NFL Capsules: A not-so-classic AFC North matchup

Lately, the Pittsburgh Steelers have looked just as weak as the Cleveland Browns, the team they face Thursday night. Well, maybe not on the field, but on the scoreboard, where the Steelers have dropped four in a row.

In fact, the only team in the NFL with a longer current slide is Cleveland, which has dropped seven straight and seems determined to grab the worst-in-the-league label for itself despite two other one-win teams, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

Few NFL rivalries are as intense or nasty as this one, so the NFL Network must be counting on enmity replacing quality, something the Browns haven’t displayed all year and the defending champion Steelers lost a month ago.

Pittsburgh is a 9-point favorite for the road game, needing a victory to keep its slipping postseason hopes alive.

"You see a lot of guys are bummed and down, but that’s not going to change things and give us a win against the Raiders, that’s behind us," Ben Roethlisberger said. "Of course, we can be mad and upset about it, but we have to look forward and that’s to the Cleveland Browns."

The Browns have nothing but being a spoiler to look forward to. Not this time. STEELERS, 20-10

Arizona (minus 3) at San Francisco

The Cardinals have begun to resemble the 2009 NFC champions. BEST BET: CARDINALS, 27-13

Miami (plus 2½) at Jacksonville

Both teams have solid wild-card aspirations. Too bad hardly anybody in Jacksonville will see this one. UPSET SPECIAL: DOLPHINS, 20-17

Denver (plus 8) at Indianapolis

History is at hand for the Colts, as in 22 straight regular-season victories. They’ll make the record books, but it won’t be easy against revived Denver. COLTS, 24-17

Cincinnati (plus 7) at Minnesota

A win gives the Bengals the AFC North. Vikings need victory and Packers loss for NFC North title. VIKINGS, 24-14

New Orleans (no line) at Atlanta

Saints learned a lesson, almost a costly one, at Washington last weekend. SAINTS, 30-10

Detroit (plus 13) at Baltimore

Can Ravens cover Calvin Johnson without drawing flags? Yep. RAVENS, 24-10

Carolina (plus 13) at New England

These sure don’t look like the Patriots we are used to. But three straight losses? No way. PATRIOTS, 28-13

Philadelphia (plus 1) at N.Y. Giants

Winner could be in charge in the NFC East. DeSean Jackson’s availability might decide it. GIANTS, 23-20

San Diego (plus 3) at Dallas

Toughest game on the board. Chargers are surging, looking for postseason bye. Cowboys hate December. Still ... COWBOYS, 21-20

N.Y. Jets (no line) at Tampa Bay

Uncertainty about Mark Sanchez’s knee eliminates line. Jets actually are still in AFC race. JETS, 13-10

Green Bay (minus 3½) at Chicago

Hey Packers, you won’t need any pass interference calls to save touchdowns against Bears. PACKERS, 17-14

Seattle (plus 4½) at Houston

Texans no longer playing for postseason, but for Gary Kubiak’s job. TEXANS, 22-20

St. Louis (plus 13) at Tennessee

Time to start another winning streak, Titans? TITANS, 23-7

Buffalo (plus 1½) at Kansas City

Not much excitement here. BILLS, 14-13

Washington (minus 2) at Oakland

Or here. REDSKINS, 10-9

RECORD: Versus spread, 3-11 (82-97-2 season); Straight up, 9-7 (126-56 season); Best Bet: 6-7; Upset Special: 8-5

League News

Eagles, Reid agree to 3-year contract extension

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid has signed a three-year contact extension through 2013.

"It was inevitable. There’s no point waiting," owner Jeffrey Lurie said at a news conference Wednesday. "This sends a great message to the players right in the middle of the season. I’ve always valued stability."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Reid is the winningest coach in team history, leading the Eagles to the playoffs seven times with five trips to the NFC title game and one Super Bowl appearance in 10 seasons.

Since joining the team in 1999, Reid has won 115 games and compiled a .611 winning percentage, both best in Eagles history.

Reid took over a team that was 3-13 a season earlier and drafted quarterback Donovan McNabb in the first round of the 1999 draft. The Eagles improved to 5-11 in their first season under Reid then went 11-5 a year later and made the playoffs.

"I love Philadelphia, the fans have been unbelievable," Reid said. "They’re fair. If we stink, they let us know. If we’re doing OK, they tell us."

Despite his success, Reid has drawn criticism from fans for the team’s failure to win a Super Bowl. The closest the Eagles got was a 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots following the 2004 season.

"Our No. 1 priority by far is to win a Super Bowl," Lurie said. "One of the reasons for the contract is the obsession and prioritization of that."

The Eagles have reached the NFC championship game four other times, including three straight losses before their Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles also reached the NFC title game last season, losing 32-25 to the Arizona Cardinals.

"It’s well-deserved for him," McNabb said of Reid’s extension. "I’m happy for him. It was a great move for them. He’s a great coach."

Reid took a leave of absence during the offseason in 2007 after two of his sons were arrested on drug charges.

One son is out of prison after completing a drug treatment program and the other is serving a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to smuggling prescription pills into a county jail.

Bengals’ Ochocinco takes NFL fine as challenge

CINCINNATI — Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is taking the NFL’s fine for his latest touchdown celebration as a challenge to do more.

Ochocinco was fined $30,000 for briefly donning a mock poncho and a sombrero next to the bench following his touchdown catch during a 23-13 win over Detroit on Sunday. That’s $10,000 more than the fine he got for pretending to bribe an official during a game earlier this season.

The receiver said Wednesday he’s not sure why the amount went up so much.

"That’s OK," he said. "They keep jacking them up, I’ll keep jacking up the celebrations."

Earlier in his career, Ochocinco regularly got fined for his celebrations. Some of his most memorable included doing a river dance, pretending to perform CPR on a football and using the end zone pylon as a golf club. He also donned a mock Hall of Fame jacket on the sideline.

With receivers competing to top each other’s celebrations, the league cracked down, making it illegal to use a prop on the field or have a rehearsed celebration with teammates.

Ochocinco scaled back on the celebrations earlier this season. He did a Lambeau Leap — into a section of Bengals fans — during a win at Green Bay, but toned down his act as the team won games and moved into first place in the AFC North.

There had been no chance to celebrate a touchdown lately. Ochocinco went four games without one before finally getting into the end zone against the Lions. Asked if the brief celebration — he wore the hat for only a couple of seconds — was worth the hefty fine, he said, "You’re damn right it was. That was fun."

The league fined him $20,000 and reprimanded him for taking a dollar bill onto the field as a pretend bribe during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 8. He held the dollar in his right hand as he approached the officials during a review of one of his catches. He kept the dollar after an official motioned for him to stay away.

Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, sent Ochocinco a letter over the pretend bribe that said: "The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable. Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL player."

Ochocinco said Wednesday that he’ll keep doing things that cross the league’s line.

"I play to have fun," he said. "I don’t play for the dollar amount. Maybe that’s why they take so much money, because they think we play for the money. Maybe they’ll get the point — I play to have fun, not for the money."

On a conference call with Minnesota reporters, Ochocinco said he’ll try to find and blow the Vikings’ horn if he scores a touchdown in Sunday’s game.

"Man, I’m going to have some purple fun. I’m so excited for this week," he said.

Later, Ochocinco was asked if he’s ever been threatened with a suspension by the league.

"Come on now. What are you going to suspend me for? Having fun? I’m not that bad," he said. "‘Breaking news: Chad Ochocinco suspended for too many celebrations.’ How would that sound? I’m not hurting anybody. I’m very respectful with everybody I play against."

-- Joe Kay

Moss, Brady, 3 LBs not at practice

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady wants his teammates to prepare harder to keep a playoff berth from slipping away. On Wednesday, Randy Moss and three key defensive players didn’t even make it to practice.

Coach Bill Belichick declined to elaborate on their absence from the first practice since the New England Patriots’ lead in the AFC East dropped to one game. Moss and linebackers Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess were sent home after showing up late for an 8 a.m. team meeting, according to the Web site of the Providence Journal.

"That’s coach’s decision," said Brady, who made it to work despite a moderate snowfall that caused traffic snarls. "I’ve got to do my job. I’ve got plenty of things to do. Like I said, I’ve got to show up every day and bring whatever I have — the energy and the leadership that I have — to this team, because that’s what all those guys (do). That’s what our job is."

Brady went to work the day after his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, gave birth to their son. He said they hadn’t chosen a name and she and the baby were doing well.

"I didn’t get much sleep," he said.

Brady didn’t practice either. He was listed by the team, as he’s been all season, with a right shoulder injury. The practice report also listed a right finger, which, he said "is hanging in there."

The finger didn’t stop him from throwing a 58-yard touchdown pass to Moss on the first series of last Sunday’s 22-21 loss at the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots fell to 7-5 and suffered their third loss in four games for the first time in seven seasons.

"We didn’t change much" because of the injury, Belichick said.

He probably won’t change much for Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers (5-7) just because Moss and the linebackers missed practice. All were listed on the practice report as missing the session for reasons not related to injury. Moss has been listed on the Wednesday report several times this season with that designation.

Belichick declined to discuss their absence.

"Anything that happens with discipline on the team stays between me and the players on the team," he said.

After the latest loss, Brady said the Patriots don’t always show enough fight.

"It’s not about playing hard on Sundays. I mean, we do that," he said Wednesday. "That’s three hours a week that you have to show up and really commit yourself to. I don’t think that’s too much to ask of anybody and guys do that. It’s not like we think we’re not fighting out there in the game.

"I think what coach tells us and what I was alluding to was probably more of just the other six days of the week. We’ve got to make the commitment to each other. ... I think at times we all feel a little bit sorry for ourselves and you’re beat up and you’re tired and you’re sore and it’s the end of the year and you go, ‘Why is (Belichick) doing this?’ But, in the end, you’re either gaining ground on a team or you’re losing ground, and I always prefer to be gaining ground."

As a team leader, Brady’s comments carry weight with other players, but he was saying what some of them already knew.

"It’s dead-on. We need to respond to adversity better," running back Sammy Morris said. "I think we all either know it or felt it and I think him just saying it kind of just put a little more emphasis on it."

Carolina coach John Fox said players must be disciplined.

"I’m not likening players to children," he said, but "everybody has roles and jobs and needs to be held accountable and needs to be dependable people. As a head coach, that’s what you have to do. Sometimes, it’s not easy."

Players who did practice Wednesday deflected questions about how Belichick handled the situation regarding Moss and the three linebackers.

"That’s why he’s the coach and I’m the player," running back Kevin Faulk said.

-- Howard Ulman

Brady and Bundchen have baby boy

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen have welcomed a baby boy.

Brady announced the birth Wednesday. He said the boy was born Tuesday and that he and Bundchen had not chosen a name. He called it "a wonderful experience in my life."

"Everyone’s great," Brady said. "I didn’t get much sleep."

Brady also has a 2-year-old son, Jack, with actress Bridget Moynahan. Bundchen is a mother for the first time. The birth was first reported by People.com.

Brady and Bundchen were married in February in Los Angeles in a small ceremony. In April, they held another wedding ceremony in Costa Rica for friends and family.

On Wednesday, Brady showed up 16 minutes late for his weekly media availability. Asked what was new, he said, "a normal week," and smiled.

The Patriots have lost three of their last four games to drop to 7-5. They lead the AFC East by one game and play at home Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Brady said it was important for him to come to work Wednesday.

"I owe it to the guys in the locker room to really focus on what I need to do for this team," he said, "and put all these emotions aside and kind of come in here with a great sense of determination on what we have to do as a team. So, as a captain and a leader of this team, the last thing they need from me is to be really not focused on the job at hand. There’s plenty of things for me to really be doing here this week."

Moynahan released a statement Wednesday.

"I wish them the best with their baby and I’m sure my son will enjoy having a half sibling," Moynahan said. "I ask the press to respect our privacy while we are welcoming this new addition to our extended family."

-- Howard Ulman

Overseer: Liquidate film studio in Saints dispute

NEW ORLEANS — A court-appointed overseer wants to liquidate the remnants of a movie studio tied to a $1.7 million dispute with members of the New Orleans Saints.

Fifteen current and former team members paid the money to Louisiana Film Studios LLC late in 2008 for what they thought would be state movie industry tax credits returning $1.33 for each dollar invested. State officials said the studio never applied for the credits and the money has not been returned.

A group of the credit buyers later forced the company into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. But in a motion filed Tuesday, trustee Gerald Schiff asked a federal bankruptcy court to order a Chapter 7 liquidation of the studio’s assets.

Schiff said the shuttered company had no cash, no employees and no source of income and "it is unlikely that the debtor could achieve a successful Chapter 11 reorganization" involving a new business plan to pay off creditors.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner set a hearing for Dec. 29. The AP was unable to reach studio head Wayne Read for comment. A cellular telephone number that Read has used was not working.

According to bankruptcy court filings, Louisiana Film Studios has $2.8 million in debts, including nearly $1.7 million for the unredeemed tax credits. The company also owes $700,000 to a construction company half-owned by former Saints player Kevin Houser, now with the Seattle Seahawks.

Read previously said that he was trying to line up new investors for the studio, but no plan has emerged.

-- Alan Sayre

Assistant who had his jaw broken rejoins Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Randy Hanson, who accused Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable of assault after a training camp scuffle, has returned to work in the team’s personnel department.

Hanson had been employed as an assistant defensive backs coach before the Aug. 5 incident and had not been around the Raiders’ facilities since.

He accused Cable of assault during a meeting at the team’s training camp hotel in Napa, which resulted in Hanson being treated for a broken jaw the following day.

Cable denied any wrongdoing and Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein declined to pursue charges against the head coach following an investigation.

Hanson arrived at the team’s headquarters on Wednesday and went to work in the personnel department.

Seahawks say goodbye to green jerseys

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks have retired their neon-green jerseys after just one game.

The Seahawks were widely panned for wearing the jerseys during a home loss to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 27. They haven’t been seen since.

Coach Jim Mora chooses the uniforms combinations the team wears each week, with input from the players.

Asked why he’s saying goodbye to the green, the coach said "we didn’t win in them" and that he likes the traditional Seahawks blue better.

He does like another change made recently — wearing the blue, "home" pants under white jerseys while on the road.

Santa Clara sued over proposed 49ers stadium

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The owners of a theme park adjacent to a proposed stadium for the 49ers in Santa Clara are suing the city, saying an agreement with the team is illegal.

The lawsuit filed Monday by Cedar Fair Entertainment, which owns the Great America Theme Park, says the city should have approved an environmental impact report for the stadium before reaching an agreement with the team in June.

The nonbinding terms include $114 million in public funding.

City Manager Jennifer Sparacino says the city is hopeful it can resolve its differences with Cedar Fair.

Meanwhile, the City Council on Tuesday approved the environmental report and directed staff to draft a ballot measure to gain voter support for the project.

Archie Manning: I’d root for Peyton over Saints

NEW YORK — With the Saints and Colts both undefeated, Archie Manning keeps hearing the question: Who would he root for in a Super Bowl between his former team and his son’s club?

The answer is easy for the former New Orleans quarterback. As Manning says, "The Saints are third on my list." Tied for first, of course, are the squads quarterbacked by his sons, Peyton’s Indianapolis Colts and Eli’s New York Giants.

Not that Manning isn’t thrilled by the success of his old club, for which he starred on losing teams. Manning said Wednesday at the Intercollegiate Athletics Forum the Saints are "for real" and that’s great for the city.

Injuries

Eagles’ Westbrook returning to practice

PHILADELPHIA — Back at practice for the first time since sustaining two concussions in a three-week span, Brian Westbrook said he wasn’t completely healed the last time he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"That’s what the doctor said, he said that although some of the symptoms were gone, I was not healed completely," Westbrook said Wednesday.

"Me and (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder), the trainers and the coaching staff, we did every test we could, but until you get hit, you’re not so sure if you’re healed completely. It’s not like an ankle, you can feel it every single day or a knee. A concussion is a different thing for me. It just wasn’t healed completely."

The 30-year-old former All-Pro running back sustained his first career concussion when he hit his head on a defender’s knee during a Monday night win at Washington on Oct. 26. He briefly lost consciousness but walked off the field under his own power.

Westbrook sat out two games and returned against San Diego on Nov. 15, only to sustain another concussion when he got sandwiched between a blocker and a tackler on a screen play.

He has since been examined twice by specialists in Pittsburgh, and has been cleared to return to practice. Westbrook will work with the scout team, and coach Andy Reid hasn’t ruled him out for Sunday’s game at the New York Giants.

"You gradually get him back in, take baby steps," Reid said. "I’m not going to throw him in if he’s not feeling right."

Westbrook didn’t sound like a guy who expects to play this week.

"I think all the signs right now are aiming toward being able to play before the end of the season," he said.

While Westbrook eases his way back, wide receiver DeSean Jackson expects to play against the Giants after missing one game with a concussion. The dynamic playmaker was a full participant at Wednesday’s practice.

"I’m pretty much good," Jackson said, "back to normal, back to being DeSean Jackson."

Though he’s eager to help the Eagles (8-4) pursue a Super Bowl, Westbrook is taking a cautious approach.

"I’m more concerned about how things will happen for me in the future, how having concussions now will affect me 20, 30 years from now," he said. "I don’t think I’m scared to play the game of football. I’m concerned that things that are happening now, concussions, head injuries, can affect my life down the road. That really concerns me."

So why risk coming back?

"I still think I can play, still think I can produce," Westbrook said. "And I’ve learned from the doctors that I won’t have a high risk of getting another concussion after healing completely and that’s the No. 1 thing is to heal completely. I want to play football. That’s what I love to do."

-- Rob Maaddi

Rams place S Atogwe on injured reserve

ST. LOUIS — Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, the second-leading tackler for the St. Louis Rams, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a dislocated shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

Atogwe, a five-year veteran, was hurt on the final play of the first half in Sunday’s loss at Chicago when he was hit by Matt Forte’s helmet while assisting on a tackle. He has 84 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and had started 60 consecutive games dating to the 2006 opener.

Rookie offensive tackle Jason Smith met with an independent consultant Tuesday and underwent an MRI exam that showed no problems beyond a concussion that has sidelined him two games. Smith has failed three tests that showed he’s still experiencing symptoms, the latest on Monday.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the MRI exam was taken as a precaution with Smith, the second overall pick of the draft.

"It was just more of a reassurance thing," Spagnuolo said.

Atogwe held out hope on Monday that he could finish the season wearing a brace, but the team decided against it. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the risk was too great for an injury that will require surgery.

"I really couldn’t probably sleep or live with myself if O.J. forced himself in there and all of a sudden that thing popped out again," Spagnuolo said. "There was a chance that was going to happen. For his health and his career, I think it’s best."

The Rams also signed rookie quarterback Mike Reilly from the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, making him the third-stringer. They also signed free safety Clinton Hart and released linebacker Dominic Douglas.

Both of the backup quarterbacks behind Kyle Boller played in NCAA Division II, and faced each other in the playoffs last November. Keith Null was a sixth-round pick out of West Texas A&M and Reilly was undrafted after playing at Central Washington.

"It’s kind of few and far between that you run into somebody that played at Division II, let alone somebody you played against," Reilly said. "I think no matter where you are, you’ve got to prepare as if you’re going to play."

Spagnuolo said the signing had no relation to starting quarterback Marc Bulger’s recovery from a fractured left shin bone. Bulger has missed two games, was still on crutches earlier in the week and was scheduled for a follow-up MRI exam.

Hart had been a starting safety for the San Diego Chargers since 2007 before being released on Oct. 14, three days after a 38-28 loss to the Steelers.

"Oh yeah, I was shocked," Hart said. "Normally, they don’t cut the starter. But this is an opportunity."

-- R.B. Fallstrom

Hasselbeck (shoulder) probable for Sunday

RENTON, Wash. — This season, Wednesday has become quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s routine day for rest. And he has almost as many aches as weeks in the season.

The battered 34-year-old, three-time Pro Bowl passer sat out another practice with a sore throwing shoulder, but coach Jim Mora said Hasselbeck is probable to start for the Seahawks on Sunday at Houston.

"He’s just sore," Mora said, before backup Seneca Wallace ran the offense through practice. "Nothing structurally wrong, and he should be back out there (Thursday)."

Mora called Hasselbeck’s soreness a product of "wear and tear."

There’s been plenty of both this season.

Sunday, Hasselbeck was hit by San Francisco’s Dashon Goldson at the end of a third-down scramble in the third quarter. The quarterback was on his back for a tense moment with a doctor and trainer over him. Yet he finished Seattle’s win and even was 12 for 13 passing after the injury.

"I just needed a minute," he said about the scare.

It was the second time this season Hasselbeck got hurt trying to run against the 49ers. Patrick Willis broke the quarterback’s ribs on his dive for the goal line on Sept. 20, and he was rushed to Stanford Medical Center for fears of heart or lung problems.

He missed two games, then admitted he returned before he was fully healthy, with the aid of painkilling injections after Seahawks doctors determined he wouldn’t damage the ribs any more by playing. Then he banged his throwing shoulder while making a tackle on an interception early in a game against Detroit on Nov. 8.

Trainers rubbed his shoulder and he stayed in the game, rallying Seattle from 17 points down while throwing sidearm to avoid pain and not being able to throw deep.

That shoulder was just getting better when he hurt it again on Sunday. And he said he felt pain again in those ribs again on Goldson’s tackle.

This is after a 2008 season in which he missed a season-high nine games with a disk issue in his back. The broken year called into some question how long his run as Seattle’s starter that began in 2001 can continue.

Yet Mora said he doesn’t think Hasselbeck is breaking down behind pass protection that has been injured and generally ineffective for the last two-plus seasons.

"(He’s) pretty good for this point in the year considering some of the shots he has taken," Mora said.

-- Gregg Bell

Sanchez to sit vs. Bucs, Clemens to start for Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Sanchise is taking a seat this week, and he’s not happy about it.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan decided Wednesday that Mark Sanchez will not play at Tampa Bay on Sunday because of a sprained right knee, and Kellen Clemens will start in his place.

"It’s just a frustrating part of this game," a clearly irritated Sanchez said. "I asked him if I could at least try to practice (Thursday) and he said, ‘No way, because I know if you practice tomorrow, then you’re going to play and we don’t want to run any risk of further injury.’ It’s difficult to handle."

Ryan said he consulted with team doctors and made the call to sit Sanchez, who’s "mad as a hornet" at him.

"He wants to play in the worst way and he’s going to play," Ryan said. "It’s just not going to be this week. I have a lot of confidence in Kellen Clemens and I think that instead of delaying this decision, I’m just going to make it now."

Sanchez sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee during the third quarter of the Jets’ 19-13 win over Buffalo in Toronto last Thursday. He said he’s still not sure if the injury occurred on his dive for a first down, or a previous play. He didn’t appear to be noticeably hobbled when he stepped up and down from the podium.

"I’d love to play," he said. "I think if this was the Super Bowl, I would definitely be playing."

Sanchez had started every game this season since beating out Clemens for the job. The injury came two days after the Jets brought in Yankees manager Joe Girardi to help Sanchez learn how to slide. Sanchez frustrated Ryan on the play as he was injured by diving headfirst, with the coach calling him a "knucklehead."

"It’s Rex’s decision right now and I’d love to play," Sanchez said when asked if he thought Ryan might have been sending a message to him by sitting him. Ryan said through a team spokesman that the decision was not punitive.

Sanchez didn’t practice Monday or Wednesday, and is expected to get a fitted knee brace Thursday. He already wears a brace on the left knee from a previous injury.

"At first, I guess I was upset that he wouldn’t even give me a chance to practice and try to wait until the last second," Sanchez said. "At the same time, I understand that Kellen needs all the reps as possible if he’s going to start this week. That’s totally fair to him, and I understand where Rex is coming from, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree or I’m happy about it."

Ryan, who was optimistic about Sanchez’s chances Monday, said there were no setbacks in the quarterback’s recovery that swayed his decision. He added that Sanchez will be "shut down completely" and not travel to Tampa Bay.

"The last time I felt like this, I was a redshirt freshman where you don’t travel to the game," Sanchez said. "It’s just a weird feeling."

The Jets (6-6) got back in the AFC playoff mix by winning their last two games, and take on a Buccaneers team that has struggled to a 1-11 record. Ryan said the quality of the opponent was not a factor in deciding to go with Clemens, who’ll make his ninth NFL start Sunday, and first since 2007 when he took over for a struggling Chad Pennington.

"I think I’d be a little bit more concerned if it was my first start ever," Clemens said, "but I have some experience under my belt."

Clemens came in after Sanchez was injured and was 1 for 2 for 14 yards, helping lead a scoring drive against Buffalo.

"You never like to see a teammate that’s injured, but it’s a good opportunity for me," Clemens said. "I’m excited to be out there playing again."

Clemens was drafted in the second round out of Oregon in 2006 and was considered the Jets’ quarterback of the future. He sat for most of his rookie season, but started half the games the following year with mediocre results. Clemens barely got on the field last season with Brett Favre in town, and has only thrown three passes this year.

"It hasn’t been an easy road sitting on the bench on Sundays," he said.

This is the last year on Clemens’ contract, and there’s some speculation that he won’t be back next season — making this a chance to showcase himself.

"It’s not about me," he said. "It’s an opportunity to show for the last 13 weeks that I’ve been working hard and I didn’t pack it in when Mark was named the starter. As far as other teams, it’s about us going out and getting our seventh win and getting above .500 and getting one step closer to the playoffs."

-- Dennis Waszak Jr.

Broncos place RT Ryan Harris on IR

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have had spotty results without standout right tackle Ryan Harris in the lineup, and now they’ll be without him the rest of the season.

The third-year pro was put on injured reserve Wednesday with an injury to his right big toe that will require surgery and rehab lasting well into the winter.

Harris dislocated his toe on Nov. 1 at Baltimore and missed five games, the first four of them losses following Denver’s surprising 6-0 start. He aggravated the injury in the first quarter Sunday at Kansas City just 10 snaps into his return, and medical tests this week revealed bone and ligament damage.

Tyler Polumbus will replace him in the starting lineup as he did when Harris first went down.

A third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2007, Harris missed training camp and the first five games of his rookie season after undergoing back surgery. After playing in the final 11 games that year, he won the starting job last season and allowed just 2½ sacks in 16 games.

He was having another stellar season this year before getting hurt — as were the Broncos.

Harris wasn’t in the locker room Wednesday and none of his offensive linemates wanted to answer questions about losing him for the season.

Coach Josh McDaniels expressed no regrets about pushing Harris to return to the lineup, saying his latest injury was unrelated to the original one.

"No, he was fine. That had nothing to do with it. The previous injury was not, is not, the same injury," McDaniels said. "That has nothing to do with the new injury. So, you know, yeah, it’s the same toe, but it’s not the same injury to the toe. So, it’s kind of a fluke deal and he was playing well until the time that it happened."

Polumbus, an undrafted player who grew up in Denver and played at the University of Colorado, has played OK in Harris’ absences, although it was his whiff on San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips that led to a strip and sack of Chris Simms three weeks ago. Simms, who was starting with Kyle Orton out with a sprained ankle, was benched after just five pass attempts that day.

McDaniels said he’s seen growth in Polumbus in recent weeks, however.

"I’ve seen a guy that has gained confidence because obviously in this league when you’re playing in the games, that experience is more valuable than the experience that you gain in the offseason and all the rest of it," McDaniels said. "He knows what we’re doing. He knows our system. He communicates well with the other players. He’s playing beside good players and we think that we have a guy that’s getting better each week, and he’ll have a big challenge ahead of him this week."

The Broncos (8-4) travel to Indianapolis (12-0), where defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have combined for 20 sacks. Mathis, who has 9½ sacks, will match up primarily against Polumbus on Sunday.

That only adds to the difficulty of Denver becoming the first team to beat Indianapolis this season. The Colts are shooting for their record-breaking 22nd straight win in the regular season.

Losing Harris for the year put a damper on the Broncos locker room Wednesday.

"Yeah, he’s certainly a good player for us and brings toughness and a little nastiness to the line," Orton said. "So, it’s disappointing to hear about it. But Tyler will step in. He’s played before and he’s played well for us and he’s going to need to for the rest of the year."

In the six games Harris finished, the Broncos allowed a total of nine sacks and topped 220 yards passing five times. In the six games he missed or didn’t finish, they gave up 14 sacks and passed for 220 or more yards just once.

Despite those numbers, Orton said he hasn’t noticed a difference with Polumbus in the lineup lately and he doesn’t sense a big change in the play calls or protections, either.

"We’ve kind of gotten away from doing some empty (backfield) stuff, but I don’t think that has to do with Tyler," Orton said. "I just think that has to do with where we’re at as an offense, so I don’t think we’ve done a whole lot to specifically help Tyler."

The Broncos signed free agent tackle Herb Taylor to replace Harris on the roster.

NOTES: The Broncos practiced indoors because of temperatures hovering near zero. ... The only Broncos player to miss the workout was S David Bruton (thigh), while 10 Colts players sat out practice Wednesday and another 10 were listed on their injury report.

-- Arnie Stapleton

Vikings’ Henderson leaves hospital, returns home

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Injured Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson is returning to Minnesota.

Henderson had surgery in Phoenix after breaking his left thigh bone in Sunday night’s loss at Arizona. He had been in a hospital, but he was cleared Wednesday to come back.

"He’s a man of few words, but he’s in good spirits by all indications," coach Brad Childress said.

Henderson’s younger brother, Erin, held his hand as he taken off the field in a cart after his leg bent in a gruesome-looking direction. He stayed with him overnight before returning to Minnesota.

Erin, a backup linebacker, was impressed by how calm E.J. remained despite the intense pain and the realization his season was over. E.J. was beginning to play at his past level, after coming back from a severe foot injury that required surgery and kept him out of the last 12 games and the playoffs last year.

"One of the first things E.J. said to me was, ‘I guess I’ll have to sit back and watch you guys make this push to the Super Bowl,"’ Erin said. "In a situation like that, it’s crazy for somebody to be as selfless as he was and just kind of look at it in the light that he looked at it. That was encouraging to everybody."

It’s too early to determine a timetable for rehabilitation, but Erin expressed confidence his brother would resume his career.

"I know he’ll be back out here," he said. "As bad as the injury was, it could have been worse."

Henderson was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and linebacker Jeremy Leman was signed to the practice squad. In other roster moves, the Vikings signed practice squad tight end Garrett Mills to the active roster and signed offensive tackle Drew Radovich to the practice squad. They released cornerback DeAndre Wright.

Rookie Jasper Brinkley will take Henderson’s place as the starting middle linebacker.

Henderson wasn’t the only player hurt against the Cardinals. The Vikings listed 13 other players, including 12 starters, on their injury report Wednesday. Safety Tyrell Johnson (concussion), right tackle Phil Loadholt (shoulder) and running back Adrian Peterson (foot/ankle) did not participate at all.

Childress wouldn’t get into specifics about any of the injuries, but quarterback Brett Favre indicated Loadholt dislocated his shoulder.

-- Dave Campbell

Lions QB Stafford will rest shoulder vs. Ravens

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions plan to rest Matthew Stafford’s banged-up, non-throwing shoulder for at least one game.

They don’t expect to shut him down for the rest of the season.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesday that Daunte Culpepper will start at Baltimore and Stafford likely will be the No. 3 quarterback.

Stafford aggravated his left shoulder Sunday at Cincinnati.

"If he hadn’t taken that hit in the fourth quarter of the Cincy game, we wouldn’t be having this discussion," Schwartz said. "It was a very similar hit to the one that he took in the Cleveland game and we want to avoid the situation where it becomes something chronic.

"Structurally, everything is still on course. It’s sore and we just wanted to avoid a continuing cycle of come back, get hit, come back, get hit. We’ll give it time to rest and put it behind him."

Schwartz acknowledged there’s a chance Stafford will miss more than one game.

The No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft gained some fame when he hurt the shoulder Nov. 22 against Cleveland. He put himself back in the game after getting injured and threw his fifth touchdown pass on an untimed play.

Stafford was miked for sound during the game NFL Films president Steve Sabol called it "the most dramatic player wiring ever."

He has thrown 13 TDs and 20 interceptions in 10 games.

Stafford missed two games with an injured right knee. Culpepper threw one TD and two interceptions in his two starts both of which were losses.

Schwartz said the team did not consider starting Drew Stanton against the Ravens.

"Daunte is our backup quarterback," he said. "We’ve had no change in our depth chart. We have a lot of confidence in Daunte."

Schwartz, a first-year head coach, went against his previous policy of announcing only the required about of information about injured players.

"It is kind of against the grain from the way we’ve done things in the past, but there are some benefits to doing it this way also," he said.

Schwartz told Stafford and Culpepper about his plans and wanted both to avoid answering questions about the situation this week.

When Stafford got the start on Thanksgiving, Culpepper looked like he was upset because he expected to play.

Browns’ Coleman out with knee injury

CLEVELAND — Browns defensive end Kenyon Coleman will miss Thursday night’s game against Pittsburgh with a knee injury.

Coleman started Cleveland’s first 11 games at left end before hurting his knee on Nov. 29 against Cincinnati. He sat out Sunday’s loss to San Diego.

Robaire Smith will switch from right end to left for the second straight game.

Cleveland’s defensive front also will be missing C.J. Mosley. He broke his leg against the Chargers and was placed on injured reserve. The Browns are also without Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who sustained a season-ending injury earlier this season.

The other available defensive linemen are Brian Schaefering, activated from the practice squad last week, and Derreck Robinson, signed by the Browns this week.

Taylor, Porter sit out Dolphins practice

DAVIE, Fla. — Linebackers Jason Taylor and Joey Porter sat out practice with injuries Wednesday as the Miami Dolphins began preparations for their game at Jacksonville on Sunday.

Taylor hurt his right shoulder during Sunday’s win over New England but returned to the game. Porter has been slowed by a right knee and hamstring injury most of the season and has frequently missed practice.

Taylor and Porter rode exercise bikes for 20 minutes at the start of drills. Coach Tony Sparano said their absence from practice was precautionary.

"We’re watching them," Sparano said. "We’ll see how they do."

Reserve defensive back Nathan Jones sat out with a hamstring injury. Center Jake Grove, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, was limited in practice.

Steelers’ Ward questionable for Browns

PITTSBURGH — Wide receiver Hines Ward practiced lightly despite a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game at Cleveland on Thursday night.

Earlier in the week, coach Mike Tomlin was pessimistic that Ward would play. Tyler Grisham was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, giving the Steelers an extra wide receiver in case Ward can’t play.

Cornerback William Gay, who sustained a concussion during the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the Raiders on Sunday, also practiced Wednesday but is listed as questionable.

Quarterback Tyler Palko was released. Charlie Batch will be the No. 3 quarterback in Cleveland as his broken left wrist continues to heal.

Colts put backup QB Sorgi on injured reserve

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have put longtime backup quarterback Jim Sorgi on injured reserve, leaving rookie Curtis Painter as the only backup to three-time MVP Peyton Manning.

Sorgi had been the third quarterback for the past four games after hurting his right throwing shoulder in practice.

Painter, a Purdue alum, was a sixth-round draft pick in April.

The Colts also signed offensive lineman Michael Toudouze, Indy’s fifth-round pick in 2006, to fill Sorgi’s spot. They waived quarterback Shane Boyd from the practice squad and signed former University of Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy.

Player Moves

Bengals sign DT Shaun Smith

CINCINNATI — The Bengals signed defensive tackle Shaun Smith on Wednesday, two days after run-stopping lineman Domata Peko had surgery on his right knee that will sideline him for a few weeks.

Smith played for the Bengals from 2004-06, starting six games. He played for the Browns the last two years and had been out of the NFL since Detroit released him on Sept. 5. Smith played in two games for Las Vegas of the United Football League.

"I was training in Arizona every day, but there’s nothing like conditioning with pads on and playing the game," Smith said. "I never thought my career was over, it was just a matter of opportunity. If I get thrown right in, I know the defense so far."

Coach Marvin Lewis said Smith has to get into playing shape.

"He’s a big guy and a strong man who understands what we do a little bit," Lewis said. "He was here long enough. We know him, he knows us. It’s just a matter of what he can do, and can he help us?"

Peko was in the locker room Wednesday with a protective sleeve on his right leg. He had the knee cleaned out on Monday and said he’s aiming to return for the final regular-season game against the New York Jets.

"I just want to get it strong again," Peko said. "I can’t wait to get back."

The Bengals put rookie tight end Chase Coffman on season-ending injured reserve with bone spurs in his left ankle. The third-round pick has been inactive for all 12 games.

Cincinnati also signed second-year cornerback Antonio Smith to the practice squad.

-- Joe Kay

Ganther becomes 4th Redskins starting RB of season

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins are making yet another change in the backfield.

Quinton Ganther will start Sunday’s game at Oakland. He becomes the team’s fourth starting running back this season.

Ganther moves ahead of Rock Cartwright, who started the last two games.

Clinton Portis started first eight before suffering a season-ending concussion. Ladell Betts took over for two games before his season ended with torn knee ligaments.

Cartwright rushed for only 77 yards on 28 carries in his two starts.

"I’m a little disappointed, but what can I do about it?" Cartwright said. "I’m not going to lose no sleep over it. I’ve still got a job."

Ganther has been signed, released and re-signed by the Redskins during this season. The second-year back from Utah ran 13 times for 78 yards — a 6-yard average — while backing up Cartwright the last two games.

"I’m getting the opportunity that I haven’t had to show people what I can do," Ganther said. "I just worked harder than anybody. The longer you keep you feet in the door, the better opportunity you have."

Patriots activate DL Adams, put DB Lockett on IR

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have activated defensive lineman Titus Adams from their practice squad and placed defensive back Bret Lockett on season-ending injured reserve with a groin injury.

They also announced Wednesday the signings of quarterback Jeff Rowe and wide receiver Darnell Jenkins to the practice squad.

Adams was a seventh-round draft choice by the New York Jets out of Nebraska in 2006. He spent all last season and this season on the Patriots practice squad. Lockett played in 10 games for the Patriots, mostly on special teams.

Rowe was waived by the Seattle Seahawks before this year’s regular season. Jenkins was on the practice squads of the Texans and Cleveland Browns this year.

Tight end Martin released by Dolphins

DAVIE, Fla. — Tight end David Martin has been released by the Miami Dolphins from the reserve-injured list.

Martin has missed the entire season because of a knee injury. He had 31 catches for 450 yards and three touchdowns last season for Miami.

Tight ends Anthony Fasano and Joey Haynos have combined for 34 catches for 358 yards and three touchdowns this year.

Elsewhere

Former NFL halfback Alex Burl dies in Denver at 78

DENVER — Alex Burl Jr., a former Colorado State football and track star who played a season in the NFL, has died. He was 78.

His family said Burl died in Denver last week after a heart attack.

Colorado State said a memorial service is planned Thursday. The Army veteran is to be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Burl was the first black athlete in Colorado State history to win the Nye Trophy, presented annually to the institution’s most outstanding male athlete.

Burl qualified for the 1952 U.S. Olympic trials in track at age 19. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1954 and played eight games in 1956.

Burl later coached football, cross country, and track and field for Denver Public Schools.

His grandson, Davis Burl, is a linebacker at Colorado State.