NFL

The Cleveland Browns ended the year talking to candidates they hope will make it a better 2009.

The white brick home that housed former NFL star Michael Vick's dogfighting operation has been listed for sale for US$1.1 million.

Mike Singletary has made two more adjustments to his new coaching staff, firing quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and running backs coach Tony Nathan.

The Indianapolis Colts' defence can still hear the echoes ringing from September.

Indianapolis heard the complaints for years: The defenders were too small, too soft, too devoid of high-priced talent to become an elite unit.

The New York Jets have received permission to speak with Baltimore Ravens defensive co-ordinator Rex Ryan for their vacant head-coaching job, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Dallas Cowboys have fired special teams coach Bruce Read, making him the first assistant ousted in the wake of a disappointing 9-7 season.

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young will be day to day this week after reinjuring his right quadriceps muscle. His status for Sunday's AFC wild-card game with San Diego could be in question.

The Patriots routed their first eight opponents. They were unbeaten, almost unchallenged and on their way to becoming the first team to go 16-0 in the regular season. Critics said they were running up the score. The Patriots said they were simply playing all 60 minutes.

And the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they had a tough road to the Super Bowl two years ago.

Amani Toomer was clearly uncomfortable answering questions about being an unrestricted free agent after 13 seasons with the New York Giants.

The Detroit Lions are interested in speaking to Minnesota Vikings defensive co-ordinator Leslie Frazier about their vacant head-coaching job.

A day after Carolina finished out of the playoffs for the second straight year, John Fox remained confident that he'll return as the Panthers' coach.

Carl Peterson says he will return for a 20th year running the Kansas City Chiefs despite a disappointing season that left many fans unhappy.

The New York Jets plan to reinstate the sale of beer next season despite a ban in the season finale that appeared to curb fan rowdiness.

Chad Pennington has made a comeback from a comeback.

They were best friends as much as employee and boss. Nothing told that story better than the tears in the eyes of Pat Bowlen and Mike Shanahan as they talked about their sad farewell.

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Stockar McDougle was charged with pushing the owner of a landscaping company and a female clerk because of a dispute about a bill.

Brian Billick never came close to duplicating the success he enjoyed early in his career as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and it finally cost him his job.

Bill Parcells' shakeup of the Miami Dolphins began Monday with the firing of general manager Randy Mueller.

Turns out, Marv Levy's job was to restore order in Buffalo. It'll be on someone else to turn the Bills into a playoff contender.

Kerry Collins spent most of the season waiting for a chance to prove he could still play. On Sunday night, with a playoff spot at stake, Tennessee's backup quarterback delivered the biggest win of the season.

The New York Jets treated the fans who showed up -- and those who stayed awake -- to an overtime victory in their season finale.

Jon Kitna found tight end Sean McHugh for a five-yard gain, well short of the needed 10 yards on fourth down late in the fourth quarter of yet another meaningless game to finish the Lions' season.

The Washington Redskins will play the Seattle Seahawks at 4:30 p.m. ET next Saturday afternoon in an NFC wild-card game that will open the NFL playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner was involved in a "domestic dispute" Monday night with the mother of his infant child, Gwinnett County Police Corp. David Schiralli said.

From disarray to dominance, the Washington Redskins will enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the NFC. The Redskins reached the post-season Sunday with a 27-6 victory over the archrival Dallas Cowboys.

Marv Levy is preparing to step down as Buffalo Bills general manager, according to numerous reports Sunday. Citing "multiple" unnamed sources, Buffalo's WIVB-TV reported the Bills and the 82-year-old Levy reached "a mutual decision" that he would retire after concluding his second year on the job.

Jets quarterback Brett Favre reportedly has a torn biceps tendon in his right arm that will not need major surgery to repair, ESPN said Tuesday.

Mike Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year

The San Francisco 49ers fired offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz on Tuesday. Martz was released by Mike Singletary, who was made the permanent head coach of the team Sunday night after going 5-4 as the interim coach.

The NFL confirmed Tuesday that next season's Pro Bowl will be played in Miami's Dolphin Stadium a week before the Super Bowl is played at the same venue.

Bill Cowher is out of the running for the New York Jets' vacant coaching job. The team planned to sit down soon with the former Super Bowl-winning coach, and Cowher had expressed interest in the job, but the negotiations never advanced to scheduling a formal meeting.

Bills coach Dick Jauron will return next season after team owner Ralph Wilson decided a shake up wasn't necessary despite a third consecutive 7-9 finish that left unhappy fans demanding change.

The Cleveland Browns have scheduled an interview Tuesday with former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, a source with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press.

The Texans fired defensive co-ordinator Richard Smith and two other coaches Tuesday after Houston fielded one of the league's worst defensive units despite three first-round picks on the line.

They have a combined 22 years with one of the NFL's worst franchises, so what makes Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew the right men to turn around the Detroit Lions?

A former NFL lineman and high school football coach was ordered held on US$100,000 cash bail Tuesday after he was charged with raping a 15-year-old female student whose father allegedly found hundreds of text messages she received from the man.

Retired NFL receiver Andre Rison was arrested and cited for public intoxication after an early-morning disturbance at a San Antonio hotel.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not stay in a hospital overnight after receiving a concussion Sunday against Cleveland, but it was uncertain if he will practise this week.

The New England Patriots' season began with the shock of Tom Brady's knee injury and ended with more bad news: no playoff berth despite an 11-5 record.

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is embracing the fact that his team has earned the top seed in the NFC playoffs and will receive a first-round bye this weekend.

In the four seasons centre Duke Preston has played for the Buffalo Bills, the team has gone through two coaches, two general managers and three offensive co-ordinators -- changes that have failed to build a contender.

The Indianapolis Colts survived a long, grinding journey to earn a playoff spot. Reaching the Super Bowl will be far more difficult.

The longest playoff drought in Dolphins history ended Sunday when they beat the New York Jets on the road to win the AFC East title. Miami's first post-season game in seven years will be Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Despite a remarkably ugly player-front office dispute that turned training camp into a circus, the Green Bay Packers didn't fail this season because Brett Favre was playing somewhere else.

The Pro Bowl will be played one week before the Super Bowl in 2010 and both games will be staged in Dolphin Stadium, a person directly involved in the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

The Dallas Cowboys aren't changing coaches. Instead, head coach Wade Phillips plans to change.

Colorado Avalanche centre Paul Stastny will have surgery Tuesday to repair his right forearm fractured in last week's game against Phoenix.

The possibility Bill Parcells might leave the Miami Dolphins after only one season surfaced just as the team he rebuilt earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2001.

Lofty expectations did both Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel in as their teams' seasons crumbled from high hopes to demoralizing finishes.

Las Vegas sports books favour the New York Giants over the 11 other teams in the NFL playoffs to win the Super Bowl, giving 2-to-1 odds on the NFC's No. 1 seed to repeat as champions.

Barely into another massive rebuilding project, the Cleveland Browns have already moved to Plan B.

The Detroit Lions fired coach Rod Marinelli on Monday, a day after they became the first in NFL history to finish with an 0-16 record.

Eric Mangini had the New York Jets in first place a month ago, a special season shaping up for a franchise sorely in need of one.

The Chargers won the NFL's weakest division with an 8-8 record, becoming the first team to go from 4-8 to the playoffs by routing the Denver Broncos 52-21 in the Ed Hochuli Bowl on Sunday night.

Brett Favre will have an MRI exam Monday on his ailing right shoulder, a procedure that will help the 39-year-old quarterback decide whether he'll return for another season with the New York Jets.

Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald sent the Arizona Cardinals into the playoffs as winners. Warner threw four TD passes and the Cardinals beat Seattle 34-21 to spoil the final game of Mike Holmgren's decade as Seahawks coach.

Chad Pennington walked off the field where he spent his first eight NFL seasons, triumphant after leading his Dolphins to an improbable AFC East title in beating Brett Favre's Jets, eliminating the Patriots in the process.

The Philadelphia Eagles overcame daunting odds to capture an NFC wild-card spot with a dominating 44-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Le'Ron McClain ran for two touchdowns in the pivotal first half, and the Ravens routed the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-7 Sunday to earn an AFC wild-card berth.

Phil Savage is out as general manager of the Cleveland Browns after four seasons, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

John Kasay's 42-yard field goal with a second left lifted Carolina to a 33-31 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, locking up the NFC South title and the second seed in the conference for the Panthers.

Ryan Longwell's 50-yard field goal with five seconds left lifted the Vikings to a 20-19 victory over the resting Giants on Sunday afternoon, making Minnesota NFC North champions for its first post-season appearance in four years.

Oakland's Michael Bush broke two tackles, rambled through a gaping hole in the right side of the defence and headed upfield to help the Raiders rally to end the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season with a 31-24 victory Sunday.

Andre Johnson had two touchdowns and the Houston Texans got a 31-24 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday to knock them out of the playoff picture.

The Detroit Lions own a distinction no team wants: worst in NFL history. Facing one last chance to avoid their dubious destiny, the Lions lost Sunday's season finale to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 to complete the league's first 0-16 season.

A year after Patriots perfection, New England will be sitting out the playoffs. The season began distressingly with star quarterback Tom Brady's injury concluded just short of a post-season berth despite a stunning 11-5 record. New England's blustery 13-0 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills wasn't enough to get the Patriots in.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained a concussion while being driven into the ground by two Cleveland Browns defenders late in the second quarter of an essentially meaningless game Sunday.

Romeo Crennel will meet with owner Randy Lerner on Monday, heightening the likelihood the Browns' embattled coach will be fired one day after Cleveland concludes its dismal season.

Indianapolis got those pesky milestones out of the way quickly, yanked its starters early and still managed to win its ninth straight, beating AFC South champion Tennessee 23-0 on Sunday.

Winds gusting up to 120 km/h tore a strip off the Bills' practice fieldhouse and tilted both goal posts inside Ralph Wilson Stadium prior to Buffalo's game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

When the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles waged a wild Monday night shootout in Week 2, both teams looked like they could be serious Super Bowl contenders.
Tune into Sportsnet East at 4 pm ET to watch the Cowboys battle the Eagles.

The Bills put rookie receiver James Hardy on injured reserve Saturday, a day before closing their season hosting New England.

After being cut by the New York Jets when they acquired Brett Favre, Chad Pennington just wanted a chance to be a starter.
Tune into Sportsnet Ontario, West and Pacific at 1 pm ET to watch the Jets face the Dolphins.

The Patriots success this season without Tom Brady has been a surprise. Here's another one: they actually may root for the Jets on Sunday despite a history of bad blood between the teams.

The Tennessee Titans could be without as many as seven players for the season finale against Indianapolis on Sunday.

Eric Mangini realizes he's not winning many popularity contests these days. With the New York Jets struggling down the stretch and on the outside of the playoff picture, frustrated fans are flooding sports talk shows and message boards with heavy criticism of the coach.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo seems to be over the midweek illness that caused him to miss a day of practice. "I think he's feeling all right now", coach Wade Phillips said Friday. "I think he'll be ready to go (Sunday vs. the Eagles)".

Chicago Bears safety Mike Brown will miss the rest of the season due to a calf injury, leaving the defence without one of its emotional leaders heading into Sunday's game at Houston that could decide whether they make the playoffs.

Wade Phillips will be back as coach of the Dallas Cowboys next season, and Jason Garrett will remain in charge of the offence, regardless of whether the team makes the playoffs, club owner Jerry Jones said Friday.

Over his nine games with the Dallas Cowboys, Roy Williams has 194 yards receiving. The last time he played in Philadelphia, he had 204 yards receiving.

As the Green Bay Packers' season skids to a disappointing end, Aaron Rodgers still doesn't have a signature come-from-behind victory.

Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is doubtful for the Buffalo Bills' game against New England after missing his third straight practice on Friday because of a knee injury.

The Carolina Panthers could be without both starting defensive tackles for Sunday's game at New Orleans, perhaps enticing the pass-happy Saints to run the ball.

Mike Smith believes it's too early for the Atlanta Falcons to reflect on defying expectations and making the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't look far for a replacement for Monte Kiffin.

Carolina's Maake Kemoeatu spent some of Thursday's practice on an adjacent field with a medicine ball. Fellow starting defensive tackle Damione Lewis was nearby riding a stationary bike.

If Tom Coughlin decides to give Eli Manning some rest during the New York Giants' regular-season finale against the Vikings in Minnesota, David Carr is ready and waiting to take over at quarterback.

Running back Marshawn Lynch and linebacker Kawika Mitchell returned to practice Thursday as the Bills prepared to close their season hosting New England this weekend.

Stars, stars, stars. Everywhere you look, the Dallas Cowboys are all about the stars. There's the logo on their helmets and the giant one in the middle of their home turf. Another made of diamonds that can always be found on the lapel of team owner Jerry Jones.

As far as Dan Henning is concerned, there's no home-field advantage at the Meadowlands this time of year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' commitment to the run began with Franco Harris in 1972 and hasn't wavered since. With only three coaches during that time, the Steelers have never abandoned the mindset that all good things offensively start with the run.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo returned to work Thursday and was expected to practice a day after being sent home with flu-like symptoms.

NFL receiving leader Wes Welker has been fined US$10,000 for making a "snow angel" after scoring a touchdown for the New England Patriots last Sunday.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington denies his return to the Meadowlands is about retribution or redemption or reliving the past, even if he was cast aside by the New York Jets like a leaky football.

Tony Romo missed practice Wednesday, keeping the Cowboys quarterback out of what's usually the biggest day of practice in what's certainly the biggest week of the season.

Matt Cassel wants to return to the New England Patriots next season. He just doesn't know if that will happen.

St. Louis Rams president John Shaw has resigned and Billy Devaney has been promoted to general manager.

The Colts never doubted Peyton Manning would revert to his old form.

Brett Favre insists he hasn't decided whether he'll return to the New York Jets next season, but says the health of his right arm could be a factor.

Bruce Gradkowski is likely to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in Sunday's season finale after Ken Dorsey did not practice Wednesday.

A small cache of weapons and ammunition and the pants and sneakers that Plaxico Burress wore when he accidentally shot himself last month have been seized from the home of the New York Giants receiver, police said Wednesday.

The reinforcements have arrived in the Denver Broncos' battered backfield: Cory Boyd and Alex Haynes, both of whom were recently cut by the team.

It seemed so improbable just a few days earlier, the notion that the Chicago Bears would somehow slide into the playoffs. Now?

In the history of the NFL, three teams have had two running backs rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

A dismal December has the Denver Broncos on the brink of a colossal collapse. Not since division play began in 1967 has a team held a three-game lead with three weeks to go and failed to make the playoffs.

When the Miami Dolphins missed tackles, blew coverages and ended their final offensive play with an interception in their Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, they looked a lot like the team that went 1-15 last year.

Saying "times have changed," FedEx Corp. announced it will not advertise during Super Bowl 43, set for Tampa Bay, Fla., on Feb. 1.

Versatile running back Jason Wright was placed on injured reserve by the injury-riddled Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.

In a game against the Chicago Bears last month, Eric Bassey of the St. Louis Rams went out for a pass on a fake punt and was tackled before the ball arrived. He sprang to his feet, confident he had drawn a penalty. A clear case of pass interference.

New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis has been fined US$10,000 by the NFL for throwing snow at fans following the team's loss at Seattle on Sunday.

Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal with 11:28 left in overtime and the Chicago Bears overcame frigid conditions and the Green Bay Packers for a 20-17 victory Monday night to stay in the running for the playoffs.

The player who benefited most from Mike Holmgren's 10 years in Seattle likely won't play in the final game Holmgren coaches for the Seahawks.

The NFL is asking an appeals court to reconsider a federal judge's order that blocked the suspensions of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

Jay Zygmunt, the St. Louis Rams' president of football operations, resigned Monday in the fallout from another terrible season.

Dick Jauron's future as coach of the Buffalo Bills will be determined in the next two weeks.

Add this to the growing list of Plaxico Burress' problems: getting in a car crash and not having insurance on his nearly US$140,000 Mercedes-Benz.

This year, 12 NFL playoff spots may be too many because the random ways of division alignment are producing teams that don't belong.

Derrick Ward ran for career-best 215 yards and set up Brandon Jacobs' winning two-yard touchdown run with 9:57 left in overtime and the Super Bowl champion Giants clinched the NFC's top seed for the post-season with a 34-28 comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.

Matt Ryan threw for a touchdown and made no big mistakes, Justin Blalock recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score and the Minnesota Vikings committed four turnovers in 24-17 loss on Sunday that clinched a post-season berth for the Falcons.

The Broncos blew an early 13-0 lead and lost to the Buffalo Bills 30-23 Sunday in the second-coldest game in Denver's history, setting up an all-or-nothing game against the Chargers next week for the division title and a playoff berth.

Seattle's Maurice Morris sliced through the snow like a sled for a season-high 116 yards and John Carlson scored the only touchdown on a short pass from backup Seneca Wallace as the lowly Seahawks ended New York's stay atop the AFC East with a 13-3 upset Sunday.

In the coldest game they ever played, the Miami Dolphins stayed hot.

New England is peaking in time for the post-season, whipping Arizona 47-7 with a blizzard of points on a snow-covered field Sunday. It won't keep the Cardinals out of the playoffs. And it might not be enough to get the Patriots in.

The Tennessee Titans showed why the AFC playoffs will be running through Music City by dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Survival mode seems to be a pretty good fit for Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

The Detroit Lions own a dubious piece of NFL history -- with perhaps more on the way. Detroit became the first 0-15 team ever when it was routed 42-7 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers' offense clicked just in time to erase a 13-point deficit, and for Isaac Bruce to reach a pair of milestones during a late-game flurry against his former team.

Browns running back Jamal Lewis became the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards in Cleveland's game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos have yet another chance to clinch the AFC West when they face the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Watch it live on Sportsnet West and Pacific at 1 p.m. PT

Brett Favre and the struggling New York Jets look to move closer to securing a playoff spot in what could be a snowy Seattle Sunday afternoon.

Watch it live on Sportsnet East and Ontario at 4 p.m. ET.

Willis McGahee ran 77 yards for a lead-stretching touchdown when things got tight late in the fourth quarter, then Le'Ron McClain topped that by going 83 yards for the real victory-clinching touchdown with 1:18 left, sending the Ravens past the Cowboys 33-24 Saturday night.

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis missed practice Friday with a muscle spasm in his back and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bills starting left tackle Jason Peters will be making his second straight Pro Bowl appearance after being voted in by his peers earlier this week. Whether that translates into a lucrative new contract remains to be seen.

Vince Young is suing three men for applying for a trademark to use his initials and "Invinceable" nickname to sell products without his permission.

Thursday night's victory at Jacksonville not only clinched a playoff spot for the Colts, it also made Tony Dungy the first coach since the 1970 merger to reach the playoffs 10 straight seasons.

Jim Zorn's future as coach of the Washington Redskins in the wake of a 1-5 slide has not been discussed by the team's hierarchy, front office chief Vinny Cerrato said Friday.

Peyton Manning picked apart Jacksonville's secondary and led the Indianapolis Colts to their eighth straight win and seventh straight playoff berth, beating the Jaguars 31-24 on Thursday.

During the first three quarters, Ben Roethlisberger often is an ordinary Joe.

Considering that Tony Romo finished the last game with his sore back, the Cowboys quarterback doesn't anticipate any problem being ready for the next game. Even in a shortened week.

William Clay Ford is regarded as a dignified man by the select few who seem to know the only surviving grandson of automotive pioneer Henry Ford.

The Rams lost two more players for the rest of the season, placing wide receiver and kick returner Derek Stanley and linebacker Gary Stills on injured reserve.

Tony Sparano has been known to jog around the Miami Dolphins complex before the sun rises. He once started watching game tape after a Sunday road loss and didn't stop until his Monday morning news conference, appearing out of the film room with a scruffy beard and baggy eyes.

Offensive tackle Jonathan Scott was signed by the Buffalo Bills on Thursday to fill the roster spot left open after defensive end Aaron Schobel was placed on injured reserve last week.

Adam (Pacman) Jones says the herniated disk in his neck that forced him to miss Dallas' last game was bothering him even before he took a hard hit.

The Minnesota Vikings will start Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback Sunday against Atlanta.

NFL owners approved a restructured ownership plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday that will keep the team under the control of chairman Dan Rooney and his son.

Brett Favre walked past his private jet at the Green Bay airport three winters ago and sneaked onto the Seahawks' team plane parked next to it. He sat down next to a startled Mike Holmgren and told his old coach and friend he was retiring.

The way DeAngelo Williams sees it, the credit for his breakout season with the Carolina Panthers goes to a 45-year-old guy in Florida.

With his team riding a two-game losing streak and getting ready to face the Carolina Panthers in a game for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Tom Coughlin did the unexpected Wednesday.

In the seven seasons Vonnie Holliday spent playing with Kansas City and Green Bay, the defensive end always loved playing teams from Florida in December.

Once again, Adam (Pacman) Jones is back with the Dallas Cowboys. Thought to be out for the season because of a neck injury, Jones returned to practice Wednesday, and is expected to play Sunday.

Running back Reggie Bush will miss the final two games of the New Orleans Saints' season.

Browns tight end Steve Heiden has a torn ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

The Indianapolis Colts could get Bob Sanders and Joseph Addai back in the lineup Thursday night. Then again, maybe not.

Peyton and Eli Manning were voted to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, the first time quarterback-playing brothers have been chosen for the same all-star game.

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jerry Porter made nearly US$1 million a catch this season before going on injured reserve Tuesday.

Former NFL star Michael Vick could be out of federal prison and in a Virginia halfway house by Jan. 20, one of his lawyers told a federal bankruptcy judge Tuesday.

Written off last month, the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles are making a strong playoff push.

There was finger-pointing in Jacksonville on Sunday, and it wasn't just metaphorical. Packers players were gesturing at each other on the field during a 20-16 loss to the Jaguars, the latest step backward in a lost season.

Interim Raiders coach Tom Cable lashed out at assistant offensive line coach James Cregg on Monday for leaving with two games left in the season and joining former coach Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee.

The New England Patriots need just two more wins to finish at an impressive 11-5 without Tom Brady -- and possibly miss the playoffs.

The season-ending suspension of Plaxico Burress has turned into a bigger problem than the New York Giants envisioned.

Rams coach Jim Haslett has two games left to make a case for next season.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams will miss anywhere from two to six weeks with a fractured shoulder.

Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will miss the final two games of the regular season with separate injuries.

Three weeks ago, the Miami Dolphins' defence was reeling from a relapse.

Kansas City Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson has resigned, effective at the end of the season.

Monte Kiffin, Tampa Bay's longtime defensive co-ordinator, ended weeks of speculation when he confirmed he will leave the Buccaneers at the end of this season for a position on the staff of Lane Kiffin, the new coach at Tennessee.

Bills coach Dick Jauron anticipates he'll be back next season despite overseeing a massive meltdown in which Buffalo has lost seven of its past eight and been knocked out of playoff contention.

On a day when most of the playoff races got tighter, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only team to clinch a berth. By inches.

DeMarcus Ware added three sacks to his NFL-leading total as the Cowboys took down Eli Manning eight times on their way to a crucial 20-8 victory over the New York Giants Sunday night in Dallas.

Joey Porter yanked off his helmet and gave it a jubilant fling, done with it for the day. With that, the Miami Dolphins' latest victory celebration was under way.

Randy Moss caught two of Matt Cassel's career-high four touchdown passes in his first game against the Oakland Raiders since his trade to New England last season, leading the Patriots to a 49-26 victory Sunday.

Tarvaris Jackson got another shot at starting quarterback, and he made the most of it.

Santonio Holmes caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 43 seconds left, and the Steelers clinched their second consecutive division crown by beating the Baltimore Ravens 13-9 Sunday.

Michael Turner ran for 152 yards, John Abraham had three sacks and Jason Elam kicked a 34-yard field goal in overtime to give the Atlanta Falcons a crucial 13-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Andre Johnson had a career-high 207 yards and a touchdown to lead the Texans to their fourth consecutive win, a 13-12 victory over the Titans

The Indianapolis Colts weren't themselves Sunday. Against winless Detroit, they didn't need to be.

David Garrard squeezed through a hole, sliced left and found an open lane to the end zone. He was closing in on the goal line when Will Blackmon caught him from behind and slapped the ball away.

The New York Jets were facing a stinging loss that would've knocked them out of first place in the AFC East and severely damaged their playoff hopes.

The game was moved to the coveted Sunday night spot. It could determine the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, and if the Carolina Panthers really deserve to be considered one of NFL's elite teams.
Programming note: Tune into Sportsnet East/Ontario at 1 pm ET to watch the Broncos take on the Panthers.

The Minnesota Vikings can't clinch the NFC North in Arizona on Sunday. Staying alone in first place should be motivation enough.
Programming note: Tune into Sportsnet West/Pacific at 2 pm MT to watch the Vikings take on the Cardinals.

The New England Patriots signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly from their practice squad on Saturday and ended linebacker Pierre Woods' season by putting him on the injured reserve list with a jaw injury.

Reggie Bush's left knee needs further examination before he'll be allowed back on the field for either of New Orleans' final two games.

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attended a charity fundraiser for the homeless at a New York City nightclub two weeks after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.

Head coach Wade Phillips insisted there are no rifts in his locker room, owner Jerry Jones dismissed rumours of inner turmoil, and Roy Williams wore a Santa hat but hardly sounded merry.

One of the victims in an O.J. Simpson-led robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room was ordered by a judge Friday to turn over the ex-NFL star's Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, even though a lawyer for the memorabilia dealer claims he doesn't have it.

New England quarterback Matt Cassel practised for a second straight day following the death of his father earlier this week. But the Patriots declined to say whether he'll play against Oakland on Sunday.

The NFL was busy Friday, issuing a total of seven fines against players for infractions that occurred in games last weekend.

Halfback Brandon Jacobs is going to miss the New York Giants' game against Dallas on Sunday with a knee injury and that may add a new element to New York's backfield.

Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia was limited during practice Friday because of a right calf strain and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

Seahawks star tackle Walter Jones will miss Seattle's final three games following microfracture surgery in his knee.

Bills backup quarterback J.P. Losman will likely make his second straight start in place of the injured Trent Edwards this Sunday at the New York Jets.

Defensive end Aaron Schobel was placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a nagging left foot injury that has forced the Buffalo Bills' top pass-rusher to miss most of the season.

Robbie Gould and the Chicago Bears handed Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints another devastating loss at Soldier Field.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and tackle Walter Jones are unlikely to play for the Seahawks on Sunday at St. Louis after both stars missed practice again on Thursday.

A federal judge extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL's suspension of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their lawyer said will let them play the rest of the season.

While the Minnesota Vikings say quarterback Gus Frerotte's lower back is feeling better by the day, all signs are pointing to Tarvaris Jackson getting the start Sunday at Arizona.

Donovan McNabb may some day reveal the true emotions he felt after getting benched for the first time in his career. Now isn't the time. Not with the Philadelphia Eagles making a push for the playoffs and McNabb leading the way.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten stumbled coming out of his break and never got to the ball. DeShea Townsend did.

Matt Cassel returned to practice with the New England Patriots on Thursday morning after missing Wednesday's workouts following his father's death.

Despite a disappointing season and an ugly dispute with Cleveland's front office, Kellen Winslow wants to stay with the Browns.

Running back Fred Taylor may have played his last game for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Taylor was placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a thumb injury, ending his season with three games left and prompting questions about his future with the franchise.

A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for selling prescription painkillers to Canadian New England Patriots lineman Nick Kaczur.

The New York Giants have refused to pay suspended receiver Plaxico Burress a US$1-million portion of a signing bonus from a contract signed in September.

An arrest warrant has been issued for former New York Giants star Mark Ingram after he failed to report to federal prison to begin serving nearly eight years for bank fraud and money laundering.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones might miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury.

Brett Favre has been through too many playoff races to allow his confidence to waver.

Major creditors in Michael Vick's bankruptcy case say a disclosure statement he filed last month lacks sufficient detail on his finances and his prospects of returning to the NFL.

New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel left the team Wednesday to join his family following the death of his father earlier in the week.

The rookie head coach and flamboyant running back reached a smiling truce Wednesday, with Clinton Portis announcing he's "cool with everything" and that he has no plans to sever ties with the Washington Redskins.

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis unleashed a load of frustration toward rookie coach Jim Zorn on Tuesday, criticizing the coach for giving inconsistent messages and flippantly calling Zorn a "genius."

The NFL Players Association filed a grievance Tuesday challenging the suspension and fine given to Plaxico Burress by the New York Giants after the receiver accidentally shot himself in a nightclub more than a week ago.

The NFL pays its players billions of dollars a year and fans pack its stadiums every week. But even the deep-pocketed league is shedding jobs.

Running all over Tampa Bay with their emerging tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers seized control of the competitive NFC South with a 38-23 win over the Buccaneers on Monday night.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has a simple mantra when it comes to players feeling the need to carry a gun: Avoid those situations.

The phrase sounds funny, like one of those jokes late-night comedians were telling at this time last year: 'first-place Miami Dolphins'.

The Eagles are very much alive in the playoff race following Sunday's 20-14 victory at New York. Yes, the same team that couldn't beat the lowly Bengals last month handed the defending Super Bowl champions their first home loss and second defeat of the season.

As speculation about his shaky future mounted and the rumour mill churned up another big-name coach with Cleveland ties, Romeo Crennel pushed ahead. He has to. It's his job.

By Monday morning, the yard lines and logos had been removed from the Rogers Centre turf and work crews began taking down the "Bills Toronto Series" signs and banners.

Detroit centre Dominic Raiola says he has no remorse for making an obscene gesture toward Lions fans because their heckling went too far.

Kicker Morten Andersen, the NFL's all-time leading scorer, is retiring because of knee problems. The 48-year-old Dane, who scored 2,544 points during his 25-year career, played for the Atlanta Falcons the last two seasons but wasn't able to get a contract this year. Andersen said Monday he has given up his search and his NFL career.

Five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels is out for the season with a torn triceps, the latest blow for a Washington Redskins team that has sunk to last place in the NFC East.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers has agreed to enrol in substance abuse counselling after violating his probation.

Carolina Panthers reserve guard Jeremy Bridges has been arrested on misdemeanour assault charges stemming from an incident at a restaurant.

It's on to the NFL playoffs for the Titans, Giants and Cardinals.

Defensive lineman Corey Mace, who was born in Port Moody, B.C., was activated for the first time in his one and a half years with the Buffalo Bills and played in the team’s 16-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Rogers Centre. Mace made it in the game for a couple of plays toward the end of the game.

The sign in the Rogers Centre proclaiming "In Losman we Trust" signalled potentially good things for fans hoping the Buffalo Bills' backup quarterback could pull out a win over the division rival Miami Dolphins.

Deshea Townsend scored on a 26-yard interception return with 1:40 remaining as the Pittsburgh Steelers scored their only two touchdowns 24 seconds apart to rally from a 10-point deficit and deal the Dallas Cowboys a potentially damaging loss, winning 20-13 on Sunday.

New England's fill-in QB Matt Cassel calmly stared down blitzes with his team's playoff chances in the balance. Then Sammy Morris leaped into the end zone with 2:44 remaining and the Patriots rallied past the Seattle Seahawks 24-21 on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals have gone from chumps to champs in the NFC West. Kurt Warner threw for 279 yards, the defence scored twice and the Cardinals clinched their first division title in 33 years by beating the woeful St. Louis Rams 34-10 on Sunday.

While the New York Jets look as though they're coming apart at the seams, the San Francisco 49ers are getting it together for coach Mike Singletary.

Chad Pennington threw for 181 yards and a TD while Dan Carpenter booted three field goals to lead the Miami Dolphins to a historic 16-3 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

There are probably a dozen reasons the Eagles beat the New York Giants on Sunday, including the most basic in any athletic contest: Philadelphia played better.

The AFC South title belongs to the Tennessee Titans for the first time since 2002 in what they hope is the first of many goals reached this season.

The Detroit Lions took another big step toward making NFL history. Tarvaris Jackson threw a go-ahead touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Vikings held on for a 20-16 victory over the winless Lions on Sunday.

The New York Giants finally found a bigger distraction than Plaxico Burress: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and the desperate Philadelphia Eagles.

The Colts' winning formula still works.

Though they're in the playoff hunt for the first time in five years, the Miami Dolphins don't have any easy road to reach the postseason. Catch this game on Rogers Sportsnet East at 4pm ET.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has been readmitted to the hospital, a month after surgery to implant a pacemaker.

Running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith rejoined the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, a day after a federal judge blocked their four-game suspensions under the NFL's anti-doping policy.

Sophomore defensive tackle Corey Mace, a native of Port Moody, B.C., will dress for Buffalo when it faces its arch rival, the Miami Dolphins, in the historic contest Sunday at Rogers Centre.

It started as a typical Friday night at the Latin Quarter: exclusive guest list, US$200 bottles of Moet champagne and well-dressed clientele lining up to pay a $30 cover charge to party at the swank Manhattan club.

The NFL suspended Tennessee reserve defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson for four games without pay starting Friday for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

After making them wait almost a week, Antonio Pierce talked to investigators Friday about the accidental shooting of New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress.

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and left tackle Walter Jones are doubtful for Sunday's game against New England. And former Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle went on injured reserve Friday.

Many NFL players shudder when they think about what Plaxico Burress is going through -- and what still awaits.

The Dallas Cowboys activated running back Alonzo Coleman off their practice squad Friday after Marion Barber missed his fourth consecutive practice with a dislocated right pinkie toe.

A remorseful Shaun Ellis stood in front of his locker and quietly answered all the questions, eager to put his arrest for marijuana possession behind him.

A U.S. federal judge has blocked the NFL from suspending five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

J.P. Losman will get the start when the Buffalo Bills host the Miami Dolphins at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon.

LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a three-yard run against his favourite punching bag and Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, including a 59-yarder to Vincent Jackson, to give the Chargers a 34-7 victory against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers is being held in the Oakland County Jail on US$100,000 bond for a probation violation.

New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, speeding and driving without insurance after being pulled over by police last weekend.

Minnesota's Williams Wall has been rebuilt, for now, even if it might have to be taken down again.

When receiver Lee Evans and the Buffalo Bills step on to the field at Rogers Centre on Sunday to face their arch rivals, the Miami Dolphins, they won't have Mother Nature in their corner.

Tennessee Titans backup quarterback Vince Young was sidelined for practice again Thursday because of an infected right thumb, while starting cornerbacks Nick Harper and Cortland Finnegan also sat out for a second straight day.

A federal judge will be asked to decide Friday whether five suspended NFL players deserve a chance to play this weekend.

The top of Oshiomogho Atogwe's locker stall is crammed with action figures of the muscle-bound comic book character, The Incredible Hulk. There are more at home, too, between 2,000 and 3,000 of them in his collection.

Antonio Pierce and the doctor who treated his New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress after he accidentally shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub will talk to investigators Friday.

Browns quarterback Brady Quinn had two pins surgically inserted into his broken right index finger on Wednesday and said he hopes to begin throwing once they are removed next month.

Watching Antonio Pierce in the New York Giants linebacker meeting on Wednesday morning, fellow linebacker Danny Clark didn't sense anything was wrong.

A Minnesota judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.

Jim Kelly has no qualms with the NFL setting up shop in southern Ontario, just not at the expense of Buffalo Bills fans.

His future in doubt, Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage is moving ahead with plans for 2009 without knowing if he'll be around to see them through.

In broadcasting the world's first live 3-D football game to theatres in Los Angeles, New York and Boston on Thursday evening, the NFL promises an "up close, personal, visceral" experience that could open a new revenue stream for the league.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed veteran linebacker Victor Hobson on Wednesday to bolster their injury-plagued defence.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee. Mathis, who leads the team with four interceptions, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee Monday night at Houston and will likely go on injured reserve.

The New England Patriots shored up their injury-riddled linebacker corps Wednesday by signing veteran free agent Rosevelt Colvin.

New England Patriots backup cornerback Jason Webster will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

Somewhere, Ed Hochuli must be smiling. The once-reviled referee can hardly be blamed anymore for derailing the San Diego Chargers' season with a blown call that cost the Bolts a victory at Denver in their second game.

The NFL has suspended six players for four games each for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

After weighing his options over the past week, Cleveland's quarterback Brady Quinn has elected to have surgery on his right index finger, which he initially broke on Nov. 17 at Buffalo and then made worse by playing in the Browns' game a week later against Houston.

For nearly all of Al Davis' tenure with his beloved Raiders, the franchise has been a near-perfect reflection of its prominent leader.

Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress is done for the year. The Giants fined and suspended Burress on Tuesday after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub.

Mario Williams had a season-high three sacks and forced a fumble and Steve Slaton ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Houston Texans to a 30-17 win over the slumping Jacksonville Jaguars.

New England Patriots players are spending little time thinking about next year's game in London that was announced Monday. They're more concerned with the long trip they'll make in the other direction.

Drew Henson was the can't-miss kid in 2000 at Michigan.

Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expect to have Monte Kiffin drawing up defensive game plans for the rest of the season, his future with the NFC South co-leaders remains unclear.

The Atlanta Falcons are becoming more than a feel-good comeback story.

Fittingly enough for a team that wears the colour predominantly on its uniforms, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the new gold standard for NFL defences.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson is out for the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament in Sunday's game against Indianapolis.

It's bad enough the Buffalo Bills have no margin for error if they want to keep their slim post-season hopes alive over the next four games. Now they may have to do it without starting quarterback Trent Edwards.

Authorities investigating Plaxico Burress' accidental shooting say they are looking into what roles his teammate Antonio Pierce and the hospital that treated Burress played in the incident.

The NFL policy on gun possession, which applies to all employees of the NFL and its teams, including players and non-players.

Taken to court in handcuffs, Plaxico Burress posted US$100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as a frenzy grew around the case of the Giants star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub.