Heading into Sunday's game against the Chargers, the 23-year old Boston ranks second in the NFL with 944 receiving yards gained on 60 receptions. Decent totals for a guy on a team with a 3-6 record and the league's 27th ranked rushing attack.

"I think the country is starting to learn a lot about what he can do," quarterback Jake Plummer said. "You wouldn't believe the amount of people who come up and say, 'Hey, I've got David on my fantasy team and he's tearing it up.'"

Before this season, if Boston was known at all, it was for being known to taunt opponents and showboat, even when his team was hopelessly behind.

He was featured on a video shown to all NFL teams in training camp on how players should not behave. Boston was embarrassed, and so was his father, NFL line judge Byron Boston, who let his son know what he felt about it.

The younger Boston got the message.

"I don't want my reputation to be known like that," he said. "Some of these guys, like Terrell Owens, have that reputation of taunting, dancing in the end zone. Nobody says anything too bad about them. I just want to be known as a guy who does what he does on the field."

At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, with strength, skill and speed, Boston is quickly gaining the attention of opponents.

"This year so far, he comes close to Terrell Owens," Detroit cornerback Terry Fair said. "Their physical strength, their ability to run by guys, just make plays out there. He and Terrell Owens play kind of similar, but I think Boston might be faster."

Head coach Dave McGinnis seems to agree. He definitely believes Boston should be considered one of the top receivers in the game.

"You could say one week or two weeks was maybe a little bit of an aberration," McGinnis said, "but he's done it for eight consistent weeks. He's already started to draw double teams, and that's the first sign of respect in this league."

Boston traces his turnaround to the arrival of Jerry Sullivan as receivers coach. The two sat down to dinner, and Sullivan looked the young receiver in the eye and asked him how good he wanted to be and what he was willing to do to get there?

Boston said he wanted to be the best and set out to prove it. He showed up every day in the summer for workouts, sometimes in 110-degree heat. He underwent extensive weight training, buffing up his upper body, hamstrings and quadriceps. With Sullivan's guidance, Boston began paying attention to details.

"Last year, I relied a lot on my athletic ability," Boston said. "I was still making plays and was able to do things, but now I'm getting open. My route running and technique are sound. I'm getting in and out of my cuts better. I make runs after my catch."

Sullivan likes what he sees.

"I told him, `If you keep working hard, with your skills, and you listen to the right people, you can be as good as there is in the game,' and I truly believe that," he said.

Boston said he is far from satisfied.

"I think I can be a lot better," he said. "The things I need to work on is being consistent through all the games, even when guys roll the coverage up and you have double-coverage, still find ways to get open and stay hungry."

Here's hoping Boston gets on with his bad self and continues to progress. ...

Other items of interest. ...

Fellow wide out Frank Sanders, who pulled in seven passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Lions last Sunday, is listed as questionable with a pair of tight hamstrings. Early reports indicate he'll play against the Chargers this Sunday, but keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on his status as the weekend progresses. ...

Tight end Terry Hardy is expected to return to practice this week after missing three games due to shoulder injury. However, he's far from a lock to be ready this weekend and I'd suggest giving him a week or two to work his way back into the mix before chiseling his name into stone as one of your starters. ...

And finally. ... According to ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, the Cardinals are about a week or two away from making a decision on wide receiver Rob Moore for this season. Moore missed the entire 2000 campaign with a knee injury and hasn't played a single down yet this year because of groin and hamstring problems. If he can't practice consecutive days without pain, the Cardinals probably will place him on injured reserve, which would by definition conclude his season.

Of course, such a move might also end his tenure with the franchise, since Moore has a salary cap charge of $4.5 million and a base salary of $3.25 million for next year.

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

FB: J. Makovicka, D. McKinley (Probable; hamstring)

WR: D. Boston, F. Sanders (Questionable; hamstring), M.T. Jenkins (Probable; knee), A. Jackson, R. Moore (Out; hamstring)

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

PK: B. Gramatica

According to Falcon insider Charles Odum, Maurice Smith should return to his pattern of rushing for 70 to 80 yards per game after serving a more complementary role last week. The Panthers rank last in the league against the run and gave up 98 yards rushing to Jamal Anderson the second week of the season. Fullback Bob Christian was effective as a change-of-pace runner, but he will continue to earn most of his yards on short passes. ...

Veteran Terance Mathis has experienced no problems from the mild concussion he suffered against the Packers and coaches expect the veteran to start and play as usual this Sunday. ... Mathis, Tony Martin and Shawn Jefferson were aided by the strong support from Christian, tight end Brian Kozlowski and Brian Finneran last week.

Odum noted that Martin needs to re-establish his credentials as a deep threat or he could lose playing time to Finneran.

Tight end Reggie Kelly returned to the practice field today after missing practice all of last week and then sitting out at Green Bay due to a knee injury. Kelly suffered a strain behind his right knee in the first half against Dallas two weeks ago and was unable to return to the game. Kelly is listed as questionable on the Falcons injury report. Rookie TE Alge Crumpler took over the starter's role during his absence last Sunday. Kelly was the only Falcons player that missed the Green Bay game due to an injury.

Just for the record, Finneran, Mathis and Smith all practiced Wednesday and remain probable for the Carolina game.

RB: M. Smith (Probable, neck), R. Thomas, T. Jervey

FB: B. Christian, G. Layne

WR: T. Mathis (Probable, concussion), T. Martin, S. Jefferson, B. Finneran (Probable, back), Q. McCord

TE: R. Kelly (Questionable; knee), A. Crumpler, B. Kozlowski

PK: J. Feely

After Grbac committed five turnovers Sunday in a 27-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the hometown fans -- and some of his new teammates -- took Elvis-bashing to a new level.

The jeers at PSINet Stadium began in the first half, when Grbac threw three interceptions to put the Ravens in a 17-0 hole. Then, in the wake of the humbling defeat, tight end Shannon Sharpe cited Grbac's miscues for the loss.

"He was brought here to do a job, and the job is not getting done," Sharpe said. "He's got to do a better job of protecting the football."

Grbac threw four interceptions and lost a fumble Sunday. He has 13 interceptions compared to only nine touchdown passes, and his quarterback rating of 69.5 is worse than that of punter Kyle Richardson, who is 1-for-1 for minus-11 yards.

"I'm the guy most frustrated with what I'm doing," Grbac said Sunday.

But coach Brian Billick won't switch to Randall Cunningham, who went 2-0 while Grbac was sidelined with bruised ribs.

"Elvis Grbac is my starting quarterback. I foresee no change in that in the future," Billick declared Monday. "I have great faith in his abilities, and his teammates have great faith in his abilities. That's going to carry us through the second half of the season."

A year ago, the Ravens steadfastly refused to heap blame upon the offense during a stretch in which they failed to score a touchdown in five straight games. Billick is intent upon making sure the team handles this situation in the same fashion.

So, when he gathered the players Monday, he instructed them to refrain from criticizing Grbac through the media.

"If the mentality is to be us against them, we're prepared for that. This team is not going to engage in any conversations and speculations about any other team member," Billick said. "They're simply going to dismiss themselves and assume that the interview is over. This team very much wants to stay together and not point fingers."

Toward that end, Grbac and virtually all the Ravens were nowhere to be found Monday during the time in which the players usually talk to reporters.

Grbac was thrust into a difficult situation from the time he signed as a free agent to replace Trent Dilfer as quarterback of the Super Bowl champions. He started well, but lately has been guilty of the same mistakes that cost Tony Banks his job last season.

"This is a totally different set of circumstances," Billick said.

Despite Grbac's struggles, the coach has no remorse over dumping Dilfer in favor of Grbac.

"With no disrespect to Trent Dilfer, I'm much more comfortable with the attributes that Elvis Grbac can bring to this team," Billick said.

Operating behind an injury-riddled offensive line, Grbac has been hit hard and often enough to have received a concussion and a painful rib injury. But poor protection wasn't really an issue Sunday.

"The offensive line played very well," Billick said. "But that's been a part of it. Those are things we can try to correct. Elvis also needs to make better decisions at certain key times."

If he doesn't, the Ravens can probably forget about returning to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.

"If we play like this, however many games we got left, whatever our record is now, it'll stay like that in the winning column and it will gradually increase in the loss column," Sharpe said Sunday.

"Obviously, Brian feels (Grbac) can pull the trigger and make it happen for us. Ten games into the season, it hasn't happened the way we would like it to."

Just for the record. ... Of the team's 25 turnovers this season, Grbac has committed 17 and as Baltimore Sun reporter Mike Preston wrote this week, "This isn't the Grbac who threw in the preseason. He's gun-shy from the beatings. He doesn't step into passes. Sometimes he doesn't complete his follow-through. Fear does that to a quarterback. A tear was in his eye after the fourth interception."

But Preston went on to say Billick is too stubborn to replace him. Or as Preston put it, "The ego is working. He came to Baltimore from the Minnesota Vikings with the reputation of being a quarterback guru, and all he has produced is a carousel. Another failure and Billick doesn't look like a guru. This team needs a spark, and Cunningham should play now before it's too late. ..."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

According to SportsLine.com NFL insider Jay Glazer, Sharpe is playing with a painful knee problem that flares up weekly and the tough-as-nails veteran must have the knee drained on a weekly basis in order to play. ...

RB: J. Brookins, M. Williams, T. Allen (Out; hand)

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 (Questionable; leg)

PK: M. Stover

"Moulds is frustrated over a continuing lack of involvement in the Bills' offense. He has only seven catches for 68 yards over the past two games. Used mostly as a decoy against the Seahawks, Moulds had one 51-yard grab but only 10 yards combined on his three other receptions.

"With 32 catches for 404 yards, Moulds is well behind last year's Pro Bowl pace when he gained 1,326 yards on a club-record 94 catches.

"Teams are paying more attention to Moulds by double-teaming him. But other top receivers like the 49ers' Terrell Owens and the Colts' Marvin Harrison get the same treatment yet their teams find ways to get them the ball.

"Moulds may be coming off as selfish but all he wants is to help his team win. He can't do that unless the team gives him more of a chance. He hopes that will happen this Sunday against the Dolphins. ..."

Head coach Gregg Williams, commenting on Moulds' problems this season, told reporters: "The frustrations he expresses to me are private. He and I will handle that together, and we have to continue to find ways to get him the ball."

As Wilson noted, Alex Van Pelt showed what the West Coast offense is supposed to look like last Sunday as he avoided sacks by making quick decisions and getting rid of the ball on time. The obvious hope is that Van Pelt can help Moulds' get untracked. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Peerless Price faces a major challenge going up against the Dolphins this Sunday, but the second-year man has delivered 100+ yards in three of the last six games. ...

Rookie running back Travis Henry comes off a disappointing game against the Seahawks, and chances are he'll struggle again this Sunday with the Bills facing a much tougher Miami defense.

Tight end and long snapper Dan O'Leary will miss the rest of the season for the Buffalo Bills because of torn ligaments in his right hand and thumb. ... According to Williams, the rookie, a sixth-round draft choice from Notre Dame, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and will need surgery.

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

FB: L. Centers, P. Crosby

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

TE: J. Riemersma, S. Jackson, D. O'Leary (Out, wrist)

PK: J. Arians

Muhammad left last week's game against San Francisco in the second quarter after injuring his right shoulder. Muhammad injured his left shoulder the previous week against St. Louis when he landed hard on the artificial surface after making a catch.

Carolina coach George Seifert said that Muhammad should return next week when the Panthers travel to New Orleans.

Isaac Byrd and Patrick Jeffers will split time filling in for Muhammad this week. Seifert added that rookie Steve Smith may see more action in the offense.

Muhammad, who has missed just one game in the previous two seasons, turned in his best game of the season earlier this year against Atlanta with 10 receptions for 132 yards.

However, this has been a disappointing season overall for the six-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowl selection in 1999.

Muhammad, who led the NFC in receptions the past two seasons, has just 42 receptions for 481 yards with one touchdown this season.

"Obviously that is going to hurt us if he can't play, but we'll need some other guys to step up," quarterback Chris Weinke said. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Earlier this week, Seifert insisted he's to blame for his team's nine-game losing streak. The coach said admitted his poor play-calling in the fourth quarter contributed to the Panthers blowing an eight-point lead in last Sunday's overtime loss to the 49ers.

"I think that's something that certainly I feel personally responsible for and may have totally contributed to the loss of the game," Seifert said Monday.

Seifert, who had never lost more than two straight games in his previous nine seasons as a head coach, admitted he threw too much during a drive that began with 6:38 left and Carolina leading 19-14.

Weinke said the decision to throw was justified, even though running back Richard Huntley was averaging 5.9 yards a carry at the time. ... "It's always easier to critique yourself after it's over with," Weinke said.

By the way. ... Huntley actually had a good outing against San Francisco, racking up 94 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown along the way.

Coaches expect Hayes, who suffered bruised ribs during Sunday's game against San Francisco, to start and play as usual, although he might miss some practice time this week.

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

FB: C. Hetherington, B. Hoover

WR: D. Hayes (Probable; chest), I. Byrd, P. Jeffers, S. Smith, M. Muhammad (Doubtful; shoulder), K. Hankton (Out; arm)

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

PK: J. Kasay

"These are the NFC's elite wide receivers, an enigmatic group of perennial Pro Bowlers that consists of San Francisco's Terrell Owens, Tampa Bay's Keyshawn Johnson and Minnesota's Randy Moss and Cris Carter.

"Given Marty Booker's soft-spoken nature and team-first demeanor, the Bears' receiver sticks out like a sore thumb among the conference's most celebrated wideouts. But what the shy Louisiana native lacks in flamboyance he makes up for in production. Booker ranks third in the NFC in receptions (61) and second in touchdown catches (7).

"Having emerged as one of the top players at his position, Booker could become the Bears' first receiver to earn a Pro Bowl berth since Dick Gordon following the 1971 season. Of course, if the 1999 third-round pick makes it to Hawaii, it won't be because he tooted his own horn.

"'I'm a quiet guy,' Booker said. 'I don't say much. I'm not one to go out and holler, 'Just give me the damn ball,' and all that stuff. If it comes my way, I am happy. I kind of bite my tongue a little bit.'

"In Sunday's 27-24 win at Tampa, Booker set career receiving highs with 165 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on passes of 66, 44 and 28 yards from Jim Miller. Twice Booker separated from cornerbacks and outraced them to the end zone, proving that the injured Marcus Robinson isn't the Bears' only deep threat.

"'A lot of people have underestimated my speed, think I'm slow or whatever,' Booker said. 'I feel I have deceptive speed. A lot of what they ask me to do is underneath stuff and across-the-middle stuff. If I get in front of someone, you aren't going to catch me.'

"Booker miraculously held onto the first TD pass after getting drilled near the goal line by hard-hitting safety John Lynch. The force of the blow lifted Booker off the ground and sent his torso in reverse while his legs continued forward. He landed in a sitting position, slightly dazed.

"Lynch, the brother-in-law of John Allred who once knocked the former Bears tight end out cold, later congratulated Booker for surviving such a violent collision.

"'He just banged my shoulder a little bit,' Booker said. 'Next time he came up to me and said he hurt himself more than he hurt me. He said he was surprised I hung onto it.'

"Lynch isn't the only believer. Teammates who once confused Booker's easy-going nature with a lackadaisical attitude are marveling at his performance this season. The Northeast Louisiana product is on pace to catch 108 passes, which would shatter Johnny Morris' single-season team record of 93 set in 1964.

"'Marty's doing a good job,' said right tackle James 'Big Cat' Williams. 'Marty is a heck of an athlete. When he first got here, everybody thought he was kind of lazy and all that, but Marty's stepped up. Marty took on his responsibilities and now Marty's doing what he's supposed to be doing. ...'"

Mayer also noted that Booker burned a Bucs defense that was focusing on stuffing the run. But head coach Dick Jauron doesn't expect the long TD passes to change the way opponents have been defending his team.

"We'll continue to get eight-man fronts and when we don't it just means that they don't think we can run the ball successfully," Jauron said. "I expect that we will still see them because we are committed to the run."

Rookie running back Anthony Thomas rushed for 58 yards on 23 carries Sunday in Tampa after gaining 45 yards on 22 attempts a week earlier in a 20-12 loss to Green Bay. The A-Train had averaged 137 yards on 27 carries in his three previous games.

"We ran the ball a lot (against the Bucs) and we do it purposefully," Jauron said. "We think it sets up everything else that we do and we certainly don't want to be one-dimensional. We want to be more successful with the run. We will continue to run. We are committed to running it and that will keep people committed to trying to stop it."

Thomas is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Vikings due to a sore hamstring. ... Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on his status. ...

RB: A. Thomas (Questionable; hamstring), J. Allen, A. Denson, L. Johnson

FB: D. Shelton, S. Pritchard

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

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

PK: P. Edinger

His secret?

"I don't know," Cleveland's Corey Fuller said this week. "I wish he would tell us."

But Dillon's not telling anybody his secrets. In fact, he's not talking to the media heading into the season's second matchup of the Browns and the Bengals.

Dillon didn't have a run longer than 25 yards in Cincinnati's 24-14 victory over the Browns on Oct. 14. He had a lot of runs, though -- a season-high 31 carries for 140 yards overall.

It stands as the second-best total by a running back against the Browns this season, trailing Jerome Bettis' 163-yard game. Dillon's only bigger game was 184 yards against Detroit, where he went 96 yards on the first play and got 88 yards on 26 carries the rest of the way.

Dillon's role has been limited in the last two games because the Bengals fell behind and chose to throw. He ran 17 times in each of the losses.

"We haven't run the ball well in the last couple of weeks," quarterback Jon Kitna said. "That's something that we're working on, and I think we'll correct that this week. I think we have some good things in our game plan to address that problem."

Part of the problem is that teams have done a much better job taking away Dillon's cutback lanes. He repeatedly started toward the sideline, cut back and broke a long run during his 278-yard game against Denver last year, an NFL record.

Dillon followed that game with 137 yards against Cleveland. In the 17 games since then, Dillon has reached 100 yards five times. In five of those games, he failed to reach 50 yards.

The Bengals think there's an easy fix.

"The longer we stay in games -- we're not down by two scores in the fourth quarter -- the more opportunities we get to run the ball in the fourth quarter," Kitna said. "Get Corey up around 22 or 25 carries, that's when the big chunks are going to come, after he gets a chance to wear defenses down. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

Rookie wide receiver Chad Johnson thought he could have played last week against the Titans after his first week of practice and disagreed with the decision to inactivate him after some intense lobbying. But after watching Johnson take 16 of the 20 team snaps during Wednesday's practice, receivers coach Steve Mooshagian pronounced him good to go barring a relapse.

"I felt good last week," Johnson said. "I did chicken wing one ball (last Wednesday), but I got better as the week went on and Saturday I ran well.

I wanted to go because this is the stretch run. But they thought it was in my best interests to keep me out, so fine."

Johnson got hurt putting the exclamation point on his coming out party in the team's Oct. 14 win over the Browns. Johnson had a career-high five catches for 68 yards, with three coming on third down. Johnson hurt himself on a 16-yard completion to the Browns 9 under the Cleveland coverage and he broke his collarbone when he rolled on the ground making the catch. The Bengals scored three plays later on Dillon's five-yard run to make it 21-7.

"He needs to get back his game pace, of playing some snaps on a row," Mooshagian said. "As far as speed and catching and getting hit, he got hit a few times today and bounced up. Last week he was protecting himself. He was borderline. There's been none of that. He's much better. He's got fresh legs. That's for sure."

Johnson says he want to make those legs work and catch a deep ball.

"What's our longest catch? Forty-one (yards), right?" Johnson asked. "I'm going to get one longer than that pretty soon."

Darnay Scott, the man who has that 41-yard catch, didn't practice Wednesday because of painful bruised ribs, but head coach Dick LeBeau thinks he'll be able to play this Sunday.

One last note on Cincinnati's wide outs. ... In an update published last Monday, Pro Football Weekly noted the team's receivers have caught considerable flack for running the wrong routes while learning the nuances of offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski's new system this season; but one thing no one can fault them for is their blocking. ... According to PFW, not only have Scott, Peter Warrick, Ron Dugans shown a willingness to block in the running game, they have proven to be very effective at it.

RB: C. Dillon (Probable; knee), B. Bennett, C. Keaton, R. Johnson

FB: L. Neal

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

TE: T. McGee, K. McMullen, B. St. Louis

PK: N. Rackers

Appropriate or not, it's probably true. Seats on the Ben Gay bandwagon are filling up fast.

Gay's 56 rushing yards in Sunday's win over the Ravens, complete with the 21-year old rookie's first NFL touchdown and a 42-yard kickoff return, are the beginning of not only BenGayMania, but possibly of an illustrious and productive career.

With starting RB James Jackson out with an ankle injury, Gay got his first regular season action in the backfield. The fan favorite picked up a first down on a third and one play on his first NFL carry.

His second carry was special. Gay slipped in the backfield but regained his feet, found a seam and got to the sideline for a gain of 15. His 21-yarder in the fourth quarter moved the ball to the Ravens' 2 and set up Jamel White's game-clinching TD plunge.

Head coach Butch Davis said three weeks ago that Gay was "just not ready" for full-tilt, regular season game action. Those who were quick to criticize Davis' thinking-and there were many-might have been missing the boat.

If he's "not ready" and he played like that, the words "immeasurable potential" come to mind. This is a kid with talent, a dream, and the sky as the only foreseeable limit.

"I think you have to understand where Ben is coming from," Davis said. "He's got a limited amount of playing experience. He played none at Baylor. He had a tiny bit of exposure at the junior college level and I think he played one ballgame in the Canadian Football League."

If Browns fans get their way, Gay's long and sometimes crazy journey through the football world has come to an end.

"It's not a lack of ability or any of those kinds of things," Davis said of keeping Gay on the bench. "It's kind of the naivety of the whole thing. This is a big stage for anybody."

It's an especially big stage for a player whose last meaningful football game was a Texas High School contest in the fall of 1997.

"As crazy as this sounds, if you're a rookie from the University of Michigan and you've played in front of 107,000 people for 48 games and you've played Ohio State and you've played in the Rose Bowl, all of those things are growing experiences," Davis said. "With Ben, we're working on practice habits, mastering techniques, learning-and he's making progress. And we're happy with the progress that he's making."

Davis said the Browns would like to see Gay play a role in the offense when Jackson returns with the theme remaining "slowly but surely."

"We would like for Ben to continue to be part of the offense, sure," Davis said. "We'll try to get him involved in the game and we'll see. The one thing you don't want to do -- and I think this is a real common flaw by a lot of people -- is you see a guy having some success and immediately you go, 'Golly, you're having some success doing this. How come you don't just give him everything?'"

Sounds like a fair question as far as I'm concerned. ...

For what it's worth, Jackson told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer it was a coach's decision not to use him against the Ravens. The rookie had been suffering from an ankle injury, but reports prior to game time had indicated he might have been able to play. ...

Other items of interest this week. ...

Davis suspended fullback Mike Sellers and rookie defensive tackle Gerard Warren for one game Wednesday following the players' arrests.

Warren and Sellers will sit out Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"We're certainly disappointed," said Davis, who is in his first year with the Browns. "The players are extremely disappointed. They let the team down and they let themselves down, their families.

"I've always looked at teams that I've coached as extended members of my family. Sometimes they make mistakes; sometimes they don't do the right thing all the time. It doesn't mean you don't love them, but sometimes you have to have tough love."

Sellers pleaded innocent to felony drug-abuse charges Wednesday following his arrest after a traffic stop in Cleveland.

Warren, the club's top draft pick this year, faces a charge of carrying an unlicensed firearm following his arrest outside a nightclub in Pittsburgh.

The league's personal conduct policy states that players can be suspended for such criminal activity. But a suspension wouldn't come until after a player was convicted in court.

Warren and Sellers did not comment Wednesday but both practiced as the team prepared for the Bengals.

"It's not a big distraction," quarterback Tim Couch said. "Not when we've got to worry about Cincinnati. They're our teammates. They're our family and we're going to stay behind them."

Aaron Shea will start at H-back in Sellers' absence this Sunday. ...

RB: J. Jackson (Probable; ankle), J. White, B. Gay

FB: A. Shea, M. Sellers (Suspended)

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

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

PK: P. Dawson

Leaf has tired of the subject and said he won't discuss his wrist any more this season. He probably will make his last start of the season Thursday against Denver whether he plays well or struggles. He's still learning the nuances of the offense, which could be one reason he has made several poor reads this season. ...

According to Taylor, the team's quarterbacks have been a major reason the Cowboys aren't getting much run-after-catch production from Joey Galloway or Rocket Ismail. None of the four starters this year has been accurate, which means Galloway and Ismail often don't catch the ball in position to turn upfield and gain additional yardage.

Too often, they have had to make spectacular or sliding catches, giving them no chance to avoid defensive backs. Dallas ranks last in the NFL in yards after the catch with 371. Ismail accounted for nearly 20 percent of that total on an 80-yard touchdown reception against San Diego in Week 3. ...

Quincy Carter said he expects to start the final six games, if he doesn't have a setback with his surgically repaired left hamstring. Carter has been running the scout team for the past two weeks and has said there is nothing physically wrong that would prevent him from starting.

The Cowboys would like to use those six games to get an idea of how productive he would be over the course of a season. Carter said he has spent the past few weeks standing on the sideline trying to learn some of the game's subtleties.

In an update published last Monday, Pro Football Weekly indicated that team officials are pleased with the progress of Carter's rehab. He injured his hamstring on Oct. 7 against Oakland and then had surgery a week later on the tendon that connects the lower part of the hamstring. He is already running and throwing in individual drills. In the meantime, there's a theory floating around that owner Jerry Jones would love Leaf to look good enough for other teams to become interested in trading for him next spring, but either way, Carter will regain the starting job once he's ready to return so the Cowboys can further evaluate him.

One last note on Carter: As CNN/SI insider Peter King pointed out this week, Troy Aikman isn't cutting Jones any slack on the Carter pick. "You move up in the draft to take a kid in the second round, and he basically has not played and yet they're already evaluating whether or not he's going to be the future," Aikman said. "I don't understand that. What's strange is they moved up to draft him and they've changed the way he grips the ball and they've changed his mechanics. I'm wondering what it is they saw in him to warrant moving up and drafting him in the second round. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

Despite leaving last Sunday's game early, Emmitt Smith will start on Thursday's game against Denver. "I'm not 100 percent, but I'm healthy enough to do my job," Smith told the Dallas Morning News this week. ... Troy Hambrick will return to fullback/backup duties tomorrow. ... The Cowboys will be without veteran tight end Jackie Harris, who left last week's game against the Eagles early with a sore hamstring, for tomorrow's game against the Broncos. Mike Lucky and J.J. Huggins will be asked to pick up the slack in Harris' absence. ...

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

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

WR: J. Galloway, R. Ismail, R. Swinton, D. Chiaverini, K. Rambo, R. Williams

TE: M. Lucky, J.J. Huggins, M. Solwold, J. Harris (Out; hamstring)

PK: J. Hilbert

"I don't think we'll know until game time exactly what his status is," coach Mike Shanahan said Monday.

The Broncos' only full practice this week was set for Tuesday, and Smith was unable to take part in the session. Nor did he take part in Wednesday's walk-through.

Smith, the NFL's leading receiver with 75 catches for 948 yards, headed to the locker room late in Sunday's game, unable to play any longer on the ankle he sprained the previous week.

Shanahan said Smith played "at about 80 percent" in Sunday's 17-10 loss to Washington, which dropped the Broncos to 5-5.

"He really kind of struggled for Rod Smith," Shanahan said. "He didn't play at the level he normally plays at. He couldn't get open. His ankle was bothering him. That's why we took him out.

"I was watching him in man coverage, and he was trying to hang in there and show the team how tough he was. We probably made a mistake playing him as long as we did."

Despite aggravating the injury, the short time frame before the next game and the fact the game will be played on artificial turf, Shanahan said Smith will play if he's able.

"If he can help our football team, he'll play," Shanahan said. "If he can't perform at the level that we think can help our team, we'll keep him out and put somebody else in."

There's the rub.

Denver's receiver corps has been depleted by injuries. Kevin Kasper and Scottie Montgomery missed last Sunday's game with ankle and knee injuries, respectively. Eddie Kennison was released by the team Wednesday after dumbfounding his teammates by retiring the night before the previous game, then later changing his mind.

On Sunday, that left Denver with a gimpy Smith, two healthy receivers who had combined for just two catches all season (Keith Poole and Chris Cole), a tight end who was force-fed some receiver plays in practice (Matt Dominguez) and a rookie who was promoted from the practice squad (Phil McGeoghan).

Smith blamed himself for Sunday's loss, which caused Shanahan to smile.

"If we get everybody thinking like that, we'll be in good shape," he said. "He's a competitor. He did some great things even playing at 80 percent. That's the mindset you want. You want guys to put pressure on themselves. When you do that, people step up."

Smith had three catches for 25 yards and the Broncos' lone touchdown on Sunday.

Although he remains the league leader, he lost ground in his bid to catch Detroit's Herman Moore for the NFL's single-season reception record of 123 set in 1995. Smith is on pace for 120.

After Sunday's game, Smith said he wasn't surprised at the nearly empty stands late in the game.

"The way I was playing, I wanted to be gone, too," he said. "I didn't get going, and neither did our offense."

Poole and Cole are expected to line up as the starters if Smith can't go tomorrow. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

After Sunday's loss to Washington, Brian Griese told reporters the Broncos "can't make a play" with Smith injured. A week earlier, Griese said the Broncos didn't have a lot of talent on offense.

Asked to assess Griese's performance in Sunday's game, Shanahan on Monday said the quarterback had not played a perfect game.

"Everybody has got to look at themselves and be very critical," Shanahan said. "There were some open guys, and sometimes it's a breakdown in the line. Sometimes it's a misread. Other times it's guys not getting open,"

While not saying his remarks were aimed directly at Griese, Shanahan added, "The only way you get good at anything is by looking at yourself and worrying about what you can do and not worrying about the other guy."

If Griese felt chastened, he wasn't saying. The quarterback sent word through a Broncos spokesman that wouldn't be doing his weekly press conference because he was too busy studying the game plan during a short week of preparation for Thursday's game in Dallas.

Asked if he had spoken with Griese about the quarterback's criticism of the offense, Shanahan said, "I talk to a lot of players every day, but I don't talk about it publicly. The only thing that matters is that our football team communicates and we're on the same page.

"We try to iron out these things together as a team, and it will be ironed out. ..."

According to the Denver Post, despite missing his sixth straight game Sunday because of an ankle injury, Kasper is expected to play tomorrow. His presence would certainly be a positive given Smith's status. ... Tight end Desmond Clark has been getting more passes thrown his way than starter Dwayne Carswell in recent weeks, and he's likely to play a key role in the team's passing attack in Dallas tomorrow. ...

And finally. ... Starting halfback Mike Anderson, who was held to 31 yards on 13 carries last Sunday, and backup Olandis Gary, who carried the ball 10 times for 28 yards against the Redskins, will continue to share the workload in Dallas tomorrow. ... Terrell Davis, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last week, hopes to be ready for the Dec. 2 game in Miami.

RB: M. Anderson, O. Gary, T. Davis (Out; knee)

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

WR: R. Smith (Questionable; ankle), K. Poole, C. Cole, K. Kasper (Questionable; ankle), S. Montgomery (Questionable; knee), M. Dominguez

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

PK: J. Elam

"If Stewart returns from a high ankle sprain -- along with his 4.8-yard average -- the Lions' offense will have some balance because Stewart will be a force to be reckoned with. He's not a game-breaker, but he's a load when he's pounding the ball between the tackles. Teams have to respect the run on first and second downs, opening up the possibilities for play-action passes.

"If Stewart is out, as he has been for the past month, there will be no offensive balance. After gaining 22 yards on 16 carries in the first half against Arizona last week, coach Marty Mornhinweg abandoned the run because it was worthless.

"If Stewart doesn't play, it's possible quarterback Charlie Batch could eclipse the team-record 62 pass attempts he had last week. ...

"Batch played a very strong game against the Cardinals and broke several team records, but one of his big problems in the West Coast offense was exposed. Batch does not throw accurately on the run, and rollouts and sprints are a big part of the offense.

"With the injuries to Bert Emanuel and Desmond Howard, the Lions are alarmingly thin at receiver. Rookie quarterback Mike McMahon was pressed into action as a receiver late in the fourth quarter. Detroit is expected to bring up a practice-squad player, either Andre Rone or Latef Grim, but neither receiver can replace the consistency of Emanuel (out four to five weeks) or Howard (a week or two). ...

"With Howard sidelined and Larry Foster starting at receiver, the Lions are also hurting in the return game. They signed Aveion Cason this week, and he'll likely return kickoffs; punts will probably be handled by defensive back Terry Fair. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

Just for the record. ... Stewart practiced on Tuesday and told reporters, "I feel pretty good. It felt better than I thought. I'm just going to see, let (the medical staff and coach Marty Mornhinweg) decide whether I play or not. ..."

Tight end David Sloan caught two passes for a total of three yards at Arizona, but both receptions were good for touchdowns. ... Veteran running back Lamont Warren rushed for 32 yards and a TD against the Cardinals and caught 11 passes for 64 yards and a score. ... Look for coaches to continue featuring Warren on third downs and near the goal line as a receiver, even with Stewart back in the lineup. ...

RB: J. Stewart (Questionable; foot), R. Droughns, L. Warren, A. Cason,

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

WR: J. Morton, L. Foster, S. Anderson, D. Howard (Questionable; shoulder), B. Emanuel (Out; knee)

TE: D. Sloan, S. Trejo, J. Waerig, B. Banta

PK: J. Hanson

"[Antonio] Freeman has made a number of big plays this season, but he's not the consistent playmaker he was three years ago. He lacks speed to separate and doesn't function as well in man-to-man coverage. He still has good ability in the red zone and is outstanding in finding holes in zones.

"[Bill} Schroeder has improved in a lot of areas, but he's not the kind to catch six or eight passes and dominate a game. He will make several significant catches a game. He isn't good against hard-nosed corners who will get in his face.

"[Corey] Bradford is simply a deep threat with no intermediate ability. Charles Lee has size and speed, but his hands are inconsistent and he hasn't played well enough to warrant more time.

"Rookie Robert Ferguson might be the best athlete, but he's shaky on his assignments and hasn't been active for a single game this season. He has great size and strength and should be a big target in the offense eventually.

"The tight ends have talent but are so young and inexperienced, they haven't had much impact. Bubba Franks really needs to get off the line of scrimmage faster and separate from linebackers. David Martin can get downfield, but his blocking is suspect, and he is inexperienced in understanding when to take his route upfield and when to break it off short. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

Ahman Green had a huge game against Detroit in the regular season opener, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Look for more of the same against those same Lions, whose defense is questionable at best, tomorrow. ... Look for Brett Favre, who comes off a rather rough outing last Sunday, to bounce back in a big way against the Lions. ...

And finally ... Donald Driver is still dealing with a thigh injury, and is expected to miss tomorrow's game.

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

FB: W. Henderson

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

TE: B. Franks, D. Martin, T. Davis

PK: R. Longwell

The Colts announced Wednesday that James will undergo surgery soon to repair ligament damage in his left knee. He was placed on injured reserve.

James, the two-time NFL rushing champion, has missed three games since injuring the knee Oct. 25 at Kansas City. He started 38 straight games before the injury.

Team president Bill Polian said James is expected to need about seven months to recover from the surgery, which would also prevent him from participating in spring or summer camps.

The surgery is expected to take place in Miami. James had sought a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon John Uribe, who is the team doctor for the University of Miami, where James starred before joining the Colts in 1999.

The severity of James' injury had been widely reported last week, although until Wednesday, the team would say only that he would miss two to three weeks.

But that wasn't the only bad news emanating from team headquarters this week, the Colts also found it necessary to place wide receiver Jerome Pathon on injured reserve Tuesday. Team president Bill Polian said Monday night that Pathon will undergo surgery "sometime soon" to repair a damaged ligament in his right foot.

The move will end Pathon's fourth NFL season. The Colts did not announce how they would fill Pathon's roster spot.

Pathon sprained his right foot near the end of the third game of the season, a 44-13 loss at New England. He aggravated the injury during warmups before the Colts played Miami on Nov. 11. Polian said a further examination last week revealed more damage to the foot.

Pathon earned the starting job opposite two-time Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison, and was having the best season of his career. He set career highs for receptions and receiving yards in each of the Colts' first two games, and was the team's leading receiver through three games.

He missed four games before returning against Miami.

Pathon tried to practice last Wednesday. But Polian said the receiver had a setback before missing Sunday's game at New Orleans.

Pathon finishes the season with 24 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

But wait. ... There's more. ...

Rookie Reggie Wayne sprained his knee last Sunday and his status for this week has yet to be determined. ... If Wayne can't go, look for Terrence Wilkins to take his place in the lineup. ... And according to head coach Jim Mora, wide receiver Trevor Insley sustained a knee sprain during practice Wednesday. The extent of the injury was not immediately known.

On a more positive note, all the injuries at wide out are almost certain to mean more looks for tight end Marcus Pollard.

And finally. ... The Colts waived quarterback Roderick Robinson and signed fullback Wes Ours and wide receiver Tony Simmons. ... WR Desmond Kitchings was added to the practice squad.

RB: D. Rhodes, K. McDougal, S. Stith, E. James (Out; knee -- IR)

FB: J. Finn, W. Ours

WR: M. Harrison, T. Wilkins, R. Wayne (Questionable; knee), T. Insley, T. Simmons, J. Pathon (Out; foot -- IR)

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

PK: M. Vanderjagt

Brunell decided about two hours before kickoff that he couldn't play in the Jaguars' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, missing his 10th start in seven seasons with Jacksonville.

Head coach Tom Coughlin declined to say whether he thought Brunell would miss another game, but he didn't sound optimistic.

"He's obviously better than he would have been if he had played" against the Steelers, Coughlin said Monday.

Brunell's strained right quadriceps first became public when he was listed as probable for Jacksonville's game against Cincinnati two weeks ago. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but recovered well enough to play.

That's why there wasn't much alarm when Brunell missed practice again last Wednesday and Thursday, and was again listed as probable for the Steelers. Last Wednesday, Brunell said he expected to play.

But Coughlin revealed Monday that Brunell had actually done more damage to the leg against the Bengals, which contributed to his late scratch before the Steelers beat the Jaguars 20-7, dropping Jacksonville to 3-6.

"We kinda figured (he wouldn't play)," receiver Jimmy Smith said. "He had been playing with that the last couple of weeks. I think it was the right decision. It's better he miss this game than the rest of the season."

"We can't say we give up because (Jonathan Quinn) was starting," Jacksonville receiver Keenan McCardell said. "(Quinn) was all right."

It's worth noting that Quinn took the majority of snaps during Wednesday's practice while Brunell watched from the sidelines.

Also of interest. ...

According to SportsLine.com NFL insider Jay Glazer, one week after Miami-based specialist Dr. John Uribe recommended that Colts' running back Edgerrin James undergo season-ending knee surgery, the doctor recommended that another star back is not yet ready to return to action.

Glazer reported that Jaguars running back Fred Taylor met with the specialist Tuesday morning and was told that his injured groin is still not healed. Taylor has been practicing the past three weeks and the Jaguars had hoped he would have been back in the lineup already. However, he has been unable to run full speed and now comes word that he will continue be sidelined.

"Dr. Uribe said he has a major injury and that after eight weeks, it's still not healed and is going to take some more time getting healthy," Taylor's agent Drew Rosenhaus said. "He wasn't sure specifically how much time Fred would miss but it's a major tear, he tore the groin muscle off the bone. Dr. Uribe said this is the type of injury that could often take a minimum of three months before it is healed."

Taylor injured the groin in the first half of the team's second game of the year. He made a cut in the middle of the field and suddenly stopped, let go of the ball and dropped.

"It's going to be very unfair for anyone to assume he will play any time in the immediate future," said Rosenhaus. "He's just not healthy yet. He can't run full speed without tremendous pain. The Jaguars have done a very good job in working him but he's still in pain.

"It's not just the groin but he also has pain in the hip now, which is an off-shoot of the groin. But he's still healing and he shouldn't play at this time and when the Jaguars talk to him later today, I'm sure they'll have the same feeling."

In Taylor's absence, the Jaguars have played musical chairs in the backfield. Stacey Mack has been the primary replacement, but youngsters Frank Moreau and Elvis Joseph have also been given shots. Mack started Sunday's game and will likely remain with the first team in the immediate future.

"He's doing everything he can to get back in as soon as possible," said the Florida-based agent. "Remember, we entered the season primed to play and receive a big contract extension so nobody wants in there more than Fred.

"But the doctor recommends that he is progressing at a good pace and it depends on how the injury heals. He said he has seen guys miss an entire season with this. But at the same time, it's such a vague injury. Fred may wake up next week and suddenly feel great. At the same time, it could take several weeks. We don't know. We only know he's healing but shouldn't play at this time."

By the way. ... Last week's opening kickoff was the first Jacksonville rookie Elvis Joseph ever had returned in the NFL.

He returned his second one 95 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter, cutting the Steelers' lead to 13-7. Joseph narrowly escaped an attempt at a diving tackle by Troy Edwards, cut up the right side, then cut back through the last three defenders just inside Steelers' territory on the way to the touchdown.

"It was outstanding," Coughlin said. "If you remember back in the preseason, that's how Elvis Joseph first made an impression on us, was his kickoff returns, and then he pulled a hamstring when we were getting ready to start the season and he couldn't do it. He's back doing what we originally intended him to do."

It was a role Joseph didn't even play in college. He returned only two kickoffs for a total of 28 yards last year at Southern University. He had 596 yards and eight touchdowns rushing that year. The Jaguars picked him up as an undrafted free agent.

And finally. ... Kickoff specialist Jim Tarle, who managed just one touchback in nine games, was released Wednesday along with third-string quarterback Phil Stambaugh.

Coughlin has been complaining about Tarle's ineffectiveness for the last month. His first touchback came last week against Pittsburgh on a kick that bounced around the 15 and skidded into the end zone.

Mike Hollis is expected to take over kickoff duties. Hollis has a history of back troubles and the Jaguars signed a kickoff specialist in 1999 to reduce his work.

Both Stambaugh and Tarle practiced with the Jaguars on Wednesday before being released.

The Jaguars picked up Stambaugh, a second-year player from Lehigh, before the regular season and he didn't take a snap. They signed quarterback Roderick Robinson, who was with the team in the 2000 preseason, to take his place.

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

FB: P. Washington

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

TE: K. Brady, D. Jones (Doubtful; shoulder), R. Prince, J. Zelenka

PK: M. Hollis

"Despite having the game's best pass receiving tight end in Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs are still far short of having a dangerous and effective group of receivers. Gonzalez is as much of a weapon as ever but can't carry the load by himself.

"Derrick Alexander, expected to be the top wide receiver, has had a disappointing season. He has missed three games with nagging injuries and hasn't been much of a factor when he's played.

Rookie Marvin Minnis has had moments, such as his diving touchdown reception in the final moments of the season-opener against the Raiders. But Minnis had made many costly mistakes by running the wrong route and causing an interception.

"Larry Parker was on the bubble during training camp but earned a roster spot and has come on to make a contribution but is not the answer. The same goes for journeyman Chris Thomas. ..."

Minnis is unlikely to be available for Sunday's game against Seattle due to the sprained ankle he suffered during a Nov. 11 game against the Jets and Thomas is likely to replace him as the starting split. ... Alexander (ribs) has returned to practice and is expected to start against Seattle.

Also of interest. ...

Team officials signed free agent wide receiver J.J. Moses to the practice squad Wednesday. ... Moses (5-6, 178) begins his second tour of duty with the Chiefs this season after entering the NFL as a rookie free agent and spending time in the club's training camp. Kansas City released Moses at the conclusion of camp and he spent time on Green Bay's developmental squad this season.

And finally. ... SportsLine.com senior writer Pete Prisco reported last Thursday that the Rams are angry with the Chiefs for their alleged tampering with wide receiver Az Zahir-Hakim. The Chiefs are said to be interested in Hakim because he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the Kansas City staff worked with him when they were in St. Louis. Al Saunders, the Chiefs offensive coordinator, did admit to speaking with Hakim but denied saying anything about potentially joining the Chiefs after the season, which would be a violation of league rules.

But the Rams don't think Hakim is the only player Kansas City made contact with. Tight end Jeff Robinson is another player the Rams are convinced the Chiefs contacted; he is also expected to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Chiefs appear solid at the position with Pro Bowl player Tony Gonzalez and Mikhael Ricks, but Robinson is also one of the league's best deep snappers, and tight ends don't get many balls thrown their way in the St. Louis offense. That could entice Robinson to leave, and it will be very interesting to see if the Chiefs come calling.

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

FB: T. Richardson, J. Williams

WR: D. Alexander, C. Thomas, L. Parker, M. Minnis (Doubtful; ankle), D. Hall

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

PK: T. Peterson

"Jay is the starter," coach Dave Wannstedt said Monday. "I've got confidence he will get that corrected this week. I'm counting on it like everyone else is. I'm expecting it to get better."

The only interception Wannstedt clearly blamed on Fiedler was Damien Robinson's leaping grab near the end zone. With the Dolphins at the Jets 35, Fiedler was looking deep for rookie Chris Chambers despite Robinson lurking in the area. Wannstedt said Dedric Ward was open in the middle of the field.

"Jay has to do a better job protecting the ball," Wannstedt said. "We've got to get that done if we are going to a good football team down the stretch."

It's worth noting, however, that Fiedler blames himself for all three interceptions in Sunday's loss.

"My job is to take that pressure and be the scapegoat of the offense, whether that is the case or not," Fiedler said. "I'm going to take everything on myself, and say it is my fault every time."

Turnovers have been the most glaring negative for an otherwise efficient quarterback. Fiedler is completing 62 percent of his passes, and twice this season he has directed fourth-quarter comeback victories.

But his 15 interceptions are second only to Kansas City's Trent Green (16) for most turnovers in the NFL. In addition, Fiedler has lost three fumbles.

In two losses to the Jets this season, the Dolphins have had nine turnovers.

Fiedler has been picked off five times the last two games and has thrown an interception in eight straight games. In six games, he has had more than one pass picked off.

The Dolphins hope to correct their problems against the Buffalo Bills Sunday. Last year, Miami won for the first time in Buffalo since 1996 and Fiedler played perhaps his best game of the season in the 33-6 victory. He threw for 214 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

"I don't know if there is a common theme," Fiedler said of the interceptions. "There are times when I'm trying to manufacture plays, and force things in there, especially when things aren't working."

Wide receiver James McKnight had nine catches for 66 yards, but later lost a fumble that resulted in a Jets' field goal.

"We've got to protect the football," McKnight said. "Coach Wannstedt knows guys are out there trying to make plays. Guys are out there trying to fight to get our team back in the game. He's not upset with the effort we are putting out there. He is upset with just the carelessness of putting the ball on the ground."

Speaking of McKnight. ... The veteran might be the fastest player on the roster, but that doesn't mean he is a finesse wide receiver. McKnight has good size (6-1, 200), and he almost always breaks the first tackle. He credits his work on special teams early in his career with the Seahawks for his physical style.

The Dolphins are moving McKnight around, trying to put him in good matchups. He can line up in the slot and in the backfield, putting him against a linebacker. Reports of substandard hands don't appear to be true. Getting him more involved in the deep game is a priority because he can run by cornerbacks. ...

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

FB: R. Konrad (Questionable; shoulder), D. Dyer

WR: O. Gadsden (Probable; shoulder), J. McKnight (Probable; back), C. Chambers, J. Ogden, D. Ward

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

PK: O. Mare

"This could be a springboard for him," Green told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It was coming. He'd been bottled up this season, but we were able to beat some coverages."

Moss has six touchdowns on the year with seven games remaining. ...

St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Bill Williamson made an excellent observation Wednesday when he pointed out that the Vikings used the passing attack to cover for the team's inability to run the ball effectively Monday night.

After missing three games with an ankle injury, rookie tailback Michael Bennett struggled to establish a running attack against the New York Giants on Monday night. ... Bennett had one 16-yard run. But, otherwise, he was stymied.

So. ... The Vikings turned to possession receiver Cris Carter, who kept the chains moving and the Giants guessing with his 10 catches for 46 yards. ... Carter's short gainers helped eat up the clock and opened up the long passing game for Moss.

Expect the same method in the future if the actual running game fails. ...

Also of interest. ... Byron Chamberlain's right knee locked up on him during Monday night's game, but the former Bronco is expected to start and play as usual against the Bears Sunday night. ...

RB: M. Bennett, D. Chapman, T. Prentice

FB: J. Kleinsasser (Probable; ankle), H. Morrow

WR: R. Moss, C. Carter, J. Reed, C. Walsh, T. Walters, N. Jacquet

TE: B. Chamberlain (Probable; knee), A. Jordan

PK: G. Anderson

"I look forward to the chance to compete for my job," Bledsoe said Tuesday after coach Bill Belichick selected Tom Brady to start -- and get most of the snaps in practice -- for the rest of the season "barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"My reaction was simply to do the same thing I've done for the nine years since I was drafted, and that's to do what I can to help my team win," Bledsoe said. "I look forward to getting back on the field, going to battle for my teammates and going to battle for the organization."

But not too far underneath Bledsoe's collegiality is anger over not getting the opportunity he feels he was promised to win the job back once he was healthy.

"That's what I was told," he said curtly.

Asked how he would prove he was ready if he didn't get a chance to practice with the first team, Bledsoe said, "Next question."

Belichick's decision, the coach insisted, did not mean Bledsoe had lost his job or even that Brady had won it. Instead, Belichick claimed that trying to prepare two quarterbacks for the games would mean neither could be ready. Because Brady has played the last eight weeks, the coach reasoned, he gives the Patriots a better chance to win.

"We just have to get our guy ready to play, and that's my responsibility to the team," said Belichick, who went through a similar situation when he coached in Cleveland and cut the immensely popular Bernie Kosar, replacing him with Vinny Testaverde.

"It isn't a case where somebody's beaten somebody out. I feel very fortunate that we have the quality of players and people at the quarterback position," Belichick said. "I wish I could say that about every position."

Bledsoe signed a 10-year, $103 million contract in the offseason that is the richest in NFL history. But in Week 2, he was knocked out by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis and hospitalized for four days with a sheared blood vessel in his chest.

Brady, selected in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, jumped ahead of Damon Huard in training camp to become the No. 2 quarterback. Brady has gone 5-3 since replacing Bledsoe, including a 24-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday night when Bledsoe had been cleared by doctors to return, but didn't get into the game.

Brady was 19-for-27 for 185 yards Sunday night, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. For the year, he is 159-for-248 for 1,611 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

"He's done a reasonably good job," Belichick said. "I don't think it's been unbelievable. But I've seen a lot worse, too."

Brady would not talk to reporters on Tuesday, alluding to an unwritten rule developed under Bledsoe that the starting quarterback spoke to the media only on Wednesdays. Belichick would not elaborate on what would have to happen -- other than an injury to Brady -- for Bledsoe to win the job back.

"It is game to game, but I don't see how it's going to change," Belichick said. "It's not going to be, 'There's an incomplete pass. We're going to change quarterbacks.' We can't operate like that."

Belichick said he did not regret signing Bledsoe to such a large contract over the offseason, even though it now makes him the highest-paid backup in history. It also makes it virtually impossible to trade him.

"This position is a position of strength," he said. "Nobody has done more for this organization than Drew Bledsoe. He's a consummate professional. Drew's been a tremendous asset to the organization, and he's been a big factor in the way we've performed this year."

Other notes of interest. ...

Wide receiver Terry Glenn did not practice Tuesday or participate in the pre-practice walkthrough on Wednesday and he's unlikely to hit the field against the Saints this Sunday. ...

And finally. ... The Patriots activated rookie tight end Arther Love from the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday. Love, a sixth-round draft pick from South Carolina State, was out since injuring his leg last spring. ... During his college career, Love caught 34 passes for 562 yards and four touchdowns.

RB: A. Smith, K. Faulk, J.R. Redmond

FB: M. Edwards, P. Pass

WR: D. Patten, T. Brown, C. Johnson, T. Glenn (Questionable; leg)

TE: R. Rutledge, J. Wiggins, A. Love

PK: A. Vinatieri

While statistical totals are impossible to predict, by their current per game averages Brooks is on pace for 3,828 yards passing, Williams is on target for 1,521 yards rushing and Horn is on pace for 1,310 receiving yards for a projected 6,659 yards of total offense between the three.

What follows is a look at the top threesomes for the Saints in total offense, so far.

1995 - 6,008 yards - QB Jim Everett (3,970 yards), RB Mario Bates (951), WR Quinn Early (1,087)

1979 - 5,436 yards - QB Archie Manning (3,169 yards), RB Chuck Muncie (1,198), WR Wes Chandler (1,069)

1994 - 5,419 yards- QB Jim Everett (3,855 yards), RB Mario Bates (579), WR Michael Haynes (985)

1988 - 5,062 yards - QB Bobby Hebert (3,156 yards), RB Dalton Hilliard (823), WR Eric Martin (1,083)

1980 - 5,055 yards - QB Archie Manning (3,716 yards), RB Jimmy Rogers (366), WR Wes Chandler (975)

1989 - 5,038 yards - QB Bobby Hebert (2,686 yards), RB Dalton Hilliard (1,262), WR Eric Martin (1,090)

1992 - 4,993 yards - QB Bobby Hebert (3,387 yards), RB Vaughn Dunbar (565), WR Eric Martin (1,041)

Other items of interest. ...

Brooks had an outstanding game against Indianapolis, throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He's put together two straight solid games, and is finally starting to justify the faith head coach Jim Haslett has shown in the face of critics who were calling for the coach to switch to Jeff Blake less than a month ago. ...

But according to Pro Football Weekly, Haslett had no intention of making a change, even if Brooks hadn't pulled out of his slump. The bottom line is this: Haslett wants to avoid the QB indecision that earmarked the Saints' previous regime under Mike Ditka at all costs. In case you forgot, the Saints used seven different quarterbacks during Ditka's three-year reign. ...

Wane McGarity has made an impact in the two games that he has been active. He has returned four punts for a 15.3 average, and Haslett said he likes allowing rookie Deuce McAllister to rest during punt returns because the No. 1 pick has taken on a bigger role in the offense. ...

Horn is dealing with a number of nagging injuries, but he's been playing through them quite well. In fact, the former Chief has 14 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games. ...

Cameron Cleeland (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game at New England. He'll likely be replaced in again by Eddie "Boo" Williams, who scored two touchdowns last week against Indianapolis. ... Williams has been on the receiving end of plenty of good-natured ribbing in the locker room for the touchdown dance he debuted in its entirety after his second scoring grab against the Colts. After the game, Williams called the celebratory jig "The Squirrel. ..."

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

PK: J. Carney

Collins already has thrown as many interceptions this season, 13, as he threw in the entire 2000 season. He has had a fumbling problem in recent weeks. And the Giants are sputtering along at 5-5 as they prepare to face the 7-2 Oakland Raiders Sunday in Giants Stadium.

But the Giants are confident they will play better down the stretch and become a playoff team. And their faith is personified in Collins, who believes he is a better quarterback than he was when he led the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV.

"I think it (his play) is better," Collins said today. "I'm doing some things better than I've ever done before. Honestly, I really don't see a whole lot that I'm not improving on. I feel my confidence is as high as it's ever been. I feel my place in this locker room and on this team is as good as it's ever been. I see a different and, in a lot of ways, a better quarterback than played last year."

Collins said the lessons he learned early in his career with the Carolina Panthers -- where he endured some hardships but also quarterbacked the team to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year pro -- have helped him deal with the current situation.

"I think I have a better perspective on playing well and what I need to do to play well," Collins said. "There have certainly been some down times this year, some times I've made mistakes. But I feel the vast majority of the times I've been able to come back and do some good things. I try to do things that are helpful and help us win football games. Regardless of what's happened, my attitude and my mindset are to stay positive and I will continue to stay positive."

Collins' current statistics are very similar to his numbers through 10 games a year ago. He has thrown eight more passes (327-319), completed seven more (193-186) and his percentage is virtually the same (59.0-58.3). He had 14 touchdown passes then. He has 13 now. He had nine interceptions then and 13 now.

"I think there are some things he's doing better this year," coach Jim Fassel said. "I see him throwing the ball a lot of times with a nice stride, a nice rhythm, a nice flow. The interceptions are up, but I think some of those are bad decisions. I don't think there are a lot of mechanically bad throws.

"I think because of the way the whole season has gone, any quarterback, and Kerry fits that mold, is going to try to make plays. If things aren't going well, that doesn't mean we throw out everything and go after some things. That is what we have to get him back to."

If one facet of Collins' play worries Fassel more than others, it is his propensity toward fumbling. In the last five games, Collins has fumbled 11 times (though the Giants have lost only three of them).

Collins has 14 fumbles this season, placing him second in the league to Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who has 15. In the Vikings 28-16 victory Monday night, Culpepper lost one fumble, while the Giants recovered all three of Collins' fumbles.

Said Fassel, "I think with the fumbles, which we knocked down last year, he is losing some of the sound mechanics that we had built up as far as protecting the ball with two hands in the pocket. I think Kerry's got good presence in the pocket. He knows where the rush is coming from. It's not like he's unaware, like a guy is free to hit him and he's standing there not knowing the guy is there. He has good pocket presence. But when you move with the ball you have to keep the ball in two hands. You can't drop it in one."

Collins agrees.

"I don't want to put the ball on the ground as much as I did the other night," he said. "A quarterback's natural reaction a lot of times when the pocket breaks down is to put the ball in one hand because you can move better that way. That's a habit that a lot of quarterbacks have. It's a hard habit to break. It's something I not only worked on last week, but it's something I've worked on all year. That's been a part of what I've been trying to do in my development as a quarterback. I'll continue to work on it. Sometimes you natural instincts take over. A lot of times, your natural instinct is to put the ball in one hand because you can move better that way. But I'll continue to work on it, like I have all year."

Collins, Fassel and the rest of the Giants are confident that problem and any others that have resulted in a disappointing .500 record will be rectified in the season's final six weeks. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

According to New York Newsday beat writer Neil Best, second-year speedster Ron Dixon continues to dig himself deeper and deeper into Fassel's doghouse. His kickoff returns have been horrendous, and he has not gotten into the offense much. One sequence in particular annoyed Fassel Monday.

First, Dixon managed to return a kickoff the Vikings were forced to launch from the 15-yard line because of a penalty only to his own 36. On the next play, he was penalized for a false start. Dixon was benched for kickoff returns in the second half, but the alternatives, including Damon Washington, are not much better. ...

Tiki Barber has played well recently, compiling 233 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in his last two games. Oakland has given up a generous 4.8 yards per carry, worst in the NFL, so this should be a chance for Barber and Ron Dayne, who hasn't played particularly well in recent weeks, to jump start what has been a very sluggish running game. ...

Ike Hilliard continues to feel some soreness in his surgically repaired toe. But even though he's been limping around team headquarters during the week, Hilliard has proven to be effective enough on game day -- whether he lines up with the first team or comes off the bench as the No. 3 man. ...

That said the Giants will be hard-pressed to throw the ball effectively against Oakland's formidable secondary -- especially if Charles Woodson is healthy enough to play.

RB: T. Barber, R. Dayne, D. Washington (Questionable; hamstring)

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

Chrebet took painkilling shots in his injured shoulder in order to play against the Dolphins, but finished the game without making a catch.

Chrebet spent most of the afternoon serving as a decoy. ...

And speaking of decoys. ... Santana Moss, out since early August with a knee injury, received his first playing time of the season and he failed to make a single catch. Of course, the University of Miami product only had three balls thrown his way all day.

Still, the blanking did nothing to curb Moss' enthusiasm.

"Just to be able to come out here and do the things I've been able to do in the past - running up and down the field, blocking, getting some attempts and stuff -- I couldn't ask for a better start," Moss told the New York Daily News. "To do it at home, in front of a lot of family and friends, it's great."

Asked about the rookie's failure to make an immediate impact, head coach Herman Edwards replied: "He has never played a game in the NFL. What did you expect, Bob Hayes?"

The Jets will receive a four-day vacation starting Thanksgiving Day and players like Chrebet, Curtis Martin and Laveranues Coles will use the bye week to recover from a number of minor bumps and bruises.

"I've been a workaholic over the years and I've always pushed my body to the limit," Rice said Monday, a day after his best game as a Raider. "My approach has been to go out and be aggressive. It's all about preparation."

That approach has kept Rice at the highest level of competition. In his 17th year in the NFL, the all-time leading receiver showed no signs of slowing down in the Raiders' 34-24 victory Sunday over the San Diego Chargers.

He caught eight passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He's the team leader in touchdown receptions and, should he average 60 yards over the team's final seven games, he'll reach 1,000 yards for the first time since 1998. It would be the 13th time Rice has surpassed that mark.

Head coach Jon Gruden acknowledged that Rice, and some of the other veterans, are given the option of taking time off. So far, Rice hasn't taken advantage.

"This is a great receiver and as good a competitor as I've ever been associated with," Gruden said. "He loves football and he loves to practice. He doesn't back off at all."

With his former team across the bay in San Francisco, the philosophy was to save Rice's 39-year-old body from the daily grind. Being in the same system for 16 years, the 49ers felt he didn't need to take as much work. In his first season with Oakland, Rice feels he needs to work out some of the kinks in his pass routes.

"Even Tim (Brown) is trying to get me to step back a little bit," said Rice, known for his rigorous off-season training. "But in this offense, there are a lot of plays I still feel I have to get the reps. When you get out on the field without the reps, sometimes you don't know what to experience.

"I maintain that working hard will get you a feel for Sunday. You prepare yourself during the week, go out and play and see what happens."

There's no arguing with the results. Following Sunday's performance, Rice is on pace for 78 receptions, 1,026 yards and 11 touchdown catches. That would be his best season in three years, since the last time he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

"You're just not talking about some Joe Blow having a good season, here's a guy that has done it for more than a decade on a consistently high level," San Diego cornerback Ryan McNeil said. "When you go against Rice and Brown, you're going against two of the very best receivers ever to play the game."

While Brown, who has spent all of his 14 years in the NFL with the Raiders, is still the team's No. 1 receiver, Rice put his stamp on the Oakland offense with his effort on Sunday, though he doesn't want to place too much emphasis on one game.

"It was a good day, but I never make predictions. When you're given the opportunities you have to take advantage," he said. "You know Tim will put up big numbers. The both of us could go back and forth with big games, but the most important thing is maintain stability and continue to help this team win."

The Raiders have become a proficient passing offense, one year after leading the AFC in rushing. They're second in the AFC (behind Indianapolis) in passing. Brown and Rice are among the league leaders in receptions and receiving yards, and Rich Gannon is the highest-rated quarterback in the NFL.

"This is not the time to let down," Rice said. "This is the time to take your intensity to another level. Now you have to be even more focused. The scary thing is we can get better."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

According to the Contra Costa Times, Tyrone Wheatley said Monday he no longer is sick or bothered by the knee injury that cost him three games. He also missed last week's game with strep throat. The former University of Michigan star said he intends to play against the Giants, his former team, on Sunday.

Even though Wheatley will be healthy enough to play for the first time in five games, it's not clear how much he'll be able to do. Those who follow the team closely expect Charlie Garner to continue working as the lead back, with Wheatley easing his way back into the flow. Zack Crockett and Terry Kirby will also see action.

RB: C. Garner, T. Wheatley (Probable; knee), R. Jordan, T. Kirby

FB: J. Ritchie, Z. Crockett

WR: T. Brown, J. Rice, J. Porter, D. Dunn, M. Knight, J. Jett

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

PK: S. Janikowski

Smart, on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles since Oct. 2, was added to the 53-man roster. He practiced Wednesday for the first time as a member of the active roster.

"I like his speed, his quickness and I think he can help us possibly on special teams as one of the fliers," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's a tough kid from what I've seen. I look forward to seeing him do our stuff and not the scout team stuff."

Smart replaced safety Terrence Carroll, who was released Monday three days after he was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Linebacker Dax Strohmeyer took Smart's spot on the practice squad.

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Smart was second in the XFL in rushing, gaining 555 yards on 146 carries and scoring three touchdowns for the Las Vegas Outlaws. He also led the team in receptions with 27 for 245 yards.

But he was known less for his running than for "He Hate Me," which he proudly displayed on his back instead of his given name in a league that encouraged players to plaster anything they wanted on their jerseys.

Smart isn't likely to get many carries with the Eagles. He's behind Duce Staley, Correll Buckhalter and Brian Mitchell on the depth chart.

Smart played at Western Kentucky under coach Jack Harbaugh, father of John Harbaugh, the Eagles' special teams coach. He also is a first cousin of Freddie Mitchell, the Eagles' wide receiver, with whom he grew up in Lakeland, Fla. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

While the Eagles ran the ball well in last Sunday's win over the Cowboys, there has been some criticism of Andy Reid's offense of late, with skeptics saying the club isn't running the ball enough.

Because of this, the Eagles haven't been sustaining drives, and the defense has been on the field too long. In the first eight games, the Eagles won the time-of-possession battle only three times.

But as Pro Football Weekly noted in an update published last Monday, Reid admitted the team does need to run more, but the coach argued that his scheme is a pass-first system. The goal is to move the ball with short passes. And in the four games prior to last Sunday, the Eagles threw 127 passes compared to 93 rushes. ...

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that Mitchell could displace veteran Todd Pinkston, soon. ... Mitchell, originally fourth on the depth chart, has moved to third and has made critical receptions in recent weeks.

Buckhalter will return from suspension this weekend, and will be available for Sunday's game against Washington. But Staley has re-established himself as the Eagles' featured back, and Buckhalter's role is uncertain. ...

Starting fullback Cecil Martin suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's game against Dallas. He'll miss a few days of practice, but is expected to play in this weekend's game against Washington. ... The same goes for tight end Chad Lewis, who is expected to start and play as usual after suffering a minor knee injury in Dallas.

RB: D. Staley, C. Buckhalter, B. Mitchell (Probable; knee), R. Smart

FB: C. Martin (Questionable; hamstring), J. Reader

WR: J. Thrash, T. Pinkston, F. Mitchell (Probable; shoulder), N. Brown, G. Scott, D. Douglas (Probable; quad)

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

PK: D. Akers

As they slogged through three consecutive seasons without making the playoffs, Stewart became the lightning rod for all criticism about them -- sometimes, from inside his own locker room.

The quarterback who was so skilled at improvising when a play broke down suddenly could not throw a 15-yard slant without bouncing the ball off the turf. He misread defenses, or would lead them directly to the ball by telegraphing passes with his eyes.

As the Steelers changed offensive coordinators almost annually, he never got comfortable in a system after Chan Gailey left, nor did Ray Sherman or Kevin Gilbride ever seem at ease with him.

Finally, the Steelers pulled the plug on the player once known as Slash and exiled him to wide receiver for the final third of the 1999 season, a demotion that embarrassed him. Persistent rumors about his social life also forced him to stand before his teammates to ask them to ignore anything they heard about him.

Even his most loyal supporter, coach Bill Cowher, refused to embrace him last year, deciding to start the season with the much-traveled Kent Graham at quarterback rather than Stewart.

Now, 14 months later, as the 7-2 Steelers sit atop the AFC Central tied with Oakland for the conference's best record, the only question seems to be which comeback is the more remarkable -- their own, or their quarterback's.

Regaining his confidence game by game as the Steelers won four of their final five last season once he returned to the lineup, Stewart has seemed like a new quarterback -- or, perhaps, like the Stewart of old.

"I can't remember the last time he played so well," Cowher said.

His passing touch restored in an offense designed by new coordinator Mike Mularkey to win because of him and not despite him, Stewart is throwing and running the way he did in 1997. That season, his first as an NFL starting quarterback, he passed for 21 touchdowns and ran for 11 more as the Steelers played for the AFC championship.

Stewart's 266 yards passing in a last Sunday's win over Jacksonville gave him three 200-yard games in his last four, and he also ran for 50 yards. This was no one-game aberration, either; he has thrown only two interceptions in nine games and hasn't thrown one in 124 attempts.

Finally, Stewart is rewarding the kind of patience few NFL teams have shown in a quarterback, especially one who spent three years trying to recapture the skills he flashed previously for but one season.

"He's very confident -- and he should be," said Mularkey, who eliminated much of the Gilbride offense's clutter and complexities so Stewart would feel more relaxed.

The Steelers also hired a quarterbacks coach, Tom Clements, for the first time in 30 years to work on eliminating the mechanical errors in Stewart's delivery and to pump up his confidence.

Stewart said he never lost faith that he wouldn't regain what he once had.

"I never really got caught up in `I told you so' or `How do you like it now,' " Stewart said. "I just do my job. We're winning now, and the wins speak for themselves."

Not that Stewart isn't talking, too.

"He's much more vocal now than he was before," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "He's starting to know the offense like the back of his hand. You can see his confidence level rising."

So can Jerome Bettis.

"Whenever you're a confident football player, you do things you don't think you could have done," the Steelers' star running back said. "You amaze yourself."

Even if Stewart seems more amused than amazed that others doubted him.

"You could see it in teams, they were saying we couldn't throw the ball and run it, too, but we did," Ward said. "You can see it in Kordell -- he's a lot more confident, and that builds confidence in everybody else."

For what it's worth. ... That 266-yard total represented Stewarts's most productive day since 1997 and Ward's nine-catch 112-yard effort was the first 100-yard game of his career. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Wide receiver Troy Edwards had his best game of the season, with three catches for 35 yards and a devastating block that sprung Ward for a 28-yard touchdown run-and-catch in the third quarter.

"I learn from (Ward) week in and week out," Edwards said. "He comes and plays and it's about time I give it my all. It's time for me to be accountable. I haven't done anything to this point. Here, blocking is more important (for wide receivers) than on any team in the NFL."

Cowher was pleased that Ward was the recipient of a good block from a fellow wide receiver because he has been blocking well all season for others.

Cowher congratulated Edwards when he came off the field.

"Usually when he comes at me, he's yelling at me," Edwards said, "but this time it was good yelling."

But Edwards wonders how long it will last.

"He'll be back yelling at me next time for something," Edwards said.

But the news wasn't all good this week. ... Tight end Mark Bruener's season officially ended Wednesday when he was placed on the injured reserve list following arthroscopic surgery on a torn rotator cuff.

To replace Bruener, the Steelers re-signed tight end Corey Geason, who was released before the season started.

Coach Bill Cowher held out faint hope Tuesday that Bruener might return in January, especially if the Steelers made the playoffs. However, doctors found enough damage in Bruener's shoulder that he won't be able to rehabilitate himself in time to return even then.

"Mark's a great athlete and he's going to be hard to replace, but I think I can step right in and we won't miss a beat," said Jerame Tuman, who replaces Bruener as the starter.

Tuman weighs 252 pounds and is about 10 pounds lighter than Bruener, but said he was used as much as a blocker as a receiver at Michigan.

"I came into the league not wanting to be known as a blocking tight end or a receiving tight end, I wanted to be known as a guy who can do it all," said Tuman, who is in his third season. "The only difference now is I'll be playing 20 to 40 more snaps per game. I'm going to be out there more and there's going to be a lot of pressure on me to get it done."

However, he said the situation would be the same for any other Steelers tight end.

"The expectation is for the job and not the person," Tuman said. "It's the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end, it's not Mark Bruener or Jerame Tuman or Matt Cushing. It's the Steelers tight end, and that's what needs to be done."

Bruener's loss of could have an adverse impact on Bettis' output over the final weeks of the season, but not enough to consider benching him. Even if "The Bus" struggles against a decent Titans rush defense this Sunday, he's still going to be a solid producer down the stretch run. ...

And finally. ... After making it through the first eight games of the season without drawing a single holding penalty (center Jeff Hartings did draw one holding flag, but the foul was negated by an offsetting penalty against the defense on that play), the remarkable streak by the Steeler offensive line came to end last weekend when Rich Tylski was flagged for a hold late in the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Jags.

But as ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli noted last Friday, for a team to go eight games without having a holding call stepped off against it, even in an era when officials are more liberal in their interpretation of the penalty, is quite an accomplishment and much of the credit should go to offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who has turned a once-ordinary Pittsburgh unit into a top-flight quintet.

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

FB: J. Witman (Probable; back), D. Kreider

WR: H. Ward, P. Burress, T. Edwards, B. Shaw, L. Jackson

TE: J. Tuman, M. Cushing, C. Geason, M. Bruener (Out; shoulder -- IR)

PK: K. Brown

"As a unit, this group hasn't been as spectacular as a year ago. Yards per catch are down. There have been more drops than normal. But this is still the premier wide receiver group in the NFL. No one can match Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl for speed, athleticism and run-after-the-catch ability.

"Bruce is the third-fastest player in NFL history with 8,000 yards receiving -- doing it in 102 games, and trailing only Lance Alworth (83) and Jerry Rice (94). Yet, he remains one of the most underrated receivers in the game, in large part because of the balance in the Rams' offense.

"Bruce's competitiveness, route-running and separation skills are unparalleled in the league. His yards per catch (17.9) remains at the upper end of the league.

"After leading the NFL in reception yards last year, Holt is off to a relatively slow start (42 catches for 651 yards). He has had some drops, and some penalties. But he has always been a fast closer. The second half of the season is always his time of the year.

"Bruce and Holt aren't getting quite as many balls this season in part because tight end Ernie Conwell has become a greater part of the offense with 23 catches. ..."

Conwell is expected to start and play as usual despite being listed as probable for Monday night's game due to a shoulder injury. ... Hakim suffered an ankle injury during last Sunday's game against New England and is listed as probable for Monday night's game against the Buccaneers, but according to those who follow the team closely, the speedy No. 3 man has been moving around pretty well this week. ...

Marshall Faulk is also listed as probable for Monday night's game due to a sore knee, but the veteran running back is expected to start and play as usual after racking 153 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown against the Patriots last Sunday. ...

One last note. ... After watching Kurt Warner throw for 401 yards and three touchdowns against his team last Sunday night, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a longtime defensive coordinator, said the following about the Rams' offense: "As long as I've been in the NFL (since 1975), this is the most explosive offense I've ever seen. Every play is a potential touchdown from any place on the field. I just haven't seen any offense as consistently and philosophically as explosive as this one."

RB: M. Faulk (Probable; knee), T. Canidate, R. Holcombe

FB: J. Hodgins, J. Watson

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

TE: E. Conwell (Probable; shoulder), J. Robinson, B. Manumaleuna

PK: J. Wilkins

Head coach Mike Riley defended the struggling Flutie on Monday, saying he will remain the starting quarterback the rest of the season.

After three straight sub-par games by the 39-year-old Flutie -- which coincide with San Diego's losing streak -- some fans and media members suggested the Chargers should take more of a look at rookie Drew Brees.

That won't happen, Riley said.

"You can talk about controversy all you want. There is none within this building," Riley said a day after the Chargers lost 34-24 at Oakland to fall to 5-5. "He is our quarterback, he will start and he will get us the next win, next week."

The Chargers have lost five of seven games since their 3-0 start.

Riley said the whole offense is struggling, not just Flutie.

"It wasn't just one guy only who wasn't doing his job when there are 11 jobs to do on offense," Riley said. "We are not in the tank about our quarterback."

Still, Flutie threw for just 98 yards against the Raiders, with no touchdowns and one interception. In the last three games -- all losses to AFC West rivals -- Flutie is just 30-of-74 (41 percent) for 324 yards, with one touchdown and six interceptions.

The Chargers had just 17 passing yards in the first half, and Flutie didn't connect with a wide receiver until the fourth quarter.

Brees has played once this year, replacing Flutie after he suffered a concussion on Nov. 4 against Kansas City. Brees rallied the Chargers from a 19-0 deficit to a 20-19 lead before the Chiefs scored in the final minute to win 25-20.

But Riley said Flutie gives the Chargers their best chance to win. They play host to Arizona on Sunday.

"I think it's very important for the stability of our team," Riley said. "Doug has got us five times as many wins as we had a year ago. And we're not turning the ball over like we did a year ago, where we led the world in turnovers."

Riley was asked if he'd stay with Flutie even if he were struggling.

"No more. No more speculation. I think you understand what I said," Riley said.

It was as close to testy as the normally mild-mannered Riley gets.

Riley was reminded that at the beginning of the 2000 season, he said he wouldn't have a quick hook with Ryan Leaf, who appeared to have gotten his act together. Leaf threw five interceptions in the first two games and was benched.

"Did I say that? Are you sure? I want to see that quote," Riley said, finally laughing.

But, when asked to comment on the play of his quarterback, Riley said:

"We are unhappy with our production on offense and that's as specific as I'm going to get."

Flutie is the 12th-rated passer in the AFC. His completion percentage is down to 54 percent, and he's thrown nine interceptions and eight touchdowns.

Flutie doesn't feel like he needs to worry about his job, like he did the last three years in Buffalo.

"Not at all. In fact, Mike Riley has said to me a number of times, he's very thankful that I'm here."

Flutie said he's bothered that reporters would ask him about QB controversies.

"I hate to say it, but it's what the media lives for, to try to create a controversy," he said.

"We're in this together as a team," Flutie said. "We're in this for the long haul. We're 5-5 and we've still got a shot at going to the playoffs. We could be better, we could be worse. We've got to find a way to win this week and move forward."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

As expected, Freddie Jones did not play in Sunday's game against the Raiders. He had been playing on a sprained ankle for three weeks, but needed to shut it down so it can get better. It was the first DNP for Jones since his rookie year (1997).

Jones was initially expected to miss this week's game against the Cardinals, too, but he is being listed as day-to-day now. ... His replacement, Steven Heiden, only managed to pull in one pass against the Raiders last Sunday. ...

With the Cardinals giving up 4.4 yards per attempt, here's hoping rookie tailback LaDainian Tomlinson gets another 22 carries this week. ...

And finally. ... No. 3 receiver Tim Dwight is expected to miss one more game due to the collapsed lung he suffered Nov. 4 loss to the Chiefs. ...

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

FB: F. McCrary, D. Harris

WR: C. Conway, J. Graham, T. Gaylor, P. Batteaux, T. Dwight (Doubtful; collapsed lung)

TE: S. Heiden, F. Jones (Questionable; ankle), J. Whitman, A. Young

PK: W. Richey

"Back then, he had so many veterans to choose from, he often dubbed it the 'Dirty Baker's Dozen.' But he began this season with a dirty dozen consisting of just four players -- offensive linemen Derrick Deese and Ray Brown and defensive tackles Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield.

"Two weeks ago, Mariucci held a meeting with his confidants to discuss how the team would alter its routine to attend the funeral services of San Jose police officer Jeff Fontana, whose mother, Sandy, is a longtime front-office employee.

"Mariucci asked to speak to his veterans but also left an open invitation to any players who felt they should be involved.

"Jeff Garcia came.

"'I was hoping he would be there. In fact, I would have been disappointed if he hadn't,' Mariucci admitted. 'That's the next step for him, to take on more of a leadership role with this team. Traditionally, that is a quarterback's role.

"'And Jeff has really earned the respect of his teammates and the coaches.'

"Garcia said he jumped at the chance to enhance his leadership position by joining Mariucci's locker room cabinet. Just two years removed from his rookie-year benching and having a sketchy future, Garcia says he feels firmly entrenched in the 49ers' core.

"'When he (Mariucci) asked me, I definitely said, "Yes,"' said the 31-year-old Garcia, who has stepped up his game on the field as well this season. 'Because I want to be looked at as one of the leaders on this team. I want that responsibility. I think it's an honor to be a part of that group.'

"Garcia is respected by everyone in the front office from Mariucci to general manager Terry Donahue to the man who originally 'discovered' Garcia, Bill Walsh, who will sing his praises for hours.

"But his teammates are equally respectful of his toughness and his work ethic, maybe more so.

"Receiver Terrell Owens, who didn't immediately warm up to his new throwing partner when Steve Young's career ended in 1998, is a huge fan. And if you haven't noticed, they've developed quite a rapport, connecting on 23 touchdown passes over the last two seasons.

"The two get along very well despite their differing personalities.

"'Jeff's an overachiever,' Owens said of the 6-foot-1, 188-pounder, hardly an NFL prototype. 'I think in the back of his mind, he's beyond that step of trying to prove he's an NFL quarterback. Now he's just going out there and making plays.'

"Like everyone else on the team, Owens cringes when Garcia dives headfirst into tackles rather than taking advantage of the quarterback slide. Like everyone else on the team, Owens is inspired by Garcia's grit and toughness.

"Defensive players take notice, too, and have been shaking their heads after some of Garcia's more impressive performances this year. The fourth-quarter comeback has become a measure of an NFL quarterback's reputation. Garcia already has three this season.

"Garcia has a knack for making things happen under pressure, both with his legs and with his ability to throw on the run. His poise is perhaps his best asset.

"Mostly, Garcia earns respect because of how hard he works. The Bay Area local from Gilroy has logged more hours at the 49ers' practice facility during the offseason than any of his teammates.

"'I think guys see my leadership in the sense of my work ethic,' Garcia said. 'I believe that what I've done here in the offseason by being around, committing myself to this team and committing myself to improving myself, I think that was part of it.

"'I think I show it on the field by not allowing difficult times to frustrate me. I think I have done a positive job as far as being able to maintain my presence and peace of mind as far as being levelheaded.

"'And that's kind of the attitude of this team. There have been a number of games this year where we have had to battle back in the fourth quarter. Those are responsibilities of a quarterback.'

"The 49ers have been playing from behind ever since Garcia joined the team as a Canadian Football League star trying to make it south of the border. Because of that grueling experience, Garcia said he's at his most relaxed in the fourth quarter. He's become used to it to the point where he thrives on it.

"His humble beginnings make him a bit different from the 49ers legends he followed -- Young and Joe Montana. Montana led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter in 1981. Young inherited a dynasty when he took over in 1991.

"But rough starts aside, Garcia appears ready to take his place alongside those legends. He is well aware of the precedent they set -- he grew up cheering them on, in fact. And he isn't afraid to compete with their ghosts.

"'I don't look at it as, "Oh man, I have to play as well as those guys before me." There's no way you can do that,' Garcia said. 'But I really feel like I can succeed here and try to stand on my own.'

"Before this season -- at the 11th hour before veterans reported to training camp, in fact -- Garcia signed a big-dollar, multiyear deal with the 49ers after earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2000.

"It was a real gamble for the 49ers, guaranteeing $8.1 million in bonuses this year and next as part of a six-year, $36 million deal. But Garcia has made everybody rest easier, actually improving on his astonishing 2000 campaign.

"Garcia is making a legitimate run at the NFL's MVP award, his fate intertwined with the team's playoff run. But perhaps even more impressive, he is becoming a team leader in the mode of Young and Montana before him.

"'It's made me feel a lot better,' Donahue said of Garcia's performance this season. 'I'm a big Jeff Garcia fan. I was when we signed him, and I am today. It was kind of like the first real big contract under my watch.

'Naturally your thought is, "Oh my goodness, this better work out. We've got a lot of money at risk here, and I might be back (home)." You can't help but think that.

"'But we had a certain deal of confidence, too, that it was going to be a good investment for the organization, a good investment for our future. He's really tremendous. He really is. ...'"

Other items of interest. ...

ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli noted last Friday that Mariucci, despite his team's fine performance the first half of the season, is not the happiest guy around. The ongoing battle with Owens definitely is draining on "Mooch," but that doesn't mean he will bolt the 49ers and head off to Notre Dame, as some have suggested.

And as for the rumors that Donahue still has the coaching itch, and would return to the sideline if Mariucci departed? Pasquarelli reported there are some who feel Donahue wouldn't want to put in the time that head coaches must invest now.

There is some dismay, of course, over the irreparable rift existing between Mariucci and Owens. But even Mariucci concedes that Owens, one of the game's premier playmakers, works hard in practice, isn't a distraction in the locker room, and always gives 100 percent-plus on Sunday afternoons. It's a painful co-existence, to be sure, but a tenuous situation that figures to continue into the future.

Owens suffered a sprained left knee and ankle during the overtime session of last weekend's game against Carolina. The injuries aren't considered serious, however, and Owens is expected to start and play as usual when the Niners take on the Colts this Sunday. ...

Garcia, Owens, Garrison Hearst and even J.J. Stokes are all coming off solid performances against the Panthers. ... Garcia threw for 305 yards and three TDs; Hearst racked up 113 yards from scrimmage; Stokes pulled in eight passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns; Owens finished the game with seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. ...

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

FB: F. Beasley, T. Jackson

WR: T. Owens (Probable; ankle/knee), J.J. Stokes, T. Streets, V. Sutherland, C. Wilson

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

PK: J. Cortez

And it's safe to assume the 824 yards and 10 TDs Shaun Alexander has run for in Watters' absence has more than a little to do with head coach Mike Holmgren's sudden waffling on previous statements indicating that Watters would regain the starting job when healthy.

But Holmgren is keeping things simple at this point. The coach told reporters this week that Watters, who is still recovering from torn ligaments and a cracked bone in his dislocated shoulder, simply isn't ready play yet. "Shaun or no Shaun, it's always been the case here with our medical staff that we're not going to rush people back in when they're not ready to play," Holmgren explained Monday. "When they're ready to play, they come back in to play. And Ricky is no different."

For the record, Holmgren says Watters might miss another two to three weeks. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Matt Hasselbeck continues to make progress. ... The first-year starter worked efficiently within the confines of Seattle's scaled-back passing attack in Buffalo last Sunday. ... The Seahawks are primarily a running team that takes what the defense gives it through the air and Hasselbeck took just enough against the Bills to keep the offense moving. ... The former Packer was particularly effective when it mattered most, completing all five of his passes as Seattle opened the third quarter with a pivotal 70-yard touchdown march. ...

It's also worth noting that Hasselbeck, who finished the day with 134 passing yards and one touchdown, was neither sacked nor intercepted by the Bills. ...

After pulling in his first career touchdown, rookie wide out Koren Robinson told reporters, "I finally got that one out of the way and hopefully there will be many more to come. ..."

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 (Probable; concussion)

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

PK: R. Lindell

So. ... It seemed rather odd to see Brad Johnson throw 40 completions on Sunday as the second half of the 26th Tampa Bay season got underway. Was it the beginning of a new era in Tampa?

Well, 57 passes in a game and 94 in the last two contests would be more than a new era in Tampa - it would be an evolutionary leap. The 56 passes thrown by Johnson against Chicago, which tied a team record, was three games worth for the Tony Dungy Buccaneers, literally. Late last fall, the Bucs threw a total of 48 passes in three consecutive games against Buffalo, Dallas and Miami, all victories.

Which brings us to the probable answer to the question above: No.

On Monday, Dungy was asked if he was comfortable with the Bucs' all-out aerial assault of recent weeks. In truth, not too many NFL head coaches would be, given that an ineffectual running game had all but made it necessary.

"No, we're not running the ball as well as we need to," said Dungy. "I think for us to win consistently down the stretch we're going to have to run it better. We threw the ball on first down, that was part of our plan going in, and we threw the ball well on first down. Then we got, really, three scores behind and we had to throw on just about every down. We're not going to win many games with 15, 18 yards rushing."

Given that game plan, it's obvious that the Bucs are not content to run on first and second down every series, but the quick passing strikes on first down are supposed to loosen up the defense for the run.

For instance, Tampa Bay started Sunday's game with a play-action pass to fullback Mike Alstott and picked up nine yards. However, Warrick Dunn's second-down sweep to the right met strong resistance and ended in a lost fumble. On the next drive, a first down pass over the middle to Karl Williams picked up 14 yards but Dunn's run on the next play lost one. Even after two unsuccessful runs, however, the Bucs likely would have fed it to Dunn repeatedly, waiting for that big play, but a large deficit developed and Tampa Bay was forced to the air.

"We're throwing the ball decently and we've got some pretty good receivers and a good quarterback," said Dungy. "But we've got two good backs and we've got good linemen. When we look at the running plays, there just seems to be a break down somewhere, everywhere. We had some breakdowns in the passing game, but we were able to overcome it. The runs, we haven't got going early in many of our games, and then when we make mistakes and fall behind, we have to throw. It's probably a combination of us not being sharp doing what we should do and then falling behind."

Both issues will be tested once again next Monday night when the Bucs visit the St. Louis Rams. Not only do the Rams have the league's fourth-best rushing defense, but they're capable of quickly putting an opponent in a hole. Tampa Bay fell behind the Rams three times in last year's Monday night thriller but were able to rally three times while racking up 446 yards of offense. It was a balanced Buc attack that night, however, as 205 rushing yards help set up 241 yards of passing.

With a string of fourth-quarter deficits this season, the Bucs have mounted their comebacks mostly through the air.

"Well, I don't know that we're going to win without being able to run the ball, but we have to move, whatever way that is," said Dungy. "If moving it through the air is the way to do it, then we have to do that. We have to move it and score points."

And perhaps that is the silver lining to the Bucs' 40 and 50-pass games of the season's first half - the team's confidence in Johnson's ability to move the team in crunch time is growing.

"Yes, we thought we had an excellent chance to win it when it was 27-24 and we got the ball back," said Dungy, referring to his late-game confidence in Johnson on Sunday. "I think we all had confidence that we were going to take it down and score. We had taken it down before the half, so, yes, we do feel good in that situation."

And a 57-pass day with only two sacks allowed, 33 of them in the second half when the Bears knew the Bucs had to throw, also builds confidence in an offensive line that struggled earlier in the season. In fact, Dungy was pleased with the team's blocking in both phases of the game, even if it did result in only 19 rushing yards.

"I thought we pass-blocked well," said Dungy. "We actually run-blocked decently on some plays, especially early in the game. We missed a couple holes with the backs, we missed a check in terms of which way we wanted to run the ball and then you have a break down here or there. We were making some three and four-yard runs and making positive runs, then in the second half we just didn't get many opportunities."

Chances are, Johnson won't get many more opportunities to throw 56 passes in a single game as a Buccaneer. If he does, the Bucs are confident he'll make the most of them.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

The expected return of wide receiver Jacquez Green, who hasn't played since straining muscles in his groin and abdomen during the team's Oct. 21 loss to the Steelers, should add another dimension to the team's attack as well. Green is the one dependable deep threat the team has, and he could finally provide the team with a viable alternative to Keyshawn Johnson.

RB: W. Dunn (Probable; toe), A. Stecker, R. Abdullah

FB: M. Alstott, J. Cook

WR: K. Johnson, J. Green (Probable; stomach), R. Anthony, F. Murphy, K. Williams (Doubtful; hip), M. Wynn

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

PK: M. Gramatica

Head coach Jeff Fisher told Glazer, "We're in a Catch-22 because we're really hurting with him right now, but we can't put him down and we don't really have anything that's better. We're just going to have to suck it up for the entire year. We just have to go the whole year with a guy who's far from being himself. That's just how it is."

The Titans have had to scrap the offense that they wanted to run because George is having too much trouble cutting back hard. The Titans worked in the preseason and early in the year in changing their offense to be more like the Denver Broncos' cutback style. In fact, some of their offensive coaches picked the brain of former Broncos line coach Alex Gibbs to assist with their transition.

But because George's injuries are preventing him from effectively cutting back effectively for an entire game, they've had to switch out of plan. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Running back Dan Alexander, a sixth-round pick in April, has been signed off the team's practice squad. Jacksonville had expressed interest in signing him to its active roster, so the Titans gave him a choice and he chose to stay in Nashville. To make room for Alexander, the Titans released Wes Ours, a fullback signed off the Colts' practice squad earlier this season.

According to Nashville Tennessean beat writer Jeff Legwold, Alexander responded to his stretch on the practice squad exactly as team officials hoped he would: He didn't sulk, he didn't pout, he just worked hard and now he is on the active roster. Alexander will get some playing time over the remainder of the season. He was a little too quick to show he had all the answers in training camp, but now he seems to understand it's not enough just to say it in the meetings, you have to show you can do it on the field, too.

Strong and with a good work ethic, he has done what he needed to do. He has become more reliable in blitz pick-ups and has made good progress catching the ball. ... Fullback will be his position in this league, and he has to be strong at the point of attack to flourish. ...

Erron Kinney (calf) may play this week after missing three games. He was expected to return to practice early this week. If Kinney can't go, look for the Titans to use more three-receiver sets or use Alexander more in a two-back look. ...

Fellow tight end Shad Meier was in uniform last Sunday but didn't play. He has practiced with a cast on his hand, and it is difficult for him to catch the ball. Brian Natkin has replaced Meier the past two games. ...

WR Justin McCareins, who suffered a broken bone in his ankle early last month, has returned to do some work in practice and could play this Sunday. ...

Steve McNair, who did not practice all of last week with a badly swollen right hand, threw for 172 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals last Sunday and isn't expected to miss any practice time this week. ... The same goes for starting tight end Frank Wycheck, who is bothered by a sore ankle.

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

HB: E. Kinney (Questionable; calf), S. Meier (Questionable; thumb), D. Alexander

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

TE: F. Wycheck (Questionable; ankle), B. Natkin, E. Kinney (Questionable; calf), S. Meier (Questionable; thumb)

PK: J. Nedney

What neither the Broncos nor Schottenheimer reckoned on was Kent Graham, who trumped the Schottenheimer jinx.

The last time Kent Graham faced Denver, on Dec. 13, 1998, he was with the Giants, and the Broncos and John Elway came into the Meadowlands at 13-0 to face a 5-8 New York team. The Giants ruined Denver's shot at an unbeaten season as Graham passed for 265 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer with 48 seconds left for a 20-16 win.

So, was it any surprise that Graham replaced the injured Tony Banks late in the first half with the Redskins trailing 10-0 and led them to a 17-10 win? He was 12-of-18 for 128 yards and two TDs after Banks was 4-of-13 for 27 yards.

"That was quite a game, too," Graham said of the win three years ago. "But this was an entirely different situation."

Barring any setbacks, Banks will start Sunday's game against Philadelphia. Banks, who suffered a concussion last weekend vs. Denver, hasn't been feeling any after effects of the injury and should be under center for the 'Skins.

Even if he can't go, Schottenheimer has confidence in Graham coming in and doing the job.

"An experienced guy like that gives us a sense of confidence," Schottenheimer said, "Because you know he's not going to come unglued."

For what it's worth, Banks, who was taken off the field on a cart, told reporters early this week, "It was a little scary situation. I haven't had very many concussions. And most times when I have, I'm used to getting up."

Michael Westbrook caught nine passes for 104 yards and a TD at Denver. With opposing defenses focusing their attention on rookie Rod Gardner, Westbrook is getting open often after starting the year slowly. ... Reports out of Washington early this week indicate that Kevin Lockett, who suffered a rib injury last in Denver, expects to play against the Eagles this Sunday. ...

And finally. ... According to the Washington Post, Stephen Alexander will be back in the starting lineup this Sunday after missing the last four games (and five weeks) with a high ankle sprain. ... Remember, however, Alexander has been out so long he won't be in top condition. ...

RB: S. Davis, K.J. Carter, M. Bates (Questionable; hip)

FB: D. Bennett, B. Johnson

WR: R. Gardner, M. Westbrook, K. Lockett (Probable; ribs), D. Thompson, D. McCants, E. Metcalf

TE: S. Alexander (Probable; ankle), W. Rasby, Z. Flemister

PK: B. Conway