Packers' Jolly receives six-year prison term

State District Judge Denise Bradley imposed the sentence despite tearful pleas from Jolly and his mother, Phyllis Jolly, to allow the 6-foot-3, 325-pound lineman to be treated for his addiction to codeine instead of going to prison. Jolly's aunt, agent and drug counselor also testified on his behalf.

Browns RB Hardesty tests calf injury outdoors

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns running back Montario Hardesty tested his injured calf by running outside Wednesday as his teammates practiced. Hardesty has missed Cleveland's past two games after tearing a muscle in his right calf Oct. 30 against San Francisco. Hardesty's injury was a double blow to the Browns because they were already without starter Peyton Hillis, who will miss his fifth straight game this week with a hamstring injury. While the Browns practiced inside their field house Wednesday, Hardesty went outdoors with a trainer.

He ran sprints at half-speed and worked on some agility drills. Hardesty rejoined his teammates but stood to the side as they began installing the game plan for Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Pat Shurmur expects Hardesty to practice at some point this week and hopes he can play Sunday. Without Hillis and Hardesty, the Browns have started Chris Ogbonnaya at tailback the past two weeks. Ogbonnaya, who was signed off Houston's practice squad Oct. 18, rushed for 90 yards in Sunday's loss to St. Louis. Shurmur said starting strong safety T.J. Ward had his cast removed to undergo more tests, which revealed a foot sprain. Shurmur believes Ward, who was fitted with a new cast, to return this season. Ward was injured in the Nov. 6 loss at Houston. Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi practiced after missing two games with symptoms from a concussion sustained Oct. 23. During the portion of practice open to reporters, Massaquoi took part in drills and didn't seem to be limited. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Redskins put two on IR, bring back Stallworth

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have placed receiver Leonard Hankerson and defensive end Kedric Golston on injured reserve and re-signed receiver Donte' Stallworth and defensive end Darrion Scott. Third-round pick Hankerson tore the labrum in his right hip, and Golston injured a pair of knee ligaments in Sunday's 20-9 loss to Miami. Hankerson was hurt during his first 100-yard receiving game in the pros, while six-year veteran Golston has played in all nine games this season and was a regular part of the defensive line rotation. Tuesday's moves make Hankerson and Golston the sixth and seventh Redskins players on IR this season.

Stallworth and Scott both were cut by the Redskins as part of a flurry of roster moves last week. Stallworth has five catches this season, while Scott has not played. The team also waived safety Kareem Moore, who was on the physically unable to perform list with knee injury and has not played this season. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Bills center Wood (ACL) out for rest of 2011

Wood confirmed what the Bills feared, that he tore a ligament a day earlier in a 44-7 loss at Dallas. He added doctors are waiting for the swelling to subside before determining when to have surgery. It'll be the second season-ending operation Wood's had in his three years in Buffalo; he broke two bones in his left leg during his rookie season. "It's definitely not something I wanted to go through again, another long rehab process," Wood said. "But I'll do it.

And I'll just look to come back stronger next year." The initial prognosis is Wood will miss up to nine months, though the center said he's aiming to be ready for the start of training camp next summer. The second of Buffalo's two first-round draft picks in 2009, Wood was hurt after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw his first of three interceptions late in the third quarter. Turning to chase down Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman, Wood said he was attempting to sidestep a Dallas player when he ran into linebacker DeMarcus Ware and fell awkwardly. Wood was not the only player the Bills lost to a season-ending injury Sunday. Coach Chan Gailey said rookie linebacker Chris White will also have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. White did it covering a punt earlier in the third quarter. Gailey added that receiver Steve Johnson is day to day after he hurt his left shoulder in the fourth quarter and did not return. The status of safety George Wilson (stinger) is also uncertain this week as the Bills (5-4) prepare to travel to play Miami (2-7). Wood's injury is the most significant, and latest blow to a team that's lost three of its past four and is losing ground in the AFC playoff hunt. It's also a blow to an offense that's suddenly sputtering. After opening the season by scoring 20 or more points in its first seven games, Buffalo has combined for 18 in its past two. Buffalo's offensive line is already depleted. Left guard Andy Levitre has spent the past three games starting at left tackle filling in for both starter Demetrius Bell (shoulder) and rookie backup Chris Hairston (ankle). Bell has not practiced since being hurt six weeks ago, while Hairston was left inactive the past two weeks. Gailey said, Levitre will likely make yet another positional switch and take over at center for Wood. Hairston is expected to return at left tackle. Wood becomes Buffalo's third regular placed on injured reserve in as many weeks. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (foot) went on the list last week, while linebacker Shawne Merriman (Achilles tendon) also is out for the year. And that doesn't include veteran kicker Rian Lindell, who's out indefinitely after breaking a bone in his right shoulder in a 27-11 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 6. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Haynesworth starts Sunday for Bucs in defeat

He was credited with five tackles (four solo) but the Buccaneers were crushed by the Houston Texans 37-9 to fall to 4-5 on the season. Haynesworth started even though he didn't practice with his new team until Thursday. The 350-pound defensive tackle said Thursday he was motivated to leave behind two-plus disappointing seasons with Washington and New England and prove he can still be a productive player. The 10th-year pro developed into one of the league's top defensive linemen during seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans, but has underperformed since rejecting an offer from Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2009 and signing a seven-year, $100 million deal with the Redskins. New England obtained him in a July trade, but Haynesworth had little impact in a part-time role and lasted just eight games with the Patriots.

Coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik believe Haynesworth still has the talent to excel in a 4-3 defensive scheme after struggling in Washington and New England. Haynesworth is in the lineup Sunday against the Houston Texans, filling in for the injured Gerald McCoy. McCoy tore his right biceps last week and his backup, Frank Okam, is inactive with a sore calf. Receiver Andre Johnson was inactive for the Texans with right hamstring injury that's sidelined him more than a month. Quarterback T.J. Yates, cornerback Sherrick McManis, safety Danieal Manning, guard Thomas Austin, tackle Andrew Gardner and tight end Garrett Graham were Houston's other inactives. Cornerback Anthony Gaitor, linebacker Dekoda Watson, tackles Derek Hardman and James Lee, receiver Micheal Spurlock and defensive end Tim Crowder were inactive for the Bucs. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Titans' Washington, Cook, Hall back at practice

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Wide receiver Nate Washington, tight end Jared Cook and fullback Ahmard Hall were back on the practice field for the Tennessee Titans on Friday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Carolina. Linebacker Barrett Ruud sat out again Friday with his injured groin, but will be questionable and will be a game-time decision for the Titans. Rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy, just back from a hamstring injury, could get his first NFL start if Ruud cannot go. Safety Chris Hope, who has practiced fully this week in returning from a broken forearm, will be listed as questionable.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (knee) will be probable, while defensive end Dave Ball is out with a concussion. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Bills' Johnson misses practice, expected to play

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills top receiver Steve Johnson didn't practice Friday because he was sick, but the illness shouldn't keep him out of Sunday's game against the host Dallas Cowboys. Johnson came to the practice facility for medication Friday morning before returning home to rest. He leads the team with 42 catches for 523 yards, and hasn't missed a game despite a nagging groin injury. Rookie cornerback Aaron Williams (chest) is questionable after missing the past five games.

Left tackle Demetrius Bell (shoulder), linebacker Chris Kelsay (calf), and kicker Rian Lindell (shoulder) all are out. The game is the first of three straight on the road for the Bills (5-3). Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Browns safety Ward likely out against Rams

Ward missed his second day of practice Thursday with the injury he sustained last week in Houston, and coach Pat Shurmur said there's a "very good chance" the hard-hitting safety will not play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. "I don't want to rule him out yet," Shurmur said. But that seems inevitable with Ward's foot still in a cast, just three days from kickoff. The Browns have not provided any specifics of Ward's injury or the results of an MRI taken Monday.

Ward's injury is the latest blow for the banged-up Browns (3-5), who had eight players sit out Thursday's practice with four others limited. Cleveland's running attack has been slowed to a crawl because of injuries to running backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty, both of whom will sit out for the second straight game. Hillis has missed Cleveland's past four games, depriving him a chance to convince the Browns -- or a team in free agency -- that he deserves to be paid as one of the NFL's top backs. Last week, the offensive backfield was weakened. This week, the team's defensive backs are hurting. Not only is Ward injured, but Usama Young, who splits time at free safety with Mike Adams, has been slowed by an aching hip that has kept him out of practice the past two days. His status is unknown for Sunday's game as is nickel back Dimitri Patterson, who didn't practice and may have to sit out his second consecutive game with a knee injury. Young's injury could force the Browns to give rookie Eric Hagg his first career start. Hagg was inactive for Cleveland's first six games after undergoing knee surgery in the preseason. He made his pro debut two weeks ago at San Francisco and played in a limited role and on special teams last week in the 30-12 loss to the Texans. Hagg has worked with the Browns' starting defense during the portion of practice open to reporters the past two days. If he's asked to start on Sunday, Hagg's ready. "I've just been working hard, listening to what the coaches have to say, listening to the vets, what they have to say," Hagg said. "There's a couple mistakes out there here and there, but when you watch film, watch them on tape, get your corrections made, I feel pretty comfortable. I'm just learning." The Browns selected Hagg in the seventh round. They had hoped to work him into their rotation earlier, but he got hurt defending a pass during a training camp practice and underwent surgery on Aug. 15. Now healthy, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Hagg has been steadily getting better with every practice. "Eric is one of our young players that improves and sees something new every day," Shurmur said. "He's a very aware guy. He's a physical tackler and at least the practices and competitive situations I've seen him in in training camp, we felt really good about the progress he was making in those competitive situations, which is pretty much the last time we saw him do that. We're anticipating he'll play well." Adams has been impressed with Hagg's progress, and is confident he can handle starting if necessary. "He's growing," he said. "It's just trying to get the game to slow down for him. Out there (in a real game) is 10 times faster than practice. Just getting the game to slow down for him and calm down a little bit. He'll be fine." Ward has been playing well in his second season. His 35 tackles are third on the club and he's been making some of the teeth-rattling hits that drew the Browns to him and prompted them to draft him in the second round last year. Ward also excels on special teams. "You don't want to lose anybody," said defensive coordinator Dick Jauron. "Unfortunately on any football team when you lose a starter it has an effect on the entire team because clearly somebody's got to move up and it affects special teams, and the whole thing gets affected as you move people. "You don't want anybody out. T.J.'s a tough guy. They all are, but T.J's got unusual skills. He can deliver a blow, he likes to deliver a blow. He plays hard and he was moving along in the way we do things and doing a nice job. Injuries never come at good times, but it's not a great time for us or for him." Notes WR Mohamed Massaquoi continues to have post-concussion symptoms. He was sent home for the second straight day after not feeling well. Massaquoi suffered his second head injury in 13 months on Oct. 23 against Seattle. He missed one game, returned to practice last week but left the game in Houston after getting dizzy. "He's receiving the attention he needs from our medical people," Shurmur said. "We're doing everything we can to make sure he's going to be right." ... Kicker Phil Dawson was also sent home with a migraine headache, but Shurmur expects Dawson, who has made six field goals beyond 50 yards, to play Sunday. ... RT Tony Pashos (ankle), LB Kaluka Maiava (knee), DE Jayme Mitchell (chest/ankle) and DB Ray Ventrone (hamstring) were limited in practice. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Steelers' Clark fined $40K, takes jab at Goodell

" So it's going to turn into if you're going to fine me $40,000, I might as well put him to sleep for real or I might as well blow his knee out. " -- Ryan Clark Also, the NFL fined Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers receiver Hines Ward in the same game. Lewis wouldn't disclose the amount of the fine but a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the linebacker was docked $20,000 for the hit. Clark was flagged for his hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Ed Dickson late in the first half. Clark hit Dickson in stride, appearing to lead with his shoulder, but both players' helmets made contact.

"There wasn't anything malicious about it," Clark said. "It wasn't a spear. It wasn't a forearm to the head. It wasn't any of those things and to be fined $40,000 for that? To me it's either targeting me as a single player or it's targeting this team." The Steelers have been fined 13 times for more than $182,000 this season, with Clark's latest the biggest of the bunch. Clark's agent told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his client will appeal the fine. Clark said that coach Mike Tomlin informed him of the fine and told him the hit was used by Tomlin on Monday as an example of a good hit in the team's film review. "I was actually expecting to get a call back and say that it wasn't wrong, because it wasn't," Clark said. "I did everything I was asked to do and (NFL commissioner Roger) Goodell and all those other guys, they sit in their office with their suits and make these decisions on what a split-second reaction by the player is and this time it's wrong." This is the second straight week that Clark has been disciplined by the league. Clark, the team's representative to the NFL Players Association, was fined $15,000 for a hit out of bounds on New England tight end Rob Gronkowski two weeks ago. "This time it's wrong, not that I respected Roger before this," Clark told the Post-Gazette. Steelers linebacker James Harrison also is expected to receive a fine for a helmet-to-helmet hit in the game, a source has told Schefter. The Steelers aren't into conspiracy theories, but they're also the only team in the league that voted against the CBA. Clark, who serves as the team's union player representative, believes NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith should get involved. His teammates don't think it's a bad idea. "That's his job. I think he should do something because right now it seems like they can do whatever they want to," Harrison said. The NFLPA did not immediately return a request for comment from The Associated Press. Regardless, Clark argues if the hit against Dickson was against the rules, he's not sure what's legal anymore. "Am I supposed to let him catch it and then wait for him and hug him?" Clark said. "Should I throw a pillow at him? Should I blow a whistle? 'Hey look, I'm about to tackle you.' No, that's not football." The Ravens' Lewis agrees. "You can't stop playing defense the way defense has always been created to play," Lewis said. "When the receiver has the ball, your job is to disengage him from the ball. You never want to hurt nobody. I've been in this business too long. I just think once you start getting into these fines I don't know how they come up with the numbers most of the time." Neither does Clark, who threatened to go out and blatantly earn the fine next time. "So it's going to turn into if you're going to fine me $40,000, I might as well put him to sleep for real or I might as well blow his knee out," Clark said. Information from ESPN NFC North blogger Jamison Hensley and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Bucs DT McCoy (biceps) out for rest of 2011

TAMPA, Fla. -- The struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to pull out of a midseason funk without Gerald McCoy. The second-year defensive tackle was placed on injured reserve Monday after tearing his right biceps during the opening quarter of a 27-16 loss to New Orleans that dropped the Bucs (4-4) into third place in the NFC South. McCoy had just returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games because on an ankle injury. "That's football.

That's the unfortunate part of our game," coach Raheem Morris said Monday, adding that Sunday's subpar performance against the division-leading Saints provided a snapshot of how much the 6-foot-4, 295-pound McCoy means to a defense rebuilt around him. New Orleans rushed for 195 yards, averaging 7 yards per carry with McCoy and the 23-year-old tackle's backup, Frank Okam, on the sideline Sunday. Okam missed the game because of a sore calf, forcing Morris to fill McCoy's spot by committee with ends Michael Bennett, Da'Quan Bowers and George Johnson. It's the second straight year McCoy's season is ending prematurely because of an arm injury. The third pick in the 2009 NFL draft missed the final three games of his rookie year with a torn left biceps. "You can see the difference in our play up front when he's out of the game, and how it affects our get off and some of the things we're able to do positively on defense," Morris said. "You're talking about a top three pick. You're talking about a guy who gets off the ball, causes disruptions. When he's played, he's been playing really well for us. He's done a great job for us versus the run. He's done a great job as far as the explosion and the get off. He makes game plans change." McCoy finished with 13 tackles, including one sack. He had three sacks during a rookie season that was considered disappointing. Ever since the former Oklahoma star got off to a slow start and didn't earn a sack until his 10th game as a pro it was clear the value of a player at McCoy's position is not determined by statistics alone. The coach said Monday that he doesn't feel McCoy, who'll wind up missing 10 games, is injury prone. The latest injury occurred in the first quarter when he was reaching out to his right to try to make a tackle on Saints running back Chris Ivory, who gained 3 yards before being taken to the ground by another defender. "It's football," Morris repeated. "Matt Stafford missed two seasons for the Detroit Lions and he is probably putting up his best season. (McCoy) has to come back, he has to go rehab, get his mind right and come back ready to play. And be ready to play a 16-game season." The injury leaves just two players on the roster who are listed as true defensive tackles: 2010 second-round draft pick Brian Price, the club's other starting tackle, and backup Roy Miller. The Bucs also used their first two picks in the 2011 draft on defensive linemen, selecting ends Adrian Clayborn and Bowers. Morris said help will be brought in from the outside before Sunday's home game against the Houston Texans. In addition to placing McCoy on injured reserve, the club released running back Chad Spann and guard-center Zane Taylor. "Hopefully we can get Frank (Okam) back this week. He had the (calf) strain last week in practice and we have to see where he is health wise. That is an issue right now," Morris said, adding it's not ideal to move one the team's backup ends inside to fill in. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Vick reportedly most disliked NFL player in poll

Michael Vick has come all the way back from prison to star in the NFL again. But he apparently still won't win a popularity contest among the league's fans. Forbes.com reported Monday that Vick is the NFL's most disliked player, according to a poll by Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research. Forbes.com reports that 60 percent of those polled picked said they "dislike," "dislike somewhat," or "dislike a lot" the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. Second on the list was New York Jets receiver Plaxico Burress at 56 percent, who also has returned from a prison stay, followed by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was accused of sexual assault last year but wasn't charged.

New England Patriots defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who disappointed with the Washington Redskins after signing a $100 million contract before his trade to New England, came in at No. 4 at 46 percent and Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who had his toughness questioned after leaving the last season's NFC Championship Game early with an injury, finished fifth at 38 percent. The rest of the top 10: Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco (35 percent), Eagles backup QB Vince Young (32 percent), Oakland Raiders QB Carson Palmer (31 percent), Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey, who both were at 29 percent. Only active NFL players who had a 10 percent "awareness level" with the public were considered for the poll, Forbes.com reported.

Chargers' Mathews, Floyd, Phillips out vs. Pack

SAN DIEGO -- Running back Ryan Mathews, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and linebacker Shaun Phillips are among the San Diego Chargers' inactive players against the Green Bay Packers. Guard Kris Dielman is missing his second straight game with a concussion. The other inactives are linebackers Na'il Diggs and Everette Brown, and defensive end Luis Castillo. Rookie Vincent Brown is expected to start for Floyd. The Packers' inactives are tackle Chad Clifton, cornerback Davon House, linebackers Robert Francois, Jamari Lattimore and Vic So'oto, offensive lineman Ray Dominguez, and defensive end Mike Neal.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Vikings Stadium drama stoking fears of move

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A YouTube video making the rounds at the Minnesota Capitol these days shows a man slowly opening a gift box as ominous music thumps in the background. He folds back the flaps, reaches in and pulls out a foam rubber cheesehead -- a symbol of the hated Green Bay Packers next door. "Some things are too sickening to imagine," warns the video.

"Minnesota as Green Bay Packer country is one of them." These are scary days for Vikings fans, who wonder if they are on the brink of losing the state's most popular team if it doesn't get the new stadium it wants. A long-simmering push for a publicly funded stadium is suddenly boiling over, with a lease that expires after this season, a fat new market in California beckoning and state leaders reluctant to pony up amid chronic budget deficits and spending cuts. For those who fear the worst, there's good reason. This is the state that already lost one team to California -- the Minneapolis Lakers left decades ago -- and watched the NHL's North Stars decamp to Dallas. The NBA's Timberwolves nearly left before a rescue effort in the mid-'90s kept them in town. "My observation is, the Indianapolis Colts used to be the Baltimore Colts," said Gov. Mark Dayton, who has emerged as the chief cheerleader for some kind of stadium package. "The St. Louis Rams used to be the Los Angeles Rams. The Los Angeles Lakers used to be the Minneapolis Lakers. "Teams leave when they can't get satisfactory resolution to where they're currently located," said Dayton, who has recalled attending as a teenager the Vikings first-ever regular-season home game in 1961 (they beat the Chicago Bears). There are powerful reasons to believe the Vikings aren't going anywhere for now. NFL officials have called the Minnesota market (read: TV) a valuable one. Vikings ownership would be on the hook for a hefty relocation fee likely to reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars, too. And if Vikings owners want to move in 2012, they'd have to notify the league in writing by Feb. 15, a relatively short window. Two business groups proposing football stadiums in Los Angeles haven't broken ground yet, though there are NFL-ready stadiums in the L.A. area. No Minnesota political leader wants to be blamed for losing the Vikings, but hopes of settling the issue soon seemed to dim this week after Kurt Zellers, the Republican House speaker, called it unworthy of a special session prior to a regularly scheduled legislative session that begins in late January. Stadium supporters fear that taking up a stadium funding issue in January could be even tougher. Minnesota government shut down over the summer as Dayton and Republican lawmakers disagreed on how to eliminate a $5 billion deficit, and the picture isn't expected to be much better three months from now. An expansion of legal gambling is emerging as the most politically palatable way to complete a deal, though powerful factions in the Legislature oppose it. And some longtime stadium foes are against any state money being laid out for sports. "The dollar amounts of these things keep getting bigger, while government is getting more and more pinched for money," said John Marty, a Democratic state senator who represents a suburban area north of St. Paul. "It's absolutely outrageous. If it was outrageous before, it's even more outrageous now." The Vikings have wanted out of the Metrodome for more than a decade, calling the 30-year-old stadium obsolete and unprofitable compared to most NFL venues. The team's latest push has centered on building a $1.1 billion stadium on a suburban plot of land about 10 miles northeast of the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, but at least three downtown sites appear to still be in play. The suburban plan, in Arden Hills, calls for a state contribution of as much as $650 million. On Friday, the Metrodome's landlords said they believe a clause deep in the team's lease could require it to stay one more season, potentially buying more time. That clause calls for a one-year extension if the team is forced to play elsewhere for part of a season. That's just what happened last year when the Metrodome roof collapsed in a snowstorm, but the Vikings maintain that this is the last year of the lease. Dayton and other stadium negotiators said no one with the Vikings has directly threatened a move to Los Angeles or anywhere else. The team declined to make owner Zygi Wilf available for an interview for this story; Vikings vice president Lester Bagley has told The Associated Press that both Los Angeles business groups have been in contact, but has continued to stress that the team's main focus is securing a deal to stay in Minnesota. Representatives of both firms, Anschutz Entertainment Group and Majestic Realty Co., did not return phone messages from the AP. The Vikings aren't the only franchise on relocation alert, but the team's tie to its current city appears to be the loosest in the near term. The St. Louis Rams have a possible out after the 2014 season. The Oakland Raiders are under lease through 2013. The Buffalo Bills intend on staying put as long as the founding owner -- 93-year-old Ralph Wilson -- is alive. The Jacksonville Jaguars would need to exercise a special escape clause to leave Florida but would owe the city for lost taxes and parking revenue for years to come. In San Diego, where the Chargers have been seeking a new stadium since 2002, the team has its eyes on a new downtown site but lack financing. The Chargers could get out of a lease starting in February if a better deal surfaces elsewhere, but the team is building toward a 2012 ballot measure. In the meantime, a lot of Vikings fans are feeling nervous. Tyler Richter, a 30-year-old Twin Cities media consultant, made the Vikings/cheesehead video in his garage and uploaded it last week. Richter said he's a Republican and no fan of government handouts to business, but his love for the Vikings trumps that. "Don't hate the player, hate the game," Richter said. "In this day and age, the reality is these deals don't get done without a public component. Love it or hate it, that's what it is." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Bengals sell out, ending 7-game blackout streak

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have sold out their Nov. 13 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, breaking their streak of seven straight games blacked out on local television because of less-than-capacity crowds. Cincinnati (5-2) failed to sell out its last four games in 2010 and the first three this year. The Bengals drew only 41,142 fans for a win over Buffalo on Oct. 2, the smallest regular-season crowd in Paul Brown Stadium's 12-year history.

The team's unexpectedly strong start has revived fans' interest. Plus, thousands of Steelers fans make the five-hour drive to Cincinnati each year, filling the stadium. The last time the Bengals sold out a regular-season home game was Nov. 8 last year, when the Steelers were in town for a 27-21 win. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Colts' Manning wants to play in '11 if feasible

Manning said Thursday he hopes to return to practice this year and still holds out hope of playing if doctors say he is finally healed from his Sept. 8 neck surgery. Irsay, the team owner, said he expects the four-time NFL MVP still has some good years in that right arm. There are some big questions looming in Indy. The Colts (0-8) must decide whether to opt out of Manning's five-year contract or pay a $28 million bonus to keep him on the roster.

And if they have a high draft pick next year, Indy also will have to decide whether to take Manning's heir apparent, someone like Andrew Luck or Landry Jones. "It's something you talk about and scenarios, who could be behind Peyton and how long you want him to sit and how much money you have committed to quarterbacks," Irsay said. "I think theoretically, you could have Peyton for two or three more good years and then have someone behind him, but that's theoretical." Manning hasn't played since having surgery to repair a damaged nerve that caused weakness in his throwing arm. It was his third neck procedure in 19 months, a series of operations that has forced Colts fans to debate when -- or if -- Manning will return. "I think it's too early to bury this era," Irsay said during a 40-minute interview. "I think to say that Peyton is done and the era is over is, to me, way, way too premature. I've always sort of known that era would be decided when Peyton is here. But I don't feel like that era is done." A few hours earlier, Manning made his second impromptu locker room appearance of the season, telling reporters that he's spending every day in rehab and that he hopes to practice with his teammates in December and play in a game later this season. But he hasn't been cleared for football activity by the doctors. Irsay said there was less than a 50 percent chance Manning would appear in a game this season. "We're still waiting for the fusion to take place, it's still going slow with that and we still have some issues with the nerve and the regeneration of the nerve," Manning said. "There's really not a schedule, a timeline of where I am." Doctors who were not involved with Manning's surgery said it was likely to take two or three months before Indy's franchise quarterback could make it back to practice, which is consistent with Manning's comments. Without their franchise quarterback, the Colts are 0-8 for the first time since 1997, and many think it would be foolish to bring Manning back for some meaningless late-season games. Manning disagrees. "I miss playing, I really do. If I get cleared to play and I'm good enough, would I play? Absolutely," he said. "I'd love to because that's how I'm wired, that's my job and I love my job. "If the doctor says you can go, then I'd like to do that," Manning added later. Manning addressed a variety of topics, calling coach Jim Caldwell a "friend," dismissing speculation about the No. 1 pick and even discussing the option clause in his contract. The Colts signed Manning to a five-year deal worth $90 million in late July when it looked as if he would still be ready to play this season. The $18 million annual average matches New England's Tom Brady for the richest deal in the league. Manning thinks the Colts should see him in action, if possible, before making their decision. "It's a one-year deal with a four-year extension," Manning said. "The team has a right to know where you are physically and where your health is." Irsay said he has no intention of releasing Manning and the two sides could work out a new deal if the quarterback still was not healthy. How close is Manning to returning? Nobody knows. "What you want to see is for him to keep making progress, to get back to the point where you can say he's making all the throws and doing the things he needs to do," Irsay said. "The truth is it's a slow progression and to say that he would hit a ceiling on Dec. 15 or Jan. 1 and he's not going to get any better, that's really uncertain." Manning's health and finding a successor are only part of the equation. Some outsiders want a complete overhaul -- getting rid of Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian or general manager Chris Polian. Irsay told reporters he wouldn't give up on the Polians, who turned the franchise from an also-ran into a perennial Super Bowl contender, because of eight losses. He also voiced support for Caldwell, saying "not just any guy" could have led the Colts to the AFC title two years ago or four straight wins to clinch the AFC South last year. Manning hopes to have more answers next month. "If I'm at a level where I'm cleared to practice, then the greatest venue to see where you are is on the practice field," Manning said. Until then, Irsay is pleading for patience. "We have not had this much uncertainty in a long, long time, but I think it's exciting," Irsay said. "I'm more interested in getting back to greatness and having a chance to sustain it. I'm not interested in middling around at 8-8 or 9-7 and sneaking into the playoffs for the next decade." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Vikings official warns state about delaying vote

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Minnesota Vikings executive warned Wednesday that delaying until next year a state legislature vote on financing for a new stadium would increase the project's already hefty cost and would leave the football franchise without a lease binding it to Minnesota. Vice president Lester Bagley's reaction came to newly voiced opposition from House Speaker Kurt Zellers to an emergency session. Zellers told his 71 GOP colleagues in an email Tuesday night that the issue should wait until lawmakers convene the 2012 session in late January.

" The strategy of avoiding a stadium issue has not worked. It only gets more costly and more difficult to resolve, especially if they allow the lease to expire with no action. " -- Vikings vice president Lester Bagley Bagley stopped short of saying the team would pull up stakes, but noted that after this season the Vikings "will be the only team without a lease." "The strategy of avoiding a stadium issue has not worked. It only gets more costly and more difficult to resolve, especially if they allow the lease to expire with no action," Bagley told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. The Vikings have four remaining home games in their Metrodome lease. Whispers of relocation have been present throughout the stadium discussion, but there has been little outward recruiting of the Vikings by Los Angeles or other cities seeking an NFL presence. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has said he is prepared to call a special session this month or next on the stadium. But a financing plan remains undefined. The Vikings have sought a replacement for the Metrodome for years, saying the Minneapolis venue no longer is sufficiently profitable. The team prefers building a new facility in the St. Paul suburb of Arden Hills but Minneapolis leaders are promoting three sites of their own. Such a project is expected to cost between $900 million and $1.1 billion depending on where it gets built. The team wants taxpayers to shoulder more than half of the cost. Bagley said winning authorization this year would enable builders to start a 40-month construction schedule sooner and have the stadium ready for the 2015 season. Delaying construction adds $50 million per year, according to a consultant's estimate. Dayton hoped to speak with Zellers about the timing for a special session, the governor's spokesman said. Michael Brodkorb, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, said she also wanted to confer with the House speaker before commenting. She has previously been open to a fall special session. Dayton doesn't need the Legislature's consent to call a special session, but lawmakers determine how long it lasts once they're back in St. Paul. Governors typically avoid calling a session without mutual agreement on an agenda. The state leaders have met frequently about how to structure a public subsidy. Dayton plans to release his own proposal next week. Republican Sen. David Hann, an opponent of a public stadium subsidy, said it would be wrong to rush a plan through in a special session. "What other billion-dollar things do we do in the Legislature in three weeks without ever having seen them before? I can't think of any," Hann said. "I would think that the public would not want the Legislature to act that way." One possible option fell away when Dayton and lawmakers effectively ruled out new local sales taxes to pay for a share of the expected stadium cost. They said a sales tax lacks the votes to pass the Legislature unless a public referendum is required; the earliest a referendum could be held is November 2012 and the Vikings oppose one. Discussions in recent days have focused on expanded gambling. There are several possibilities: authorizing a new casino in downtown Minneapolis; adding video slot machines at two horse-racing tracks near the Twin Cities; allowing bars and restaurants to shift from offering paper pull-tab gambling cards to electronic ones; and selling themed scratch-off lottery tickets. The pull-tab plan, which also envisions a bingo component, appears to have the most traction. Legislative researchers estimate it would raise up to $42 million a year. "I think the electronic pull-tabs probably has the most promise at this point in terms of drawing enough support in the Legislature," Dayton said. "My sense is that's probably the most immediately available and plausible source right now." Another possible approach would be to divert money from the state's "Legacy" sales tax, which was approved by voters in 2008 to dedicate money to arts and cultural programs, outdoor preservation and clean water initiatives. Dayton said that would not be his preferred approach but that he is not ready to rule it out either. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Safety panel to focus Tuesday meet on Dielman

A concussion and subsequent seizure suffered Oct. 23rd by San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl guard Kris Dielman will be the subject of intensive discussion when the NFL and NFL Players Association's Joint Committee on Player Safety and Welfare meets in New York on Tuesday. Dielman was injured early in the fourth quarter when he collided with New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace. Immediately following the play, Dielman wobbled and appeared disoriented but remained in the game. Mike and Mike in the Morning The nine-year veteran was evaluated for a possible concussion after the game but the team determined him fit enough to get on the team's cross-country flight home to San Diego.

However, Dielman suffered a seizure near the end of the flight and was hospitalized. "(Dielman) had the seizure as soon as the jet's wheels touched down and it's obviously a serious incident that everybody wants to avoid," said Dr. Thomas Mayer, the NFLPA's medical director. "I've looked at the play at least a hundred times," Mayer continued, "and not only does the broadcast footage provide a clear visual record, you can hear the collision loud and clear on the audio. It really was an unfortunate event, but this is a process and an opportunity to further strengthen our protocol. There are a lot of lessons to be learned here." Mayer, who is also a member of the union safety committee as mandated by the collective bargaining agreement, outlined some of those lessons, including the education of game officials. "You can see on the video when Dielman wobbles backwards that the umpire (Tony Michalek) is concerned and the referee (Ron Winter) notices something, too. Dielman waved off the umpire. I know he's one tough dude, but this is what we're trying to avoid. We can educate the officials to treat this like a significant injury, stop time and call for medical attention. When Dielman continued to play in the game, he was subject to further collisions by the nature of the sport and his position." Mayer said the Chargers' team physicians, Dr. Calvin Wong and Dr. David Chao, were unaware of the concussion when it occurred and were not alerted when Dielman came to the sideline. Wong was attending to another Chargers player and Dr. Chao had a poor sightline and believed Dielman may have simply suffered a turned ankle. Also, Mayer said that Dielman did not complain of a concussion when he returned to the bench area. The panel, which was scheduled to meet Tuesday before Dielman's injury, will also focus on the team's postgame treatment of the concussion. An unidentified Chargers player alerted the medical staff that he believed Dielman needed to be checked for a concussion. After evaluation, it was determined Dielman was fit enough to travel home with the team. "Dielman never underwent a CT Scan before he left New York and maybe that would have prevented him from getting on the plane and flying home," said Mayer. "Again, we will have to discuss whether this should be part of the mandatory protocol as we gather information and more opinions during the review." Also under discussion is whether teams will be required to have an independent neurologist on the sidelines. Presently, each team is assigned an independent neurologist in its home city who is included in the post-concussion evaluation process. Mayer emphasized an important part of the process was "not to point fingers but to gather information and be transparent as we seek solutions. It's a genuine collaborative process. I know (former NFL concussion expert) Dr. (Elliot) Pellman has been thorough on the NFL side and (the union) has been just as thorough. (NFLPA executive director) DeMaurice Smith has been informed and remains very much part of the process." Chris Mortensen is ESPN's senior NFL analyst.