NFL Capsules: Thanksgiving night treat for Giants fans

The Denver Broncos have lost four in a row and blown their division lead. The Giants know all about such slumps.

New York broke its four-game slide, which cost it the NFC East lead, by beating Atlanta last Sunday. It took overtime to do it, but after dropping from 5-0 to 5-4, nobody in the Meadowlands was complaining about the extra work.

That victory, plus Denver spiraling from 6-0 to 6-4 and falling a game behind San Diego in the AFC West, has the oddsmakers leaning toward the Giants, who are 5-point favorites for the Thanksgiving night game.

Denver’s defense has sprung leaks and might be wearing down a bit. It’s undersized, and the Giants are among the NFL’s more physical teams.

But the Giants also will be short-handed in the backfield with backup Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle) sidelined. New York would like to pound the ball with Brandon Jacobs, yet not wear him out in the Mile High air.

Both teams have been vulnerable against the pass recently, too. So who would you rather have throwing, a healthy if inconsistent Eli Manning, a hobbled Kyle Orton or a rusty Chris Simms? Thought so. GIANTS, 24-20.

Green Bay (minus 11) at Detroit, Thursday

Both teams would have been banged-up in a regular week. On short rest, go with the contender. PACKERS, 30-10

Oakland (plus 14) at Dallas, Thursday

Oakland can play decent defense. Dallas can’t get its offense on track, making it close. COWBOYS, 16-10

New England (plus 3) at New Orleans, Monday night

The Patriots’ second chance in three weeks to knock off an unbeaten. And maybe the last strong chance for the Saints to lose. UPSET SPECIAL: PATRIOTS, 27-24

Indianapolis (minus 3) at Houston

History says avoid the Texans when they play Peyton and the Colts. COLTS, 21-16

Chicago (plus 9½) at Minnesota

Recent history says avoid Jay Cutler and the Bears at all costs. BEST BET: VIKINGS, 30-14

Cleveland (plus 14) at Cincinnati

The Battle of Ohio won’t be much of a skirmish as Bengals straighten out. BENGALS, 28-7

Washington (plus 9) at Philadelphia

Redskins soon might not have any usual offensive starters left in the lineup. EAGLES, 20-7

Miami (minus 3) at Buffalo

Dolphins continue their rise, Bills keep on falling. DOLPHINS, 20-13

Arizona (no line) at Tennessee

Assuming Kurt Warner will play, Cardinals remain perfect on road, despite Titans’ revival. CARDINALS, 24-20

Seattle (minus 2½) at St. Louis

Seahawks are awful on road. Steven Jackson will run wild even without QB Marc Bulger. RAMS, 17-10

Tampa Bay (plus 11) at Atlanta

Has a rookie coach ever fired both coordinators the way Raheem Morris has? FALCONS, 31-13

Carolina (plus 3) at N.Y. Jets

What’s happened to the Jets is a crying shame, isn’t it Rex? PANTHERS, 20-17

Jacksonville (plus 3) at San Francisco

Jack Del Rio has done terrific job with surging Jags. JAGUARS, 19-17

Kansas City (plus 13½) at San Diego

Chiefs have won three of last five. Make that three of six. CHARGERS, 35-13

Pittsburgh (no line) at Baltimore

Steelers’ most important players, Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger, are dinged. Time for some resilience. STEELERS, 13-10

RECORD: Versus spread, 8-6 (75-76-2 season); Straight up, 13-3 (109-41 season); Best Bet: 5-6; Upset Special: 8-3

League News

Mangini backs off injury accusations

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Frustration got the best of Browns coach Eric Mangini, who now regrets suggesting the Detroit Lions faked injuries.

Cleveland dropped a 38-37 heartbreaker in Detroit on Sunday, losing when the Lions scored a touchdown and kicked the game-winning extra point with no time on the clock. The TD was set up by a pass interference call in the end zone against the Browns.

On Monday, Mangini, who didn’t agree with the interference call, also complained about the number of Lions players who had gotten hurt while the Browns were running their no-huddle offense. He didn’t flatly accuse Detroit’s players of faking injuries, but Mangini questioned why so many of them went out with injuries only to return to the game.

During his news conference Wednesday, Mangini said he wasn’t trying to shy away from accountability.

"At the end of the day we’re accountable for losing the game and for not making enough plays," he said. "That’s me, that’s the coaches, that’s the players. That’s what it was. I think I was frustrated with the situation and probably expressed that more than I probably should have, but at the end of the day we’re responsible for it.

"We had plenty of opportunities to win the game and we didn’t. That wasn’t good enough."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz took offense to Mangini’s comments, saying "he’s way out of bounds on that," and "that couldn’t be further from the truth."

Mangini said he spoke with Schwartz, whom he began his NFL career working alongside in Cleveland under Bill Belichick during the 1990s.

"I talked to Jim for a while," he said. "We cleared the air. I like Jim. We’ve always had a good relationship so we talked through that. The bottom line is we didn’t do enough to win the game. Jim and I are fine."

-- Tom Withers

Jets WR Clowney ‘shocked’ by Twitter hacker

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — David Clowney might have tweeted for the last time.

The New York Jets wide receiver said Wednesday that he was stunned after someone hacked into his Twitter account earlier this week and sent out a series of vulgar messages.

"I was very shocked," he said. "There was nothing I could do about it."

Clowney has had his Twitter account locked since the obscene tweets went out to friends and fans Monday, and the receiver said he might not use the social networking site again.

"I don't know," he said. "I might not even deal with it anymore. You go through unnecessary drama."

The Jets issued a statement Monday night alerting fans that a "rogue tweeter" was sending out expletive-filled messages under Clowney's account.

"I can trip about certain things, but I wouldn't dare in my life ever do something like that," he said.

Clowney, who has more than 6,700 followers, confirmed the messages were not from him — including a direct message in which he allegedly suggested a fan to "kill yourself dude."

"I can't even say half the stuff that was sent as direct messages to other friends of mine," he said. "I got text messages that there was some vulgar, X-rated stuff sent to female friends of mine and they were just texting me like, 'What are you talking about?' I had to explain to them that it wasn't me."

The offensive tweets have since been removed from Clowney's home page. He also denied speculation by some that he was really behind the messages and was just trying to cover his tracks by claiming he was hacked.

"If anybody knows me, you know I'm a clown," Clowney said. "I have fun and smile. I would never have any reason to write all those things."

Jets officials confirmed that Clowney was getting massage therapy and was later on the phone with the team as the tweets were being sent, so it was clear he wasn't responsible.

The team, which encourages its players to use social-networking sites, said it also had Twitter shut down an account Monday night in which someone purported to be owner Woody Johnson. The Jets have had similar incidents with people pretending to be Thomas Jones and Bart Scott.

Clowney, a frequent poster, has had previous Twitter-related trouble. He was suspended by coach Rex Ryan for one game earlier in the season when he admitted posting that he was unhappy with his playing time in the team's game against New England in Week 2.

"That got out of hand, so to even go back and write something as vulgar as all that stuff, that's guaranteed probably getting kicked off the team," he said. "If you're that stupid to sit down and write all of that stuff in public and send all of those messages, that would be just stupid and ignorant."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

Despite scandal, Chmura set for Packers honor

Injuries

Bills’ Wood still recuperating in Jacksonville

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills rookie guard Eric Wood continues to recuperate in a Jacksonville hospital three days after breaking two bones in his left leg.

A person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Wood isn’t expected to return to Buffalo until Thursday after doctors deemed it necessary to keep the player under observation as a precaution.

Wood had surgery to repair the compound fracture hours after he was hurt in an 18-15 loss to the Jaguars last Sunday.

He was hurt while blocking on a pass play in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley broke in on the left side and made a diving attempt to tackle quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick near the line of scrimmage. Stanley got only a piece of the quarterback, then landed directly on Wood’s lower leg, bending it sideways.

The injury was so gruesome CBS elected against showing more than one replay.

Placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Wood is the second of Buffalo’s two first-round draft picks, and had started all 10 games this season.

Eight-year NFL veteran Kendall Simmons, who was signed Tuesday, might start in Wood’s place Sunday, when Buffalo (3-7) hosts Miami (5-5). It will be the seventh different offensive line combination this season.

The Bills made several other moves to address their injury-riddled offensive line. The team promoted Christian Gaddis from its practice squad and placed Seth McKinney on injured reserve after the backup offensive lineman hurt his knee against Jacksonville.

Gaddis was re-signed by Buffalo last week after the team made him one of its final cuts before the start of the season.

The Bills also signed offensive lineman Jason Watkins and defensive tackle Lonnie Harvey to their practice squad. Watkins was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida who was released by Houston before the start of the season. Harvey, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Morgan State, was waived by the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, starting cornerback Terrence McGee (knee), starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (knee), and starting left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday. Backup defensive tackle John McCargo also missed practice because of a calf injury. Rookie safety Jairus Byrd, who leads the league with eight interceptions, was limited because of a groin injury.

Running back Marshawn Lynch practiced fully after missing the second half of Sunday’s loss at Jacksonville because of a shoulder injury.

-- John Wawrow

Warner practices, says he expects to play Sunday

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner went through a full practice on Wednesday and said he plans to play Sunday at Tennessee.

Warner said he passed the required mental tests on Tuesday with "no problems neurologically at all" after sustaining a concussion in last Sunday’s 21-13 victory at St. Louis.

"From what they told me I tested better than I did four years ago so I’m just getting smarter with age," he joked after practice.

He said he plans to be careful as he prepares through the week but as of Wednesday all signs were good that he would make his 42nd consecutive NFL start.

"I was out there, went through all my normal reps so that is definitely the plan moving forward," Warner said. "We’re sure going to be cautious and make sure day by day nothing transpires, nothing gets worse, but right now that’s my plan."

The 38-year-old quarterback’s head slammed into the turf on a hit from Rams safety O.J. Atogwe in the second quarter. He stayed in the game to complete the touchdown drive that put Arizona up 21-3, then left for good.

According to Warner’s tally, this is the fifth concussion of his career — three in the NFL, one in the Arena Football League and one non-football related while he was in college. All were mild, he said.

Warner said all the recent attention and studies given to concussions in the NFL was a factor in his leaving last Sunday’s game when he did.

"I think as a player you know that it’s out there and you know that people are discussing it and looking into it more and you make the right decision," he said. "I can’t tell you five years ago, eight years ago, that I sit out the second half of the game in St. Louis."

He also said his age makes him more cautious.

"I know as a player that’s getting toward the end of their career, you think beyond football," Warner said. "You’re thinking from a bigger picture than I know I did 12 years ago and that a lot of players do or did before all this stuff is coming out."

On Wednesday, Warner tried out one of the new helmets designed to better protect the head from injury but didn’t particularly like it.

"I didn’t really feel comfortable with it today," he said. "We’re going to keep messing with it and see if I can be comfortable with it."

Otherwise, it’s back to the old helmet.

"I’ve been playing the game for a lot of years and the last time I had any symptoms like this was 2003, so it’s been a long time and the equipment’s been pretty good to me," Warner said, "so I don’t want to just panic and go to something else, but at the same time if there’s something better out there, something that I feel comfortable with that can help me, then we’ll try that."

Warner said he likes a new but yet-to-be-implemented league rule that requires an outside neurologist to be consulted, but said he didn’t do so in this case.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Warner shows no sign of mental impairment.

"He was talking about the game, he was talking about the plays he likes. Everything’s been normal as far as preparation goes," the coach said. "Everything looks good. I think the question is seeing how he progresses during the week."

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said he’s not worried that his quarterback would force the issue and risk further injury.

"Kurt’s been playing football probably 25 years and I promise you it’s not his first concussion," Fitzgerald said. "If you play football long enough you’ve had concussions. You’ve dealt with it. He’s not going to do anything to jeopardize himself. Our medical staff is not going to let him do anything to jeopardize himself. Our head coach is not going to let him do anything to jeopardize himself.

"If he’s ready to go, he’ll play. If he’s not, I don’t think they’re going to let him."

-- Bob Baum

Harris to miss 4th straight game with toe injury

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos will be without right tackle Ryan Harris again for their game against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving.

Harris dislocated two toes in a game at Baltimore on Nov. 1 and missed the second half of that game and the next three, all of them Denver losses.

Harris returned to practice this week, but coach Josh McDaniels declared him out Wednesday and said second-year pro Tyler Polumbus would start again in his place.

Last week, San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips blew past Polumbus for a blind-side sack and strip of Chris Simms, who was benched after just five pass attempts and replaced by Kyle Orton, who hadn’t started because of a sprained ankle.

McDaniels said the quick hook on the left-handed Simms had nothing to do with Polumbus’ performance, and he said Polumbus remains the starter until Harris gets back.

Harris was hoping to get back into the starting lineup against the Giants, but with the game on Thanksgiving, the Broncos had a light week of practices, so McDaniels figured he’d give Harris another week and a-half to get healthy.

"He will not play this week. He’s doing better. He’s getting close. He’s worked extremely hard to get back on the field. But I don’t think we need to keep that a secret anymore," McDaniels said. "He did a good job yesterday at the workout and it’s just not quite ready to go.

"And I don’t think this is the week, you’re bringing a player off of a fairly significant injury at his position, without a whole lot of live practice reps and practice periods day after day after day for him to get confidence in that thing, I don’t think this is a great time or a great week to go ahead and do that."

The Broncos’ offensive line has sprung some leaks during their four-game losing spiral that’s followed their 6-0 start.

In addition to Harris’ injury, Ben Hamilton, the longest-tenured player on the roster, lost his starting job at left guard to Russ Hochstein, who inadvertently jarred the ball out of running back Knowshon Moreno’s hands for a fumble at the goal line in Denver’s loss to San Diego on Sunday.

McDaniels cautioned against thinking that Harris’ return in two weeks will solve everything up front.

"It’s one of those things where you can’t say we expect it all to fix itself when one player comes back because then you’ve got the wrong mindset," McDaniels said.

McDaniels said safety Brian Dawkins (neck) should play Thursday, and he said Simms remains Orton’s backup.

-- Arnie Stapleton

Wells returns for Packers, probable for Lions game

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Finally, some good injury news for the Green Bay Packers. Center Scott Wells was back at practice Wednesday and is listed as probable for the Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit.

Wells’ return provided some relief for the Packers, who are reeling from season-ending knee injuries to cornerback Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.

Wells also hurt his knee Sunday and had to sit out when the team resumed practice Tuesday.

"I had a lot of swelling in it Monday and Tuesday, so basically we waited on the swelling to go down so I could bend it again," Wells said. "Nothing’s torn. The MRI was clear. It’s just a whole bunch of fluid in there."

Wells’ return is critical for the Packers, who have allowed a league-worst 43 sacks this season.

The veteran lost his job as the Packers’ starting center to Jason Spitz in training camp but returned to the starting lineup after injuries forced the Packers to shuffle their line early in the season.

With Spitz out for the season because of a lower back injury, there isn’t much experience left behind Wells. His backup is Evan Dietrich-Smith, an undrafted free agent rookie from Idaho State.

Dietrich-Smith played briefly at left guard in the Packers’ Nov. 15 victory over Dallas after starter Daryn Colledge tweaked his ankle and has been taking a significant number of snaps in practice.

"The kid’s gotten better," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "He’s gotten a lot of work lately, a lot of work, and he’s shown improvement. He’s shown a pretty good grasp of the system."

Backup running back Ahman Green continued to sit out practice with a groin injury and is doubtful for Thursday’s game.

Spikes hopes to return from injury Sunday

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco linebacker Takeo Spikes hopes to return from a hamstring injury for the 49ers’ home game Sunday against Jacksonville.

Spikes missed last week’s 30-24 loss at Green Bay and was replaced by Matt Wilhelm. Spikes strained his left hamstring just before halftime of a win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 12 and hasn’t played since.

Coach Mike Singletary says the rest of the players on the Niners’ lengthy injury list should be ready to go by Sunday for San Francisco (4-6), which has lost four of its last five.

Left tackle Joe Staley, nursing a sprained right knee he hurt during San Francisco’s 18-14 loss at Indianapolis on Nov. 1, is optimistic he will be back nearly on schedule, with the goal of playing on Dec. 14.

-- Janie McCauley

Roethlisberger practices despite concussion

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has practiced despite sustaining a concussion against Kansas City and is expected to play Sunday in Baltimore.

While Roethlisberger went through a usual Wednesday practice, second-year quarterback Dennis Dixon took more snaps than usual. Dixon moved up the depth chart when backup Charlie Batch broke his left wrist during the 27-24 loss to the Chiefs.

The Steelers added a third quarterback by signing former three-year Pitt starter Tyler Palko to their practice squad.

Defensive end Travis Kirschke practiced after missing three games with a torn left calf muscle. Safety Troy Polamalu (left knee ligament) missed the workout.

Rams’ Jackson misses practice with back spasms

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson missed practice Wednesday with lower back spasms, but expects to play Sunday against Seattle.

Jackson is second in the NFL with 1,031 yards rushing and 1,262 yards from scrimmage. He says he is day-to-day.

Jackson says he wasn’t hurt on any particular play in a 21-13 loss to Arizona on Sunday, describing the injury as "wear and tear of the year."

Guard Richie Incognito was restricted to conditioning work and is likely to miss a fourth straight game with a foot injury. Rookie offensive tackle Jason Smith did not pass baseline tests for what coach Steve Spagnuolo termed a mild concussion. Spagnuolo believed Smith would take the test again Thursday.

Vikings guard Herrera held out with concussion

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Vikings starting right guard Anthony Herrera has a concussion.

Herrera did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of the condition. Coach Brad Childress didn’t mention it this week, and he was unavailable for comment when the injury report was released. Herrera hasn’t missed any time this season.

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) were listed as limited in practice, as was running back Adrian Peterson (ankle). Winfield is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the Bears after missing the past five weeks.

Giants RB Bradshaw (ankle) out against Denver

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw won’t play at Denver on Thursday because of a sprained left ankle.

Linebacker Antonio Pierce, out indefinitely with a bulging disk in his neck, was also officially ruled out of the Thanksgiving night game on Wednesday.

Bradshaw was hurt during the Giants’ 34-31 overtime win over Atlanta on Sunday. He’s second on the team with 549 yards rushing.

Player Moves

Jets’ Ryan demotes S Rhodes in favor of Smith

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — For the first time in his NFL career, Kerry Rhodes is no longer a starting safety.

He's also not quite sure how much longer he'll be with the New York Jets after being demoted Wednesday by coach Rex Ryan in favor of Eric Smith.

"I don't know," Rhodes said of his future with the team. "I didn't expect to be in this position, so I don't know."

Rhodes has failed to be the playmaking presence Ryan expected when he compared him to Baltimore's Ed Reed in the offseason. Instead, Rhodes has struggled with no interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries.

"Do I expect more of Kerry? I would say that's a true statement than what we're getting," Ryan said. "He probably expected more of himself also."

Rhodes has started every game of his NFL career since being a fourth-round pick out of Louisville in 2005. Big things were expected after he had nine interceptions and seven sacks from 2006-07, but Rhodes has only one sack and two picks since.

"I'm not a disruptive guy, so I won't be on suicide watch," he said. "It's definitely one of those things that is tough on me, but I'm not going to cause problems or start problems in the locker room or anything. That's not me. I'll try to do the things he wants me to do and get back in every package."

Starting this week, though, Rhodes will be involved primarily in nickel and dime packages rather than the base defensive packages — as he has since he joined the Jets.

"Yeah, I'm embarrassed," he said. "I mean, I have a lot of pride."

He also wanted to clarify that he isn't getting benched.

"I'm still pretty much in every package," he said. "It's kind of like a little kid in timeout."

Still, it's a huge shot to the confidence of Rhodes, who acknowledged having doubts about his ability.

"If the coaches don't think you're doing enough for your team, then you start to question yourself as an individual and as a player," he said. "I've done a lot for this team, a lot for this league. But to be in this situation right now, it's definitely a situation where you think."

Rhodes signed a five-year, $33 million deal in April 2008, and was considered one of the cornerstones of the franchise. He's not so sure now. When asked if he wanted to be with the Jets for the long term, Rhodes gave a cryptic non-answer by saying, "I'm not going to answer that one right now."

Rhodes, who had been lobbying his fans for Pro Bowl votes a week ago on Twitter, had a weak game at New England on Sunday. He was run over by running back Laurence Maroney, and pulled up on a chance to pop Wes Welker on a play over the middle.

"I thought I was doing OK," he said. "I haven't made the big plays that I have before, but part of that is trying to figure out. There were a couple of plays I tried to make this year that I didn't, due to that."

Ryan said he was not trying to send a message to the entire team by making an example of Rhodes. Some have suggested Rhodes might have been a scapegoat as the team has dropped six of its last seven.

"It may be a message to the team," Rhodes said. "I'm a guy who's looked upon to do a lot of things for this team and I'm a guy who makes a little money as well, so when you have those situations, you want to have those guys be the guys that are doing a lot for you."

Ryan, at least publicly, remains confident Rhodes will come out of his demotion a better player.

"I'm almost banking on how Kerry will respond," Ryan said. "I'll say this: I know Kerry wants to be out there with his teammates. I'm banking on that."

Smith was a third-round pick out of Michigan State in 2006 and has started 10 games. He has four interceptions and 102 tackles in his career, and leads the team this season with 15 special teams tackles.

"When you get an opportunity like this, you've got to do something with it," he said. "I'm just going to come out and try to help the defense as much as I can."

He blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown last Sunday at New England, and has been known as a hard hitter. Smith was suspended and fined last season for a helmet-to-helmet hit that sent Arizona's Anquan Boldin to the hospital.

"It's only awkward if you make it," Smith said of stepping in for Rhodes. "We're both good friends and we know it's just something they're trying to change up and maybe get something done on defense a little differently."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

Browns add linebacker Matt Roth

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have been awarded linebacker Matt Roth off waivers from Miami.

Picked by the Dolphins in the second round in 2005, Roth made 23 starts in five seasons for Miami. He recorded 158 tackles and 12½ sacks in 64 games. After moving from defensive end to linebacker, Roth had five sacks, 53 tackles and two forced fumbles last season.

Roth was a first-team All-Big Ten selection at Iowa. He had two tackles in three games this season.

The Browns had a roster spot open after waiving linebacker Josh Stamer on Tuesday. Stamer did not make a tackle in two games with Cleveland. He played only on special teams last week in Detroit.

Elsewhere

NFL’s Jon Runyan to run for Congress in N.J.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Shortly after signing with the San Diego Chargers, Jon Runyan announced he’ll retire at the end of the season and run for Congress in New Jersey.

The 35-year-old offensive lineman said in a statement late Tuesday that he told Republican officials in Burlington County of his plans to challenge Democratic Rep. John Adler in New Jersey’s 3rd District.

"I look forward to a successful end to my career on the field," Runyan said, "and a spirited campaign against Congressman Adler in 2010."

Runyan, who was signed as a free agent Tuesday, hasn’t played since the end of last season. He wasn’t re-signed by Philadelphia after having surgery on his right knee.

Runyan has not given interviews about his political ambitions or said much about his stance on issues. A previous statement mentioned the country was being taken in the wrong direction by career politicians "incapable of solving the problems we face."

The seat was held for more than two decades by Republican Jim Saxton, who retired last year.

Adler, who replaced him, is seen as vulnerable. He was a popular state senator, but is a Democratic first-term representative in a district that traditionally supports Republicans.

Adler voted against a health care overhaul bill this month, rousing opposition from the left. Adler’s chief of staff, Jill Greco, said the Congressman is "not thinking about partisan politics or next year’s election."

Runyan, who played 13 seasons in the NFL for Houston, Tennessee and Philadelphia, was one of the more popular Eagles. He never missed a game in nine years with the Eagles, starting 192 straight regular-season games.

Parts of three counties make up the 3rd District, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs to the shore. Runyan lives in Mount Laurel, N.J.

-- Geoff Mulvihill

Tom Janik, former AFL-NFL player, dies at 69

POTH — Tom Janik, a former AFL-NFL player who in 1968 intercepted a pass by Joe Namath and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, has died. He was 69.

Vinyard Funeral Homes says Janik died Saturday in Poth, about 35 miles from San Antonio.

Janik, a defensive back and punter, made 25 interceptions in eight AFL seasons with Denver, Buffalo and Boston. The touchdown return against Namath and the New York Jets was one of six in Janik’s career.

Janik played one year with the New England Patriots after the AFL-NFL merger.

In college, he played one season at Texas A&M and three at Texas A&I, now Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Kitsap coroner says Fein died of drug overdose

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — The Kitsap County coroner says football player Tony Fein died of an accidental drug overdose.

Coroner Greg Sandstrom said Wednesday that toxicology tests showed "acute opiate (morphine) intoxication" with the added effect of Alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety. Sandstrom says Fein also vomited and aspirated that material.

Fein collapsed Oct. 6 at a friend’s house near Port Orchard and died at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

The 27-year-old from Port Orchard was an Army veteran who served in Iraq. The linebacker was an undrafted rookie free agent from the University of Mississippi who played for the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens in the preseason.