NFL Capsules - AFC: Texans' Phillips has kidney, gall bladder surgery
HOUSTON (AP) — The Texans say defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is in stable condition after undergoing surgery on his kidney and gall bladder.
The team announced Wednesday that Phillips would take a medical leave to have a surgical procedure. The 64-year-old Phillips said after Wednesday's practice that he expected to miss a week to 10 days to recover. He said his condition was not life-threatening and non-cancerous.
Linebackers coach Reggie Herring will run the defense for Houston (10-3) in Sunday's game against Carolina (4-9).
The Texans lead the league in total defense (275 yards per game) under the guidance of Phillips, hired in January. The team said in a statement that "in order to respect his privacy, the family has requested there be no further information given at this time."
Hasselbeck practices, expected to start Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matt Hasselbeck is back practicing, and the Tennessee Titans are expecting the veteran quarterback to start Sunday when they visit the winless Colts.
Barring a setback.
"If he's not feeling he can do things, he'll be honest with us," Titans coach Mike Munchak said Thursday. "He knows we want to win. He wants to start, and we want him to start. If for some reason he's not at his best, we'll rethink the position. Right now we're all thinking positively that he's going to be the starter."
Hasselbeck hurt his left calf early in last week's 22-17 loss to New Orleans. He had an MRI on Monday and watched practice Wednesday as part of a plan put together by doctors and trainers to work him back onto the field. Hasselbeck was limited Thursday, but he did warm up and practice some handoffs while throwing only out of the shotgun.
The 13-year veteran hasn't missed a start this season since signing a three-year contract with Tennessee. He said his calf feels good, and he'll be in by 6:30 a.m. Friday morning for more tests just like a handful of other players. Hasselbeck thinks only his scrambling would be most affected and thinks the timing is fine against the Colts considering the speedy Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney.
"I don't think I was going to outrun Freeney or Mathis," Hasselbeck said.
"You're definitely more of a sitting duck, but you can throw the ball, which is nice. Even the last time we played them, I don't know how many sacks we had, if we had any. If you get the ball out quick, it doesn't really matter."
Hasselbeck was sacked once Oct. 30 in a 27-10 win over Indianapolis in Nashville. But he is a big reason why the Titans (7-6) go into their final three games needing to win all three and get some help to land the AFC's final wild-card spot in Munchak's first season as head coach.
The 13-year veteran ranks fifth among the NFL's active career passing leaders with 32,280 yards, and he's completing 61 percent of his passes this season for 2,701 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with Kenny Britt sidelined since September by a torn ACL.
Rookie Jake Locker, who practiced Thursday after being limited Wednesday because of sore ribs, threw for 282 yards coming off the bench against the Saints. He was the eighth pick overall in April, and Munchak said they feel comfortable either way. But Hasselbeck is the preferred starter.
"I don't think reps are as important as how he's feeling," Munchak said of Hasselbeck being limited at practice.
Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer has some plays ready that better suit Hasselbeck and others better for the very mobile Locker. The rookie ran for 36 yards against the Saints.
Locker said the Titans still have three more days until the game.
"Matt's a tough guy. He's played through a lot of stuff in his career and this year. I know if he can be out there, he will," Locker said.
Notes: WR Nate Washington (left ankle) missed his second straight practice after having a career-high 130 yards receiving last week. Munchak said he expects Washington to practice Friday. ... RB Javon Ringer remains out with a broken right hand but will get the cast off his hand Monday. LB Patrick Bailey (hamstring), DE William Hayes (groin) and LB Gerald McRath (left knee/ankle). ... DE Dave Ball and rookie offensive lineman Byron Stingily had a couple fights in practice Thursday. Munchak said it was two unlikely combatants with Ball getting mad at something, while Stingily is showing more personality over the past month.
-- Teresa M. Walker
Roethlisberger improving, but still not practicing
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger's sprained left ankle looks, well, more like an ankle than it did after last week's 14-3 win over the Browns. The swelling is down. The rainbow of colors that surrounded the mangled joint earlier in the week have been reduced to a little black here, a little blue there.
That doesn't mean the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is any closer to playing on Monday night against San Francisco. Roethlisberger sat out his third practice in a row on Thursday, hoping another 24 hours of rest will help him avoid missing his first start due to injury in more than two years.
"The goal is as soon as possible to get in there and get in as much work as I can," Roethlisberger said.
That might not be until Saturday at the earliest, and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said the team could wait until after warmups against the 49ers to make a decision.
Veteran Charlie Batch will get the call if Roethlisberger can't go, though Roethlisberger is doing everything he can to get ready.
Hot tubs. Cold tubs. Range of motion exercises. Massages. Roethlisberger was even fitted for a custom-made ankle brace on Thursday which he plans to wear whenever he returns.
While he's no stranger to playing hurt — he's already dealt with a sprained left foot and a fractured right thumb this year — the problem this time is the inability to execute even the most routine tasks.
"If this was just a matter of pain, I'd be out there, but it's being physically unable to do certain things," he said.
Arians acknowledged if Roethlisberger tried to practice on Thursday, he would have to work exclusively out of the shotgun.
Getting under center and taking a snap is something Roethlisberger was able to do during the second half against the Browns, though he chalked it up to the heat of the moment.
"The second half of that game you're playing off adrenaline, you're playing off emotion," he said. "The next couple days after that, I just kind of shook my head because I couldn't have done it. I don't know how I did."
Roethlisberger was at least able to briefly shed the walking boot he's gingerly hobbled around in for the previous six days. The doctors told him to walk around but don't get cute.
"The more I'm out of it, the more I want to move it," Roethlisberger said. "Movement is good because it gets the fluid out but I also catch myself every once in awhile turning it sideways or doing something and it almost puts me to the ground."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Roethlisberger last missed a start due to injury against Baltimore two years ago, when a concussion forced him to watch Dennis Dixon play in a 20-17 overtime loss.
It will be the 37-year-old Batch, however, who will get the nod if Roethlisberger can't play. The Steelers went 1-1 with Batch under center last year while Roethlisberger served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
Arians stressed the gameplan will not change if Batch starts, though Batch hasn't topped 200 yards passing in a game since making an emergency start at the end of the 2007 season. Roethlisberger has gone over 200 yards in all but two of his starts this year.
Even if he plays, however, the Steelers are likely to be more conservative and rely on the defense and the running game. The 49ers (10-3) have been one of the league's biggest surprises but aren't the kind of team that lights up a scoreboard.
That doesn't mean they aren't dangerous, and the Steelers could be decidedly short-handed. Roethlisberger is just one of a handful of regulars who may be out. Linebacker James Harrison is still waiting to see if his one-game suspension for a series of illegal hits on defenseless players will be overturned, while center Maurkice Pouncey is nursing his own left ankle sprain and joined Roethlisberger in the training room on Thursday.
Safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (illness) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (right foot) also did not participate in practice though Polamalu and Gilbert are expected to play.
Whether Roethlisberger joins them likely won't be decided until the team is on the West Coast. Though Arians and head coach Mike Tomlin have said they would like to see their quarterback practice at least once, a good walkthrough may be enough, at least for Roethlisberger.
"If I'm not out there, it's because they didn't feel comfortable with me being out there to protect myself," he said. "They know better than I do. I just tell them whether I can go or not and I think I can go all the time."
-- Will Graves
Wallace set to step in at QB for Browns
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Seneca Wallace doesn't walk so much as glide. And as the Browns' backup quarterback saunters into the locker room following practice he looks and acts every bit like Cleveland's starter. He probably will be Sunday.
With Colt McCoy still experiencing headaches and not practicing from a concussion suffered in Pittsburgh last week, Wallace, who has spent most of his NFL career as an understudy, will likely start when the Browns (4-9) visit the Arizona Cardinals.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur has not yet ruled McCoy out, but all logical signs are pointing to Wallace making his first start this season — and his 19th in nearly 10 pro seasons.
"Seneca's taken all the reps," Shurmur said before Thursday's practice. "And as the days go by and Colt hasn't practiced, it's two plus two."
McCoy was sent home for the third time this week with lingering symptoms from the wallop he took from Steelers linebacker James Harrison, suspended one game for the vicious helmet-to-chin blow. Shurmur said all players needing treatment begin their day in the training room, and if they are unable to take part in meetings or are still feeling poorly, they are sent home to rest.
McCoy's future with the Browns remains uncertain, and with only three games left, he's running out of time to show the club he can be their long-time starter.
Browns general manager Tom Heckert said no decisions have been made on McCoy — or any other players.
"We'll have to really, really look at it after the season," Heckert said. "He's done some good things. But the whole evaluation will be done afterward. We just haven't sat down and broken down every play. There's no decisions being made."
Heckert feels the Browns have seen enough of McCoy to make a judgment and assess him fairly. This week, they'll get another look at Wallace, whom they re-signed as a free agent before the lockout.
Wallace has played in three games this season as a reserve, twice coming off the bench to fill in for an injured McCoy and once lining up at wide receiver.
If McCoy can't play this week, and that seems to be a near certainty, the Browns are expecting Wallace to step in and run their West Coast offense.
"We won't miss a beat," wide receiver Josh Cribbs said. "Seneca is very capable of stepping in and keeping the ball rolling. He has a lot of talent."
Wallace came off the bench cold last week after McCoy was flattened by Harrison and completed his only pass, a 13-yarder to tight end Evan Moore that gave the Browns a first down at the Steelers' 5. That's when McCoy made his shocking return after missing two plays and threw a costly interception in the end zone.
Wallace refused to discuss last week's events, which have hung over the Browns for days as the NFL launched an investigation into the team's treatment of McCoy.
"I'm not going to talk about that," Wallace snapped earlier this week. "It's over. I'm done with that."
Wallace's focus is on the Cardinals, and getting the Browns' into the end zone.
Before coming to Cleveland, the 31-year old Wallace spent seven seasons running Shurmur's West Coast offense for Browns president Mike Holmgren in Seattle. He knows the system as well as anyone and he's excited about the chance to show what he can do.
That's the way it's always been for Wallace. Just don't ask him if he's got anything to prove.
"It's not about proving to anybody that I can be a starter," said Wallace, who went 3-5 for the Seahawks in 2008. "My peers understand and know that I'm capable of leading the team and doing the things well to be a starter. That's all I worry about. I can't deal with the politics side of playing quarterback and other things that come along with it.
"I stay in my lane around here. I wait until my opportunity comes."
Wallace made four starts for the Browns last season, taking over when starter Jake Delhomme suffered a high ankle. Wallace may have kept the job, but he sustained the same injury, allowing McCoy to rise from No. 3 to the top of the depth chart as a rookie.
Now, Wallace may have a chance to finish what he didn't start.
"I hate to see Colt hurt and out, but maybe this team needs a spark," linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. "Maybe this team needs a different look."
Wallace could have gone elsewhere during the offseason. He knew the Browns were committed to McCoy, but he liked the idea of staying put and wanted security before the labor situation unraveled. He signed a three-year contract to remain with the Browns.
"I'm still happy about my decision," he said, "and now I get my opportunity to prepare this team."
Shurmur was thrilled Wallace wanted to come back even though he knew his chances of starting were slim.
"He was well aware of the fact that we were going to move forward with Colt as the starter," Shurmur said. "But he knew that he would have a chance to compete here in a system that was familiar to him and we're glad he stayed. Now he's having his opportunity. I'm anticipating that he's going to go out and execute extremely well."
Wallace's teammates are sure of it, too. And even if he struggles, they're sure Wallace will look good doing it.
"He's one of the coolest people I've ever met," cornerback Joe Haden said. "You never see him too happy or too sad. He's always chillin'. He's smooth, real smooth."
Notes: Shurmur said TE Benjamin Watson visited a specialist after suffering his third concussion this season. Shurmur said it's possible Watson's season is over. ... Heckert made it clear the Browns want to sign LB D'Qwell Jackson, who will be a free agent in March. "You can pretty much say he's going to be here," Heckert said. He's also set on keeping K Phil Dawson, whom the Browns kept with a franchise tag. "We would love Phil to be back," he said. ... Heckert said finding playmakers will be a priority for next season. "We just need to score points and get some people that defenses are afraid of," he said.
-- Tom Withers
Patriots defense preparing for Tebow's uniqueness
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots say they're preparing for Tim Tebow like they do for any other quarterback — learn what he does well and what he does poorly and take advantage of that knowledge.
There's a big problem, though. Tebow isn't like any other quarterback.
"He's a very unique person," said Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who played with Tebow at Florida. "He's a leader."
Tebow has led the Denver Broncos to a 7-1 record in his eight starts since they opened at 1-4. Their 8-5 mark going into Sunday's home game against the Patriots leads the AFC West.
New England has allowed the most yards in the NFL despite a 10-3 record that's tied for the best in the AFC. They'll have to be very disciplined to deal with the scrambling Tebow. He has flaws in his footwork and throwing mechanics but can run around and over defenders with his 235 pounds.
"He's a big strong guy and he's fearless," said Patriots defensive back Nate Jones, a teammate of Tebow's last season. "You don't want to blow it out of proportion, but you want to take it in stride and prepare how you do every week and know what his strengths are, know what his weaknesses are.
"But anytime you have a quarterback that's mobile, it definitely is a challenge for a defense."
Pass rushers must try to keep Tebow in the pocket. Outside defenders most hold their positions to stop him from turning the corner. Cornerbacks must stick with their men and not move up when it appears he will run.
Tebow can pass well when he's on the move. He's completed just 48.5 percent of his passes this season, but the Patriots say he's underrated as a thrower.
"He can hit (passes) in the pocket. He can hit them out of the pocket," coach Bill Belichick said. "There are plenty of examples of both."
Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden was with Houston when the Texans faced the Broncos last Dec. 26. Tebow scored on a 6-yard run with 3:02 left to tie the game and the extra point gave the Broncos a 24-23 win.
What did he learn from that?
"Be alert. Every play he can hurt you," Molden said. "Some say he can't pass. From what I saw on film ... the guy can pass and he can also run. He's more accurate than what people think."
At least he is in the fourth quarter.
In that period, he leads the NFL in passer rating, has thrown six of his 11 touchdowns and completed 61.3 percent of his throws.
In last Sunday's 13-10 overtime comeback win over the Chicago Bears, Tebow completed 21 of 40 passes for a season-best 236 yards. In the last nine games, he has led 17 scoring drives in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"You can't play one quarter. You can't play two quarters. You have to play four quarters," Molden said. "That's very imperative that we have to do (that), especially dealing with Tim Tebow."
The Patriots have had trouble with that. Last week, they held on to beat the Washington Redskins 34-27 when Jerod Mayo intercepted a pass with 20 seconds left. In their previous game, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-24 after starting the fourth quarter with a 31-3 lead.
"From the first quarter to the fourth quarter, play him the same way," linebacker Rob Ninkovich said. "Keep him in the pocket and don't let him beat you with his feet. And play him tight."
Some teams have assigned one player to watch Tebow and follow him wherever he goes on certain plays. But that "spy" system can only work if that player can bring Tebow down.
"You need somebody that can tackle the quarterback," Belichick said. "(It) depends on what the quarterback's skills are. I don't know if you want to spy (Ben) Roethlisberger with the same guy you'd want to spy Michael Vick with. It depends on who the player is. There's no point in spying him if you can't tackle him."
If that player misses, a defensive back might have to rush up to help. But if he does that too soon — before a scrambling Tebow crosses the line of scrimmage — that may leave a receiver wide open downfield.
So it's a tricky challenge requiring swift, sound decision-making.
"There's fundamental rules of football that you follow," Jones said. "You cover to the end of the play and it basically comes down to ... everybody doing their job. If everybody does their job and nobody tries to do somebody else's job, we'll all be fine."
-- Howard Ulman
Burress says Vick's success helped his NFL return
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Plaxico Burress remembers watching the football sail over his head and then looking wide-eyed at the guy who flung it.
Burress was playing free safety in high school in Virginia at the time, long before he would become one of the NFL's best wide receivers. The quarterback, Burress realized years later, was "a little dude" named Michael Vick.
"I was like, 'Who in the hell is that?'" Burress recalled with a slight smile Thursday. "You didn't expect for a guy his size to have that big an arm. He turned the corner on me one time and it almost felt like I was running on a conveyor belt, he was running so fast."
More than 15 years later, the two are close friends — guys who came from similar humble beginnings and lived out their NFL dreams, only to see their careers halted because of costly mistakes. Vick missed two seasons while in jail for his role in a dogfighting operation; Burress served 20 months in prison on gun charges after accidentally shooting himself.
And, if not for seeing Vick's successful return to the league, Burress isn't sure he would have been able to do the same. Vick is in his third season with the Philadelphia Eagles, and was the NFL's comeback player of the year last season after making the Pro Bowl and setting career highs with 3,018 yards passing, 21 touchdown passes and nine touchdown runs.
"It was kind of one of those things where I say, if it wasn't for him going through what he had been through and coming back, being able to prove that he could still play, then maybe I wouldn't have had the chances that I had," Burress said. "You never know. ... I knew if I could just keep myself in shape, the motivation was already there with everything I was going through. And I knew if I had another chance, I could go out and perform and do what I love to do."
While Burress was in prison, Vick would often call his friend's wife, Tiffany, to check on her and the family.
"That just says a lot about the person, in general," said Burress, who still speaks to Vick about once a week. "Based on everything I was going through at the time and him just being there for emotional support when he could, it speaks volumes about him and his character knowing everything that he's been through."
The two will be on opposite sidelines Sunday when the New York Jets (8-5) take on the Eagles (5-8).
"It's always one of those deals where when we play against each other, we have to try to outdo each other, try to outshine each other," Burress said. "It's going to be fun for both of us, especially after everything that we have been through. We'll just get to enjoy it. I want him to do well, but not well enough to win."
Burress was released from prison in early June and was a member of the New York Jets less than two months later. After gradually getting back into full football shape, he has become a leading candidate for the same comeback award Vick won last year. With 37 catches for 512 yards and seven touchdowns, Burress has also firmly established himself as one of the game's best go-to guys — just as he was early in his career with Pittsburgh and the Giants.
"We've been thrilled with him," Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. "I think nobody knew what we would get other than we knew a guy that was a tremendous playmaker in the past. Just the way he thinks about the game and how he's picked up the system's been great."
There have been some big-time highlights, too, such as the three-touchdown performance against San Diego in October. There was also the twisting, leaping one-handed grab along the sideline that kept a drive alive and helped the Jets beat Buffalo a few weeks ago.
"If he slowed down at all, I can't imagine when he was really going," Schottenheimer said. "He's made big play after big play for us in situations where we've needed it."
Burress is ready for a few more against an opponent he's very familiar with. In 10 games against the Eagles, Burress has 41 catches for 724 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has at least one TD grab in his last four games against them, including two in the Giants' playoff loss in January 2007.
He expects a not-so-friendly reception when he plays in Philadelphia for the first time in three years because, as he put it, he has "broken their hearts a few times."
"Over the years, it's been one of those battles that I've had with them, two or three last-minute touchdowns to win games," he added. "It's just always a fun place for me, personally. I'm pretty sure the fans will boo me. But, they love me. They just don't want to admit it. It's going to be fun."
Notes: RG Brandon Moore (hip) returned to practice on a limited basis, as coach Rex Ryan said would be the plan. Moore played Sunday despite missing practice all last week. CB Marquice Cole (knee) did not practice, and is questionable. ... Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine downplayed rumors that they're candidates for head coaching jobs. "I'm just happy to have a job," said Schottenheimer, who has been linked to the Miami Dolphins job. "A few weeks ago, if you'd asked people, I'd be lucky to have a job." Pettine has many ties to Pennsylvania football and has been mentioned as a potential candidate at Penn State. "You mean everything on the internet is true?" Pettine joked. "No, I'm thrilled where I am and there's not much interest there. There hasn't been contact either way."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Dolphins QB Losman itching to start against Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Quarterback J.P. Losman is familiar enough with Buffalo fans to hold off making predictions regarding what reception he'll get should Miami's backup start against his former team Sunday.
"It would be funny if I got a bunch of boos. And I'd probably laugh it off," Losman said during a conference call. "If they cheered, I'd probably laugh it off, too."
One thing he's certain of is how passionate Bills fans are.
"If they don't like the way things are going, they're going to let you know," he said. "They're not shy, let's put it that way."
Boos. Cheers. Losman heard both — and sometimes in the same game — during a mercurial five-year tenure in Buffalo.
It was a career that began with great promise in 2004, when the Bills traded back into the first round to draft the strong-armed Tulane product. And it ended with a thud after a dreadful 2008 season in which Losman was not re-signed after losing his job to Trent Edwards.
Sunday marks Losman's first game back in Buffalo since he was released, though it's uncertain whether he'll start.
Matt Moore returned to practice Thursday since sustaining a concussion and a neck injury in a 26-10 loss to Philadelphia last weekend. Interim coach Todd Bowles said he'll wait until gametime to name his starter.
That leaves Losman anxiously waiting to see if he'll get his first start nearly three years to the day of his last one. It was a forgettable outing, in which he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for the decisive touchdown in a 31-27 loss to the Jets on Dec. 14, 2008.
"I've been envisioning this for a long time — ever since I left Buffalo — to get a chance to play your old team," Losman said. "Beginning of the season, I was in school, throwing with my uncle at a local college. ... And here you are with a chance to start on a Sunday against your former team."
He's spent the past three years bouncing around the NFL and also spent the 2009 season with the UFL Las Vegas Locomotives. Losman signed with Miami in October after the team lost Chad Henne and Sage Rosenfels.
"Second chances are hard to come by in this league, and I've been waiting for it for quite some time," Losman said. "If I do get this opportunity, it's going to be exciting. It's going to be fun."
Fun and exciting is not be the way Losman's career in Buffalo was always measured.
His rookie season was wiped out after he broke his leg in training camp. A year later, he was awarded the starting job after the Bills released Drew Bledsoe. Losman proved unready and eventually split starts with journeyman Kelly Holcomb.
Losman's best season came in 2006, when he had 3,051 yards passing, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in leading Buffalo to a 7-9 finish.
His inconsistencies returned in 2007, in which he split time with Edwards, a rookie third-round pick, before eventually losing the No. 1 job for good at the end of the season.
Not all of the blame belongs on Losman. His troubles were compounded by an unsettled organization. During his five seasons in Buffalo, the team went through four offensive coordinators, two coaches and three general managers.
"From that standpoint, it was something that for a young quarterback is tough to work through," Losman said. "Of course there's things I look back on physically that I wish I could've done better. But it was only going to take time. That's all it was. It wasn't a lack of smarts. It wasn't a lack of effort. You know, it's just the way it went."
Veteran linebacker Chris Kelsay is one of only 15 players left who played with Losman in Buffalo. And he's more concerned about ending the team's six-game losing streak than facing a former teammate.
"That's good for him. I mean, I don't really think much of it," Kelsay said. "I'm looking at what we can do and an opportunity to win a football game."
Losman holds no grudges, while noting he was rooting for the Bills when they got off to a 5-2 start this season.
"Trust me, I was very happy for Buffalo and I was very happy for the city of Buffalo to be excited," he said. Losman still owns a home in Buffalo and, last summer, married a woman who is from nearby Rochester.
"I still have a lot of love for Buffalo," Losman said. "The fans were great to me. And I want nothing but the best for that city."
Except this Sunday, of course.
NOTES: Bills rookie CB Aaron Williams practiced fully on Thursday, and is expected to return after missing last weekend's game at San Diego with a calf injury. ... PK Dave Rayner worked on a limited basis, but says he is fine after hurting his pelvis at San Diego.
-- John Wawrow
Broncos trying to buck trend of slow starts
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Tim Tebow has tried everything else. Now, he's going to set his alarm for the crack of dawn. Maybe the early bird will get the offense rolling.
With the Denver Broncos relying on his last-minute magic to pull off six comebacks in the eight games he's started, Tebow joked that maybe he should arrive at the stadium even earlier than he already does on game days, perhaps toss a few more pregame passes than usual.
He's open to anything to try to find his rhythm sometime before halftime instead of well after.
A faster start may definitely be needed with Tom Brady leading the high-scoring New England Patriots (10-3) into Denver for a showdown with the resurgent Broncos (8-5) on Sunday.
The Broncos' coaches are also busy trying to decipher why the offense has been such a slow starter. Since Tebow began running the show, the Broncos have managed just six scoring drives in 49 first-half possessions. They have only a dozen scores in 76 drives through the first three quarters.
But that all changes in the fourth quarter, when Tebow roars to life.
Take away the first drive of the final quarter — when it's not yet Tebow Time — and the Broncos have scored on 16 of their 28 possessions, including overtime.
That wait-until-late-in-the-game-to-rally formula probably won't cut it against the Patriots, who are averaging 30.5 points.
The Broncos have won games with Tebow despite scoring 18, 17, 17, 16 and 13 points.
"I've just got to go back to the drawing board and find a way to get a little bit better in practice," Tebow said. "Try to improve and just try to get better as a quarterback and as a player and find a way to get this offense in the end zone early."
Should that happen, it would take the pressure off a defense that has been keeping the Broncos close until Tebow finds his traction. He's appreciative of the defense's effort and realizes that side can't be expected to hold New England out of the end zone all game. The Patriots have only been held under 20 points once this season.
"It does get frustrating when we do see the defense on the field a lot," receiver Eric Decker said. "We want to take pressure off them. We know we have to do a better job of scoring points and executing out there."
The sluggish start is baffling to the Broncos. They make it a top priority to begin each game with a sense of urgency, but it's not translating on the field.
"I'd love to get out early on a team and rest, let some other guys play," said Willis McGahee, the team's leading rusher with 920 yards. "But it doesn't work like that."
Coach John Fox has a theory on why the offense sputters early in games. He believes it takes a few series to figure out what a defense is doing to counteract the Broncos' rather unorthodox offense.
It's a notion that McGahee supports.
"There's certain times when we're starting out that you can't really get a finger on how they're handling us until the second half," McGahee said. "I tell my coach, 'OK, I figured out what I need to do.' Then he says, 'OK, let's do it' and we get the train moving."
The train can't be stuck in the station too long against the Patriots, or the game just might be out of reach before Tebow Time rolls around.
"They're a very potent offense," Fox said. "They've got world championships. They're well-coached. They've got outstanding personnel. It will be a big test. I'd say that's kind of concerning."
Part of the reason for Tebow's late-game success is this: That's when the Broncos go to more of a no-huddle approach. It's also when defenses drop into more of a prevent look, opening up lanes for the unconventional quarterback.
A no-huddle scheme right from the start may just be something the Broncos attempt versus a Patriots defense that's effective at slowing down the run, but struggles against the pass.
At this point, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy isn't ruling anything out.
"We're trying to feel teams out the way they're going to play Tim," McCoy said. "It's not always going to be the same you see from the five previous weeks. We've got to make some adjustments. Regardless of what they're doing or regardless of what I call, it comes down to execution."
Tebow's recent ability to lead the Broncos to wins, and not so much his pedestrian passing stats, has garnered him quite a few Pro Bowl votes.
"There are a lot of guys that deserve to go far ahead of me," Tebow said. "I hope a lot of those guys get a lot of votes, too."
He will see one of the game's best in Brady on Sunday. He may even try to pick up a tip or two.
"He does a lot of things very well and is very cerebral and understands the game very well," Tebow said.
And that's the level Tebow is trying to ascend to. It starts with, well, starting faster.
"We've had opportunities," Tebow said. "I think it's just finding a way to execute, get a first down so we can kind of get adjusted and kind of get rolling."
Notes: DBs Andre' Goodman (concussion) and Brian Dawkins (neck) were limited in practice Thursday. ... Jockey, which uses Tebow as a pitchman, unveiled a promotion Thursday in which the company will give away $1 million worth of product if Tebow leads the Broncos to a victory in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
-- Pat Graham
Gates five catches from breaking Joiner's team record
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Antonio Gates is five catches away from lifting Charlie Joiner's San Diego Chargers team record for receptions. Joiner is convinced the record couldn't be headed for a more sure set of hands.
"I love it," said Joiner, a Hall of Famer who's the Chargers' wide receivers coach. "I don't think there's a better person in the world to do it than Gatesy — great professional, great athlete, great player. All the good adjectives you can describe Gatesy ... magnificent. He's all of them."
The star tight end has 582 career catches going into Sunday night's home game against the Baltimore Ravens and their tough defense. Joiner had 586 catches from 1976-86, the final 11 seasons of his 18-year NFL career.
"Believe me, records are made to be broken," Joiner said. "That's why they're out there, for people to come after them. Like I said, I can't think of a better person to do it than Gatesy."
Gates would have had the record weeks ago if not for painful plantar fasciitis that sidelined him for several games late last season and earlier this year. He's starting to look like the Gates of old, a three-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. He's tied with Vincent Jackson for the team lead with 53 catches, and is second with 601 yards and six touchdowns, including two in Sunday's 37-10 victory against Buffalo. All that despite being held without a catch in a loss at New England on Sept. 18 and then missing three straight games with the foot injury.
True to form, Gates isn't making this about himself. It is quite a feat, though, for a guy who was a college hoops star at Kent State and then joined the Chargers in 2003 as an undrafted rookie because he felt he had a better chance in the NFL than in the NBA.
"Anytime you have any type of accomplishments, it's a testament to the people around you who help you get to this point," said Gates, who led the Chargers in receptions from 2004-09 and was second last year to Darren Sproles. "You couldn't do it all by yourself. I've always felt that way. The Chargers are first and foremost with them giving me the opportunity to play and me making the most of it, and it goes down the line to Norv (Turner) giving me the opportunity to make plays. When you look back at all that, I just can't believe it's happened so fast because you're in the moment and it never sinks in. Like, you hear about it, but once you're actually playing, you're still in the moment."
Once the record is his, Gates will have caught more passes in nine seasons than Joiner did in 11.
"Anytime you're mentioned in the category with someone of that stature it's always a privilege," said Gates, who has 7,606 yards receiving — a 13.1 average — and 75 touchdowns in his career. "I think that's an honor itself, let alone passing his record. Just being mentioned in the same category of a guy who's in the Hall of Fame is an honor."
Gates' teammates know what he's gone through with the plantar fasciitis and other foot injuries in previous seasons.
"Numbers like that reflect the willingness to perfect your craft, to gut through some times when maybe you shouldn't have been on the field but you were anyway, and dedication to your career and your teammates," center Nick Hardwick said.
"The plantar fasciitis, the toe a couple years back, he's played through a ton for a position that's all footwork," Hardwick said. "He's been impressive and a good example for young guys of how to know your position inside and out and impose it on your opponents."
Gates was a target for Drew Brees for three seasons and has been one of Philip Rivers' favorite targets for the last six.
"I'll be happy to be a part of it," said Rivers, who's had his locker next to Gates' for years.
"He's a special player and he's earned every reception he's gotten," the QB said. "It'll mean a lot to him now, but it'll mean a great deal more when he's done and he can look back and think, 'I went from a guy who didn't play college football and here I am a franchise leader in receptions.' That's pretty impressive."
Despite being affected by injuries, Gates has never gone down the woe-is-me road.
"I think what happens is when you deal with injuries and you deal with pain you learn to appreciate the game itself," Gates said. "You learn to appreciate the abilities God has given you. Personally, to be able to get back out there and do the things I know I'm capable of doing, it gives me a sense of appreciation of this league, and of the abilities I was given to go out and run and catch and make plays with the football."
Said Rivers: "He's the ultimate competitor. And in saying that, the ultimate competitor not in competing to get records like this, but just in wanting to go out and play and help us win. When you approach it that way, usually things like this get accomplished. So he's done it the right way."
Gates was on the Kent State team that came within one win of the 2002 Final Four.
"I can't say I remember him necessarily shooting the ball or whatever, but I remember that team when he was at Kent State, playing Indiana and I think Alabama," said Rivers, who grew up in Alabama before playing at North Carolina State.
Rivers and Gates were just talking about playing each other in hoops a few years ago.
"We played a little H-O-R-S-E and a little light one-on-one. But I didn't fare too well in the one-on-one. I was OK in H-O-R-S-E," Rivers said. "He definitely lives up to the hype. He can still shoot it and play. He's just so quick. I couldn't guard him. That was the thing. It wasn't the post-up. It was just how quick he was with the ball in his hand."
-- Bernie Wilson
Old problems still haunt Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Almost from the moment he took over in Oakland, coach Hue Jackson vowed to fix the Raiders' perpetually leaky run defense and curb their propensity for penalties.
With three games left in his inaugural season, both problems are as big as ever and could end up extending Oakland's postseason drought to nine seasons.
The Raiders are on a record-setting penalty pace and are allowing the most yards per carry in franchise history, problems that need to be fixed immediately if Oakland (7-6) hopes to reverse its recent slide in time to make a playoff push. The Raiders host the Detroit Lions (8-5) on Sunday.
Oakland has a league-worst 130 penalties for 1,116 yards — slightly ahead of the record pace set by the 1998 Kansas City Chiefs — with the problems running from overaggressive personal fouls to unfocused pre-snap penalties.
"I am doing everything I know how to do, and I have called other people that I know in order to fix this," Jackson said. "It's going to take some time, and I hope everybody understands that. There is no magical stuff that I can throw on this team and say 'No more penalties.' That's not how it works."
That's also the case with the run defense, which has been as bad as ever in recent weeks. The Raiders are allowing 5.2 yards per carry — the second-highest mark in the NFL since the 1970 merger, trailing only the 2006 Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts at 5.3.
Only eight teams since the 1970 merger have allowed 5 yards per carry for a season, a mark reached only once previously in Raiders history in 1962 — the year before Al Davis joined the franchise.
"It's nothing that's out of the ordinary," middle linebacker Rolando McClain said. "It's things we can fix and we're going to have to fix in order to be a good defense. If we want to play in the playoffs, play against some of these good team, we can't make the mistakes we've been making."
While injuries to big-play offensive players in Oakland have garnered most of the attention, the defense has been affected as well.
McClain missed one game with a sprained ankle and also has had his practice time curtailed. Safety Michael Huff has also missed significant practice time.
Defensive tackle Richard Seymour has been slowed by a bum knee in recent weeks that has limited his practice time and turned him into a situational player at times. Seymour, the anchor of the defense early in the year, has only one tackle the past five games.
"Your health is very important, especially when you are playing on the inside," Seymour said. "You got to be able to fight off guys and be explosive, and personally I haven't had that the last couple of weeks. But I am getting better."
The Raiders appeared to have the running game under control earlier in the season, holding three straight opponents under 4 yards per carry during a stretch in October.
But starting with a 299-yard game by Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos on Nov. 6, the run defense has been as porous as ever. Oakland has allowed 169 yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry over the past six weeks, giving up seven touchdowns and 36 runs of at least 10 yards.
"What we have to do is play consistently and put our eyes in the right place and communicate and finish plays," Jackson said. "It seems hard. It shouldn't be. At the end of the day, that's what it comes down to. There's been spurts of us playing really good against the run, us playing really good defensively. We just haven't done it consistent enough over a period of time and that's what we need to do."
The problems have been stark the past two weeks with Reggie Bush getting just his third career 100-yard game two weeks ago in Miami's 34-14 victory and Ryan Grant scoring his first two touchdowns since the 1999 season last week in Green Bay's 46-16 victory.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said it was a matter of not "setting the edge" against the Dolphins and being in the wrong gap on Grant's 47-yard TD run on the second play from scrimmage.
"If you do that, the next guy to make the play is the safety and we didn't get that done, so the ball goes to the end zone," Bresnahan said. "So it's different each time but it's easily corrected seeing it on tape. Doing it on the field's a whole different story, so that's again an emphasis point this week."
Notes: The Raiders sold out their seventh straight game, their most in any season since moving back to Oakland in 1995. ... WR Denarius Moore practiced for a second straight day after missing the previous three games with a sprained right foot and is expected to play Sunday. ... RB Darren McFadden (right foot) and receiver Jacoby Ford (left foot) remain sidelined and are unlikely to play this week. ... CB Chris Johnson is still away from the team dealing with his sister's funeral in Texas earlier this week and will likely sit out this week.
-- Josh Dubow
Chiefs trying to figure out how to stop Packers QB
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The play has become a Green Bay Packers staple: Aaron Rodgers drops back, lofts a pass down the sideline and one of his talented receivers turns around at precisely the right time and hauls it in around the unsuspecting cornerback.
The back-shoulder fade may be the most difficult play to defend in the pass-happy NFL.
Rodgers and unbeaten Green Bay do it better than anybody.
"That's been one of the hardest routes to stop in football for a long time now," Kansas City cornerback Brandon Flowers said. "You just have to be in good position to defend the football. There's no way to coach how to stop the back shoulder. You just have to compete for the ball."
There are ways to stop it, of course — exotic blitzes, jamming wide receivers. It's just that nobody has been able to stop the Packers when their star quarterback calls for the timing pattern.
"That's one of the most difficult pass routes to stop, for any defensive back in the league," Chiefs defensive back Travis Daniels said. "I think pretty much anybody would say that back-shoulder fade is hard to stop. And they kind of perfected that pretty good."
The play's success starts with Rodgers, who will try to get Green Bay to 14-0 when he faces the Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City.
He's already thrown for 4,125 yards and 39 touchdowns with only six interceptions, for a rating of 123.3 — third-best through 13 games since the 1970 merger. His completion rate of 69.6 percent is second behind New Orleans' Drew Brees, making him one of the game's most accurate passers.
"You better get some rush," said Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who was appointed interim coach earlier in the week after the firing of Todd Haley. "If you're able to get some rush you might be able to defend against it so he won't be able to put it exactly where he wants it."
That means the Chiefs might come after Rodgers with an assortment of blitzes.
The problem is that he's even better when he's hurried.
Rodgers completes 67.6 percent of his passes when he's blitzed, averaging better than 12 yards per attempt, for a quarterback rating of 134.6. The next-best player in the league against the blitz is the Patriots' Tom Brady, who completes 61.5 percent of his throws for 9.76 yards per attempt.
"That throw is so hard to defend because you're in position, you're running with the guy and the ball is thrown to the back shoulder," Crennel said. "That's very hard."
Flowers said the biggest thing the Chiefs can do to slow the aerial attack down is study game film, which might give them a clue as to when the wide receivers will look for the ball.
The problem is that it happens at different times on each play — sometimes just 15 yards down field, sometimes 30 or 40. And it varies depending on whether it's Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver or one of the other wide receivers matched up with the Kansas City cornerbacks.
"They're always on the same page," Flowers said. "If you're over the out route, the receiver knows where Rodgers is going to put it. You can tell they just practice, practice, practice the things they're going to do in the game, so you can't be too relaxed out there. You have to be on top of your game all the time, because they're going to come after you."
Daniels acknowledged that getting pressure on Rodgers is important, but he said the best way to slow down the back-shoulder fade is to jam the wide receivers at the line of scrimmage.
By knocking them off their routes, the defense causes the timing to be off.
"We have to get our hands on their guys and slow them down," Daniels said, "because that's pretty much a timing route. He throws it to a certain yard line and if we're able to re-route receivers and get a jam on them, hopefully we can slow them down."
Daniels bristled when the play was brought up because it always looks like the defensive back is at fault when the wide receiver makes an acrobatic catch. Usually, it's a breakdown across the defense that allows the play to go for big yardage.
"You can't put it on the safety because it might not be his play, or the cornerback, because it might not be his play," Daniels said. "All those things depend on the coverage."
The Chiefs are already hamstrung in the defensive backfield, having lost Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry to a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. Backup safety Jon McGraw could join him on IR because of a high ankle sprain, which means Reshard Langford will start alongside Kendrick Lewis.
Crennel said he has confidence in their ability, along with Flowers, Daniels and cornerback Brandon Carr, to at least slow down one of the league's best passing attacks.
Even if they might not always be able to stop one of its toughest plays.
"If our team, in all phases, plays at a high level, not turning the ball over, not giving up easy scores, that gives us the best chance of winning," Crennel said. "If Rodgers is on the field too long, we're going to be in trouble."
-- Dave Skretta
News & Notes
Prosecutors drop charge against Patriots' Edelman
BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors on Thursday dropped an indecent assault and battery charge against New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, saying evidence suggests he just briefly grabbed the hand of a woman who accused him of groping her.
Edelman, 25, was accused of grabbing the woman's crotch after reaching under her costume during a Halloween party at a Boston nightclub.
On Thursday, prosecutors said they decided to drop the charge after reviewing video surveillance and witness statements and interviewing the woman several times.
They said video indicates Edelman "approached a woman on the dance floor and took her hand briefly." The contact was "fleeting" and Edelman didn't commit a crime, prosecutors said.
"The Commonwealth would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally engaged in a harmful or offensive touching of the complainant that would be regarded by society as immodest, immoral, and improper," prosecutors wrote in the court papers they filed to withdraw prosecution.
A message for comment was left with Edelman's attorney. A Patriots spokesman said that since the team hasn't been involved in the case, it was inappropriate to comment.
Edelman was arrested outside the Storyville nightclub after police were called there early on Nov. 1. At the time, Edelman denied to police that that he had groped the woman.
This year, Edelman has three receptions for 27 yards and has played defensive back, recording 10 tackles. He's also returned punts, averaging 11.7 yards per return with a 72-yard touchdown. Edelman, through the Patriots, issued a statement after the decision:
"I am very appreciative of the hard work of the County's public officials and of my attorney Amy McNamee. I am humbled by the support of my teammates and the Patriots organization.
"I'm just looking forward to focusing on football."
Dolphins QB Moore returns to practice
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore returned to practice and took the majority of snaps Thursday after being sidelined with a mild concussion, but interim coach Todd Bowles said he'll wait until game day to decide who starts Sunday at Buffalo.
If Moore doesn't play, former Bills quarterback J.P. Losman will make his first start for the Dolphins. Also back at practice was Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long, who missed most of Sunday's game with a back injury. He practiced on a limited basis. Still sidelined was linebacker Koa Misi with a shoulder injury.
Moore left the Dolphins' loss Sunday to Philadelphia midway through the second half and was replaced by Losman. Moore was cleared to rejoin practice after undergoing tests Wednesday.
"Nice to get back in and get reps, get ready for Buffalo," Moore said. "If I'm ready to go, I'm excited for the opportunity."
Moore said he had his first concussion last year playing for Carolina. When asked how he felt after being hurt Sunday, he said, "A little banged up, obviously. Feeling good now, and that's the most important thing."
Moore ranks 12th in the NFL in passing. In nine starts this year he has 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Bowles said he wants to make sure Moore's fully healthy before returning to action.
"I'm going to wait until Sunday to decide whether he dresses," Bowles said. "We've just got to see him throw the ball around some and how much can he grasp in the game plan. All of that plays into it."
A decision about Long also will be made Sunday, Bowles said. Long has yet to miss a start in his four-year career.
-- Steven Wine
Bills game vs. Dolphins blacked out on local TV
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — With about 7,000 tickets still unsold, the Buffalo Bills have announced their home game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday will not be broadcast on local television.
It's the second straight Bills home game that's been blacked out. And there's a chance the string will extend to the following week when Buffalo closes its home schedule against Denver on Christmas Eve. The Bills have traditionally had difficulty selling out home games after Thanksgiving, when the weather turns wintry.
It's no help that Buffalo (5-8) is in the midst of a six-game losing streak that's knocked the team out of playoff contention.
The Bills did purchase a number of unsold tickets, which have been donated to members of the military the United Way and local high school football programs.
Scott says Jets not yet a playoff-type team
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Bart Scott says the New York Jets are not a Super Bowl-caliber team "or even a playoff team" right now, but adds that they are capable of getting there as long as they keep improving.
The outspoken linebacker tells reporters Thursday that despite a three-game winning streak that has the Jets holding the AFC's final wild-card spot, he doesn't think "we're where we need to be." He says a team can't have the ups and downs the Jets have had if it intends on reaching the Super Bowl.
"We're playing better football," Scott says, "but we're not playing nearly the type of football we're capable of."
The Jets (8-5) play at Philadelphia (5-8) on Sunday, followed by games against the Giants and at Miami to end the regular season.
