http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/ 15 The latest breaking news from across the National Football League from Mark Maske, Cindy Boren and Emil Steiner. en Copyright 2009 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:11:22 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.2-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss A Buffalo television station reported that Jon Gruden was the Bills' top choice to replace fired coach Dick Jauron but rejected the job through an intermediary. WIVB-TV reported that the Bills had "back-channel conversations with someone close to Gruden." Gruden told the team he's happy in his current role as an analyst on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" telecasts, according to the TV report. The network announced Monday that Gruden, the former coach of the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agreed to a multi-year deal to remain with ESPN. The Bills fired Jauron on Tuesday and named defensive coordinator Perry Fewell their interim head coach. The club reportedly is interested in former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/report-bills-sought-gruden-as-coach.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/report-bills-sought-gruden-as-coach.html Bills Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:11:22 -0500 Steve Slaton is to start at tailback for the Houston Texans on Monday night against the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Chronicle reported. Slaton had lost the starting job to Ryan Moats for a Nov. 8 game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans are coming off a bye and this is their first game since then. Slaton was told Saturday by Coach Gary Kubiak that he will start Monday, the Chronicle reported. "I had an assumption that I would start, but nothing was concrete until now," Slaton said, according to the Chronicle. "I'm happy about it. It's an opportunity I have to take full advantage of." http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/slaton-regains-texans-starting-job.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/slaton-regains-texans-starting-job.html Texans Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:59:35 -0500 The Tennessee Titans ruled out wide receiver Justin Gage for Monday night's game at Houston, the Associated Press reported. Gage is to miss a second straight games because of broken transverse process bones in his lower back. Kenny Britt is to make a second start in a row, according to the AP. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/gage-out-again-for-titans.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/gage-out-again-for-titans.html Titans Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:49:55 -0500 Former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren told a Seattle radio station that he's interested in overseeing the Cleveland Browns' football operations. Holmgren said he had not spoken yet to Browns owner Randy Lerner about the job. "I hope it's true--someday that we get a chance to talk," Holmgren told radio station KJR, according to an account of the interview in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Yeah, I have tremendous respect for Mr. Lerner. Their team is struggling just a little bit and I absolutely would love to talk to him about working there. But until that happens, you'll be the first to know." There was speculation last week that Lerner met with Holmgren. It began when former Browns great Jim Brown hinted at a luncheon that such a meeting was taking place. Lerner is seeking a head of football operations after ousting the club's general manager, http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/holmgren-interested-in-browns.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/holmgren-interested-in-browns.html Browns Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:41:45 -0500 The New Orleans Saints ruled out tailback Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to the Associated Press. Neither made the trip to Tampa with the team for the game, the AP reported. Bush missed practices this week because of a swollen left knee. Coach Sean Payton had expressed optimism that Bush would play Sunday, but also said the team would be proceed cautiously. Bush underwent surgery on that knee last December. Ellis practiced this week on a limited basis as he works his way back from a knee injury. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bush-ellis-out-for-saints.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bush-ellis-out-for-saints.html Saints Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:30:13 -0500 New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is sidelined indefinitely because of a bulging disk in his neck that was diagnosed Friday, the team announced. According to the Giants, Pierce underwent an MRI exam Friday after experiencing discomfort during practices this week. He was hurt during an Oct. 25 game against the Arizona Cardinals but felt okay until this week, according to the Giants. "I'm shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon," Pierce said in a written statement posted on the team's Web site. "I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn't think it was that serious. I'm going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible." http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/giants-pierce-out-indefinitely.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/giants-pierce-out-indefinitely.html Giants Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:30:50 -0500 Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid said Friday that tailback Brian Westbrook will be sidelined at least until he undergoes another neurological examination in a few weeks, according to the Eagles' Web site. Westbrook suffered two concussions in recent weeks and was examined by specialists this week in Pittsburgh. The doctors announced after examining Westbrook that he was making progress and would be tested again in two to three weeks. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/westbrook-out-until-next-exam.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/westbrook-out-until-next-exam.html Eagles Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:44 -0500 Tailback Cedric Benson missed a third straight Cincinnati Bengals' practice because of a hip injury and was listed as doubtful on the team's official injury report. Benson said his playing status Sunday would be a game-time decision, according to the Bengals' Web site. However, it appears unlikely that Benson will play against the Oakland Raiders. Just-signed tailback Larry Johnson might make his Bengals debut. "I'm going out there with the anticipation of playing," Johnson said Friday, according to the club's Web site. "I don't know what they're doing numbers-wise but I know I am going to be put in some of the packages and some of the plays and go from there. I don't know if it's a whole game plan. Whatever they give me, I'll do the best I can with it.... It's a new situation, new environment. It all depends on what they want me to do." http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/benson-unlikely-to-play.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/benson-unlikely-to-play.html Bengals Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:13:39 -0500 Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will miss Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a knee injury, according to multiple reports. Polamalu was hurt during last Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. It was his second injury to his left knee suffered this season. The Steelers have called this injury not as severe as the previous one, which caused Polamalu to miss four games. The first injury was to the medial collateral ligament. This one, according to the team, is to the posterior cruciate ligament. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/steelers-to-be-minus-polamalu.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/steelers-to-be-minus-polamalu.html Steelers Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:04:44 -0500 The Denver Broncos are calling quarterback Kyle Orton's availability for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers a game-time decision. Orton missed a third straight practice Friday, the Associated Press reported. He suffered a sprained ankle during last Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins. Backup Chris Simms worked with the Broncos' starting offense in practice this week and would start this weekend if Orton is unable to play. Simms would be making his first start since early in the 2006 season when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and suffered a spleen injury that required emergency surgery. The Broncos have lost three games in a row after a 6-0 start to the season, and are playing the Chargers for first place in the AFC West. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/orton-misses-third-straight-practice.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/orton-misses-third-straight-practice.html Broncos Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:55:11 -0500 The Buffalo Bills could be shorthanded at defensive tackle in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to the Associated Press, the Bills' Marcus Stroud has been ruled out of the game against his former team because of a knee injury. Buffalo's other starting defensive tackle, Kyle Williams, is questionable for the game because of a knee injury. The Bills' backups are Spencer Johnson and John McCargo. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bills-hurting-at-dt.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bills-hurting-at-dt.html Bills Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:47:05 -0500 Cleveland Browns Coach Eric Mangini said he expects wide receiver and kick returner Josh Cribbs to play in Sunday's game at Detroit, according to the Associated Press. Cribbs was injured on the final play of Monday night's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was taken to a hospital to determine if he'd suffered a concussion or neck injury but all tests were negative, according to the Browns. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/browns-expect-cribbs-to-play.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/browns-expect-cribbs-to-play.html Browns Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:57:57 -0500 Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe reportedly is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a lacerated kidney. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that while it initially was hoped that Wolfe would play again this season, that possibility has been ruled out. Wolfe was hospitalized for three nights following a Nov. 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals. He is expected to be able to resume his NFL career, the Sun-Times reported. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bears-wolfe-out-for-season.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bears-wolfe-out-for-season.html Bears Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:09:51 -0500 UPDATED (1:31 p.m.)... The NFL Players Association is seeking to remove neurologist Ira Casson from the league's concussions committee. Casson has been a controversial figure because of his public comments playing down the significance of outside research into the rate and severity of brain injuries suffered by NFL players. Several members of Congress questioned Casson's views during a hearing last month of the House Judiciary Committee on the topic, and told NFL officials they would have liked for Casson to have attended the hearing. "Based on his track record of challenging independent research that has been done related to health and safety issues, we have concerns about his ability to continue in this role," George Atallah, the union's assistant executive director of external affairs, said in a telephone interview Friday. "Dr. Casson has blatantly ignored and combated a lot of the research that's been done on these issues and http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/union-seeks-ouster-of-concussion-doctor.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/union-seeks-ouster-of-concussion-doctor.html Union Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:37:48 -0500 Running back Reggie Bush missed a second straight New Orleans Saints' practice Thursday because of a swollen knee. According to the Associated Press, Coach Sean Payton said he's hopeful that Bush will practice Friday. But Payton said the Saints will be cautious with Bush's knee and he didn't say whether Bush will play this weekend, the AP reported. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bush-sits-out-saints-practice.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/bush-sits-out-saints-practice.html Saints Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:17:04 -0500