NFL Capsules: NFL's Goodell to testify on Vikings suspensions

WASHINGTON — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is returning to Capitol Hill next week, this time to testify about the case of two professional football players whose suspensions for violating the league’s anti-doping policy were blocked by the courts.

Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL players union, are among the witnesses scheduled before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee next Tuesday, according to a witness list obtained by The Associated Press Friday.

The NFL had attempted to suspend Minnesota Vikings Pat Williams and Kevin Williams for four games, but the players sued the league in state court, arguing the NFL’s testing violated Minnesota workplace laws. The two players are not related.

The case was moved to federal court, and the NFL players union filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of the Williamses and New Orleans Saints players who were also suspended.

In May, a federal judge dismissed the union’s lawsuit and several claims in the Williamses’ case — then sent two claims involving Minnesota workplace laws back to state court. A judge there had issued an injunction prohibiting the NFL from suspending the players, and has scheduled the trial in their lawsuit for March 8.

A federal appeals court panel last month agreed with those decisions, essentially allowing the Williamses to continue playing while the case proceeds in state court.

The NFL has asked the full federal appeals court to hear the case, arguing that federal labor law should pre-empt state law, and that uniform standards are necessary for players nationwide.

The Vikings players tested positive in 2008 for the diuretic bumetanide, which is banned by the NFL because it can mask the presence of steroids. The players acknowledged taking the over-the-counter weight loss supplement StarCaps, which did not state on the label that it contained bumetanide. Neither player is accused of taking steroids.

The court ruling led the NFL to allow New Orleans defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, who had also been issued four-game suspensions, to continue playing. Both players tested positive after using StarCaps.

Next week’s hearing is titled, "The NFL StarCaps Case: Are Sports’ Anti-Doping Programs At A Legal Crossroads?" Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is concerned that the legal issues raised in the case "could result in weaker performance-enhancing drugs policies for professional sports," the committee said in a statement issued earlier this month.

Other witnesses include Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for labor relations; Michael Weiner, general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association; and Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Both Goodell and Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee this week on head injuries among NFL players.

Packers hope ‘Bad Brett’ resurfaces Sunday

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson thought he’d earned a nice souvenir in Minnesota earlier this month, only to have it taken away on a pass interference penalty.

Now comes Woodson’s next big chance at an interception off former teammate Brett Favre.

"I thought I had one," Woodson said. "So we’ll take another shot at it on Sunday."

But going into Sunday’s mega-matchup between the Packers and Vikings at Lambeau Field, those Favre interceptions suddenly are a lot harder to come by.

The formula that made Favre the NFL’s career interceptions leader was simple. He’d regularly throw into coverage, then shrug his shoulders and say he was just trying to make a play. But seven games into his tenure with the Vikings, Favre has been picked off only three times and is completing 68.9 percent of his passes — more than seven points above his career average.

OK, gray-haired guy with the purple helmet: Who are you, and what have you done with the ol’ gunslinger?

"All the pressure isn’t on his back," Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "He has a lot of elite players around him, playing at high levels as well. So the weight is distributed. It’s not pressure for him to put the whole team on his back. Every skill position is pretty much elite here."

Surrounded by star running back Adrian Peterson, a strong offensive line and good receivers, Favre is staying within the structure of the Vikings’ offense and not taking his characteristic chances with the football. He’s suddenly more surgeon than slinger, a ruthlessly efficient quarterback with a 6-1 record.

Still, it’s not clear whether "Bad Brett" is on permanent vacation or just a temporary hiatus. And Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field will be a significant test of his newfound discipline.

Favre will have to handle an improving Packers defense, a potentially ornery crowd — and, most important, his own emotions about returning to the place where he starred for 16 NFL seasons.

Favre said there’s no secret to channeling emotional energy into productive play.

"I wish I had a secret, because in all big games I would have played that way," Favre said. "We’re all human and we make mistakes or make plays sometimes. At least for me, I look back and say, ‘Wow. I don’t know how I did that.’ Or I look back and say, ‘If you had just held it a little bit longer for this or that.’ To me, being able to focus, being relaxed, kind of seeing things clearly as they’re happening, is a much better and more productive way to play."

The Packers will do their best to conjure Bad Brett, just for old times’ sake.

"This is the National Football League. Everybody makes mistakes," Packers safety Atari Bigby said. "It’s just a matter of capitalizing off those mistakes and making a team pay. If we do that, we’ll be good."

The Packers didn’t do a very good job of that in their first crack at Favre, a 30-23 loss at Minnesota Oct. 5.

Green Bay held Adrian Peterson to 55 yards on 25 carries, but wasn’t able to sack Favre and barely laid a hand on him. Favre picked apart the defense, completing 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

And if Favre’s emotions were revving against his former team, his controlled play didn’t show it.

Favre is perhaps the NFL’s most emotion-driven player, but that hasn’t always been to his benefit.

While everybody remembers him throwing four touchdowns against Oakland the day after his father died in 2003, they sometimes forget he threw four interceptions in a loss to Seattle the first time he faced former coach Mike Holmgren in 1999.

And Favre hasn’t been at his best under playoff pressure of late, going 3-5 with 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in the postseason since 2002. Packers fans still haven’t forgotten his overtime interception in an NFC title game loss to the New York Giants in frigid conditions at Lambeau in January 2008.

Going into Sunday, Favre is guarding against letting his emotions get the best of him. But he doesn’t want to become a robot, either.

"I don’t want to take that away," Favre said. "At any point in my career, if I thought that, ‘So what, we’re playing in the Super Bowl, this is a big game, who cares?’ That in itself is a sure sign that it doesn’t mean anything to you. But trying to hold those things in check is a different story."

-- Chris Jenkins

Pace’s comments, big plays set tone for Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Calvin Pace walked off the field angry and disgusted after the New York Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins three weeks ago.

He was still fuming when reporters gathered around him a few minutes after the Dolphins scored with 6 seconds left to win 31-27 in front of a national television audience.

"It was a situation where I was upset with how I played and how we played as a defense," Pace said on Friday. "We felt like we let everybody else down."

Unable to contain his frustration, the veteran linebacker let loose. Pace called Miami’s wildcat formation "nonsense" and "gimmicky," and he said Dolphins starting quarterback Chad Henne was a "clown quarterback."

"I said some things, meant them, but normally I keep that stuff to myself," Pace said. "I’m not much of a talker. You guys ask me questions and I say what I think. The fact remains that they beat us and they did what they wanted to do at will. I can’t lie about that and I’ve got to respect that."

Pace’s brash comments drew the ire of the Dolphins, and have been brought up all week as the teams prepare to play for the second time in 20 days.

"I respect what they do, man," Pace said. "Every team goes about it a different way. That aside, we’ve just got to find a way to get this win."

Pace’s teammates call him a mostly quiet and humble guy. They were surprised he lashed out the way he did, but supported him.

"That can happen, especially after a tough loss like that," defensive end Mike DeVito said. "It’s hard to come into the locker room right after and not be frustrated and say some things. Calvin knows what he said and he sticks behind it, and I stick behind him."

Pace and the Jets defense have the opportunity to erase the feelings of embarrassment Sunday against a rushing offense that ranks second only to New York’s.

"The key for us this game is to get stops, get them in third-and-long and get the ball back to the offense," Pace said.

Pace is coming off a terrific game against Oakland in which he had a career-best three sacks, two of which caused fumbles, and set the tone in a 38-0 victory.

"He’s a beast, really," defensive end Shaun Ellis said. "He just makes plays for us."

On the Raiders’ first play from scrimmage, Pace had a diving sack of JaMarcus Russell that knocked the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. Marques Douglas jumped on it, and the Jets scored four plays later.

"Actually, I got kicked in the air," said Pace, who had seven tackles. "I thought I jumped when it happened, but watching it I saw he kicked me. Hey, as long as you get there."

In the third quarter, Pace got there again, taking down Bruce Gradkowski and causing another fumble that the Jets recovered. New York converted it into a touchdown a few minutes later.

"I don’t know if he can have that impact every week, but I’ll sign up for it," coach Rex Ryan said. "He really is a tremendous player. I think we saw that in the preseason as well. He was consistently making plays and pressuring the quarterback. We think he’s that kind of player."

When Ryan brought his aggressive 3-4 defensive scheme to New York from Baltimore, he envisioned Pace being a pass-rushing powerhouse after getting a career-high seven sacks last season.

Ryan and the Jets had to wait a few weeks to see their plan materialize, though. Pace, in his second season with the Jets, was suspended for the first four weeks for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. After two mostly quiet games, Pace broke out against Oakland.

"To be honest, man, I think I need to step my game up," he said. "I always feel like I could do more and I feel like there were still some plays I could’ve made that I left out there Sunday."

Despite having played just three games, Pace leads the team in sacks and forced fumbles and is tied for second with four tackles for losses. He is also averaging eight total tackles a game.

"Calvin’s just an amazing football player," DeVito said. "I mean, he’s just got everything it takes: He’s tall, he’s strong, he’s fast and he shows up every week. It adds an extra level of confidence knowing that he’s out there."

NOTES: Dolphins LB Joey Porter took exception to Ryan’s comments earlier in the week about Miami CB Will Allen’s season-ending injury when the Jets coach said, "We lost a Pro Bowl nose tackle and a Pro Bowl running back, so boo hoo hoo." Porter said, "We’ll see if it’s a joke on Sunday, because there’s nothing the coach can do about it." When asked about Porter’s comments, Ryan said he "doesn’t feel sorry for them" since the Jets are without Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington. "No disrespect to Will Allen," Ryan said, "but I don’t think he’s going to make a Pro Bowl anytime soon. He’s a decent player, but whatever."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

Browns coordinator upset by planned protest

BEREA, Ohio — Eric Mangini has a Darth Vader mask hanging in his office. Appropriate perhaps, considering how Browns fans feel about their team these days.

Fan displeasure is running rampant in Cleveland, where a 1-6 start has the Browns headed toward their eighth losing season in 11 years since returning to the NFL. Two longtime season-ticket holders are planning a protest before Cleveland’s Monday night game on Nov. 16, urging fans to stay away from their seats for the opening kickoff to send a message after so many years of losing.

At least one Browns coach is firing back.

"That (ticks) me off. This is Cleveland. They’re going to show up and back this damn team," outspoken defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "This is a town that’s tough and that loves football. Nobody’s happy. I hate me, too. So they hate me. Great. Doesn’t mean you turn your back.

"I’ve got a kid who flunked a class one time and it (ticked) me off. I don’t turn my back on him. I go get a tutor and help him."

The Browns could use a little tutoring on both sides of the ball, since they rank near the bottom of the NFL in most categories.

The offense is averaging the second-fewest number of yards per game and the defense is allowing the most yards in the league.

The offense has scored four touchdowns in seven games — none by a running back or receiver. The defense was burned on a 71-yard touchdown pass by Green Bay last week after quarterback Aaron Rodgers read the coverage and audibled to Donald Driver.

After the game, Rodgers said he knew what blitz was coming based on film study, and that the Packers’ scout team ran it better during the week than Browns safety Abe Elam did in the game.

"I respect the guys that talk before the game," said Ryan, who earlier this season harshly criticized Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards. "The guys who tell you how much they’re going to kick your butts, and then they do it or you can shut them up. He can say whatever he wants. I don’t care about him. I’ve got no time for a guy like that."

Browns fans, meanwhile, say it’s the team that is testing their patience.

Mike Randall and Tony Schafer, fixtures in Cleveland’s famous Dawg Pound, are hoping the sight of so many empty orange seats on national TV against the Baltimore Ravens will send a strong message to team owner Randy Lerner, who hand-picked Mangini as his new coach earlier this year.

Mangini has traded away most of the stars from an offense that was among the league’s best two years ago. It has left first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll searching for playmakers on a unit that has failed to score a touchdown in four of seven games.

"I don’t blame (fans) for wanting a timetable. Losing is not fun for anyone," Daboll said. "I really believe good things are going to come ... I’m convinced the people we have in this building will turn this thing around."

When that will happen, no one seems to know.

"Nothing is ever given to Cleveland. Hell, their team was taken away one time," Ryan said. "You think you’re not going to fight for that team? Yeah you are.

"A little adversity happens, you don’t turn your back. You rub your hands together and fight harder. So it doesn’t look like we’ve got Jim Brown back there right now. Well it’s not easy. We’ll fight and get better. Our fans are great fans. They deserve better and we’re going to give them better."

Johnson’s agent, Chiefs continue talks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Larry Johnson remained a member of the Kansas City Chiefs late Friday afternoon, but no one could say how much longer that might be the case.

Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, said there had been no progress in discussions with the team over the future of the suspended running back.

Shortly after the Chiefs suspended their troubled running back Wednesday for two weeks, Schaffer said he had spoken with the players’ union and would appeal.

He has also been talking with Chiefs’ general manager Scott Pioli about some sort of agreement that could affect the future for Johnson, who needs only 75 yards to break Kansas City’s career rushing record.

Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, used a gay slur on his Twitter account on Sunday night and also questioned his coach’s ability. He repeated the slur to reporters the next day. Schaffer said the two-week suspension, which would include one game check, would cost his client more than $600,000.

He may also face further punishment by the league.

-- Doug Tucker

Cardinals get sellout after deadline extension

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals’ game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Glendale has sold out.

After the NFL gave the defending NFC champions a 24-hour extension on the television blackout deadline, the Cardinals announced the sellout Friday.

The Cardinals said they had just under 1,000 tickets remaining Thursday and the NFL extended the deadline to 2:15 p.m. MST Friday.

Arizona has now sold out all 38 games at University of Phoenix Stadium, which opened in 2006. .

However, this was the third time this season that Arizona needed a 24-hour blackout deadline extension from the league.

TV blackout lifted for Raiders-Chargers game

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers say enough tickets have been sold to lift the local television blackout of their game Sunday against AFC West rival Oakland.

The Chargers needed a 24-hour extension from the NFL, until 1:05 p.m. Pacific Friday, to sell the remaining tickets to lift the blackout. The usual deadline is 72 hours before kickoff.

This is the 43rd consecutive regular-season or postseason Chargers home game to be televised live in Southern California.

The last regular-season blackout was on Nov. 7, 2004, against the New Orleans Saints. The team record for consecutive games televised live is 44 set from 1979-84.

Colts’ Lacey fined $10,000 by NFL

NEW YORK — Arizona Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle was fined $7,500 on Friday by the NFL for hitting a defenseless receiver.

Rolle was fined for his hit on Giants tight end Kevin Boss in last Sunday night’s Arizona victory.

Cardinals tackle Cardinals Levi Brown also was fined $5,000 for a chop block.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct when he went to the ground to celebrate after a touchdown in a win over St. Louis.

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams was fined $5,000 for an illegal chop block in last Sunday’s loss to Buffalo when he was late picking up a blitz.

Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava was fined $5,000 an unnecessary roughness on his hit of Packers receiver Greg Jennings in a loss to the Packers. He was penalized 15 yards on the play.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw of the New York Giants was fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness for striking Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett in the face mask in last Sunday night’s defeat. Safety Michael Johnson got a $5,000 fine for roughing the passer when he hit Kurt Warner in the head.

Injuries

Westbrook still questionable for Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — With two starters ruled out and two others, including running back Brian Westbrook, listed as questionable, the Philadelphia Eagles go into their biggest game of the season with key health issues.

The Eagles (4-2) host the New York Giants (5-2) on Sunday with first place in the NFC East at stake. But Westbrook is questionable after suffering a concussion in last Monday’s victory over Washington.,

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), and backup cornerback/special teams player Dimitri Patterson (hand/quadriceps) won’t play against New York. He also said free safety Victor Harris (ankle) and backup defensive end Chris Clemons (elbow) are questionable.

None of them practiced Friday.

"It’s going to be a game-day decision," Reid said of Westbrook, who traditionally performs well against the Giants. "We’re waiting to get more tests back and see how they look. So far the tests we have done this week have looked OK. But it comes down to a matter of time."

Westbrook has not practiced all week, but he was on the field Friday with his teammates and seemed in good spirits.

"I know he wants to play," Reid said. "As long as he cleared, he’s OK’d, we just have to see. The experts are looking at this. We have to listen to the doctors."

If Westbrook can’t go, rookie LeSean McCoy would make his second start. The second-round draft pick from Pitt started against Kansas City and gained 84 yards on 20 carries.

Newly signed P.J. Hill, who was on the New Orleans practice squad, might also see some time.

"He’s done a nice job," Reid said of Hill. "There’s been a little bit of a carry-over in the terminology he had in New Orleans. I like what I’ve seen. He has a little bit of zip to him and he’s a sharp kid."

Harris also was hurt in the win over Washington. Veteran Sean Jones replaced him.

Jones, a free agent from Cleveland, has played more strong safety than free safety and has been the team’s dime back when it goes to that package.

"I think I’ve made a pretty good adjustment from strong to free," Jones said. "The main thing is just going out and making plays. In this defense the safety positions are similar, with just a couple of differences. Obviously, the strong safety is more in the box and the free is more of a center fielder. But we’re both asked to blitz and to cover."

Sunday, he may be asked to start.

"He’s been rotating in there," Reid said of Jones. "He’ll be fine."

Giants WR Manningham misses practices with injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants receiver Mario Manningham missed practice on Friday with an injured left shoulder.

Manningham hurt the shoulder on the final play of practice on Thursday. He was held out of the team’s final workout for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles as a precaution.

"They thought it was better if he just not work today," coach Tom Coughlin said. "So I’m going to list him as questionable, but hopefully he will make it."

Manningham has started six of seven games this season, catching 28 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns. If he cannot play, Domenik Hixon or rookie Hakeem Nicks would see more action. Nicks has caught touchdowns in four straight games.

"I’m good. You’ll see me out there on Sunday," Manningham said. "I just fell on my shoulder yesterday. I’m cool. I’ll be all right."

Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce (ankle) and offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie (groin) practiced fully and were listed as probable for the game.

McKenzie missed last Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with the injury, marking the first time in 38 regular season games that he had been sidelined.

Backup running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who disclosed he has played with a cracked bone in his right foot all season, practiced on a limited basis on Friday and is probable for Sunday’s game.

Cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring), defensive tackle Chris Canty (calf) and linebacker Michael Boley (knee) were ruled out for Sunday’s game.

The Giants (5-2) are trying to snap a two-game losing streak.

Vikings' Winfield out against Packers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield when they face the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal NFC North game on Sunday.

Winfield was listed as out in Friday’s injury report. He also missed last week’s game against Pittsburgh because of the injured right foot.

Coach Brad Childress said he saw Winfield make progress throughout the week, but obviously not enough to get on the field for Brett Favre’s highly anticipated return to Lambeau Field.

"He has progressed to where he’s moving around a little bit," Childress said Friday.

The Vikings (6-1) have a bye after the game against Green Bay (4-2), so they could be playing it safe with one of their most important defenders.

Karl Paymah, Asher Allen and Benny Sapp played well in Winfield’s place last week in Pittsburgh, holding Ben Roethlisberger to 175 yards passing and Hines Ward to one catch for 3 yards. They will have their hands full this week against Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in Green Bay.

"It’s hard to replace a Pro Bowl corner in our league that does all the things that Antoine does for our defense, but it was great to see Paymah, Asher and Benny step in and play the way they played," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "We are going to need it again this week."

Receiver Bernard Berrian was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Receiver and returner Percy Harvin returned to practice after missing Thursday with an illness and was listed as questionable, as were punt returner Darius Reynaud (hamstring) and reserve linebacker Jasper Brinkley (hamstring).

Favre (hip), Paymah (quad), linebacker Ben Leber (calf), linebacker E.J. Henderson (knee) and fullback Naufahu Tahi (knee) were all listed as probable.

-- Jon Krawczynski

Packers' offensive line has questions

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Coach Mike McCarthy plans to leave everyone guessing what the offensive line will look like when the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

"I have some options," McCarthy said Friday.

McCarthy is feeling good about what he has available with the injury-riddled line as the Packers welcome back former quarterback Brett Favre to Lambeau Field for the first time.

Veteran tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher were full participants in practice Friday.

Clifton, who missed three of the last four games with an ankle injury, is questionable for Sunday. Tauscher, who hasn’t played since re-signing with the Packers on Oct. 12, is probable.

McCarthy said decisions about who will start against the Vikings won’t be made until after he meets with his coaching staff Saturday.

Rookie T.J. Lang and first-year starter Allen Barbre are the other candidates to start at left tackle and right tackle, respectively. They both played in last Sunday’s 31-3 win at Cleveland.

McCarthy reiterated that Barbre remains the starter at right tackle, even though the Packers brought back Tauscher amid a rash of sacks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Tauscher was Green Bay’s starting right tackle from his rookie season in 2000 until he suffered a serious knee injury late last season.

"We’ve got to make sure Mark’s ready to play, and Allen Barbre needs to continue to improve and keep his job," McCarthy said.

Who makes the start at left tackle Sunday is more of a mystery, but Lang is preparing as though he’ll make his second straight start.

That would mean another shot against Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen, who had 4½ of the eight sacks on Rodgers in the teams’ first meeting Oct. 5 — a 30-23 Vikings win.

"If I happen to play Sunday, then I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity," Lang said. "I’m going to go against one of the best pass rushers in the league."

Lang finished the earlier game lined up opposite Allen after Daryn Colledge, who had started in Clifton’s absence, left with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers, who has a sprained foot, went through the full practice Friday after being limited the previous two days and is probable for Sunday.

Dolphins’ Crowder doubtful for Jets’ game

DAVIE, Fla. — Miami inside linebacker Channing Crowder is doubtful for the Dolphins’ game at the New York Jets on Sunday because of a shoulder injury, and he could be sorely missed against a team that leads the NFL in rushing.

Crowder sat out practice for the third day in a row Friday, but he worked on the side and there’s a chance he’ll play at the Meadowlands, coach Tony Sparano said.

"You always worry about a guy being prepared mentally if they don’t practice," Sparano said. "But from Channing’s standpoint, I don’t worry about that stuff. He is smart enough mentally to be one of our coaches."

Crowder has missed six games in his five-year career. He ranks fourth on the Dolphins with 22 tackles and helps plug the inside for a team ranked fourth in run defense.

"Certainly if you didn’t play with Channing, you are missing a heck of a player," Sparano said. "First of all, Channing makes a lot of tackles. The guy is all over the place."

If Crowder is inactive, Reggie Torbor would move into the starting lineup, and newly acquired William Kershaw might see action. Torbor has started 20 games in his career.

Running back Ricky Williams (thumb) and nose tackle Jason Ferguson (foot) are listed as probable.

DT Harris back for Bears

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris knows expectations are high for his return to the starting lineup Sunday at Soldier Field against Cleveland.

Harris sat out last Sunday’s 45-10 loss to Cincinnati after missing an entire week of practice. At first, coach Lovie Smith tied the benching to a sore left knee, but afterward said he wanted to see Harris practice before playing.

"They’re supposed to expect, that’s what I got paid for," said Harris, who received a $40 million contract extension after the 2007 season. "If you give a guy a whole bunch of money to perform or you ran a Fortune 500 company and the guys didn’t produce like he did, what are you supposed to do?"

Harris completed his third straight practice Friday with no ill effects.

"I’m confident that it helped him a lot," Smith said Friday about Harris’ week off and full week of practice. "That was our plan, to put him in position where he could practice all week. He practiced all week. He’s feeling good about the practices he’s had and playing good this week."

Harris made the Pro Bowl following the 2006, ‘07 and ‘08 seasons and has had hamstring and knee problems since late in the 2006 season. Asked if his knee felt better now after a rest, Harris said, "I think somebody just made that up, so we’ll just leave that alone."

Harris was asked if he was capable of returning to dominant form.

"What kind of question is that? Am I capable? I always feel like I’m capable," he said.

Teammates want to see Harris playing again like before.

"He’s getting his body right," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. "I don’t think he has been 100 percent healthy. But with that said, nobody’s really healthy in this league. So we need him to give him what he can do."

Smith has been mum all week on possible lineup changes for the game with Cleveland. He wouldn’t say whether Harris’ return means defensive tackle Marcus Harrison returns to the bench or takes the starting nose tackle spot from Anthony Adams.

Ogunleye went through a full practice session Friday for the first time this week after suffering a right ankle injury last week. He will start Sunday.

Colts expect Wayne, Freeney to play

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts received some good news heading into Sunday’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne (strained groin) and defensive end Dwight Freeney (knee) both took part in Friday’s practice and are expected to play. Defensive tackle Eric Foster (shoulder) also practiced and should be available against the 49ers.

The post-practice injury report listed Wayne, Freeney, Foster, and tight end Jacob Tamme (hamstring) as questionable. Rookie running back Donald Brown (shoulder) is doubtful.

Quarterback Peyton Manning saw limited work on Friday but will start. Safety Bob Sanders (knee) went through the workout and will make his second straight start.

Freeney was hurt against St. Louis last Sunday but didn’t really feel the effects of the injury until Monday morning.

"I’ll be out there (Sunday). My knee was a little stiff this week, but it has to be real serious for me (to miss a game)," he said. "I’ve got the swelling down now, so I should be all right."

If Brown doesn’t play, second-year running back Chad Simpson will split time with starter Joseph Addai. Mike Hart, another second-year running back, could also play.

"What we do with them is let Joe take as many of (rushing attempts) as he wants, and when he wants to come out of there, we relieve him at that time," coach Jim Caldwell said. "(Hart) is a possibility. He’s been working in practice, and he’s certainly ready to go."

Chargers healthy heading into Raiders game

SAN DIEGO — The Chargers should be as healthy as they’ve been all season when they host the AFC West rival Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Just three players missed practice on Friday, and coach Norv Turner was hopeful one of them will play against the Raiders.

Inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, though, will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury. He’s listed as doubtful on the injury report after not practicing all week.

Defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo was also out with an ankle injury, but Turner was somewhat optimistic he could play. It will be a game-time decision.

Replacing Burnett will be Tim Dobbins, a fourth-year pro who had one of the better days of his career last week. Filling in for Burnett, Dobbins had a team-high 11 tackles and added an interception in a 37-7 win at Kansas City.

Lions coach: QB Stafford, WR Johnson make progress

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says it will be game-day decisions on whether quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s play against the St. Louis Rams.

Schwartz said Friday that Stafford and Johnson have made "a lot of progress" in recent weeks after injuring their right knees. They’re listed as questionable for Sunday’s game when the Lions (1-5) host the Rams (0-7).

Stafford has missed two games. Detroit had a bye last Sunday, giving the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft another week to recover.

Johnson has missed one game with his injury.

Muhammad, Godfrey out for Panthers vs. Cardinals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers will be without starting receiver Muhsin Muhammad and free safety Charles Godfrey for Sunday’s game at Arizona.

Reserve tight end Dante Rosario was also ruled out Friday.

Muhammad missed practice this week because of a sprained knee and will likely be replaced by Dwayne Jarrett. Rookie Sherrod Martin could start for Godfrey, who was wearing a cast and on crutches after injuring his right ankle in last Sunday’s loss to Buffalo. Rosario has a knee injury.

Linebackers Thomas Davis (hamstring) and Landon Johnson (shoulder), running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles’ tendon), fullback Brad Hoover (back) and kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd (ankle) were listed as questionable. But they all practiced this week.

Browns’ Phil Dawson optimistic he’s ready to play

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson is optimistic he can play Sunday at Chicago.

Dawson has missed the last five weeks with a strained calf, but he returned to practice for a couple of days last week and has been kicking in practice this week.

"We’ll see, but I’m optimistic," Dawson said. "There would be no one more excited if I got a green light than me. I just want to play again. This sitting around and watching is for the birds."

Billy Cundiff has made all six of his field goal attempts in place of Dawson, but his longest is 31 yards.

Cotchery, Clowney questionable, but should play

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery, David Clowney and Brad Smith are listed as questionable but expected to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Cotchery, the team’s leading receiver, was injured in practice three weeks ago. He played in the loss at Miami on Oct. 12, then sat out a loss to Buffalo and a win at Oakland.

Smith has also missed the last two games with a quadriceps injury, while Clowney has an injured ankle. Also questionable are defensive end Shaun Ellis (knee/ankle) and linebacker Bart Scott (knee). Coach Rex Ryan said Friday he expects them all to play.

Lito Sheppard is questionable with a right quadriceps injury and isn’t expected to play.

Jaguars’ Mathis ruled out against Titans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis won’t play Sunday at Tennessee because of a broken finger.

Mathis, who broke a bone in his left index finger Oct. 18 against St. Louis, was ruled out Friday by coach Jack Del Rio. The news wasn’t a surprise because Mathis didn’t practice all week and was in a cast. He had surgery last week to insert a screw in his finger and never sounded optimistic he would return against the Titans.

Backup cornerback and kick returner Brian Witherspoon (hamstring) also was ruled out.

Mathis holds the franchise record with 27 interceptions, including two this season. The Jaguars (3-3) will start either Scott Starks or Tyrone Brackenridge opposite rookie Derek Cox.

Elsewhere

Prosecution continues in case of player shooting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Cell phone calls tracked the movements of defendant Tyrone Hartsfield around Jacksonville on the night that former Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier was shot and paralyzed, representatives for three cell phone companies testified Friday.

Hartsfield, 32, is on trial on charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the Sept. 2, 2008, shooting of Collier. The football player was waiting in his car outside an apartment building near downtown Jacksonville when he was shot several times.

One bullet tore through his spinal cord, leaving Collier paralyzed. Doctors also had to amputate his left leg.

The wireless companies presented maps showing the general areas where cell phone calls were made by Hartsfield and received by Hartsfield in the hours around the time Collier was shot.

Cell records linked Hartsfield’s telephone to a nightclub and the Riverside area of Jacksonville, where Collier was wounded.

They also followed the phone calls of Stephfan Wilson, who testified that he heard several shots when he sat outside in Hartsfield’s car. They also gathered phone records of Jeff Collier, who prosecutors believe delivered the .45 gun to Hartsfield. Jeff Collier is a cousin of Hartsfield and not related to the victim.

Representatives of AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint detailed calls made through their cell towers.

The companies record which cell towers handle each of their calls and they can determine the general area where calls are made and received.

On Thursday, Wilson testified as the state’s key witness that Hartsfield was bent on revenge when he followed the player from a nightclub and opened fire.

Witnesses have said Collier had knocked out Hartsfield in April 2009 in a fight in a Jacksonville nightclub.

Collier was a backup on the Jaguars offensive line and was in his third year with the NFL after graduating from Valdosta State. He was out of football for a while, working as a produce manager for a WalMart supermarket.

-- Ron Word