The League

According to the Associated Press, St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson won't face criminal charges related to an alleged incident last March involving his pregnant girlfriend.

A police spokesperson said Tuesday that the investigation was complete and "there's insufficient evidence to go forward with the case," according to the AP.

The woman filed a complaint last month alleging that Jackson pushed her to the ground and flung her against a door while she was nine months pregnant, according to the AP.

Jackson had denied the accusations.

Defensive end Julius Peppers said in a radio interview Tuesday that he's uncertain if he wants to remain with the Carolina Panthers because of a lack of dialogue with the team over a new contract.

"Because of the lack of communication they've had with us, if someone were to ask me do I want to stay in Carolina and play for the Panthers next year, it's like, 'Okay, how can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you here because they're not even talking to you?' " Peppers told Charlotte radio station WFNZ, according to an account of the interview in the Charlotte Observer.

Peppers is eligible for unrestricted free agency next month. The Panthers possibly could use their franchise player tag on him for a second straight year.

According to the Observer, Peppers said during the radio interview that he'd had no contact with the Panthers and the club has been in contact with his agent but has said "nothing of substance." He called the lack of dialogue "kind of a turnoff."

Peppers said he wanted last year to sign a longterm contract with the Panthers but now doesn't. He did not say whether he would prefer to remain in Carolina or play elsewhere next season.

"To be honest with you, I really don't have a preference," Peppers told the radio station, according to the Observer account. "I'm in a great position. These are options I'm fine with either way they go. If I have to play under the [franchise player] tender, that's fine. Whatever the other two options are, I'm fine with whatever happens."

Donte Stallworth's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the Boston Globe that the free agent wide receiver is scheduled to work out for a team Wednesday and he expects Stallworth to sign with a club within a few weeks.

Stallworth was released by the Cleveland Browns on Monday.

He was reinstated by the NFL after Sunday's Super Bowl. Stallworth was suspended by the NFL without pay for all of the just-completed season after being involved in an alcohol-related accident last March in which his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami Beach. Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and served 24 days in jail.

Rosenhaus did not identify any teams interested in Stallworth.

"He is the best shape he's been in since I've been representing him," Rosenhaus told the Globe. "His reinstatement was a very smooth process. He's developed a very good rapport with [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell. We are very pleased with the amount of teams interested. Everything in the past is behind him, and he is excited to move forward."

The New Orleans Saints were greeted by a large crowd of fans when they arrived in New Orleans on Monday afternoon.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, fans began lining up at the airport about five hours before the Saints' afternoon arrival home from the Miami area.

The crowd stretched for 1-1/2 miles by the time the Saints arrived at the airport, the Times-Picayune reported.

The Saints won the first Super Bowl title in their history by beating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

They're scheduled to participate in a parade Tuesday in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune had its best-selling day in its 173-year history.

The newspaper reported on its Web site that it had sold more than 500,000 copies, more than triple what it would sell on a normal Monday.

The paper had a five-inch tall "Amen!" headline on its front page after the New Orleans Saints' win over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Donte Stallworth, the team announced Monday.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday that the league would reinstate Stallworth after the Super Bowl.

He'd been suspended without pay for all of the just-completed season after being involved in an alcohol-related accident last year in which his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami Beach.

Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and served 24 days in prison.

The New Orleans Saints' triumph over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl was the most-watched television program in history.

According to viewership figures by Nielsen, the game was watched by an average of 106.5 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 105.97 viewers for the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H.

It was the first Super Bowl to be watched by an average of more than 100 million viewers.

Last year's Super Bowl was watched by an average of 98.7 million viewers.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton grabbed the Lombardi Trophy and held it aloft while addressing reporters here Monday during the traditional morning-after news conference for the Super Bowl's winning coach and most valuable player.

"This thing laid in my bed next to me last night," Payton said. "I rolled over last night. I probably drooled on it. Man, there's nothing like it."

Indeed, these are times to savor for the Saints and their followers after the team turned its first Super Bowl appearance into its first Super Bowl victory by beating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, on Sunday evening at Sun Life Stadium.

"We're gonna enjoy this for a while," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said at Monday's news conference at the Super Bowl media center. "I think the city of New Orleans is enjoying it right now. Don't expect anyone in New Orleans to go to work today--or maybe the next two weeks, considering that Mardi Gras is next week. But we all deserve to enjoy this."

Brees said he still was sorting through about 500 congratulatory messages from friends.

Payton said he went to sleep around 4 a.m., but he still was energetic at Monday's 8:30 a.m. meeting with reporters.

"At about 3 a.m., when it was quiet, I took the elevator up," Payton said. "I put this trophy down on the desk and said a prayer and thanked God for these special times that don't come around very often."

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.--New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter did it again.

In the NFC championship game, Porter had an interception of a pass by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre late in regulation to send the game into overtime. The Saints won on a field goal on the opening possession of overtime.

In Sunday's Super Bowl, Porter sealed the outcome by stepping in front of a pass by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning headed for wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Porter made the interception and raced 74 yards for a touchdown to stretch the Saints' lead to 31-17.

"I saw over and over on third down, that was a big route for them to convert," Porter said. "When third down came, it was just like I watched it on film. I made a break on it, and there was the end zone."

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.--Sean Payton is known as a highly aggressive, gambling coach.

He lived up to his reputation as the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl here Sunday.

A first-half gamble backfired on Payton as he left his offense on the field on fourth down and was stopped at the Colts 1-yard line. But Payton and the Saints regrouped in their locker room at halftime while "The Who" was on the field performing. The Saints began the second half by recovering an onside kick.

"They key was the kick," Payton said. "Thomas [Morstead] hit it good, and we covered it. At halftime, I just told them we were going to start the second half with that and let's make something happen."

Both sides called the play a turning point.

"You kind of had a feeling they were gonna do something," Colts tight end Dallas Clark said. "They had to get a spark somehow. It was good execution on their part."

Said Colts center Jeff Saturday: "It's tough. They executed it to perfection. Those are the sort of plays that turn a game."

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.--The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl champions for the first time in their history.

They beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, here Sunday night.

Quarterback Drew Brees was named the game's most valuable player after completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

The Saints took the lead on a two-yard touchdown pass from Brees to tight end Jeremy Shockey with just less than six minutes to play, and cornerback Tracy Porter added a 74-yard touchdown on an interception return.

The Colts and their quarterback, Peyton Manning, were denied what would have been a second Super Bowl title in a span of four seasons.

"The Saints used to be the 'Aints," Porter said. "We were a team of destiny. We wanted to show everyone that we could do it."

Said Brees: "It's unbelievable. It's sunk it. But I don't know if I've accepted it, the road we all traveled to get to this point."