"Running back Michael Pittman is a hard runner, but there isn't much room for him, as two concussions in the past four games illustrate.

"Quarterback Jake Plummer is a loose cannon who is more likely to hurt than aid the cause with interceptions or poor decisions. He can't make that many great plays with his arm but he still could make them with his feet. For whatever reason he isn't trying to make as many with his mobility as he did as a younger player.

"David Boston is as potent a deep threat as there is in the league, but he's not great after the catch when working underneath. Frank Sanders is a perplexing possession receiver; still making grabs on balls he seemingly has no chance at and then muffing tosses that hit him in the hands.

"The lack of an NFL-caliber tight end and fullback, however, might be the root of all the problems. Watch for those spots to become high offseason priorities. ..."

I won't argue with any of those takes and I'll further note that Pittman fumbled the ball twice against the Eagles last Sunday bringing his season total to six. ...

Wide receiver Rob Moore and tight end Terry Hardy will not play against the Giants and did not practice at all Wednesday. ... Fullback Joel Makovicka (knee) also missed Wednesday's workout, but his injury isn't considered serious.

The Cardinals signed free agent tight end Steve Bush to back up former backup Tywan Mitchell. ... Hardy, the regular starter, was knocked out with a shoulder injury Oct. 28 against Dallas and is several weeks away from being able to return.

Place-kicker Bill Gramatica suffered a dislocated shoulder last weekend against Philadelphia, but he isn't expected to miss any playing time. He'll kick wearing a shoulder harness to protect the injury, which shouldn't get in the way of his kicking duties, a point the rookie drove home by telling reporters, "I don't kick with my arm."

Gramatica was injured while trying to stop Brian Mitchell's 94-yard return with the opening kickoff, and Mitchell noted later that Bill was not the first Gramatica he has abused on a kickoff return.

"That's the second Gramatica I've gotten," Mitchell said. "I gave Martin (Bill's brother who kicks for Tampa Bay) a broken nose in a playoff game two years ago. (Bill) stuck his arm out and I don't think any arm tackle is going to bring me down."

One last note regarding Moore. ... The former Jet underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his left hamstring and tendon last week, and according to McGinnis, the fact he underwent that procedure has kept Moore from being waived or placed on injured reserve, although such a move is still a possibility.

RB: M. Pittman, T. Jones, M. Shipp

FB: J. Makovicka (Quest; knee), D. McKinley

WR: D. Boston, F. Sanders, M.T. Jenkins, A. Jackson, R. Moore (Out; shoulder)

TE: T. Mitchell, S. Bush, T. Hardy (Out; shoulder)

PK: B. Gramatica (Prob; shoulder)

Chandler left with a rib injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 24-10 loss vs. New England. He was able to throw in practice Wednesday but was listed as questionable on the injury report and Vick received the majority of work with the first-team offense. However, Reeves said there's a good chance Chandler will be better tomorrow and be able to practice at full strength.

"I told Chris that if he wasn't 100 percent today, I'd let the young guys take the practice," Reeves explained shortly after Wednesday's two-hour workout was over. "He threw some; he wanted to work through some of the soreness and hopefully get that out. I still think there's a good chance he'll be better tomorrow."

Chandler felt even more confident he would be back on the practice field later in the week and in the game on Sunday.

"I'm shooting for getting it good enough to numb it up on Sunday, and go from there," Chandler said. "It's an injury a lot of guys have; linemen get this all the time getting knees to the ribs. I have to be pretty precise throwing the football, and if something effects me doing that, it's makes it hard to perform. But I know we can get it right by Sunday."

Vick has completed 16-of-33 passes for 269 yards without a touchdown or an interception while appearing in three games this season. He also has run for 128 yards and a touchdown but has fumbled twice, including one that was returned 90 yards for a touchdown by Chicago's Brian Urlacher in Week Four.

Chandler is 90-of-148 for 1,276 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rating of 91.5 is sixth in the NFL but his problem throughout his career has been his lack of durability.

An interesting side note on this one. ...

Reeves found it necessary to spend some time Monday trying to smooth things over among players whose relatives argued in the stands last Sunday.

Reeves refused to say who was involved, but some who were there and players who were told about it said on Monday that Chandler's wife, Diane Chandler, confronted others in the family section who cheered when her husband was injured. They were excited because they wanted top draft pick Vick to play.

An argument ensued and someone threw a can at her. Fullback Bob Christian said his father, Jim, caught the can and argued with those cheering, including relatives of receiver Shawn Jefferson.

"Obviously, my dad was too close to it," Christian said. "I think my dad started off trying to keep the peace and then getting in the middle of it, trying to keep the peace, you get a little of it coming your way, too. So he got a little angry about that."

Christian said he and Jefferson apologized to each other for their family's behavior.

"I guess Shawn and I just wanted to make sure I didn't have any hard feelings towards his family and he didn't have any hard feelings towards my dad," Christian said.

Jefferson claimed to be unaware of the situation Monday. Later, he burst into the locker room and threatened reporters if they tried to contact his wife.

"Don't call my wife. Understand me? Anybody!" Jefferson shouted.

Vick was upset to hear that people were cheering for any player to get hurt.

"That's so crazy, man," Vick said. "I don't see how anybody could be cheering while somebody's out there getting hit. As hard as we go out there and try to please these fans, as hard as we go out and play, I don't see why anybody would even make those statements. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

The biggest impact of the rookie class has come from tight end Alge Crumpler, who has played regularly in two-tight end sets and has proved to be a reliable receiver with good hands and surprising speed. Crumpler also is a solid blocker and looks like a starter for the indefinite future. ...

Veteran wide Tony Martin pulled in three passes for 49 yards in his return from a broken collarbone. However, he left the game early when that same clavicle became too sore to play. "I was on the sideline, and it got stiff," Martin told reporters on Monday. ... "So I didn't want to hurt the team by trying to play. It's still sore, but it feels a whole lot better than it did yesterday."

Martin was able to practice Wednesday and isn't included on this week's injury report. ... RB Maurice Smith is also expected to start and play as usual this Sunday after suffering a bruised shin against the Patriots. Smith also practiced without difficulty Wednesday. ...

RB: M. Smith (Prob; shin), R. Thomas, T. Jervey

FB: B. Christian, G. Layne

WR: T. Mathis, S. Jefferson, T. Martin, B. Finneran, Q. McCord

TE: R. Kelly, A. Crumpler, B. Kozlowski

PK: J. Feely

Grbac hasn't played since Oct. 21, when he took a hard hit to the chest in a loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Asked about those who believe No. 2 man Randall Cunningham, who led the team to a pair of victories in Grbac's absence, should start, Billick said, "Elvis Grbac is our starting quarterback. Plain and simple. I've said that all along. ... We're lucky to have Randall Cunningham here, but when Elvis is healthy and ready to play, Elvis will be the starting quarterback. Elvis knows that. Randall knows that. The team knows that."

However, Houston Chronicle columnist John McClain believes even though Grbac isn't solely responsible for the Ravens' back-to-back losses and 3-3 record, he's a big reason they're tied for third place in the AFC Central.

As McClain pointed out, Grbac has thrown six touchdown passes against eight interceptions and his turnovers have either cost the Ravens points or shortened the field for the opposition, which puts extra pressure on Baltimore's defense.

McClain summed up his position by stating, "[Billick], who elected not to re-sign Trent Dilfer and chose to replace him with Grbac, is blaming injuries in the offensive line rather than his quarterback. But the Ravens could be finding out why the Chiefs were happy to see Grbac leave. ..."

By the way. ... In his last five appearances, Grbac has thrown an INT once every 21 attempts. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Before last week's game, Jason Brookins was skeptical of the toughness of the Pittsburgh defense. Afterward, Brookins had a better appreciation for the Steelers.

Replacing injured starter Terry Allen for a second game, Brookins rushed for 40 yards on 16 carries. It was an off day overall for the Ravens' rushing game, which came in eighth in the league but finished with just 41 yards on 26 carries, a 1.6-yard average.

"We couldn't get the running game going, but when we needed to pound the ball, we did it," Brookins said. "That last drive, the offensive line stepped up big. We did what we had to do to win. It is not always going to be pretty. Nobody is going to go out and say we didn't run the ball well. We ran the ball well because we won the game."

It's still too early to say with any certainty whether veteran halfback Terry Allen will return from a sprained ankle this week or not. ... Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Allen. ...

RB: J. Brookins, T. Allen (Quest; ankle), M. Williams

FB: S. Gash, O. Ayanbadejo

WR: Q. Ismail, T. Taylor, B. Stokely, J. Lewis, P. Johnson (Out; clavicle)

TE: S. Sharpe, T. Heap, J. Jones

PK: M. Stover

Centers has great hands and a nice feel for finding openings in the secondary. His blocking and ball carrying have been better than expected and he's brought a lot of leadership to a young locker room.

Allen went on to point out, as opponents focus on stopping Moulds and Peerless Price, Centers will continue to be a go-to guy in the passing game.

On a less positive note. ...

After showing signs of improvement in road games at Jacksonville (a 13-10 win) and San Diego (a hard-fought 27-24 loss), the Bills took a step back against the Colts at home on Sunday.

The Bills couldn't protect quarterback Rob Johnson (six sacks, two fumbles), who in turn couldn't rise above the ineptitude of his teammates, like top-shelf leaders do. The Bills produced just 232 yards in offense and one touchdown against the most scored upon defense in the NFL. ...

Running back Travis Henry left Sunday's game in the first quarter with an apparent lower leg injury. However, he the rookie returned in the second quarter and finished with 61 yards rushing. ... Henry wasn't included on the team's injury report and is expected to start and play as usual this week. ...

And a few final notes of interest. ...

In addition to pulling in five passes for 46 yards, tight end Jay Riemersma finally put the ball in the end zone for the first time this season. ... Those who follow the team closely say coaches are finally gaining enough confidence in rookie WR Reggie Germany's receiving skills to give youngster some reps with the regular offense in coming weeks. ...

And finally. ... With Jake Arians struggling, the Bills worked out former Saints PK Doug Brien on Tuesday. ...

RB: T. Henry, S. Morris, S. Bryson

FB: L. Centers, P. Crosby

WR: E. Moulds, P. Price, J. McDaniel, A. Black, R. Germany

TE: J. Riemersma, S. Jackson, D. O'Leary

PK: J. Arians

That left Matt Lytle running the offense, new addition Jim Harbaugh devouring the playbook and the Panthers wondering who would be their quarterback on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

"I'm not trying to play the old cagey college coach and say we'll surprise them at the end of the week," coach George Seifert said. "But I don't know. We'll find out at the end of the week."

Weinke, unable to lift his arm at the beginning of the week, had an MRI on Tuesday that showed some inflammation in his right shoulder. Although he was feeling better Wednesday, he was stuck on the sideline during practice and had no idea when he might be able to the throw the ball.

"The movement now is 10 times better than it was," Weinke said. "I'm just kind of playing it by ear, staying focused and continuing to treat it and we'll just go from there. I don't have any definite answers."

That meant the Panthers are still deciding who will play Sunday. Dameyune Craig, Weinke's backup, had season-ending surgery on his foot Tuesday after tearing ligaments in relief of Weinke last week.

That's why the Panthers signed Harbaugh, a 14-year veteran who had been out of football all season. But Harbaugh practiced with the scout team Wednesday while Lytle, a third-year player, ran the offense.

Lytle, who spent his first year with Carolina on the practice squad, threw his first NFL pass last week in mop-up duty after Weinke and Craig left the game.

Seifert said he was still comfortable playing him if he had to against the Rams.

"He has been in the system for some time, not only in college but with us," Seifert said. "So that will help him out if he does go out and play."

Before Wednesday's practice, all of Lytle's time in the pros had been spent throwing to third-string receivers on the scout team. So, he jumped at the chance to hook up with Muhsin Muhammad and Wesley Walls for the first time.

"This is my opportunity, whether I start or not, it's my opportunity," he said. "I just need to take it play by play, make every rep and practice count, and have fun doing it."

Harbaugh, meanwhile, was soaking it all in from the sideline, his thick blue playbook never far from reach.

Before the Panthers called him late Sunday night wondering if he could come in for a workout, Harbaugh had wondered if retirement was near.

The 37-year-old had been waived by Detroit during training camp, but had been staying in shape and working as a part-time assistant coach at Western Kentucky, where his father is the head coach.

"I didn't know if my career was over," Harbaugh said. "You know the odds of teams needing quarterbacks are pretty good in the league. I saw a couple of them had already signed, so I felt like I had to be ready if an opportunity came.

"I thought I'd be better off if I was prepared and one didn't come as opposed to not being prepared and one came."

Seifert said that one of the main reasons he signed Harbaugh was because he has some experience in the West Coast offense, having run it in two years in San Diego and most recently this summer with the Lions.

"Right off the top of my head, a lot of it I'm pretty familiar with it -- maybe 75 percent," Harbaugh said. "There are just some different words here and there, but I know a lot of it, which is nice."

Should he be forced into action this weekend, Harbaugh said he would be ready.

"If you put on the uniform in the locker room, get dressed, you have to be ready to play," Harbaugh said. "Nobody cares whether you've been here a week or 10 years, if you go out on the field you have to be ready to play."

Other items of interest. ...

Donald Hayes, playing with a sore foot, was held scoreless Sunday and the Gaston Gazette reported early this week that his foot may be the reason for his poor performance. He will have his foot examined by the team medical staff when the Panthers resume practicing. ... Wesley Walls suffered a sprained his hip Sunday last Sunday while WR Muhsin Muhammad suffered a sprained knee. ... However, none of the three was included on Wednesday's injury report. ...

And finally. ... RB Richard Huntley ran well at times on Sunday and picked up 49 yards on 12 carries against a tough Miami defense. ... Place-kicker John Kasay had made 10 straight field goals before missing a 51-yarder on Sunday. ...

RB: R. Huntley, N. Goings, B. Hoover

FB: C. Hetherington, B. Hoover

WR: M. Muhammad, D. Hayes, I. Byrd, P. Jeffers, K. Hankton, S. Smith

TE: W. Walls, K. Mangum, L. Broughton, C. Crawford

PK: J. Kasay

Miller reportedly threw well in practice on Monday and head coach Dick Jauron told the Chicago Tribune: "Jimmy should be pretty good by Sunday." Miller sustained the injury in week seven against the 49ers and hip pointers generally take 10 days to two weeks to heal.

"I'm trying to put it in my mindset to practice (Wednesday)," Miller said on Tuesday. "It is a big week and I don't want to miss any practice time."

The veteran signal caller went on to say, "I'm getting to that point and by Sunday hopefully it'll be dissipated completely. ... Basically it's just a deep bone bruise and all the nerves and stuff come to a point on that bone where the muscles meet. You feel all the tingling and the pain from that point, but it feels a lot better now."

Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Miller's status. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

After running for 188 and 127 yards in consecutive outings -- and becoming the first Bear to rush for 100-yards in back-to-back games since Raymont Harris in 1997 -- Anthony Thomas was held to just 96 yards by the Browns last Sunday. ... However, the rookie added another 71 yards on six catches. ... Thomas, who is listed as probable on this week's injury report, should start and play as usual despite his sore toe. ...

According to Chicago Tribune reporter John Mullin, Thomas has been the pick of the Bears' draft, energizing the run game and fitting into the straight-ahead style better than James Allen. His blitz pickups need to improve along with his route running, but he is has excellent hands and a lot of want-to in pass blocking. ...

Mullin also noted that rookie wide receiver David Terrell hasn't been able to get past Marty Booker into the starting lineup but is playing well enough to have the Bears running increased three-wide packages. Terrell is a big-play threat at all times, and is learning to use body positioning to go with his size and will create increasingly serious matchup problems. He is getting a better sense of the West Coast timing routes and is a willing blocker in the run game, a prerequisite in this offense. ...

By the way. ... Booker is reportedly a bit dinged up after Sunday's game against Cleveland, most notably his hip. His injuries aren't considered serious, however, and Booker is expected to start and play as usual against Green Bay this Sunday.

RB: A. Thomas (Prob; toe), J. Allen, A. Denson, L. Johnson

FB: D. Shelton, S. Dragos, S. Pritchard

WR: M. Booker, D. White, D. Terrell, D. Bates

TE: F. Baxter, J. Davis, D. Lyman

PK: P. Edinger

"The surprising Bengals are vastly improved because they finally have a more balanced offense to complement an improving defense. They've shown resiliency but need more consistency in order to earn their first playoff berth since 1990.

"The ground game is a strength with bruising tailback Corey Dillon running behind a massive line that is doing a solid job of finishing blocks, and the passing game continues to show signs of improvement as Jon Kitna learns the nuances of Darnay Scott, Peter Warrick and Chad Johnson. Dillon has always been a powerful, patient runner, but the fact that he's improved his speed makes him even more dangerous. He has also become a more polished receiver, making him a viable option in the passing game. ...

"Kitna is a strong leader who wins when he avoids the mistakes that got him benched in Seattle. He is distributing the ball to all of his weapons, which is the plan for a successful offense. His interceptions can be attributed to communication problems with the receivers as they struggle to get on the same page in coordinator Bob Bratkowski's wide-open system. ..."

A few additional notes of interest. ...

Johnson continues to recover from the broken collarbone he suffered during the team's Oct. 14 win over the Browns and the rookie could return to the lineup in time for the team's Nov. 18 game against the Titans. The second-round draft pick out of Oregon reportedly has full range of motion and is running well, but won't be pushed to come back too soon. ... Ron Dugans, Danny Farmer and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have been sharing the No. 3 receiver duties behind Scott and Warrick in his absence, but the Bengals clearly miss Johnson's speed, hands and ability to make third down catches. ...

The Bengals are 4-3 and will enter November with a winning record for the first time since 1990. ... The team is 9-0 when Dillon rushes for at least 130 yards. ...

Quote of the week: Acknowledging the 47-113 record his team posted from 1991-2000, club president Mike Brown wasn't willing to take any credit for the Bengals current success, saying: "If I can make it not work, which I firmly established, why should I be crowing if it does work a little bit? The credit here, such as it is, belongs to the coaches and players. My role in this is less than people think."

RB: C. Dillon, B. Bennett, C. Keaton, R. Johnson

FB: L. Neal

WR: D. Scott, P. Warrick, R. Dugans, D. Farmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, C. Johnson (Out; clavicle)

TE: T. McGee, M. Battaglia, B. St. Louis

PK: N. Rackers

Because of an iffy offensive line, the Browns can't run the ball like they need to. The line will be the focus of next year's draft. But for now, the Browns will just have to take the talent they have and try to make it better. And the line is getting better, little by little. The play calling also could get better. Pass more on running downs. Run on passing downs. ...

On a more positive note, Tim Couch threw for 211 yards, a TD and an interception in last Sunday's overtime loss to the Bears and those who follow the team closely believe he's playing well despite a lack of overall receiving talent.

In fact, Kevin Johnson, who pulled in five passes for 99 yards and a TD in Chicago, appears to be the only legitimate receiving threat capable of producing with any consistency in Cleveland.

RB: J. Jackson, J. White, B. Gay

FB: M. Sellers, A. Shea

WR: K. Johnson, D. Northcutt, Q. Morgan, J. Dawson, J. German, A. King

TE: O.J. Santiago, A. Shea, R. Monroe

PK: P. Dawson

"We feel Ryan will give us a little spark, and he feels comfortable with the offense," Campo said. "This is definitely an evaluation process."

Leaf was the No. 2 overall draft pick by San Diego in 1998, and was 4-14 as a starter the last three years. The Chargers cut him after last season and then he didn't make Tampa Bay's roster during training camp.

The Cowboys signed Leaf on Oct. 12, and Sunday he will be their fourth starting quarterback this season. He follows rookie Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright and Clint Stoerner.

Carter and Wright are out with injuries. Stoerner threw interceptions on four straight drives, including two in the end zone, in the second half of Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss at the New York Giants.

Campo confirmed the anticipated move after team meetings Monday, when he had an opportunity to speak to both quarterbacks.

Campo said the move wasn't based on Stoerner's performance Sunday, but rather a desire to take a good look at Leaf. Carter, who has played just five quarters, is expected back from hamstring surgery in early December.

"We want to get an evaluation of where we are at quarterback," Campo said. "If we come out of this year not knowing what we have, we've made a mistake."

The Cowboys signed Leaf after Carter tore his left hamstring at Oakland on Oct. 7. Leaf had failed a physical because of a wrist injury when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to sign him before the season opener, but there have been no indications the wrist is still a problem.

"I feel like I can go in and play," Leaf said Monday before he knew he would start. "I felt like I got a good grasp of the offense relatively well in my short time. I'll continue to do that."

Leaf took over with 4:23 left in regulation against the Giants and the game was tied at 24, and was 4-of-8 for 85 yards. The Cowboys had blown a 24-7 halftime lead.

With Dallas pinned at its own three-yard line, Leaf fumbled his first snap before he completed a 38-yard pass to Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and then moved the Cowboys into Giants territory. But just like his first overtime possession, the Cowboys had to punt from midfield after a sack and a penalty.

"He looked like a guy that had been sitting just waiting for his chance," tight end Jackie Harris said. "Mentally, he was into the game enough to where he came in and we started making plays and moving the ball."

Carter, named the starter during training camp when Tony Banks was suddenly cut, played all the way in a season-opening 10-6 loss to Tampa Bay. He then missed two games after injuring his thumb in practice and tore his hamstring in the first quarter of his return at Oakland.

Wright started three games, the last a 9-7 win over Washington on Oct. 15 when he aggravated a chronic ligament sprain in his right knee. He had season-ending surgery and Stoerner started the last two games.

"If I'm not the starter, I know I'm one play away from getting into the game," Stoerner said. "I can't let Sunday's second half hinder how I'm going to perform and prepare for this week."

Also of interest this week. ...

Emmitt Smith missed practice again Wednesday because of his sprained right knee and said he didn't know if he would play in the Dallas Cowboys' game this weekend at Atlanta.

"Mentally, I would try to practice today. Physically, my leg isn't going to allow me to do it," Smith said. "It's not even my decision. This thing here has to actually act right for me to go do it."

Smith didn't know when he would try to practice, but said he wouldn't want to play Sunday without first taking part in some drills.

The Cowboys listed Smith as questionable, just like they did before he missed last Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss at the New York Giants.

Before missing the game at New York, Smith had missed only two other games because of injury in his 12-year NFL career. He has played in 176 games and his 15,564 career yards rushing are 1,162 behind Walter Payton's NFL record.

Smith missed the 1994 regular season finale against the Giants because of a strained left hamstring, but the Cowboys had already clinched a playoff spot and he played in both postseason games after that. He also sat out Nov. 14, 1999, against Green Bay because of a broken right hand.

Smith was hurt during the Cowboys' 17-3 win over Arizona on Oct. 28 when he was tackled after a 1-yard gain in the final two minutes.

If Smith can't play, Troy Hambrick will replace him for the second consecutive week. Last week, Hambrick had 30 carries on 77 yards against the New York Giants.

A bruised shoulder prevented Hambrick, who is listed as questionable on this week's injury report, from practicing Wednesday. But an MRI revealed no significant damage and coaches expect Hambrick to be available for Sunday's game. ...

RB: E. Smith (Quest; knee), T. Hambrick (Quest; shoulder), M. Wiley

FB: T. Hambrick (Quest; shoulder), J.J. Huggins

WR: J. Galloway (Prob; foot), R. Ismail, R. Swinton, D. Chiaverini, K. Rambo, R. Williams

TE: J. Harris, M. Lucky

PK: T. Seder

Just a week earlier, Gary was told by Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan that the starting tailback job was again up for grabs among three candidates.

Terrell Davis earned the start for the Raider game, with Mike Anderson as the backup. Gary ended up in street clothes.

In Week 2, Gary led the Broncos with 90 yards rushing, but he has seen only limited action since.

Gary insisted Wednesday that he understood the situation.

"There was no need for having two running backs on the bench who don't play special teams," he said.

He said he would volunteer to play special teams, but acknowledged, "It's another thing to be effective."

Gary, who rushed for 1,159 yards as a rookie in 1999, said he doesn't feel slighted by the recent coaching decisions.

"They have decisions to make, and regardless of who they put in there, you'll have the same conversation with one of us. Right now, it just happens to be me."

Coach Mike Shanahan called it a difficult situation.

"As I told Olandis, it's really tough because of what he's done for us as a player," the coach explained. "He's been very impressive. But when we talk about that third-team running back, are we better off to have him play special teams or another position to play special teams? I've got to do what's best for the team. It doesn't mean I don't respect him. I think he's a great back."

Shanahan declined to say what Gary's status would be on Sunday against San Diego. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Denver Post beat writer Patrick Saunders, there's a chance that Davis, if he is truly healthy, could provide an offensive spark. He's got the experience, imagination and open-field running ability that Gary and Anderson lack. Still, unless the offensive line improves, Davis isn't going to remind anyone of the 1998 MVP version of TD.

Saunders believes that Brian Griese, who was mired in a deep slump from Week 3 to Week 6, will find his game again in the second half. His sore shoulder has healed and he'll throw the ball downfield more often in the second half. That should open up the offense and make it more creative. Griese looked like a second-rate quarterback for much of 2001, but he'll prove he's one of the league's best before all is said and done.

The Broncos must score more first-quarter points. In the first seven games, the Broncos were shut out three times in the opening quarter and outscored 51-30. The Broncos rely on their 15-play script to give them a jump-start, but that didn't happen in the first half of the season. Expect Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to produce more creative and more productive game plans in the second half.

One thing the Broncos have in their favor is the schedule. Of their last eight opponents, only three have winning records -- San Diego, Miami and a return engagement against Oakland in Denver.

RB: T. Davis, M. Anderson, O. Gary

FB: P. Hape, T. Carter, D. Smith

WR: R. Smith, E. Kennison, C. Cole, S. Montgomery, K. Poole, K. Kasper (Quest; ankle)

TE: D. Carswell, D. Clark, M. Dominguez

PK: J. Elam

"McMahon played in one series in the first half and one series in the second half during Detroit's 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg told all his quarterbacks of the plan last week.

"Batch said he made his feelings known about the move.

"'I expressed that with (Mornhinweg) and I'm not going to express it with (the media). You're not going to get anymore than that, you're really not,' Batch said after the game.

"When asked if it would be difficult to read between the lines of Batch's comment, he replied, 'You can read whatever you want to read.'

"Mornhinweg, though, stands by his decision.

"'I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't getting our rookie quarterback some plays in a game -- when it counted,' Mornhinweg said. 'That's the important part of it. He has to play with the game on the line.

"'You put him in while the game's on the line, but you don't ask him to win it for you. In the long run, this experience is banked. He's already seen some things.'

"In his first series, McMahon moved the offense 39 yards on 10 plays to set up a 39-yard field goal by Jason Hanson. McMahon completed two of three passes for 16 yards and scrambled for 11 yards. On third-and-two at the 16-yard line, though, he tried to scramble again and came up short.

"In his second series, McMahon was sacked on first down, threw an incompletion on second down and then, on third-and-19, he was smothered before he had a chance to get rid of the ball.

"'Anytime you've got a rookie quarterback in there, they're going to bring the house. That's football,' McMahon said.

"Mornhinweg said he would take McMahon's playing time on a game-by-game basis; he might play next week and he might not. Mornhinweg also said McMahon isn't necessarily Detroit's No. 2 quarterback now.

"McMahon said he isn't going to worry about it. He said Mornhinweg has worked with quarterbacks like Brett Favre, Steve Young and Jeff Garcia and believes in his plan.

"'That's the coach's decision,' McMahon said. 'He's brought along some of the greatest quarterbacks, so all my trust is in him. Whatever he feels is best for myself and whatever's best for the team, I'll go along with. ...'"

It's probably worth noting that Mornhinweg -- while admitting McMahon will play at times -- emphasized on Wednesday that Batch is the team's quarterback.

"I want to make that clear, and I made that clear to Charlie as well as Mike," Mornhinweg said. "But it is important in developing a quarterback to get [McMahon] some time in when the game is still on the line."

Other notes of interest. ...

As I hinted at late last week, with James Stewart on the inactive list, the Lions started Reuben Droughns at halfback ahead of Lamont Warren against the Niners. ... Droughns finished the game with 10 carries for 36 yards; Warren carried the ball three times for three yards. ...

Just for the record. ... Stewart's status for this week's game remains uncertain. The Lions won't know until the middle of this week, according to published reports.

RB: J. Stewart (Quest; ankle), R. Droughns, L. Warren

FB: C. Schlesinger, B. Olivo, S. Trejo

WR: J. Morton, L. Foster, D. Howard, S. Anderson, B. Emanuel

TE: D. Sloan, P. Mitchell, B. Banta

PK: J. Hanson

The two teams meet in a showdown Sunday at Soldier Field.

"We made more mistakes but somehow won the ball game," Favre said. "Call it what you want, an ugly win or an ugly loss for them. But we're 5-2 and to me it's a huge win. Not all of them can be like Baltimore. Any ugly win is a hell of a lot better than an ugly loss, I'll tell you that."

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, PackersNews.com staffer Frank Schwab wrote, "Bill Schroeder has taken his share of criticism over the years, but the Green Bay Packers' offense hasn't been quite the same this season since he got hurt.

"Schroeder, who has missed the Packers' last two games with an ankle injury and hasn't played since Oct. 14, still isn't a sure thing to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

"'I can't say that,' Packers coach Mike Sherman said, when asked if he thought Schroeder would be able to play. 'I think he'll be better this week than last week. When we ran him last week, he had difficulty cutting. Straight ahead, he was fine.

"'I'm hoping he makes some progress. I don't think he'll be 100 percent, but I think he might make enough progress where we could get him on the field.'

"Without Schroeder, who has averaged over 1,000 yards the past two seasons and was off to a good start this year before being knocked out of Green Bay's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a sprained ankle, the Packers have had their two least productive passing days of the season.

"In the first five weeks of the season, quarterback Brett Favre's low game in yards was 236 against Washington.

"In the two games Schroeder has been inactive, Favre threw for 169 yards at Minnesota and 180 yards against Tampa Bay on Sunday, with three touchdowns and three interceptions in those games.

"In his first five games, Favre had 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

"'He's our starting receiver,' fellow starter Antonio Freeman said of Schroeder.

"'Any time you take a starter out of your starting lineup, I think that has some effect on the strength of your offense and what you do offensively.'

"The players who have stepped into Schroeder's spot, however, aren't getting the blame.

"Sherman said on Monday that although Schroeder had trouble cutting last week in practice, he could have been used on Sunday if the coaches didn't have the confidence they do in the younger backups.

"'[Schroeder] would have gone in the game if I felt there was a need for him to go,' Sherman said. 'I didn't think we needed to with Charles Lee, Donald Driver and Corey Bradford taking up the slack.'

"Bradford has started the two games without Schroeder. He caught four passes for 32 yards against Minnesota, and on Sunday against Tampa Bay, he didn't catch a pass. Driver has caught four passes for 28 yards in two games and Lee has three catches for 32 yards, with a game-best 23-yard reception on Sunday.

"That's 92 yards combined from those three receivers in Green Bay's past two games. Schroeder surpassed that level twice in his five starts.

"'I think they're doing everything we ask them to do,' Freeman said. 'They came in and made plays. Corey made the big block on [Green's 63-yard scoring sprint], and some of the things those guys do don't make the stat sheet. We watched film today, and overall, those guys played well.'

"Lee said: 'It's a matter of the younger guys stepping up until Bill comes back and assumes his role. We need him, but until then, guys are going out there and having fun and making plays.

"'We're doing all right. We won, so that's all you can ask.'

"If the Packers felt their backup receivers were struggling that much, they could activate rookie Robert Ferguson, Green Bay's second-round pick who hasn't played this year. However, Sherman said it was the play of the receivers ahead of Ferguson, not Ferguson himself, that is keeping him on the inactive list.

"'He has the misfortune of playing at a position that has been elevated throughout the course of last year,' Sherman said.

"'If he had come to our team last year, he probably would be playing and playing a lot. But during the course of this offseason, the emergence of Donald Driver and Charles Lee has made that a position that is a lot stronger today than it was a year ago. ...'"

And finally. ... PK Ryan Longwell, whose missed field goal try from 41 yards left him 7-of-13 for the season, told reporters, "It is not like I am down in the dumps or anything. If I was shanking the ball and not hitting them solid, I would be really concerned."

RB: A. Green, D. Levens, R. Mealey, H. Goodman

FB: W. Henderson

WR: B. Schroeder (Prob; ankle), A. Freeman, C. Bradford, D. Driver (Quest; quad), C. Lee, R. Ferguson

TE: B. Franks, D. Martin

PK: R. Longwell

"James has practiced just once since injuring his left knee in the closing minutes of a game Oct. 25 at Kansas City. He missed a game for the first time in his NFL career Sunday at Buffalo.

"Whether James, the NFL's two-time rushing champion, returns against Miami will apparently be a game-time decision for the second straight week.

"'I don't know. The answer is I don't know,' head coach Jim Mora said before a question could even be asked after practice. 'He didn't practice today. He is getting better every day.'

"Mora said James did do some work indoors but was uncertain whether James would practice Thursday.

"James practiced last Friday before the Colts left for Buffalo. When he returned to the Colts complex Saturday morning, though, the knee was sore.

"If James misses another game, the Colts will likely start Dominic Rhodes.

"Rhodes proved an adequate replacement Sunday, carrying 34 times for 100 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 45 yards in James' place.

"Rhodes said he's preparing as if he will start.

"'I don't know if I'll be starting, Edge is getting better,' Rhodes said. 'He's looking healthier and healthier every day, but I'm preparing as if I'm going to get a lot of reps.'

"The Colts did get some good news at practice as wide receiver Jerome Pathon worked out for the first time in more than a month. Pathon was the team's leading receiver when he sprained his foot late in a loss Sept. 30 at New England.

"'You can see he's not 100 percent,' Mora said. 'You can see, too, that since he's been gone for a few weeks, he's a little rusty. Whether he starts or not does not mean that Reggie Wayne has beaten him out of anything.'

"James' injury has forced some changes, though, and the roster moves continued Wednesday.

"Indianapolis signed Shyrone Stith, a 5-foot-8, 208-pound running back from Virginia Tech. Last season with Jacksonville, he played in 14 games and was seventh in the AFC with a 23.8 kickoff return average. He also ran 20 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

"To make room for Stith, the Colts released wide receiver Tony Simmons, who had played sparingly since being signed Oct. 8.

"Indianapolis also signed rookie wide receiver Bobby Newcombe to the practice squad after a spot opened when the Colts signed running back Kevin McDougal to the active squad Saturday. McDougal had been on the Colts' practice squad.

"Newcombe, 5-10 and 195, was a sixth-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals.

"'We really haven't had that many running backs on the roster since the first of the year,' Mora said. 'With the injury to Edgerrin, we felt we needed another running back, and we had room on the practice squad after activating McDougal, so we signed Bobby Newcombe. ...'"

Just for the record, since replacing James against the Chiefs on Oct. 25, Rhodes has run 38 times for 187 yards and two TDs. His 5.5-yard per carry average is even better than James' 4.4 and Rhodes has provided big plays, too.

Rhodes' first NFL touchdown came on an 88-yard kickoff return in the third quarter against the Chiefs. His second, a 77-yard sprint, sealed a 35-28 victory. The run was the fourth-longest in franchise history and the longest by a Colt since Tom Matte raced 80 yards against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. ...

Peyton Manning also played an integral role in the success of the Colts' ground game last Sunday. ... After averaging just 5.9 yards rushing in his first 54 NFL games, Manning rushed for 44 yards Sunday, including a 33-yard touchdown run -- the longest by a Colts quarterback since 1953. ...

It's also worth noting that Manning hasn't thrown an interception in 91 attempts over his last three games. He began the season with nine interceptions over his first 145 pass attempts. ... Asked about Manning's play the last three weeks, Mora said: "We haven't changed anything in the way that we approach things, offensively. It's like I told you all before when Peyton had those interceptions. They all weren't his fault. Things happen in games. But he's really been playing well over the last few games."

And finally. ... Manning threw for 199 yards against the Bills. It's only the second time this season and the 12th time over his 55 career games that he has been held under 200 yards passing.

RB: E. James (Quest; knee), D. Rhodes (Prob; knee), S. Stith

FB: J. Finn

WR: M. Harrison, J. Pathon (Quest; foot), R. Wayne, T. Wilkins, T. Insley

TE: K. Dilger, M. Pollard, J.D. Davenport, J. Snow

PK: M. Vanderjagt

The Jaguars running back practiced Wednesday for the first time since tearing his groin in September. He was listed as questionable on the team's injury report.

Head coach Tom Coughlin said he expects Taylor to be playing by next week at the latest. Taylor is making no promises -- either about the timing of his return, or the effect it could have on a team with a five-game losing streak.

"I'm only one person," Taylor said. "A lot of guys would like to see me out there. Some guys tend to rally around the fact that I'm out there."

Since joining the team, he has missed 15 of Jacksonville's 55 regular-season games with injuries. Just like last year, and the year before, the Jaguars (2-5) suffer when Taylor is out.

This season, Jacksonville ranks 26th in the league in rushing. The most dramatic effect of that shows up in time of possession, where Jacksonville ranks last, at just 26:10 a game.

The Jaguars run an average of 56 plays on offense, 13 fewer than their opponents, and that might help explain why the defense has worn down the last two weeks, blowing double-digit leads to Baltimore and Tennessee.

Since tearing the tendon away from the bone on Sept. 23, Taylor has been reduced to the most frustrated fan in a city filled with them.

"It's been the most frustrating, the most painful" of all his injuries, Taylor said. "You lose five games on top of it, and it hurts like hell. It hurts to lose, and it hurts when you're injured, and you can't do anything about it but sit back and watch."

Unlike his knee injury last year, or his hamstring injury in 1999, Taylor says he has always known his groin would take six to eight weeks to heal -- no less -- and there's no use in hurrying to come back at less than full health.

"Because of the position I play, and the type of moves I try and type of burst I need, I need to be 100 percent," he said. "If I'm 75 or 80 percent, thinking I'm just going to go out there and do straight-line running, that's not my game."

Coughlin said Taylor's status will be evaluated based on the kind of pain he feels Thursday morning.

Since the injury, the Jaguars have used Stacey Mack, Elvis Joseph and Frank Moreau at running back. The Jaguars have averaged 84 yards rushing since Taylor's injury, 27 yards less than the NFL average. Their longest rush of the season is Mark Brunell's 38-yard scramble against Baltimore.

"A lot of people try to put pressure on me," Taylor said. "They say, `When is he going to come back? Is there a Fred sighting?' That stuff doesn't make me smile, it doesn't make me upset. My thing is to better myself. When I'm better, I'll come back, and when I get back, I'll try to play my best."

Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Taylor's status. ...

Other items of interest. ...

Brunell, who is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, sat out of practice on Wednesday because of a strained muscle in his upper leg.

"He's sore," Coughlin said later. "We don't want to do anything to inhibit the progress he's making."

Brunell hurt his right quadriceps while sliding at the end of a run last Sunday against Tennessee. He did not come out of the game. ...

Brunell spent Wednesday afternoon throwing passes on the side and riding an exercise bike while backups Jonathan Quinn and Phil Stambaugh shared the first team snaps.

RB: F. Taylor (Quest; groin), E. Joseph, S. Mack, F. Moreau

FB: P. Washington

WR: J. Smith, K. McCardell, S. Dawkins, A. Whitted, D. Gibson

TE: K. Brady, D. Jones, R. Prince, J. Zelenka

PK: M. Hollis, J. Tarle

"Still, he expected a better record at the midpoint of his first season.

"'I thought we would be better than a 2-6 football team right now,' Vermeil said Tuesday. 'If I had done a better job of coaching, I think we would have.'

"Vermeil didn't say which of Kansas City's losses could be attributed to coaching failures, or even what mistakes he made.

"'I can't pinpoint all the reasons why,' he said. 'If I could, I'd give them to you, but they're not all explainable sometimes.'

"Several players -- most prominently new quarterback Trent Green, whose acquisition from the St. Louis Rams cost the Chiefs their first-round draft pick -- haven't lived up to Vermeil's expectations.

"Through eight games, Green's 1,945 yards passing lead the AFC and place him second in the NFL. But his interceptions outnumber his touchdown passes 13-8.

"'Trent has not been where I thought he would be,' Vermeil said, 'but I know he's capable of getting back to that. It's our responsibility as coaches to help him get back to that level. He's showed flashes of doing some things that will get him back up there.'

"Kansas City has been hit hard by injuries to wide receivers Derrick Alexander and Sylvester Morris, offensive tackle Victor Riley and defensive tackle John Browning.

"But Vermeil refused to blame injuries for the 2-6 start.

'Every team has injuries,' he said. 'Every year you build your roster based on, "If this guy goes down, we have this guy available to fill his spot." We've built some depth in the secondary, we have some depth in the linebacker position -- but we've lost our depth in the defensive line positions.'

The midseason report card isn't all bad, though.

The Chiefs still have a Pro Bowl tight end in Tony Gonzalez, and running back Priest Holmes is second in the NFL with 771 yards rushing. Holmes is poised to become Kansas City's first 1,000-yard rusher since Christian Okoye set a club record with 1,480 yards in 1989.

'We thought he would come in here and be a good starting back,' Vermeil said. 'He's the No. 2 rusher in the league, which I think puts him in a category of better than good. He's playing beyond our expectations. ...'"

And that my friends, is the biggest understatement since Noah said, "It looks a little like rain. ..."

As CNN/SI's Peter King wrote in his Monday Morning Quarterback column this week, "I think a whole lot of GMs are scratching their heads looking at the box scores this morning and saying to themselves: 'Priest Holmes? He had 181 yards at San Diego, against a good run defense? We could have had him for next to nothing and here he is with over 700 yards through the first half of the season? Who do I have scouting the AFC, anyway?'"

As one of Holmes' biggest detractors heading into and over the first half of the season, I've got to admit it's starting to look like I'm going to be eating serious crow on this one. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Veteran wide receiver Derrick Alexander, who missed his second game in a row last Sunday, is listed as questionable for this week's game. ... Larry Parker, who pulled in two passes for 18 yards last Sunday, would likely start in his place if he can't play.

And finally. ... Gonzalez completed a 40-yard pass against San Diego, and his four receptions gave him 300 for his career. Only one other tight end, former Charger Kellen Winslow, reached the 300-catch plateau faster than Gonzalez, who is in his fifth season.

RB: P. Holmes, M. Cloud, D. Blaylock

FB: T. Richardson, J. Williams

WR: M. Minnis, L. Parker (Prob; hamstring), D. Alexander (Quest; ribs), C. Thomas (Prob; calf), D. Hall

TE: T. Gonzalez, M. Ricks, J. Dunn

PK: T. Peterson

"Jay Fiedler has improved in his second year as a starter, but he's thrown too many interceptions (10). Fiedler can get the ball down the field much better this season because he has receivers who can get deep.

"James McKnight has become more productive as the season has gone one, and Chris Chambers is improving every week. Oronde Gadsden remains one of the most underrated receivers in the game. Though the wideouts will not be among the leaders in the league, Chan Gailey will give them a chance to make plays. ..."

While Smith had a surprisingly bad game against Carolina, rushing for only 37 yards, Gadsden had a huge outing, catching five passes for 102 yards. ...

One last note out of Miami this week. ... Wide receiver Dedric Ward (foot) has been cleared to practice this week. But even though the former Jet told reporters his foot was improving, he didn't seem too confident that he would be available for this weekend's game against Indianapolis.

RB: L. Smith, T. Minor, J.J. Johnson

FB: R. Konrad, D. Dyer

WR: O. Gadsden, J. McKnight, C. Chambers, J. Ogden, D. Ward (Quest; foot)

TE: H. Goodwin, J. Weaver, E. Perry

PK: O. Mare

Asked on Wednesday what his approach at running back will be this week, head coach Dennis Green said: "Michael has missed a game so I think first we've got to find out in practice if he is full speed or not, which we don't know. We know he has moved from questionable to probable. Now the question is if he's full speed. We won't know that until we go through [Wednesday's practice]."

Asked if that was something he would know for certain after Wednesday's practice, Green said: "Oh yeah. If he's full speed, you can tell. You can see it. I think if he's running with a limp with the running backs, if he's not running with a limp, if he's not running full speed, then that's a good category. If he isn't then he probably is not ready. ..."

Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Bennett's status. ...

For what it's worth, those who follow the team closely say Bennett has had a difficult time adjusting to the NFL. He has unable to show his speed since he is usually gang tackled near the line of scrimmage. ...

Randy Moss, who is listed as probable on this week's injury report, is expected to start and play as usual this week despite a sore ankle. ...

One last note on the Vikings this week. ... ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli wrote last Friday, "It would be difficult for Red McCombs to dump head coach Dennis Green but make no mistake about this: The Minnesota owner, already considering his options of he can't get a new stadium, is not thrilled that Green hasn't been able to thwart all those embarrassing sideline imbroglios that seem to mark every Vikings contest. Nor is he happy at having paid Randy Moss a ton of money, and seen the sulking wide receiver look most times like the most unmotivated player in the league.

"The lack of initiative, McCombs also feels, is a strike against the coaching staff.

"There would be a player mutiny in Minnesota were the owner to dispatch Green, who evokes great loyalty, and who has taken the team into the playoffs in all but one of his previous nine seasons. But sources insist that McCombs will demand during the offseason that Green run a tighter Vikings ship in 2002.

"If Green ever is canned by McCombs, remember the name Mack Brown. The Texas coach is likely on the speed-dial of McCombs, a huge Longhorns booster who, at times, has sat in on some of Brown's meetings. ..."

RB: M. Bennett (Prob; ankle), D. Chapman, T. Prentice

FB: J. Kleinsasser, H. Morrow

WR: R. Moss (Prob; ankle), C. Carter, J. Reed, C. Walsh, T. Walters (Prob; knee), N. Jacquet

TE: B. Chamberlain, A. Jordan

PK: G. Anderson

The Patriots' wide receiver, who has five arbitration hearings and a criminal case pending, was cleared on Monday to sue the NFL on his charge that the league failed to consider his chronic depression when he was suspended four games for violating its substance abuse policy.

In a charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Buffalo, Glenn argued that he missed a drug test because of the ailment, which is a federally recognized disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Glenn's agent, James Gould, said he received a "right to sue" letter from the EEOC on Monday. The EEOC procedure is designed to discourage only the most frivolous lawsuits and does not take sides in the case; it merely acknowledges that the claim, if true, could be a violation of the law.

Glenn has 90 days to decide whether to file a lawsuit, Gould said.

"We're trying to work it out with both the NFL and the Patriots and find a peaceful resolution," he said. "If we sue, I am certain we would prevail."

Neither the NFL nor the Patriots would comment on the complaint.

"I can't speak to those issues. As much as I would like to give you a lot of comments," New England coach Bill Belichick said, cracking a smile, "I just can't."

Asked how Glenn's depression was involved in the missed drug test, Gould deferred to Glenn's lawyer, Dane Butswinkas. Butswinkas did not return a call seeking comment.

Glenn has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. He was not in the Patriots' locker room on Monday during the 40 minutes it was open to reporters, though he was in the Foxboro Stadium parking lot beforehand, wearing sweat pants and a sweat shirt and sitting in a security cart talking on a cell phone.

The ADA, enacted in 1990, is best known in sports as the basis for Casey Martin's successful campaign to ride a cart on the professional golf tour. More generally, it bans job discrimination against the disabled and requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to disabled people who are otherwise qualified to perform a job.

Glenn had been in the NFL's substance abuse program for three years after an initial positive test. He never failed a subsequent test, but earlier this year he was unavailable for a random test -- a violation of the policy -- and he was suspended four games on Aug. 3.

Because of the suspension, the team withheld most of Glenn's $9 million signing bonus. On the day the suspension was announced, Glenn left the team without permission and Belichick suspended him for the remainder of the season.

That suspension was overturned by an arbitrator, and Glenn returned in Week 5 to catch seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers. Five other grievances -- including one seeking the return of his signing bonus -- remain unresolved.

"The (first) suspension was kind of like the bad tree that gives off the poisonous fruit," Gould said. "Everything followed from it."

Glenn also faces charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness in connection with a dispute May 15 with the mother of his son.

However, USA Today reported Wednesday that a clear-the-air meeting between Glenn, Gould, Belichick and Patriots chief operating officer Andy Wasynczuk could result in Glenn playing this week against Buffalo. ...

Other news of interest out of Foxboro this week. ...

With 18 of 53 players appearing on this week's injury report, the Pats had a hard time practicing on Wednesday. ... Eight starters on offense and five on defense were listed as injured, and Belichick scrambled to find enough players for a meaningful practice.

The Pats worked around the injury problems by practicing without pads and running fewer plays than usual Wednesday.

"We just don't have enough guys to be able to last out there in practice as we normally would, or by the time we get to the game, we won't have anything left," Belichick said.

The coach went on to say, "We had quite a lengthy staff meeting yesterday with coaches and talked about it. ... I can't ever remember in my career having to scale practices back to the degree that we're going to be doing it today and probably throughout the week."

Quarterback Tom Brady, playing because Drew Bledsoe suffered a chest injury in the second game of the season, joked about the injuries and said he wouldn't fill in at another position.

"Not a chance," he said. "I have a hard enough time preparing for the one I've got."

The long injury list, which will be updated as the week goes on, was issued with the Patriots (4-4) playing better than expected. They lost their first two games but are 4-2 with Brady at quarterback.

He won't be throwing Sunday to backup wide receiver Curtis Jackson, who was lost for the season when he went on injured reserve with an ankle injury Tuesday. Belichick said he has to assess the needs of his depleted lineup before deciding at which position he'll add a player.

The list of offensive skill players appearing on this week's injury report includes: Glenn and tight end Rod Rutledge as questionable; Wide receiver Troy Brown and running back Antowain Smith are probable.

Bledsoe remains doubtful and hasn't been cleared for contact, Belichick said, but he's participating in practice "just like everybody else."

He'll be no more than the emergency quarterback Sunday, and Belichick said there is no timetable for when he'll play again.

RB: A. Smith (Prob; knee), K. Faulk, J.R. Redmond

FB: M. Edwards, P. Pass

WR: D. Patten, T. Brown (Prob; foot), C. Johnson, T. Glenn (Quest; leg)

TE: R. Rutledge (Quest; ankle), J. Wiggins

PK: A. Vinatieri

"It was bad," coach Jim Haslett said Tuesday after watching game film -- and after fining Turley $25,000. "It was the worst football, offensive football, in the two years I've been here."

According to the coach, the team's offense, which has not been overwhelming in any game, was bad in the 16-9 loss to the Jets.

"Spread the wealth among all 11 guys, 12 or 13 at different times," Haslett said. "The quarterback had breakdowns in the red zone, two bad decisions. Running backs didn't run courses well, couldn't block anybody; receivers couldn't catch or block. They fumbled. It's endless. We didn't do anything right."

New Orleans drove to the Jets' 5-yard line when Turley went berserk after New York safety Damien Robinson grabbed quarterback Aaron Brooks' face mask and twisted it. The melee ended with Turley flinging a Jets helmet downfield. The resulting penalties set New Orleans back to the 20 and ended the scoring threat.

Missing that opportunity hurt, Haslett said, but the failure to score earlier in the game was much more of a problem.

"I think it's execution," Haslett said. "It's stuff we've been doing for two years. We got guys that have been in the offense for seven or eight years making mistakes or not holding onto the ball. That's fundamentals."

As the offense bumbled and the chances of victory grew slimmer, the fans began booing the Saints. Haslett said he could understand their feelings.

"We played bad," Haslett said. "I was booing on the sidelines and I didn't even pay to get in the game."

Against the Jets, the Saints gained just 246 yards and 13 first downs, both season lows. Five of 13 drives went three-and-out, and four others ended on turnovers, including two inside the Jets 20.

The running game, the Saints' strength offensively, produced only 108 yards against the Jets. Of that, 50 belonged to Brooks, much of that gained on scrambles when he could not find anyone to pass to.

Brooks was sacked six times, intercepted twice and fumbled the snap once. He completed 12 of 28 passes for 164 yards, his worst game in 14 career starts.

"This is the first time I've seen Aaron frustrated in the two years he's been here," Haslett said. "I think it was a little bit of everything. We weren't getting great protection. We were dropping some balls. There were some fumbles. He did a couple things in the red zone that weren't very good. He didn't handle it very well."

Still, Haslett said, he's not worried about his team or the rest of the season.

"I don't think we're desperate, if that's the word," Haslett said. "We're 4-3. If the playoffs start today, we're in the playoffs, so for us to panic instead of trying to fix some things that were going on, I don't know if that's the right avenue to take."

Other notes of interest. ...

Albert Connell, who filled the fourth wide receiver spot against the Jets last Sunday, worked as the third wide out in practice Wednesday. After the two-hour workout, Coach Jim Haslett said Connell had regained the No. 3 spot he began the season in. "Since moving him down, Albert's done everything right," Haslett said. ...

Also on Wednesday, Brooks, Jeff Blake and Jake Delhomme took part in a long-toss drill after practice. In the drill, which appears semi-regularly in practices, the passers stand 50 yards back and try to heave footballs into a trash can stationed in the corner of the end zone. Delhomme was the only player to make a "basket," putting a perfect spiral into the center of the garbage bin. ...

And finally. ... The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported earlier this week that tight end Cam Cleeland, who missed last week's game with a sprained ankle, is expected to practice this week. It remains to be seen if he will be able to play against the Niners.

RB: R. Williams, D. McAllister, F. McAfee

FB: T. Smith, M. Norris, K. Houser

WR: J. Horn, W. Jackson, A. Connell, R. Wilson, O. Ojo, W. McGarity

TE: C. Cleeland (Quest; ankle), E. Williams, L. Hall

PK: J. Carney

"The statistics are staggeringly consistent, too. The Giants (4-4) have been so inefficient on their early drives that it is a testament to either their defense or their fortitude that they have managed to win more than one or two games. It has been that bad.

"Curiously, one of the real assets of last season's Super Bowl team was how well the offense usually charged from the gate. The 2000 Giants scored on their first possession six times (in 19 games including the postseason) and scored a touchdown five times, or 26 percent of the time. They rarely failed to pick up at least one first down, ran the ball well and quarterback Kerry Collins was a far more accurate passer in those opening drives than at any other time during the game.

"Most impressive, first drives last season ended after three plays - the dreaded three-and-out - only five times (26 percent).

"This season, the Giants have already started 75 percent of their games with three-play drives that ended with punts. They have scored a touchdown on their first possession at half the rate they did last season, only once in eight games.

"The average number of plays and yards gained during the Giants' first drive last season was 6.2 plays and 32.4 yards. This season, it is 3.6 plays and 12.6 yards, and even that is a deceptively positive statistic.

"Throw out the 80-yard touchdown drive to start the game in St. Louis last month, and the other seven opening drives this year have amassed a total of 21 yards. That is an average of 3 yards a drive and less than a yard a play.

"These statistics are not merely a gross, cruel quirk of the numbers. The Giants have started poorly and often fallen behind quickly, which matters in the N.F.L. This is not basketball; the team that scores first usually wins most NFL games and the team that leads at halftime wins at an extraordinarily high rate.

"This season, the .500 Giants have trailed at halftime in four of eight games. Last season, when they were 12-4 in the regular season and 2-1 in the postseason, they trailed at the half only 6 times. They lost all but one of those games.

"On and on it goes, one statistic after another suggesting that the Giants' overall offensive woes this season are tied to their inability to get off to a good start. And statistics cannot measure the effect of a good early drive on a team's confidence and morale - keys to sustained and productive offensive play.

"Identifying the cause of the early offensive problems this year is more difficult. Coach Jim Fassel has no theories, although he acknowledged that the offense has been somewhat out of sync without wide receiver Ike Hilliard and running back Tiki Barber, who have each missed two games because of injuries.

"But an examination of every play run in the opening drives during the last two seasons, along with a chart of tendencies, reveals some obvious, glaring changes. Most notably, the Giants' pass completion rate in these drives has dropped to less than half what it was a year ago.

"Last year, there was one constant during opening drives - Collins's passing was dominating games.

"Last season, Collins completed 37 of 58 passes on the first drive (64 percent) for 3 touchdowns and 371 yards. That is almost 20 passing yards a drive. This year, Collins has completed five of 16 passes on first possessions for 78 yards and no touchdown passes. Take away the St. Louis game and Collins has completed three of 13 passes for 25 yards.

"Collins's proficiency last year was pervasive early in games, even on the first play from scrimmage. On first plays, Collins completed seven of nine passes for 78 yards. This year Collins has completed one of four passes for 6 yards.

"As always, it is never merely the quarterback's fault. Consider that Collins has tried to throw to his No. 1 receiver, Amani Toomer, six times on first drives this season. Toomer has only two receptions. Last season on first drives, Collins to Toomer clicked 11 times for 124 yards.

"Is Collins simply throwing the ball less precisely at the start of games this year? The answer would seem to be that he is, but for the 2001 season, he is completing 59 percent of his passes over all, which is a small improvement over last season's final completion percentage of 58.8. That means that Collins got worse - statistically, at least - as the game progressed last season and he is getting better - statistically, at least - as the game progresses this season.

"Since the Giants were 6-2 at the midpoint last season, apparently first impressions matter more. ..."

For what it's worth, Toomer did not start against the Cowboys last Sunday. He was replaced by Joe Jurevicius in the starting lineup. Toomer caught three passes for 69 yards as a reserve while two of Jurevicius' three catches were good for touchdowns. ...

RB: R. Dayne, T. Barber, D. Washington

FB: G. Comella

WR: A. Toomer, I. Hilliard, J. Jurevicius, R. Dixon, T. Davis

TE: H. Cross, D. Campbell, M. Rivers

PK: M. Andersen, O. Pochman

There are two reasons for that: They still don't have a consistent big-play threat in the passing game (wide receiver Laveranues Coles is getting there); and coordinator Paul Hackett, who installed his version of the West Coast offense, is using conservative game plans.

Of course, the Jets have received very little impact from their free-agent and rookie classes, but that could change when No. 1 pick Santana Moss returns from preseason knee surgery. The former University of Miami star is listed as questionable this week, but probably won't return until Nov. 18.

Coaches finally used rookie RB LaMont Jordan the way they claimed they would this summer, giving him seven carries against the Saints last Sunday in relief of Martin. ... And Jordan excelled, picking up 75 yards on his seven chances. "Everyone wanted to know when he was going to run; well, he ran tonight," head coach Herman Edwards said. "He gave Curtis a blow, and he did a great job."

As for the free agents. ... Former Viking Matthew Hatchette has been a total bust. In fact, he's had a hard time even getting on the field so far this year. And because he doesn't play on special teams, Hatchette has virtually no value to the team. ...

According to Cimini, the Jets are likely to use more three-wide out packages over the second half of the season, with Moss replacing journeyman Kevin Swayne as the No. 3 receiver. Hackett must develop the passing game, getting wide receiver Wayne Chrebet more involved.

RB: C. Martin, L. Jordan, C. Morton

FB: R. Anderson, J. Sowell

WR: W. Chrebet, L. Coles, K. Swayne, M. Hatchette, C. Yeast, S. Moss (Quest; knee)

TE: A. Becht, J. Dearth, J. Moreland

PK: J. Hall

Gannon, 35, has the best numbers of his career. The Raiders are 6-1, tied for the best record in the league. But head coach Jon Gruden isn't surprised, not after last year.

"He was in a lot of people's eyes the MVP of the league, according to what I've heard," Gruden said of Gannon, who finished fourth in the voting. "But is he getting better? Yeah, I think he is. ..."

Gannon was reportedly upset when Gruden persisted in questioning his faculties after Broncos safety Kenoy Kennedy landed a helmet-to-helmet hit Monday night.

"He doesn't want to be interrogated," Gruden said. "He doesn't want to have to prove anything. He wants to know his word is good."

Speaking of the hit, Gruden was diplomatic. But it's safe to say he'll be surprised if Kennedy doesn't receive a fine. Gannon was diving for the end zone, and Kennedy was trying to keep him out, so the hit probably was unintentional. But the NFL has issued an edict -- with stiff fines afterward -- about helmet contact.

"It was a head-to-head collision," Gruden said. "I'm not going to sit in judgment. I'll let the league office make that call. But it was a head-to-head collision. Whether it was accidental or whatever it was, I don't know. We're just happy that Rich Gannon is OK."

When Gannon left for one play, Rodney Peete handed off to Zack Crockett for a touchdown. But before that, Peete showed his veteran poise by pulling Gruden away from an argument with an official about the hit. "He said, 'Just give me the play,'" Gruden explained later. ...

Running back Charlie Garner leads the team in rushing yards and is third in receptions. He is proving to be an invaluable addition to an already dynamic offense. He makes it difficult for defenses to key against any one player on Oakland's offense. Defenses are forced to account for Garner on every play. He likely will be an even bigger weapon in the second half if he finally supplants Tyrone Wheatley as the lead back.

Wide receiver Jerry Rice scored half of Oakland's six receiving touchdowns the first six games and is second on the team in receptions. Rice is a nice complement to go-to receiver Tim Brown because he draws attention from Brown and gives Gannon another option on crucial downs. Rice remains in great shape so he should be a big factor the remainder of the season. ...

It's still not clear whether Tyrone Wheatley will be ready to return to the lineup this Sunday. The former Giant is listed as questionable once again this week due to the same knee injury that's sidelined the last two games. ... Fullback Jon Ritchie is also listed as questionable after pulling his groin on the play he scored a touchdown Monday. ...

RB: C. Garner, T. Wheatley (Quest; knee), R. Jordan (Prob; toe), T. Kirby

FB: J. Ritchie (Quest; groin), Z. Crockett

WR: T. Brown, J. Rice, J. Porter, D. Dunn (Quest; quad), M. Knight, J. Jett

TE: R. Williams, M. Fulcher, J. Brigham

PK: S. Janikowski

After scoring 20 points combined in their previous two games, the Eagles scored 21 in the first half Sunday. They couldn't do anything in the second half, but still hung on for a 21-7 road victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

"We're getting better with our execution," head coach Andy Reid said Monday. "We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties we need to straighten out. I'll take the aggressive play, but I don't want the penalties with them."

The Eagles (4-3) had 332 total yards against the Cardinals, an improvement over the 195 yards they had against Oakland last week. But they committed 11 penalties for 92 yards, and the running game again wasn't used.

Duce Staley had 49 yards rushing on just 12 carries. Correll Buckhalter ran four times for 14 yards. Only 18 of the 56 offensive plays were runs.

"I do like balance, and we need to get better at that," Reid said. "There are other parts to that, not just the run game. You have your screen game, your movement game where you move the pocket, a variety of things that you'd like to balance in there."

Donovan McNabb had his best game in over a month, completing 19 of 33 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on a desperation throw at the end of the first half.

James Thrash had four catches for 80 yards, including TDs of 54 and 8 yards. Freddie Mitchell also caught four passes, twice as many as he had all season.

"Thrash played very aggressive," Reid said. "Donovan had two tremendous throws for the touchdowns. Both were off-balance throws where he had to stick it in a spot and he did it. Freddie has only touched on the things he can do. We'll continue to teach him and he'll continue to learn."

For the fourth straight week, the Eagles lost the time-of-possession battle, controlling the ball for 28:55. Still, that's better than the totals of 19:51 last week and 24:40 two weeks ago.

Brian Mitchell returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, but the Eagles didn't score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter for the third consecutive game. They didn't get anything in the second half for the first time in three weeks.

"We came out trying to take an aggressive approach (in the second half)," Reid said. "We were able to move the football, but for every two steps we took forward, we took steps back and they were big chunks. They put you in a bad situation, and for whatever reason, we have to do a better job there."

The only consistent part of Philadelphia's offense is its production inside the red zone. The Eagles are 17-for-17 inside the opponent's 20, including 12 touchdowns. No other team has scored on all of its possessions inside the red zone and with five of their next six games against teams with losing records -- Minnesota (3-4) visits Philadelphia on Sunday -- the Eagles have an opportunity to figure out the rest of their offensive woes. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Mitchell now is the team's No. 3 receiver, replacing Na Brown. Mitchell had two receptions in the first six games but added four Sunday against Arizona. "I was trying to learn all three (receiver) positions, and that took a while," Mitchell said. "I just want to gain [McNabb's] confidence and show him I can get open and catch the ball."

Buckhalter left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter and did not return. Duce Staley took over and did well, but early indications are Buckhalter, who is listed as questionable on this week's injury report, will be ready to go this Sunday. ...

For what it's worth, Mark Eckel of the Trenton Times wrote this week that Buckhalter could be a full-time starter next season. ... Eckel went on to say Buckhalter will get a lot of work as the team's primary ball carrier over the second half of the season, but he added that Staley should not be forgotten. The coaching staff has not used the pair in the same backfield much yet, but as Staley completely heals from a shoulder injury look for that tandem to be paired together.

One last note. ... McNabb has been sacked an NFL-high 25 times in seven games. The Eagles are on pace to allow 57 sacks this season, most since they gave up 64 in 1997.

RB: D. Staley, C. Buckhalter (Quest; shoulder), B. Mitchell

FB: C. Martin, J. Reader

WR: J. Thrash (Prob; hip), T. Pinkston, F. Mitchell, N. Brown, G. Scott (Prob; ankle), D. Douglas (Quest; quad)

TE: C. Lewis (Prob; quad), J. Thomason, T. Stewart, M. Bartrum

PK: D. Akers

Brown, who had one of the worst days ever by a Steelers kicker in missing four of five field goal attempts in a 13-10 loss Sunday to Baltimore, got a vote of confidence Tuesday from his coach -- and some advice.

Bill Cowher suggested that, after practice ends Wednesday, Brown should go back to Heinz Field and kick at the windy end of the stadium where he missed two critical kicks in the fourth quarter Sunday.

"He should go over there in an empty stadium, about the same time (that he kicked Sunday), and get back on the bike, so to speak," Cowher said Tuesday. "He should go back over there, at the same spot on the field, and go kick."

Unlike Three Rivers Stadium, where the Steelers were based from 1970-99 and also practiced, they now have a practice facility and offices on the opposite side of town and don't work out in Heinz Field.

As a result, Brown had only two games of Heinz Field experience, plus a couple of exhibition games when the weather was much different, before going wide right on three of his four misses.

Still, Cowher doesn't think an unfamiliarity with the wind currents that blow off the city's three rivers through Heinz Field's open end had any effect on Brown's misses.

Three Rivers Stadium was enclosed on all sides and, while it could be windy, the grandstands cut down some of the wind. At Heinz, the wind blows directly into the stadium through the open end where the scoreboard sits.

"You've got to kick on the road, and you don't kick there," Cowher said. "I don't think that's much of an issue. The wind is going to be different every week. Our practice facility is very open and windy, and those same conditions exist there with a left-to-right wind.

"He had no problem kicking a 50-yarder against Cincinnati (on Oct. 7) and it was pretty windy that day."

Brown, who kicked a career-long 55-yarder earlier this season and was 11-of-13 until Sunday, was told by Cowher that his role has not changed despite the misses.

"If we get the ball to their 30, that's a minimum of three points in my mind," Cowher said. "Outside that, you have to take into consideration the conditions, the scenario of the game and the wind. But, to me, from 48 yards and in, that's three points with our guy."

Cowher, a former special teams coach, joked that, "I coached those guys for two years, and that's why I moved on."

"It's a lonely position, and it really requires a mentally tough, focused individual," Cowher said. "You can simulate everything you want, but there's nothing like being out there by yourself. You can simulate it all you want, but you still have to do it."

Despite losing the way they did, Cowher doesn't doubt the Steelers (5-2) will bounce back Sunday at Cleveland (4-3), which is coming off an even more troubling loss than Pittsburgh. The Browns led the Bears 21-7 with a half-minute to play, only to give up three quick touchdowns and lose 27-21 in overtime.

"I think from our perspective, we're not going to unravel with a game like this," Cowher said. "Games like this can make you a little bit tighter as a team, or so fragile that you start to fray a little bit. But I don't sense any fraying with this team."

Wide receiver Hines Ward said Brown was distraught when he reported Monday. Numerous teammates pulled him aside and told Brown they weren't blaming him for their first loss in six weeks.

"His head was down a little bit, but you can't fault Kris," Ward said. "He's going to make some big kicks for us, so let's get ready for Cleveland. He's feeling pretty bad now, but what's the sense of harping on it?"

Other notes of interest. ...

Amos Zereoue, still recovering from a shoulder injury is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. ... Zereoue was injured in the team's win over Tennessee two weeks ago and didn't play against the Ravens. He was replaced as the third-down back by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who handled that role last season. ... Without Zereoue, the team was unable to run some of the misdirection and counter plays the coaches thought might be successful against the Ravens.

Jerome Bettis, who is listed as probable with a sore wrist, is expected to start and play as usual this Sunday. ... The same goes for second-year receiver Plaxico Burress, who is listed as probable with a sore shoulder. ...

RB: J. Bettis (Prob; wrist), A. Zereoue (Quest; shoulder), C. Fuamatu Ma'afala

FB: J. Witman, D. Kreider

WR: H. Ward, P. Burress (Prob; shoulders), B. Shaw, T. Edwards, L. Jackson

TE: M. Bruener, J. Tuman, M. Cushing

PK: K. Brown

That way, he reasons, players can keep their eyes on mini-prizes instead of dwelling on failures or losing their bearing during the long march. It's a brilliant conceit, especially now, considering how they stumbled into their week off with an eight-turnover stinker against the New Orleans Saints.

"To end up 6-1 in the first half and really be at the top of the NFL is a good place to be," Martz said. "And in the second half we come back and we're energized."

Although he gave his players time off during last week's bye, Martz spent considerable time studying tape of the Rams' next three opponents, beginning with Carolina, to get a head start on the stretch drive.

"I like to make sure we've got everything nailed down real good," he said.

He also might dream up a few new trick plays, a Rams staple during the Martz era. Opponents complain about them, and label the Rams a finesse team because they can score on a reverse pass, or a direct snap to the tailback, or a handoff to the tight end.

Martz doesn't see himself as a maverick when he fools the opposition, just a guy trying to win however he can.

"Everybody has those in their offense, I think," Martz said. "The only reason you do those things is because you see something that they do defensively that you think you can take advantage of.

"I think that's OK to do, isn't it?"

Marshall Faulk practiced Monday and will work each day this week (except Tuesday's day off) as long as the weather holds and the Rams can practice outside on grass. The Rams normally hold Faulk out of practice one day each week as a precaution, but he needs the work after not practicing or playing since leaving the Oct. 14 game against the Giants.

"He's obviously been keeping in pretty good cardiovascular shape while he has rested the knee," Martz told reporters. "He looked fine out there today. We probably could have played him (Oct. 28 against New Orleans) but this is the best thing to do. He's in good shape."

Even with Faulk ready to go full speed, Martz still plans to work Trung Canidate into the mix over the second half of the season. ...

And finally. ... Veteran wide out Isaac Bruce suffered a fractured knuckle on his left pinky finger against the Saints. He continued playing in that game, and isn't expected to miss any practice time this week. ... At this point it looks like Bruce might have to wear a small splint on the finger for a while.

RB: M. Faulk, T. Canidate, R. Holcombe

FB: J. Hodgins, J. Watson

WR: T. Holt, I. Bruce, A. Hakim, R. Proehl, Y. Murphy, D. Griffin (Doubt; hamstring)

TE: E. Conwell, J. Robinson, B. Manumaleuna

PK: J. Wilkins

"'I was a little bit apprehensive because I went into the team meetings and I was thinking, "Does this bother me?"' Flutie said. 'Then I got out there on the field and got the old adrenaline pumping and started running around. I felt great.'

"Coach Mike Riley agreed, saying: 'He really was sharp. He threw the ball with a lot of velocity.'

"The 39-year-old Flutie blacked out when his head was slammed to the turf on a sack by Duane Clemons in the second quarter of the Chargers' 25-20 loss to Kansas City on Sunday.

"Flutie said he didn't feel coherent until the end of the third quarter. By then, rookie Drew Brees had started to rally the Chargers (5-3) from a 19-0 deficit to a 20-19 lead, but then San Diego gave up a late touchdown.

"Receiver-punt returner Tim Dwight, hospitalized for two nights with a collapsed lung, was at team headquarters for part of the day Wednesday. He's been ruled out of the Denver game.

"Dwight was hurt in the second quarter against the Chiefs but played the whole game.

"'Tim was wondering if he could play this week,' Riley said. 'He's a tough guy.'

"Flutie said Dwight was sore but in a wisecracking mood.

"'He was upbeat. He slipped into a meeting about halfway in and said, "Thanks for starting without me,"' Flutie said. ..."

Reggie Jones will fill Dwight's spot at the both punt returner and No. 3 receiver.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Freddie Jones both sat out Wednesday's practice to rest sprained ankles, but coaches expect both men to be ready to go before Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Jeff Graham suffered a concussion against the Chiefs, but the veteran wide out isn't included on the team's injury report this week. ...

RB: L. Tomlinson (Prob; ankle), T. Fletcher (Prob; ribs), R. Jenkins

FB: F. McCrary, D. Harris (Prob; hamstring)

WR: C. Conway, J. Graham, R. Jones, T. Gaylor, T. Dwight (Out; collapsed lung)

TE: F. Jones (Quest; ankle), S. Heiden

PK: W. Richey

"That's a near certainty as long as the San Francisco 49ers' star receiver and his coach aren't speaking to each other.

"No truce was in sight Monday after another victory in the 49ers' resurgent season, but both Owens and Mariucci expressed hope they soon would be allowed to stop discussing their 'soap opera,' as Mariucci termed it, which picked up steam again last week in an angry exchange of words.

"'I don't know that there's anything I can do personally or one-on-one to alter any of his feelings or his beliefs,' Mariucci said Monday. 'He has some strong feelings one way, and I may have some strong feelings the other.

"'We have some similarities, believe it or not. In some ways we're alike. When he comes to work, he gives us a full day's work, which I hope I do, too. He wants to win, just like I want to win. We both compete like crazy. We both have the same goal in mind for this football team.'

"Earlier in the week, Owens criticized Mariucci's play-calling late in the 49ers' loss at Chicago, in which San Francisco blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. Mariucci replied by calling Owens' thoughts 'utterly ridiculous.'

"Both Owens and Mariucci insist the 49ers can thrive even in chilly circumstances -- and so far, they've been right. With Owens catching two second-half TD passes from Jeff Garcia, the 49ers beat Detroit 21-13 on Sunday.

"Owens was in the spotlight all day. After burning the Lions with nine catches for 125 yards, Owens stoked his simmering feud with Mariucci by saying he thought their relationship never would heal.

"A day later, Owens' feelings hadn't changed.

"'It's been that way since he's been here, since we've been together,' Owens said. 'So, it's nothing new. I think a lot of people know that. I guess in four or five years, it hasn't changed now. I don't think it's going to change. I just want to play ball and get on with my life.'

"Though admitting he hadn't been misquoted or misrepresented, a visibly frustrated Owens said Monday that his days of speaking out were over.

"'I'm not going to try to say the right thing. I'm not going to try to express my feelings,' Owens said. 'Regardless of whether I'm trying to say something good, whether I'm trying to speak my mind, it's not going to come across right in the papers.

"'I said what I meant last week, and that was it. I'm just going to go out there and let my play do the speaking for me. If I play good, I play good. If I play bad, I play bad. I'm not running for office.'

"Owens' displeasure with Mariucci became public early last season, when the coach suspended Owens for one game after two outlandish touchdown celebrations in a victory over Dallas. Owens, incensed by the suspension and a $24,000 fine, said their relationship -- already tenuous -- had been damaged.

"Owens said last week's brouhaha was just the latest in a long history of minor events since Mariucci took over for George Seifert before the 1997 season.

"Owens broke a 50-year-old NFL record with 20 receptions in a win over Chicago last season, but he was burned last week when Mariucci said: 'I decide if a person is going to catch 20 passes in a football game. I decide. Me alone. But I chose to go for that record because it's so hard to attain.'

"When asked if he might be happier playing somewhere else, Owens replied: 'That problem hasn't come up yet. I play for the 49ers right now. ... If I play here, I'm going to play my hardest. If I play for Cleveland, or if I play for Denver, I'm going to be the same T.O. It doesn't matter.'

"Despite their differences, it's unlikely Mariucci or Owens will be going anywhere soon. After all, Owens' talents and Mariucci's offense blend perfectly; in addition, Owens has a lucrative long-term contract, and Mariucci is entrenched in his job leading the 49ers back from two dismal years.

"'We've got this football team here, 5-2,' Mariucci said. 'That should in itself be quite a story. I know that this whole thing might seem a little juicy to (reporters), and maybe your editors would like you to keep stirring it up a little bit, because it's different.

"'But really, I would ask you this: He's playing hard, he's playing well. Cut the guy some slack. ...'"

Other notes of interest. ...

Garcia, who is listed as probable on this week's injury report, played with a bad knee against Detroit and said, "My leg really held up well. It was a little restricting. I had it taped up, plus I was wearing a knee brace. All that is new to me. I've never had to wear that before. I didn't feel like my mobility was where it normally is, but it didn't bother me on the field as far as feeling any pain."

RB: G. Hearst, K. Barlow, P. Smith, J. Lewis (Out; groin)

FB: F. Beasley, T. Jackson

WR: T. Owens, J.J. Stokes, T. Streets, V. Sutherland, C. Wilson

TE: E. Johnson, J. Swift, B. Jennings, G. Clark (Out; hamstring/back)

PK: J. Cortez

Head coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that he hoped Hasselbeck learned a hard lesson in the Seahawks' 27-14 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Holmgren replaced Hasselbeck with Trent Dilfer in the second half with Seattle trailing 20-7. The move was prompted by Hasselbeck making critical mistakes while free-lancing on plays sent in from the sideline.

"If I call something, I want my quarterback to do that," Holmgren said. "That's what I want him to do. If he decides to improvise, it had better work. If you change my play, your play better work."

Holmgren was upset with Hasselbeck for throwing two interceptions and then losing the ball when he was sacked after leading the Seahawks from their own 17 to the Redskins 5 in the closing minutes of the first half.

The sack, by defensive end Marco Coleman, and the fumble recovery, by linebacker LaVar Arrington, drew much of Holmgren's criticism. The coach couldn't accept his quarterback committing a turnover in the red zone.

"Matt knows better," Holmgren said. "That was a play he'd like to have back."

Hasselbeck agreed, but said he thought he could avoid the tackle and throw a touchdown pass.

"I felt like I could make the guy miss," he said. "Looking back, I probably should have thrown it away."

Dilfer didn't enjoy much success either in the second half, throwing an interception. So Holmgren decided he'd go back to Hasselbeck for next week's home game against Oakland.

Acquired in a March trade from Green Bay, Hasselbeck has struggled in his first season as an NFL starter. He was Brett Favre's backup with the Packers for two seasons.

The Seahawks (3-4) are 1-4 in games in which Hasselbeck has started. His 59.1 quarterback rating is the worst in the league. He has been sacked 23 times and intercepted five times, while throwing just two touchdown passes.

Hasselbeck said he would take all the blame for the loss to the Redskins although Stephen Davis and Washington ran for 230 yards.

"There's no question I feel if I played better, we'd have had a great chance to win that game," he said. "The big thing was the turnovers. They were inexcusable. They were plays that just can't happen. I let everyone down."

Quarterback Jon Kitna's turnovers last season, when the Seahawks were 6-10, cost him his job in Seattle.

Holmgren hasn't lost faith in the young quarterback he targeted in the offseason. The Seahawks gave Hasselbeck a $24 million, five-year contract.

"Let's keep things in perspective," Holmgren said. "He's going to continue to get better. He's learning. He's taking his lumps. He's growing. I have no less confidence in Matt now than when we signed him."

Hasselbeck was drafted by Green Bay and spent the 1998 season on the Packers' practice squad in Holmgren's final season there. He knew Holmgren was demanding because of his dealings with Favre.

"You know, it's funny," Hasselbeck said. "I see the exact same things that went on with him and Brett. He honestly felt like Brett was bucking the system and wasn't listening to him because he wasn't seeing it on the field. I need to make sure I show it on the field. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

James Williams caught two passes for 69 yards at Washington and there's been speculation that he or Bobby Engram may get a shot at a starting job with Holmgren looking to make lineup changes. ... Of course, rookie Koren Robinson, who didn't catch a pass against the Skins last Sunday, is the most likely candidate for a demotion. The youngster is reportedly experiencing problems with his route running and overall grasp of the Seattle playbook. ...

RB: S. Alexander, J. Graham, C. Rogers, R. Watters (Out; shoulder)

FB: M. Strong, H. Evans

WR: D. Jackson, K. Robinson, B. Engram, J. Williams, A. Bannister, F. Bownes

TE: C. Fauria, I. Mili, R. Stewart (Prob; ankle)

PK: R. Lindell

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bucs have been even stingier than last season, when its opponents' touchdown percentage of 40.0 ranked fourth-best in the NFC. Tampa Bay has allowed only six touchdowns on 18 opponent possessions inside the 20 for a 33.3 touchdown percentage and it has permitted any score just 61.1 percent of the time, markedly better than last year's 77.8 scoring percentage for opposing offenses. In fact, Bucs' opponents have scored touchdowns just four times in their last 13 trips inside Tampa Bay's 20-yard line. ...

Pro Bowl FB Mike Alstott has been one of Tampa Bay's most consistent performers over his six-year career and his worth to the team has been evident as of late with Warrick Dunn battling injuries.

Alstott rushed for just 30 yards in Tampa Bay's loss at Green Bay on Sunday, but his one reception was a 19-yard TD on a screen pass, giving the Bucs a 17-7 lead in the third quarter. With the score, Alstott moved closer to the club's all-time touchdowns record, scoring his 44th career touchdown. He trails only James Wilder, who holds the mark with 46 career scores, in team history. Alstott also ranks second behind Wilder (37) in rushing touchdowns with 34 career TDs on the ground.

The previous week against Minnesota, Alstott started at running back in place of the injured Dunn (right hamstring strain) and rolled to his first 100-yard game since 1999. He rushed for 129 yards on 28 carries with three TDs for his first 100-yard game since November 7, 1999 at New Orleans (25 carries for 117 yards with one TD). His three TDs tied the team's single-game mark and marked his second career three-score game (also 12/27/98 at Cincinnati). ...

The latest word coming out of team headquarters Wednesday said Dunn practiced well on Wednesday even though he admitted that his strained right hamstring was still a little sore and not quite 100 percent. ... Dunn originally injured the hamstring in Week 6 against the Steelers, missed the team's Week 7 game and was limited to eight touches in Sunday's loss to the Packers. ...

Jacquez Green practiced Wednesday for the first time in three weeks, but is still questionable for this week's game in Detroit. ... Don't be surprised if Reidel Anthony doesn't replace Green, who is hobbled by a strained groin and abdomen, in the starting lineup again this Sunday. ...

RB: W. Dunn (Prob; hamstring), A. Stecker, R. Abdullah

FB: M. Alstott, J. Cook

WR: K. Johnson, R. Anthony, F. Murphy, K. Williams, J. Green (Quest; groin), M. Wynn

TE: D. Moore, T. Yoder, S. McDermott

PK: M. Gramatica

In fact, the coach demonstrated that skill quite nicely last week by telling anybody willing to listen that if Eddie George was somehow able to play last Sunday, there was no way on God's green earth the former Ohio State star would be able to handle his usual workload. ...

Ha!

George racked up 115 yards from scrimmage in the Titans win over Jacksonville.

But George wasn't the only Titan to raise his level of play noticeably against the Jags. ... Steve McNair had a huge game, accounting for 315 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. ...

The Titans had gone 23 consecutive regular season games without getting touchdown catches from two different wide receivers in the same contest. The streak ended in the 28-24 win over Jacksonville when both Kevin Dyson and Derrick Mason scored on pass plays.

Mason's six catches were good for only 35 yards, but his play seemed a key to McNair's solid passing game. Mason's five-yard touchdown reception put the Titans ahead 21-17 early in the fourth quarter.

He said ankle and shoulder injuries that had held him back are not on his mind so much anymore.

"I just couldn't really go out there and be effective," Mason said. "I was always doubting my ankle, whether I could go out there, run full speed and stop.

"Now I don't doubt it, I just go with the flow and my ankle hasn't bothered me the last couple weeks."

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger liked what he saw from Mason in practice last week.

"His routes were crisp, he pushed people," Heimerdinger said. "Late in the week I said, 'This week you look like an NFL receiver again.'

"When he's healthy you can move him around, you can get him in places, we can do some things with him. He and Frank (Wycheck) underneath are two good threats who work well together. They have a feel for each other. ..."

After scoring the first points of the game on a 20-yard touchdown catch, Dyson just missed another scoring catch when a long, well-thrown pass from McNair bounced off his hands just before halftime. Dyson said he took a bad angle on the ball.

Said Heimerdinger: "If we could just get Dyse to run through it instead of trying to jump on one foot all the time, he makes that catch. ..."

According to Jeff Legwold of the Nashville Tennessean, rookie wide receiver Justin McCareins, a fourth-round pick, was ready to explode in the offense when he suffered a fractured ankle Oct. 14 against Tampa Bay. But McCareins is a real find -- big, strong, fast and catches the ball in traffic -- and will have a significant impact on things before the year is done. ...

Legwold also noted this week that place-kicker Joe Nedney, Tennessee's top free agent acquisition, has shown better range than Al Del Greco, but he has also been erratic. He has missed six kicks in the team's first seven games, far too many for a team that plays it as close to the vest as this one does. ...

One last note. ... Wide receiver Eddie Berlin was expected to miss a month after suffering a separated shoulder on Oct. 14. But the youngster is working out on a limited basis right now and was in uniform for this past Sunday's game. ...

RB: E. George, M. Green, S. Hicks

HB: E. Kinney (Quest; calf), S. Meier (Quest; hand), W. Ours

WR: D. Mason, K. Dyson (Quest; toe), D. Bennett, E. Berlin (Quest; shoulder), C. Coleman, C. Sanders (Out; back), J. McCareins (Out; ankle)

TE: F. Wycheck, E. Kinney (Quest; calf), S. Meier (Quest; hand)

PK: J. Nedney

Davis rushed for 447 yards in those games.

"Stephen is as good a runner as I've been around, and I've been around good ones," coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

Those who follow the team closely say that Schottenheimer ordered offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye to double Davis' carries after he was given just 12 carries in the team's Oct. 7 loss to the Giants. After three earlier blowout losses that justified not using the two-time Pro Bowl back often, there was no excuse against the Giants given the game was tied 9-9 in the fourth quarter.

Since then, Davis hasn't carried less than 23 times per game and gained a season-high 32 for 142 yards and his first touchdown this season in last Sunday's win over Seattle

"Stephen is as good a runner as I've been around, and I've been around good ones -- Marcus Allen, Christian Okoye, Ernest Byner and Kevin Mack," Schottenheimer said. ...

Other items of interest. ...

Now that opposing defenses are starting to put their top cover corners on rookie Rod Gardner, who was held to just one catch for 18 yards last Sunday, the youngster might have a hard time producing on a consistent basis over the second half of the season. ...

The Redskins are off until Nov. 18 when traveling to the Denver Broncos. ... Tight end Stephen Alexander should return for Denver after missing three games to a high ankle sprain.