes he'll be scrutinized to see if he's worth his contract. He gets to start from a low bar -- the Redskins had the second worst defense in the league last year. Right now, though, it's time to figure out a way to best channel the adrenaline when he sees Tuck and friends on Sunday. "It's a dream scenario," Cofield said. "So to go out there and play well on that stage, my first game as a Redskin, against my old team and all the significance, it'll be a great feeling." Game notes TE Chris Cooley was limited in practice again Thursday with the ailing left knee that sidelined him throughout preseason. "He's making some strides," coach Mike Shanahan said. "Hopefully, he keeps on going and there's no setback." ... S LaRon Landry (hamstring) did not practice again Thursday. Landry has already said he doesn't expect to play Sunday, and Shanahan called him a "long shot." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Manning 'disappointed' he'll miss Colts' opener

Exactly 227 consecutive starts. Eleven playoff appearances. Eleven double-digit winning seasons. Eight division crowns. Two AFC titles.

One Super Bowl championship. Peyton Manning has quarterbacked the Indianapolis Colts every Sunday since Sept. 6, 1998. He won't this weekend. Manning will be in street clothes when the team opens the season at Houston, still recovering from neck surgery while Kerry Collins starts in his place. "It's going to be a little different without Peyton," coach Jim Caldwell said. "He's one of a kind. When you look across our league, most teams have had quarterbacks that have missed time. Ours has just been highly unusual." The streak is the second longest in history among NFL quarterbacks behind only Brett Favre, whose 297-game run -- 321 including the postseason -- ended last season just before he called it a career. Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo was 10 years old when Manning's streak began. Veteran center Jeff Saturday has never snapped the ball to another quarterback to start a game during his pro career. In fact, no player on Indy's roster has participated in a regular-season or playoff game for the Colts without No. 18 at the controls. Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Peyton's younger brother, now holds the longest active streak for a quarterback with 110 starts, including postseason play. He said he had not talked to his brother for a few weeks. "I know he was dealing with a lot," the younger Manning said. "I don't know how he is feeling and what's going on. I know he wants to be out there. He gave his all and he will give his all to be back out there." The Colts had hoped the 35-year-old Manning would recover while developing a backup plan. Collins, who was brought out of retirement just two weeks ago to run the Colts' pass-heavy offense, has been preparing as though he would start. "I expect to run the offense, bottom line," he said. "Make plays when they're there, be smart with the ball, make good reads, good decisions, get us into the right plays when the situation calls for it. I'm going into this week thinking I'm going to run the offense as best I can." Defensive end Dwight Freeney said the Colts still expect to play at a championship level. "Obviously, we're not used to not having him (Manning) out there," Freeney said. "He's a great player. There are 52 other guys on the team, and one guy does not win the game." The Texans don't expect an easy game because Manning won't play. They are familiar with Collins, who played for AFC South rival Tennessee last year. "I think he's a hell of a player," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of Collins. "He's been successful against us. My focus right now is on our team. We've got to get ourselves ready to play. It doesn't matter who you play, or whatever, it matters how you play in this business. We've got to prepare to get ready to win a game." Manning had been listed as doubtful for the game, but losing him for any time is a shock to Indy fans, not to mention his teammates. Not only has the four-time NFL MVP never missed a start, he's rarely missed practice. Manning sat out one week of training camp in 1998 before signing his rookie contract. A decade later, he missed all of training camp in 2008 because he underwent surgery twice to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. The only other time his playing status was in doubt was 2001 after he was injured at Minnesota in a preseason game. "To say I am disappointed in not being able to play is an understatement," Manning said in a release from the team. "The best part about football is being out there on the field playing with my teammates. It will be tough not to be out there playing for the organization and our fans. I simply am not healthy enough to play, and I am doing everything I can to get my health back. The team will do fine without me, and I know for sure that I will miss them much more than they miss me." Manning had neck surgery to repair a nerve May 23, but the recovery has taken much longer than the expected 6-8 weeks that would have put him back on the field for the start of training camp. Instead, he started camp on the physically unable to perform list and wasn't activated until last Monday. He did limited work at practice last week, which led to complaints about back pain. The team issued a statement saying that team doctors had re-evaluated Manning and instructed him to stop practicing while he undergoes more tests. No additional surgery has been scheduled. Caldwell said the bad news only became clear Wednesday. "We always knew it was a chance," he said. "That's what doubtful means. You always have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best." Caldwell said he had confidence in Collins, who was lured out of retirement by the Colts as Manning's recovery dragged on. "The guy's thrown for 40,000 yards. He can throw the ball," Caldwell said. Collins has made 177 career starts and been to two Pro Bowls. He took the Carolina Panthers to the 1996 NFC Championship game and the New York Giants to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season. He helped Tennessee post the AFC's best record (13-3) in 2008. Still, he has had less than two weeks to learn Indy's offense, which has traditionally called plays at the line of scrimmage. He didn't even play with Pro Bowlers Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark in a preseason game, and the Colts will open the season with three new starters on the offensive line and a fourth, former right tackle Ryan Diem, moving inside to guard. He also now carries the expectations of fans hoping Indy can become the first host team to play in the Super Bowl in February. Collins says he's ready to step in. "I really do feel like I've come a long way in a short period of time," he said. "Now that we're into game planning, things are a little more focused and a little more centralized on what we're trying to accomplish. My comfort level is still pretty high." -- AP Sports Writers Chris Duncan and Tom Canavan contributed to this report. --- Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Saints extend coach Payton through '15 season

The Saints announced on Monday that Payton, who coached New Orleans to its first Super Bowl championship two seasons ago, has agreed to an extension through 2015. The deal carries Payton through what would be his 10th season since he joined the Saints in 2006, shortly after the team's miserable 3-13 2005 campaign that was defined in large part by displacement to San Antonio because of Hurricane Katrina. "It is good news, and I would start ... by recognizing the significant role that (general manager) Mickey Loomis and (owner) Tom Benson have had in not just this contract for me, but the stability and the success we've had as an organization," Payton said. "I'm very thankful to have that opportunity here for another five years." Including three trips to the postseason in his first five seasons, Payton has a 53-33 record with New Orleans.

In his first season, he coached the Saints to their first NFC title game. In his fourth season, the Saints made the only Super Bowl appearance in the franchise's 44-year history, beating the Indianapolis Colts. "Our goal is to continue to build a tradition of winning here in New Orleans and Sean represents that tradition," Benson said. Payton's previous contract was due to expire after the 2012 season. Last winter, Saints fans became nervous that Payton may have designs on coaching elsewhere when he chose to move his family's permanent home from suburban New Orleans to Dallas, where he had been an assistant for three years before taking the New Orleans job. Payton insisted he was happy with the Saints and that moving his family was a personal decision. After the new contract was announced, Loomis said the front office was confident Payton preferred to maintain what he has helped build in New Orleans rather than start over somewhere else. "I don't think going to another team is part of the consideration here at all," Loomis said. "Sean clearly wanted to remain the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. We clearly wanted him to remain. ... It was just a matter of working out details. "The relationship Sean and I have is pretty strong and I value it," Loomis added. "Obviously, I'm happy for the success that we've had here, really happy with the job that he's done. ... I'm just hoping it continues for a long, long time -- not just this extension, but for years beyond it." The terms of the contract were not released. Loomis would say only that it was "a good deal for Sean, a good deal for the club." Payton also has a tight relationship with quarterback Drew Brees, who is in the final season of a six-year deal he signed only months after Payton took over in New Orleans. While Loomis dismissed the notion that Payton's extension hinged on the prospects of a parallel extension for Brees, he added, "Clearly we're in discussions with Drew and his guy (agent Tom Condon). I think I'll just leave it at that." Payton also said his new contract "wasn't tied" to an extension for Brees, but added that he has "full confidence" the Saints and Brees will eventually reach a new deal. The Saints open the regular season Thursday night at Green Bay. Players learned of their coach's new contract as they went into the locker room at team headquarters following Monday's practice. Starting right tackle Zach Strief, part of Payton's first draft class in 2006, said the timing of the new deal made sense. "There's kind of a cycle in professional sports, and certainly in football, there's times when it's really like your opportunity to win," Strief said. "Having Drew here, having the defense set up like it is, the guys that are in the locker room, this is kind of our opportunity to be successful, and he built that from literally the ground up. And I think he certainly wants to be a part of seeing it out." Strief said it was also gratifying to see Payton rewarded for the courage he showed in coming to New Orleans less than six months after Katrina left much of the city in ruins. Plus for taking on a turnaround project that held the potential to drastically improve the morale of residents struggling with the early stages of the recovery from the storm. "The situation he chose to come into says a lot about him," Strief said. "Getting somebody like him that was able to turn this organization in the right direction -- it's certainly been fun to be a part of." Game notes TE John Gilmore formally joined the Saints for practice a day after Payton said he had agreed to terms with the club. To make room for Gilmore on the 53-man active roster, the Saints released reserve LB Ramon Humber. ... New Orleans added WR Montez Billings and offensive linemen Dennis Landholt and Will Robinson to their practice squad, and made room for them by releasing LS Kyle Nelson, C Cecil Newton and QB Sean Canfield. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Tressel won't start Colts job until seventh game

Roundup: Larry Johnson released by Dolphins

Two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson was among those released by the Miami Dolphins to meet the NFL's mandated roster limit of 53 players. Johnson, who had his contract terminated Saturday, signed last week after sitting out most of last season when his career was derailed by a series of off-the-field missteps. Miami also terminated the contracts of cornerback Will Allen, a veteran who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and fullback Lousaka Polite, an eighth-year veteran who started 24 games over the past three seasons. Placed on injured reserve with a toe injury was backup tackle Lydon Murtha. The Dolphins waived two of their four quarterbacks, Pat Devlin and Kevin O'Connell.

Jaguars place Jennings on IR, waive Carey The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed backup running back Rashad Jennings on injured reserve and waived safety Don Carey, who started 10 games last season. The Jaguars also placed cornerback David Jones, defensive end Aaron Morgan, running back Richard Murphy and defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith on IR. The team acquired defensive back Dwight Lowery in a trade with the New York Jets, allowing the team to part ways with Carey. Other notable players waived were running back DuJuan Harris, defensive end Larry Hart and cornerback Terrence Wheatley. Return specialist Scotty McGee was waived/injured. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the team's injured reserve list. Olshansky, Gronkowski among Dallas' cuts Demoted defensive lineman Igor Olshansky, last year's starting fullback Chris Gronkowski and veteran kickers Shayne Graham and Dave Rayner were among the players the Dallas Cowboys released. The departure of the experienced legs means the Cowboys are sticking with David Buehler and Dan Bailey. Buehler almost certainly will handle kickoffs. It remains to be seen whether there's still a competition for field goals, or if that will be Bailey's role. Olshanky's release was no surprise because he was dropped in the rotation. Cutting him saves more than $3.3 million against the salary cap. Bears release Taylor, after all The Chicago Bears made it official and let running back Chester Taylor go, bringing an expected end to a wild chain of events. Taylor appeared to be on the way out for a while, hinting he was finished in Chicago early in the week. He did not play in the third preseason game at Tennessee and left team headquarters thinking he had been released after a meeting with coach Lovie Smith on Monday. He was back practicing the next day and started the exhibition-finale against Cleveland on Thursday, struggling for 27 yards on 10 attempts. He said afterward he wasn't sure about his future in Chicago. "I still love football," he said Thursday. "I still love playing the game. I still believe I can help a team win." The Bears terminated the veteran's contract along with tight end Desmond Clark. They also waived defensive tackle Marcus Harrison and eight other players while placing rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas on IR with a hip problem. Colts put Harris' career in limbo Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris was hoping to revive his career in Indianapolis. He didn't even make it to opening day, one of 27 players waived by the Colts. Harris made three straight Pro Bowls with the Bears from 2005-07 and was a key cog in the team's Super Bowl run during the 2006 season. He was hindered by injuries the past three seasons and was released by the Bears in February before the lockout. The four other veteran free agents Indy signed in August -- defensive linemen Jamaal Anderson and Tyler Braxton, quarterback Kerry Collins and linebacker Ernie Sims -- all made the roster. All are former first-round picks. The Colts also released two of their eight draft picks from 2010 -- guard Jacques McClendon and defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews. A third defensive back, Ray Fisher, didn't make the team last year. Receiver Taj Smith, Indy's leading receiver during the preseason, was placed on the waived-injured list after receiver Blair White was activated from the physically unable to perform list. Undrafted rookie David Gilreath, who was competing for the kick and punt returner job, was waived, too. Rams cut Avery, Gilyard, keep Alexander Wide receivers Donnie Avery and Mardy Gilyard were among 20 players waived by the St. Louis Rams. The Rams decided to keep deep threat Danario Alexander despite concerns about his left knee, which has undergone five operations. Wide receiver Mark Clayton, signed last week while still rehabbing a surgically repaired knee, was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. St. Louis also gave the backup quarterback job to A.J. Feeley by waiving Thaddeus Lewis, who made a strong challenge in the preseason after spending last year on the practice squad. Linebacker Zac Diles, signed to a free-agent deal this summer, also was cut. The Rams also waived defensive backs Tim Atchison and Tae Evans; tight end Demarco Crosby; defensive backs Tae Evans and Jonathan Nelson; defensive tackles Marlon Favorite, John Henderson and Daniel Muir; offensive tackles Kevin Hughes and Ryan McKee; wide receiver Greg Mathews; guard Quinn Ojinnaka; tight end Fendi Onobun; running backs Chase Reynolds and Keith Toston; and defensive end George Selvie. Steelers prefer Sepulveda at punter The Pittsburgh Steelers waived punter Jeremy Kapinos, offensive lineman Tony Hills, tight end John Gilmore, defensive lineman Jarrett Crittenton and defensive back Crezdon Butler were cut. Kapinos had been in a spirited battle with Dan Sepulveda during training camp and actually had a better average (49.8) than Sepulveda (45.7) during the preseason. Hills, a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in the 2008 draft, failed to impress during camp despite extended looks at guard. Gilmore, signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay last month, had just one reception during the four exhibitions and was beat out by undrafted rookie Weslye Saunders for one of the three spots. Saints put Ivory on PUP list The Saints put Chris Ivory, who led the team in rushing last season despite playing in only 12 games, on the physically unable to perform list. Ivory has yet to recover from offseason foot surgery or sports hernia surgery. After missing all of training camp on the failed physical list, he'll be out at least six weeks. By placing Ivory on the PUP list, the Saints will head into Thursday's season opener at Green Bay with four running backs, including first-round pick Mark Ingram and free agent acquisition Darren Sproles. Joique Bell earned his way onto the roster after leading the team in preseason with 182 yards on 31 carries. Meanwhile, safeties Chris Reis and Pierson Prioleau were let go after being key members of the Saints' special teams unit the past two seasons. Lions cut Harris, Vasher, WR Williams The Detroit Lions released Nick Harris, their punter since the 2003 season, and put undrafted rookie Ryan Donahue on the roster. Detroit also released defensive back Nathan Vasher and receiver Derrick Williams. The Lions also activated cornerback Alphonso Smith off the non-football injury list and put tackle Johnny Culbreath on the injured list. Detroit's other cuts included: linebacker Caleb Campbell, fullback Matt Clapp, running back Ian Johnson, quarterback Zac Robinson, defensive back Ricardo Silva and receiver Tim Toone. Jets trade Lowery to Jags in two-deal day The New York Jets have traded defensive back Dwight Lowery to the Jaguars for an undisclosed conditional draft choice. New York also acquired guard Caleb Schlauderaff from Green Bay, also for an undisclosed conditional draft choice. The Jets have cut 26 players, including wide receivers Scotty McKnight, a childhood friend of quarterback Mark Sanchez, and Patrick Turner, a former teammate of Sanchez's at USC. Among those making New York's initial roster is linebacker Aaron Maybin, the former Buffalo first-round pick who was released by the Bills after two unproductive seasons. Lowery spent three seasons as a versatile safety and cornerback for the Jets after being drafted in the fourth round out of San Jose State. Titans trade draft pick to Packers The Tennessee Titans traded a future draft pick to the Packers for fullback Quinn Johnson to replace Ahmard Hall during his four-game suspension. The 6-foot-1, 263-pound Johnson has played in 20 NFL games, including four starts last season for the Packers. The Titans have a roster exemption for star running back Chris Johnson. Tennessee also placed receiver Kevin Curtis and offensive tackle Adam Terry on injured reserve, and placed receiver Yamon Figurs and cornerback Pete Ittersagen on the waived-injured list. They reached an injury settlement with defensive end Jacob Ford, who struggled to stay healthy since being drafted in the sixth round in 2007. Tennessee also waived receiver Justin Gage, safety Robert Johnson, cornerback Frank Walker, guard Ryan Durand and defensive end Pannel Egboh. Minimal notable cuts for Chargers There were few surprises among the San Diego Chargers' cuts, but receiver Seyi Ajirotutu and defensive lineman Ogemdi Nwagbuo, who has been with the team since 2009, rank among the notable cuts. Rookie quarterback Scott Tolzien was also released after a productive preseason, but the team hopes he clears waivers and can be added to the practice squad. Among the players to make the cut is veteran inside linebacker Stephen Cooper, who has continued playing despite a torn biceps tendon that will require surgery. Outside linebacker Darryl Gamble is the only undrafted free agent to make the squad, earning a roster spot with a productive preseason where he played the majority of snaps because of injury to veterans. Even after a solid preseason, Gamble wasn't sure if he'd have a job. Seahawks' 20 cuts include Cole, Gibson The Seattle Seahawks released veteran defensive tackle Colin Cole and offensive lineman Mike Gibson among their 20 roster cuts. The Seahawks also placed defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson on injured reserve after Wilkerson suffered a knee injury in Friday night's preseason finale against Oakland. The Seahawks cut just one draft pick, releasing safety Mark LeGree, who was a fifth-round pick out of Appalachian State. Seattle cut safety Josh Pinkard as well after undrafted free agent Jeron Johnson out of Boise State impressed during training camp. Other undrafted rookies to make Seattle's final roster include QB Josh Portis and WR Doug Baldwin. Panthers poised to make some moves The Carolina Panthers, who have first dibs on all waiver claims, kept only three cornerbacks and three defensive tackles, so they'll be looking for help outside the organization at those two positions in the next day or two. The most notable cuts included defensive tackles Corvey Irvin and Nick Hayden, running backs Tyrell Sutton and Josh Vaughan, and fullback Tony Fiammetta. The Panthers also cut wide receivers Wallace Wright, Charly Martin, Darvin Adams and Jamorris Warren; tight end Greg Smith; offensive linemen Ryan Pugh, Jacob Bender and John Gianninoto; defensive linemen Malcolm Tatum, Ugo Chinasa and DelJuan Robinson; linebackers Lawrence Wilson and Sean Ware; cornerbacks Robert McClain, Chevis Jackson, C.J. Wilson and Kendric Burney; safety Michael Greco and kicker Adi Kunalic. The team placed offensive lineman Garry Williams on injured reserve after he fractured his ankle in Thursday night's preseason finale against Pittsburgh and cornerback Brandon Hogan on the physically unable to perform list, which means he's out at least six more weeks. Ravens let go of Gooden, Hardy Linebacker Tavares Gooden and wide receiver James Hardy were among 25 players cut by the Baltimore Ravens, who also placed offensive tackle Ramon Harewood on IR. The Ravens also terminated the contract of linebacker Prescott Burgess. Gooden is a former third-round draft pick from the University of Miami. Harewood is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his ankle. Hardy, a former Buffalo Bills second-round draft pick, got off to a good start in training camp but missed much of the preseason with a chronic hamstring problem. Burgess led the Ravens in special-teams tackles over the past two seasons. Baltimore also cut former fourth-round pick Marcus Smith, a wide receiver. Falcons release John Parker Wilson The Falcons have cut quarterback John Parker Wilson and nine others, including 2011 seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson, an offensive guard from Fresno State. The cuts leave the Falcons with Chris Redman as the only backup to starting quarterback Matt Ryan. Wilson, from Alabama, was Atlanta's third quarterback but did not appear in a game in 2010. The team also cut center Brett Romberg, safety Rafael Bush, receivers Kevin Cone and Drew Davis, linebacker Robert James, defense end Emmanuel Stephens and tackle Jose Valdez. The team reached an injury settlement with tight end Ryan Winterswyk. Two undrafted rookies, cornerback Darrin Walls of Notre Dame and defensive tackle Carlton Powell of Virginia Tech, made the team. Josh McCown among 49ers' cuts After that much-publicized search for a third quarterback, Josh McCown was among 26 players released by the San Francisco 49ers. Whether parting ways with McCown means the Niners have their eyes on another QB who might become available is unclear. San Francisco has starter Alex Smith and rookie second-round pick Colin Kaepernick. The team opens its first season under coach Jim Harbaugh next Sunday against the defending NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco also placed tight end Nate Byham on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury. Cornerback Phillip Adams, guard Tony Wragge and wideout Dominique Zeigler also were released. The 32-year-old McCown, who spent last season with the United Football League's Hartford Colonials, has passed for 6,584 career yards and 35 touchdowns with Arizona, Detroit, Oakland and Carolina. Packers cut 23 players The Green Bay Packers released 23 players, including third-string quarterback Graham Harrell, and traded two more players to get down to the 53-man limit. Fullback Quinn Johnson was traded to Tennessee for an undisclosed draft pick, and rookie guard Caleb Schlauderaff, a sixth-round pick, was dealt to the Jets, also for an undisclosed pick. The other players released were wide receivers Diondre Borel, Tori Gurley, Kerry Taylor and Chastin West; safeties Anthony Bratton, Anthony Levine and Brandon Underwood; offensive linemen Chris Campbell and Ray Dominguez; nose tackles Chris Donaldson and Jay Ross; linebackers Ricky Elmore, Cardia Jackson and Elijah Joseph; center Sampson Genus; cornerbacks Josh Gordy and Brandian Ross; fullback Jon Hoese; defensive end Eli Joseph; center/guard Nick McDonald; and running backs Dimitri Nance and Brandon Saine. Chiefs put tight end Moeaki on IR The Kansas City Chiefs put Tony Moeaki on injured reserve after the second-year tight end was hurt in their final preseason game against Packers. The Chiefs also put linebacker Gabe Miller on IR and waived 25 other players to reach the 53-man limit. The loss of Moeaki is a significant blow to the defending AFC West champions. Moeaki caught 47 passes for 556 yards and three touchdowns last season. That leaves tight ends Leonard Pope, Jake O'Connell and Anthony Becht to fill in, though Kansas City could add someone else off waivers. Raiders cut backup QB Edwards The Oakland Raiders released backup quarterback Trent Edwards and longtime linebacker Sam Williams. Among the other notable players cut were three defensive backs from last year's draft. Cornerbacks Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware, and safety Stevie Brown were among the 26 players cut. Oakland also released former Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard a little more than a week after he was brought in as a free agent. The Raiders kept all eight of this year's draft picks on the active roster. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, taken in the supplemental draft last month, does not count against the roster until after serving his five-game suspension. Redskins cut two quarterbacks The Washington Redskins cut quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Matt Gutierrez. Among the veterans who failed to make the cut was offensive lineman Artis Hicks, who started 10 games for the Redskins last season but has been supplanted by free agent signing Chris Chester. Of the Redskins' three backup offensive linemen, eight-year veteran Sean Locklear is the only one with NFL experience. Eight of the team's 12 draft picks made the roster. Sixth-round running back Evan Royster, sixth-round receiver Aldrick Robinson and seventh-round offensive lineman Maurice Hurt were cut, and second-round defensive end Jarvis Jenkins is on injured reserve with a torn knee ligament. Also cut were receivers Aldrick Robinson and Isaac Anderson; linebackers Edgar Jones, Horatio Blades and Thaddeus Gibson; nose tackle Anthony Bryant; tackles Clint Oldenburg and Selvish Capers; tight ends Derek Schouman and Tony Curtis; running backs Keiland Williams and Shaun Draughn; safeties Anderson Russell and Chris Horton; cornerback Reggie Jones; center Donovan Raiola; and defensive ends Jeff Stehle and Doug Worthington. Veterans Cook, Dugan, Farwell waived The Minnesota Vikings waived offensive lineman Ryan Cook, tight end Jeff Dugan and linebacker Heath Farwell, three vested veterans who've been valuable backups for several seasons. Cook and Chris DeGeare, a fifth-round draft pick last year, were waived in favor of rookies Brandon Fusco and DeMarcus Love as reserves on the offensive line. Rookie Allen Reisner, undrafted out of Iowa, made the team instead of Dugan as a backup tight end. Farwell was also beaten out by undrafted rookie, Larry Dean from Valdosta State. Bills veteran center Hangartner among final cuts The lack of experienced depth along the Buffalo Bills' offensive line grew even thinner after veteran center Geoff Hangartner was among the team's cuts. Hangartner was among 22 players released four days after telling The Associated Press he had assurances from the Bills' coaching staff that he would make the team. He's a six-year NFL veteran who had lost his starting job at center to Eric Wood this offseason. Coach Chan Gailey said he never provided Hangartner any assurances. "I've never said that," Gailey said. Hangartner wasn't available for comment. His agent, Eric Metz, declined comment except to say, "After 27 years of this, it's all about actions, not words." Buffalo also cut three more offensive linemen, second-year tackle Cordaro Howard, third-year guard Mansfield Wrotto and rookie center Michael Switzer. Second-year tackle Ed Wang (shoulder) was one of four players placed on the waived injured list. Browns release 27, put RB Jackson on IR The Cleveland Browns released 27 players and put running back Brandon Jackson on season-ending injured reserve with a toe injury. Jackson signed a two-year, $4.5 million free agent contract with Cleveland before training camp opened. He got hurt in an Aug. 19 exhibition against Detroit and has been in a cast for two weeks. The Browns have not specified his injury and given no timetable for his return. Despite having plenty of money to spend in free agency, the Browns were not aggressive while other teams splurged. The one significant move they did make was getting Jackson, a key contributor for the Super Bowl champion Packers last season. The Browns had planned to use Jackson on third downs and to spell Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty, who is coming off knee surgery. That job now goes to Armond Smith, an undrafted free agent from Union College. Smith had some nice moments during the exhibition season, breaking off an 81-yard touchdown run against Detroit, but he also had trouble holding onto the ball. The Browns also released third-string quarterback Jarrett Brown, who could clear waivers and be added to the practice squad. Ogbonnaya, Adibi among Texans' cuts Running back Chris Ogbonnaya, linebacker Xavier Adibi and defensive tackle Damione Lewis were among the players released by the Texans. Houston also waived veteran punter Brad Maynard; receivers Dorin Dickerson, Trindon Holliday, Jeff Maehl and Derrick Townsel; running back Javarris Williams; fullback Zac Pauga; offensive tackles Peter Hendrickson and Cole Pemberton; centers Cody Wallace and Howard Barbieri; guard Andrew Gardner; and long snapper Scott Albritton. On the defensive side, Houston cut ends Scooter Berry and John Graves; nose tackle Guy Miller; safeties Quintin Demps, Shiloh Keo and Torri Williams; and linebackers Mister Alexander, Steven Friday and Stanford Keglar. Keo was a fifth-round draft pick by Houston. Rookie linebacker Cheta Ozougwo (left foot) and receiver Terrence Toliver (concussion) were placed on IR. Bengals LB Rivers, CB Jones out with injuries Cincinnati placed cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and linebacker Keith Rivers on injured lists, sidelining them for at least the first six weeks of the season. Jones had offseason neck surgery and couldn't participate in contract drills during training camp. Rivers had surgery on his right wrist and is wearing a cast. The Bengals also had right guard Bobbie Williams suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's ban on performance-enhancing substances. The 12th-year veteran has started all 16 games each of the last four seasons. The Bengals also released guard Max Jean-Gilles, who signed as a free agent during training camp, and third-string quarterback Dan LeFevour as they got down to the roster limit. They'll go with two quarterbacks -- Andy Dalton and Bruce Gradkowski. Linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy, who tore his Achilles, and tight end Bo Scaife, who hurt his neck, are out for the season after going on the injured reserve list. The Bengals also released defensive end Victor Adeyanju and cornerback Jonathan Wade. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Hall of Fame defensive end Selmon hospitalized

The University of South Florida, where 56-year-old Selmon once served as athletic director, confirmed the Hall of Famer had been taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. A nursing supervisor there said Selmon was listed in critical condition Saturday morning, according to the Tampa Tribune. According to WTSP 10 News, Dewey Selmon said his brother was "showing signs of progress." Former Buccaneers linebacker and teammate David Lewis told the Tribune late Friday night that Selmon was breathing on his own and recognized Dewey and another brother, Lucious. Selmon also squeezed the hand of his son, Lee Roy Selmon Jr., Lewis said, according to the newspaper.

"The family is leaning on their faith and nobody has more faith than Lee Roy,'' Lewis, a Tampa-area high school assistant football, told the Tribune. "Things like this can turn and they can turn for the best. That's what I'm hoping and praying for." Selmon was drafted by the Buccaneers in 1976. He went to six straight Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He also was a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team and was chosen first-team All-Pro three times. "From the very start, Lee Roy Selmon has been there for his team and community. Now, he and the whole Selmon family should know that our family and the entire Buccaneer organization is thinking of and praying for him," the Glazer family, which owns the Bucs, said in a statement Saturday. Selmon retired from the NFL after the 1984 season and later joined the University of South Florida as an associate athletic director from 1993 to 2001. he served as athletic director from 2001 to 2004, and was instrumental in starting the football program there. Selmon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He became the first inductee in the Bucs' Ring of Honor in 2009. Selmon played college ball at Oklahoma, winning the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy in 1975. Information from ESPN.com's Pat Yasinkas and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NFL won't implement HGH testing before season

NEW YORK -- The NFL notified its teams that no HGH testing will be conducted before the season begins next Thursday. In a document sent to the league's management council and to all 32 teams, and obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, NFL lead counsel Jeff Pash says a disagreement with the union over testing procedures will prevent the program from starting before Week 1. When the league and players' association struck a new collective bargaining agreement, blood testing for human growth hormone was part of the deal -- but only if the union agreed to the methods. The NFLPA has not agreed, however, saying it needs more information on the safety and reliability of the tests from the World Anti-Doping Agency. "We have little to no information on the fundamental aspects of WADA's HGH testing protocol or reliability," union spokesman George Atallah said.

"We have an obligation to keep the game clean and safe, but we also have an obligation to a fair and safe testing process." The NFL would be the first of the major American professional sports leagues to implement HGH testing. Pash also sent the clubs some documents which he said address the union's questions, including: the process for drawing blood; how the blood samples will be shipped to testing laboratories; the labs the league is proposing to use; and, the manner in which thresholds for positive tests will be determined. Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith on Tuesday reiterating the NFL's eagerness to implement HGH testing. "The critical point in my view," Goodell wrote, "is that we now reaffirm our commitment to using the best science available, whether for HGH, steroids or any other prohibited substance. This principle has been and must remain at the heart of our programs." On Wednesday, the union canceled its regularly scheduled conference call with its executive committee because of logistical problems associated with the final preseason games. One of the topics the player reps planned to discuss was HGH testing. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Brees: Agent, Saints talking contract extension

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said his agent and the team have been talking about a contract extension, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They've been in discussions," Brees said of talks between the Saints and his agent, Tom Condon, according to the report. "That's been ongoing." Brees, who is in the final year of a six-year, $60 million contract, led the Saints to the 2009 Super Bowl championship. He threw for 4,620 yards and 33 touchdowns last season as the Saints returned to the playoffs as a wild card, losing at Seattle in the first round. Brees joined the Saints in 2006, leading the team to the NFC Championship Game the year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and raised doubts about whether the team would remain in Louisiana.

The Saints have made the playoffs three times in Brees' five seasons in New Orleans. "Obviously in so many ways New Orleans has come back better -- while in one moment you say, 'Look how far we've come,' you also have to say, 'What's still left to do?' " Brees said Monday of his time in the city. "And I think that's definitely motivation for all of us just to continue on. It's gone by fast. That's where you just have to say, 'Life does go by fast.' And so let's take advantage of every opportunity we have and improve our place to live." ESPN.com NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas contributed to this report.