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NFL Capsules: Proving popular: Favre jerseys move fast; Vick too
Comments 0 | Recommend 0EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — For all of the negative publicity produced by Brett Favre's latest retirement flip-flop, fans have flocked to watch him in action — and buy his memorabilia.
Over just a 10-day span following his arrival in Minnesota, Favre's No. 4 Vikings jersey — still a strange sight — was the top seller on the NFL's merchandise Web site for the entire sales period from April 1-Aug. 28. It costs $80.
Newness always helps: Jay Cutler ranked second and Michael Vick was fourth during that timeframe. The Favre phenomenon, however, seems like it's just one of a kind.
Perhaps the only person surprised to hear about Favre's jersey-selling success was his most prominent Vikings teammate.
"I think I'm more popular than Brett Favre, but he's got an advantage," running back Adrian Peterson said. "I think what gets him over the top is the Packer fans that live here also."
So, Peterson was asked, have you gotten one for yourself?
"I've been scared to sit here and ask him for one," he said, smiling.
Peterson shook his head as he recalled the mother of a high school friend approaching him after a recent game in Houston to ask him if he could get Favre to autograph a jersey for her.
"She's never asked me for a jersey, ever," Peterson said. "I was like, 'All right. I'll see what I can do.'"
Favre was also asked Wednesday if he had considered acquiring one of these items for himself.
"I don't think you can get any," the quarterback deadpanned. "They're real hard to find right now. I only say that because friends and family have asked if I can get one. The only ones I have are the ones I play in."
On the football side, Favre has brought stability and a record-setting resume to the most important position on Minnesota's offense. Off the field, the wow factor of having Favre on the team has helped take some of the attention away from the other stars such as Peterson.
"Normally people come up to me and ask me to get this and get that," Peterson said. "Now flip it around."
It has alleviated some of the interview requests from reporters, too.
"Now it's not all on me, so that's cool," Peterson said.
The Vikings aren't among the top 10 selling teams on NFLShop.com, one sign of how popular Favre truly is.
"It is normal for sales of a player's jersey to jump significantly when he changes teams," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. "However, we're witnessing the Favre factor. Favre has sold more jerseys than anyone in NFL history. He was a perennial top 10 seller for the Packers, was number one last season with the Jets and is anticipated to be among the top sellers this season with the Vikings."
Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers ranked third and fifth, respectively, on the April-August jersey list. Success sells, as does a storied franchise.
Favre, Cutler and Vick have been popular buys because of the novelty, but they each come with some controversy.
Vick was jailed and suspended by the league for his role in a dogfighting ring before recently signing with Philadelphia. On a smaller scale of negative public relations, Cutler unhappily forced his way out of Denver and was traded to Chicago. And Favre has frustrated fans — not to mention alienated many loyalist supporters of his old team in Green Bay — with his indecision.
The polarization factor, said sports marketer Matt Delzell, has actually been a boon for Favre.
"Now that he's got some 'haters' the people who do like him are especially more likely to go out and buy his jerseys," Delzell said in an interview from his Dallas-area office. He works for entertainment marketing agency Davie Brown.
Favre will likely always be a major generator of buzz.
"That's why you have celebrities with 2 million followers on Twitter," Delzell said. "There is an increasing obsession about the celebrity world, with sports figures and with anything new and fresh. It just continues to grow."
Stephen Ross, a sport management professor at the University of Minnesota, echoed that theory.
"Just the intensity of the Favre sales is I think surprising for anybody, but if you look at it there hasn't been a whole lot of movement of players around the NFL this year. So people are going to be less likely to buy jerseys, especially with the economy," Ross said. "New and novel is the way to go."
NFL fines Jets, Mangini for Favre coverup
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The NFL assessed $125,000 in fines to the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday for violating the league's rules on injury reporting with former quarterback Brett Favre last season.
The Jets failed to place Favre, now with the Minnesota Vikings, on the injury report during the final month of last season even though he had a torn biceps tendon.
The league announced it had fined the Jets $75,000, and Mangini and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum $25,000 apiece. Mangini now coaches the Cleveland Browns.
"We have been fully cooperative with the league throughout this investigation and respect their decision," the Jets said in a statement.
Mangini wants to put the situation behind him.
"I have worked with the league on this matter and now consider it closed," he said in a statement. "My focus is on our preparations for the Broncos."
Hiding injuries could affect an opponent's preparation and the NFL has stepped up policing such practices. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the case would be an opportunity for the league to stress that all teams must abide by the injury report rules.
Last week, Tannenbaum admitted the Jets should have listed Favre as "probable" on their injury reports. That came a day after Favre said he thought he was hurting the Jets because of the injury and discussed it with the coaches and the front office. He said he would have been willing to sit out, even though that would have ended his streak of consecutive starts, which now stands at 270 games.
Tannenbaum said the team didn't list Favre on the report because the injury wasn't severe enough to require daily treatment and there was never any doubt Favre would play. Tannenbaum also assumed full responsibility for the mistake.
Mangini said he has always abided by the league's guidelines for injury reports.
"That was true there (in New York). It's true here," Mangini said. "It'll be true every week of the season and that's how we approach it."
Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start and first place in the AFC East. But he threw nine interceptions down the stretch and the team lost four of its last five, missing the playoffs.
He retired after the season, and was later released by the Jets. Favre came out of retirement — for the second time — last month and signed with Minnesota.
Favre told reporters last week he may not be able to play all 16 games with the Vikings, even after the biceps tendon was surgically repaired. He said he's playing with a torn rotator cuff and suggested he might have a cracked rib.
Favre completed 14 of 21 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' season-opening 34-20 win over Mangini's Browns on Sunday.
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
'Hey, it's Rex': Jets coach calls fans for help
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan picked up the phone and called on New York Jets fans for some help against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The head coach recorded a 70-second message that was sent to every season-ticket holder Wednesday, urging Jets fans to make it "miserable for Brady & Co. and seem like there's 13 or 14 guys out there on defense" during Sunday's game at the Meadowlands.
Ryan spoke from the heart — no script — and Jets fans got a surprise when they answered their phones or checked voicemails.
"Hey, this is Rex Ryan, the head coach of the New York Jets," Ryan began the message. "I just wanted to let you know how much we need you this week. You know, I've already admitted that, hey, the Patriots have a better head coach and they've got a better quarterback than us. But we're going to see who's got a better team."
The Jets play their home opener Sunday against Bill Belichick's Patriots, a team that has beaten them eight straight times at the Meadowlands.
"Again, I admit that I'm not as good as Belichick, but at the end of the game, I want to be 1-0 against him," Ryan ended the message. "So, help me out if you don't mind. That's my challenge, OK? Thank you. Bye."
Ryan, who was an assistant coach at Baltimore the last 10 seasons, is hoping to turn the Jets' home field into a clear advantage.
"I've seen that happen where sometimes it gets so loud and it just takes one guy to miss a check," Ryan said after practice. "So, I'm challenging our fans to maybe be the difference in this game this week."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Injuries
Eagles defend Andrews' injury as legitimate
PHILADELPHIA — Shawn Andrews has spent more time posting messages and video on Twitter and YouTube than he has on the football field the last two years.
It's not by choice, his coach says.
Andrews' offbeat personality has led some Philadelphia fans and media to speculate that Andrews was more interested in sitting home and making music than playing through his back injury with the Eagles.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Andrews really does need time to heal. Reid put Andrews on injured reserve so the two-time Pro Bowl guard could recover and rehabilitate without rushing back to action.
"It was just hard for him to function so I just thought it was best to do that," Reid said on Wednesday. "The thing right now is just that Shawn takes care of his back. It's recurring here. I think that's the most important thing."
Andrews missed all of training camp in 2008 with depression. He returned for the season opener, but went down in Week 2 with a herniated disc.
He tweaked his back in training camp this year, never played a preseason game and was put on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Reid declined to talk about what was found during an MRI this week on Andrews' back. Andrews' passion for football has often been but questioned, but Reid didn't think the extracurricular activities played a role in a futile attempt at a comeback.
"He didn't let that interfere with his rehab or anything else that he was doing or when he was out there practicing," Reid said.
The Eagles were counting on Andrews moving from right guard to anchor the right tackle spot. The Eagles signed Andrews' brother, Stacy Andrews, and acquired his college roommate, Jason Peters, to help him out.
Stacy Andrews said his brother is really hurt and will not sink back into depression because of the injury.
"Not at all. He's a strong-minded guy," Andrews said. "He dealt with that last year. I'm going to call him and joke with him a lot like we usually do and keep him upbeat."
Running back Brian Westbrook considers Andrews a friend and will support him as he takes the year off to recover.
"There's been a lot of pressure on him as a person lately and hopefully he'll be able to make his way through," Westbrook said.
Andrews posted a steady stream of tweets on his Twitter feed Wednesday (www.twitter.com/ShawnAndrews73) thanking fans for their support.
"Man I am dealing w/ the pain. I plan on being back... I dont know if I'll be missed, but I will miss being around," he wrote.
-- Dan Gelston
LT in boot; Chargers sign Norman
SAN DIEGO — A year ago, fantasy players would have gagged at the sight of LaDainian Tomlinson wearing a protective boot on his right ankle.
It might not be as shocking this year, since his popularity with fantasy geeks has dropped off somewhat. But there he was, limping to the podium for his weekly news conference two days after the season opener.
Tomlinson was one of seven Chargers who didn't practice on Wednesday, when San Diego began preparing for its home opener Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
"I've had it before. It's very common," Tomlinson said. "So I'm not too concerned with it."
How much or if he plays on Sunday remains to be seen. If the Chargers don't want to push it with L.T., they can turn to speedy little Darren Sproles and Michael Bennett.
"Nobody wants to be hurt, but I've had some unfortunate things happen," said Tomlinson, who scored a touchdown in San Diego's 24-20 win at Oakland on Monday night, which was a lot closer than most everyone expected. "At the same time, I'm still optimistic about this injury."
Tomlinson said there was no comparison between this injury and the toe and groin injuries that hampered him last year. The groin injury was serious enough to sideline him for San Diego's playoff loss at Pittsburgh, the first time in his brilliant career that he missed a game due to injury.
"I've had ankle sprains throughout my whole life of playing football," he said.
Tomlinson, who had 55 yards on 13 carries Monday night, was hurt while losing a fumble in the first quarter. He played on and off until the fourth quarter. He wasn't on the field on the winning drive, capped by Sproles' 5-yard run with 18 seconds to play.
"Obviously the more I played on it and got hit a couple more times, that's when it really started bothering me toward the end of the game."
Also missing practice were center Nick Hardwick (ankle), rookie right guard Louis Vasquez (knee), left tackle Marcus McNeill (thumb, ankle), defensive tackle Jamal Williams (elbow), linebacker Antwan Applewhite and defensive end Travis Johnson.
The Chargers signed Dennis Norman, who can play both center and guard. He was waived by Jacksonville on Sept. 8, the same day the Jaguars signed guard Kynan Forney, who had been waived by the Chargers.
Scott Mruczkowski, who replaced Vasquez and then Hardwick on Monday night, said he'll start at center.
Hardwick, a Pro Bowler in 2006, was wearing a boot on his left ankle. He declined comment on his status for Sunday.
Defensive end Luis Castillo, who hurt an elbow Monday night, was at practice.
Coach Norv Turner wasn't ready to rule any of the injured players in or out for Sunday.
"Obviously each one of them is a little bit different, but I am confident in most cases," Turner said. "I can answer that a lot better after practice tomorrow. I would expect most of them to participate."
McNeill said he expected to start. He rolled an ankle Monday night but had to stay in the game because the Chargers dressed only seven offensive linemen. He hurt his thumb last week.
"I'm a little beat up, but that's the sport of football," McNeill said.
Asked who was in at left tackle during practice, Turner said: "Well, we just had kind of like in the movies, a stand-in."
-- Bernie Wilson
Seahawks lose LB Leroy Hill for at least 6 weeks
RENTON, Wash. — The Seahawks got worse news than they expected on starting linebacker Leroy Hill, who left last weekend's game against St. Louis with a groin injury.
Coach Jim Mora said Wednesday that Hill will be out until at least November, after tests on his groin showed more extensive damage than first believed. Hill has a partially torn muscle, an injury more common to hockey players, and may need surgery.
"It appears he has a pretty significant groin injury," Mora said. "He is going to be out until after the bye (week)."
That means the man to whom Seattle gave a six-year contract worth a guaranteed $15.5 million — and potentially $38 million total — in the spring will be out at least until Nov. 1 at Dallas.
"That's a blow," Mora said. "It's disappointing for Leroy and certainly disappointing for this team."
For Hill's teammates, it's more than just "disappointing."
"Oh, man. It's huge," safety Deon Grant said. "It's going to have a big impact on our defense."
Grant explained he has an unspoken understanding with Hill on pre-snap reads and defensive calls, built over playing together the previous two seasons. Code words or head nods are all the two need to get in the correct position before plays.
"It definitely changes things. Leroy and myself had a chemistry," Grant said. "He understood when I see certain things what to look for."
Now, the chemistry that just produced Seattle's first shutout win since Nov. 12, 2007, against the 49ers, is getting disrupted.
Will Herring, usually a special-teamer, will make his second career start at outside linebacker Sunday at San Francisco. This week, Seattle re-signed recently waived veteran D.D. Lewis to add depth to the position.
"He's not going to know exactly what those (signals and code words) mean right away," Grant said. "But Will will step in and do his job."
The Seahawks got better injury news when nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones participated in position drills. Mora said there is a chance Jones could make his season debut against the 49ers, after having his second knee surgery in eight months a few weeks ago, an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
Lofa Tatupu, a three-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, did not practice because of the hamstring he strained against St. Louis. Mora expects him to start Sunday.
Hill stayed away from all non-mandatory work at Seahawks headquarters in the offseason, a protest to the team initially designating him its franchise player and keeping him from free agency. On Sunday, his legs were planted and spread wide when he was twisted during a play in the first quarter of Seattle's rout of the Rams.
He walked out to the practice field and around the locker room without much of a limp on Wednesday. Hill also wasn't too down — while seated in his locker he shimmied to the beat of a song playing throughout the locker room.
"I believe there is a slight tear or some type of pull off the bone of one of the tendons," Mora said. "It's similar to a lot of injuries that a lot of hockey players get. Our training staff and doctors have done a tremendous job of researching and talking to everybody they can talk to who has experience with this injury.
"He'll be a fast healer and he'll work hard."
-- Gregg Bell
Bills LB Posluszny out 6 weeks with broken arm
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It didn't take long for injuries to catch up with the Buffalo Bills defense, which has three starters nursing injuries.
Starting middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is expected to miss about six weeks after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his left arm, and both starting defensive ends were also on the team's injury report after practice Wednesday. Chris Kelsay's status is uncertain after he missed practice with a bruised knee, while Aaron Schobel has a sore back as Buffalo prepares to host Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Coach Dick Jauron said Posluszny's surgery went well and the team is hoping he'll return before Week 8.
Posluszny was hurt in the first half of Buffalo's season-opening 25-24 loss at New England on Monday. Though it's unclear when he was hurt, Posluszny had his arm wrapped and continued playing with the injury before leaving the game during the second quarter.
By coincidence, Posluszny sustained a season-ending injury after breaking two bones in the same arm at New England two years ago.
Backup Marcus Buggs, who appeared in only four games as a rookie last year, is pegged to take over for Posluszny and also be responsible for calling the defensive plays.
"Buggs can run the defense. He takes command of the huddle," defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. "I don't anticipate any lack of production as far as Marcus Buggs is concerned."
Jauron listed Kelsay as day to day after he missed practice. It's unclear whether he'll be able to play this weekend because of the extent of the bruising in his knee. Kelsay was hurt late in the second quarter after colliding with teammate Ryan Denney.
Schobel, who had complained of a sore back on Tuesday, took part in the entire practice, but was added to the injury report late in the afternoon. He had a solid debut to the season, returning an interception for a touchdown and adding a sack against New England.
Tight end Derek Fine (hamstring) and cornerback Drayton Florence (knee) practiced on a limited basis.
-- John Wawrow
Eagles' QB McNabb out of practice with rib injury
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb did not practice Wednesday because of his cracked rib and it is still not known if he will play against New Orleans.
"He's making some progress," coach Andy Reid said. "It's too early to say anything right now. We'll just see how he does here over the next couple of days."
Kevin Kolb took snaps with the starters Wednesday. Reid again made it clear that Kolb will start against the Saints if McNabb can't play.
Jeff Garcia, picked up by the Eagles on Tuesday, would be Kolb's backup. He will be the No. 3 emergency quarterback if McNabb starts.
Michael Vick and Garcia will share snaps running the scout team this week. Vick is not eligible to play until next week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
McNabb cracked a single rib when he was crunched by several defenders on his 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of last week's win at Carolina. He didn't immediately get up after the touchdown, and was attended to by Eagles trainers before eventually leaving the field on his own.
Reid said McNabb's ribs need to get "sticky" — or, not move up and down — before he should play.
Kolb has never started an NFL game or thrown a touchdown pass.
"This is his opportunity to present to the rest of the league what he's all about," Garcia said. "Hopefully he takes advantage of all of that."
Phillips and Johnson on Giants injury report
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The number of injured defensive backs on the New York Giants is growing.
Starting safeties Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson joined cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery on the injury report that the Giants handed out on Wednesday.
Johnson (shoulder) and Phillips (knee) both missed Wednesday's practice along with Ross (hamstring), center Adam Koets (ankle), receiver and first-round draft pick Hakeem Nicks (foot) and running back Danny Ware (elbow).
Nicks and Ware will be out at least two weeks after being injured in New York's 23-17 win over Washington on Sunday.
Phillips had a knee problem in training camp. Johnson sustained a stringer in the Redskins' game.
Dockery (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis. He did not practice last week.
Browns' Lewis limited by neck injury
BEREA, Ohio — Browns running back Jamal Lewis was limited in practice Wednesday because of an unspecified neck injury.
Lewis showed nice bursts of speed while running for 57 yards in the season-opening loss to Minnesota. He went down with an apparent stinger in his neck after a 15-yard run in the first half.
Linebacker David Bowens (knee), wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (shoulder) and nose tackle Shaun Rogers (foot) were listed as limited on coach Eric Mangini's injury report. It was the first injury report completed by Mangini since he was fined $25,000 by the NFL for his role with the New York Jets in failing to report quarterback Brett Favre's arm injury last season.
Also, rookie running back James Davis did not participate in practice because of a shoulder injury suffered against the Vikings.
The Browns will play at Denver on Sunday. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (ankle) and safety Brian Dawkins (hand) did not practice Wednesday.
LB Timmons doesn't finish Steelers practice
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons practiced Wednesday as he recovers from a high ankle sprain that occurred Aug. 22, but did not finish the workout.
The Steelers were hopeful Timmons could play Sunday in Chicago, but the injury flare-up is a setback. Timmons originally was hurt during an exhibition game against Washington.
Timmons and wide receiver Limas Sweed were listed on the Steelers' injury report as having limited participation in practice. Sweed developed a foot problem during practice and his status for Sunday is uncertain.
Tyrone Carter, the 10-year safety who will replace the injured Troy Polamalu, did not practice for personal reasons.
The Steelers are 1-11 in Chicago, winning only in their last appearance in 1995.
Mayo misses practice with knee injury
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Inside linebacker Jerod Mayo has missed the New England Patriots' first practice since he hurt his right knee.
Mayo did not work out with the team on Wednesday, two days after being injured in a 25-24 win over the Buffalo Bills. He suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and could miss up to eight weeks, the Boston Globe reported.
Mayo's agent, Sean Kiernan, did not return an e-mail seeking comment. The Patriots gave no details other than to say Mayo didn't practice.
Last year's NFL defensive rookie of the year was hurt with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. Afterward, he walked along the sideline under his own power but did not return to the game.
Player Moves
Redskins FB Mike Sellers gets contract extension
ASHBURN, Va. — Mike Sellers' offseason boycott eventually paid off, helping the Washington Redskins fullback land a contract extension.
The Pro Bowl fullback confirmed Wednesday he had finally swayed owner Dan Snyder to offer a new deal. Its total value is about $6.9 million over the next six years, but the final two years are voided automatically if Sellers is still on the roster after the 2012 season. Essentially it is a four-year deal with $1 million guaranteed: a $600,000 signing bonus and a $400,000 option bonus next year.
"I was complaining about not getting enough money during the season," said Sellers, who had two years remaining on his previous deal. "I got what I wanted. Now it's time to go play."
Sellers stayed away from offseason workouts to voice his displeasure over his contract. He was coming off his first Pro Bowl season and was elected a team captain during preseason.
"I had the point to make to them that just because I'm not here in the offseason, I'm going to be in shape," Sellers said. "And I think that helped a lot. It showed that I'm a hard-worker on and off the field."
Sellers first joined the Redskins in 1998 after a stint in the CFL. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2001 and was beset by off-the-field problems. Soon he was back in the CFL before coming back to Washington in 2004.
At 34, Sellers is still somewhat of a class clown — he loves throwing objects at teammates to disrupt on-camera interviews — but he's a solid special teams contributor and has helped clear holes for running back Clinton Portis.
"For years I sat around and watched everybody else around me get these great contracts and I was the only one (without one)," Sellers said. "I kept my mouth shut pretty much and did what I had to do."
But this time?
"I had a good talk with the head man, the big man," Sellers said. "And I voiced my opinions, and he understood and he blessed me with an extension."
-- Joseph White
Cardinals promote DT Dykes from practice squad
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have elevated defensive tackle Keilen Dykes from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster
The Cardinals also released wide receiver Lance Long and re-signed wide receiver Onrea Jones to the practice squad. Long joined the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Dykes, who played at West Virginia, spent 2008 on the Cardinals practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.
Dykes had a good chance of making the squad a week ago had he not missed most of training camp with a quadriceps injury.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he made the move because of the possibility the team will be without Kenny Iwebema for Sunday's game at Jacksonville. Iwebema sprained his right ankle in Arizona's season-opening 20-16 loss to San Francisco.
"Going against a team that runs the ball very well like Jacksonville does, I'm scared to go in this game with only five down linemen," Whisenhunt said.
The coach indicated the Cardinals would have liked to re-sign Long to the practice squad had the Chiefs not picked him up. Instead, Arizona re-signed Jones.
Jones was cut by the Cardinals at the end of preseason and was briefly on the Washington Redskins practice squad before being released on Tuesday.
Jaguars place Hayward on IR, sign Cox, Henderson
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed defensive end Reggie Hayward on injured reserve and elevated cornerback Kennard Cox from the practice squad.
The Jaguars also signed defensive end Robert Henderson to the practice squad.
Hayward broke his left leg Sunday at Indianapolis on a fourth-down play late in the game and will have surgery Friday.
Cox, a seventh-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2008, signed with Jacksonville in December. He was waived this month and signed to the practice squad.
Henderson, a sixth-round pick by the New York Giants in 2008, spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve after injuring his ankle in the first preseason game.
The Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals meet Sunday in Jacksonville.
Browns continue roster makeover
BEREA, Ohio — Browns coach Eric Mangini continued his roster makeover, signing free agent wide receiver Ray Ventrone and offensive lineman Billy Yates.
The Browns also waived defensive back DeAngelo Smith.
Mangini coached both Ventrone and Yates with New England in 2005. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Ventrone is expected to play on Cleveland's special teams. He was waived by the Patriots earlier this month.
Yates (6-2, 305) made 12 starts over four seasons with New England. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 4.
Cleveland's roster has 24 new players under Mangini, who was hired in January after being fired by the New York Jets.
Giants sign Jacob Bender to practice squad
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants have filled out their practice squad by signing offensive lineman Jacob Bender.
The Giants announced the move Wednesday, a day after shuffling their practice squad by releasing three players and signing two others.
Bender was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers. He signed late last season off the New England Patriots' practice squad. He was inactive for four games and was active but did not play in San Francisco's season finale.
Bender, who can play both guard and tackle, was a sixth-round draft choice by the Jets in 2007. He participated in six special teams plays in two games that season. Bender was waived Aug. 31, 2008, and signed to the Patriots' practice squad the following day.
Colts cut 2 players, may sign receiver
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have waived kicker Shane Andrus and rookie linebacker Cody Glenn, clearing one roster spot for defensive tackle Ed Johnson and possibly another to add a receiver.
Johnson did not play Sunday against Jacksonville because he was serving a league-imposed one-game suspension.
Andrus was the third kicker on Indy's roster. He handled kickoffs while Adam Vinatieri worked his way back from offseason knee and hip surgery.
The Colts have not announced what they'll do to replace receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who sprained ligaments in his right knee Sunday. But they now have an open spot on the roster heading into Monday's game against Miami.
Bills re-sign WR Jenkins, release TE Stupar
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Receiver Justin Jenkins is back with the Buffalo Bills and tight end Jonathan Stupar has been released.
The moves, announced by the team Wednesday, come two days after the Bills cut Jenkins and promoted Stupar from the practice squad before Buffalo's season opener at New England, won by the Patriots, 25-24.
Buffalo hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Jenkins had spent the past two seasons in Buffalo and primarily played on special teams.
Stupar was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Virginia.
Detroit Lions cut DT Orien Harris
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have cut defensive tackle Orien Harris.
The Lions announced the move Wednesday. Detroit acquired Harris in July from the St. Louis Rams in trade for wide receiver Ronald Curry.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Harris has 14 career tackles since being drafted in the fourth round by Pittsburgh in 2006. He has also spent time with Cleveland, Buffalo and New Orleans.
Chiefs add wide WR Lance Long
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs, struggling to upgrade their receiver corps, have added former Arizona wideout Lance Long to the practice squad.
The move came Wednesday, one day after they signed veteran free agent receiver Bobby Wade.
Long played in one game for Arizona in 2009 after spending the 2008 season on the Cardinals practice squad. The Chiefs released wide receiver Rodney Wright from the practice squad.
Rams sign WR Martin, LB Lenon
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams have signed wide receiver Ruvell Martin and linebacker Paris Lenon.
To make room for the signings announced Wednesday, the Rams waived linebacker Quinton Culberson and tackle Eric Young.
Martin played three seasons for Green Bay before being waived Sept. 5. He had 52 receptions for 749 yards and six touchdowns for the Packers.
Lenon is an eight-year veteran who played four seasons in Green Bay and three in Detroit before signing with New England in the offseason. He also was cut on Sept. 5. He has 523 career tackles, five sacks and two interceptions, along with 58 special teams tackles.
Elsewhere
Nevada judge won't move Roethlisberger case
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A Nevada judge on Wednesday denied a motion to move the civil sexual assault case against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Lake Tahoe casino employees from Reno to Douglas County, where the alleged incident occurred.
Washoe District Judge Brent Adams in Reno ruled that one of the named defendants, Harrah's Lake Tahoe executive Dave Monroe, has residences in both Douglas and Washoe counties and therefore Washoe County is a proper venue for the case to be heard.
Adams added, "There's no reason to believe an impartial jury cannot be found in Washoe County, or that the interest of justice would be prompted by change of venue."
The woman, a 31-year-old Harrah's VIP hostess, has accused the two-time Super Bowl winner of raping her in his penthouse suite in July 2008, when Roethlisberger was at Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament. The Associated Press, as a matter of policy, does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The suit also alleges eight former or current Harrah's employees, including Monroe, Harrah's President John Koster and security chief Guy Hyder, orchestrated a cover-up of the incident.
Her suit seeks a minimum of $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger, at least $50,000 in damages from the Harrah's officials and an unspecified amount of punitive damages.
Roethlisberger has denied the allegations, and his lawyers have characterized the woman as mentally unstable. Defense lawyers also have criticized her for not reporting the incident to police before filing her civil suit a year later, portraying her as a gold digger.
Advocates for sexual assault victims say failing to report incidents to police is not uncommon. The woman claims she was hospitalized on numerous occasions because of the trauma suffered in the alleged attack.
In motions filed last week, a lawyer for seven of the Harrah's employees said the suit amounts to the "vengeance of a woman scorned." Defense lawyers point to e-mails, reportedly sent from the woman to Hyder, in which she fantasizes about moving to Pittsburgh and having Roethlisberger's baby.
In her own affidavit, however, the woman said she was distraught and upset after the incident, and purchased a birth control method afterward because she feared she could be pregnant.
-- Sandra Chereb
Charges dropped vs. former Steelers' ex-girlfriend
PITTSBURGH — Prosecutors have dropped a weapons charge against the ex-girlfriend of former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Cedrick Wilson stemming from a standoff at his former home last year.
Allegheny County District Attorney's spokesman Mike Manko says the charge against 28-year-old Lindsey Paulat, of Fawn, was dropped Tuesday because a recent state Supreme Court decision says it's not always criminal to fire a weapon in a residence.
The charge dropped was discharging a weapon in an occupied structure. Prosecutors had previously dropped aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges against Paulat.
The Steelers released Wilson two months after he and Paulat argued at his Pine Township home in January 2008, and she allegedly fired shots inside the home after Wilson left.
Redskins-Giants most-watched opener
NEW YORK — The Sunday afternoon doubleheader game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants was the most-watched opening game on record.
According to Niselsen Media Research, the Fox broadcast drew 25.1 million viewers. Nielsen records date back to 1987.
New York's 23-17 victory outdrew two prime-time NBC games: the season opener Thursday between Tennessee and Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh (21.1 million viewers), and the Sunday evening game between Green Bay and Chicago (20.9 million).
ESPN's Monday night doubleheader drew the two largest audiences on cable TV this year: 14 million for Bills-Patriots, and 11.9 million for Chargers-Raiders
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