He rushed for 173 yards in 24 carries in Arizona's 23-14 victory at Seattle -- by far the most of any NFL running back on Sunday, the biggest day for a Cardinals' back in four years and Jones' career best by a whopping 103 yards.

"I know my ability. I was never doubtful of what I could do," Jones said after the team reviewed film of the game on Monday. "I wasn't the seventh pick for nothing. I believe in myself, and we had a good day yesterday."

Jones' performance against the Seahawks was the ninth-best ever for the Cardinals.

"I think it's great for him to get the skeptics off his back," center Mike Gruttadauria said. "As a team, we believed in him, and he's always believed in himself. Maybe now he'll at least get some of the recognition that he deserves."

In all, the Cardinals rushed for 249 yards, their most in six years and their first 200-yard game since 1998. The last Cardinals back to run for more yards was Adrian Murrell, who gained 174 yards on 32 carries at Philadelphia on Dec. 13, 1998.

Sunday's highlight was Jones' 58-yard touchdown run, the longest gain of his pro career. On that play, the biggest block was thrown by guard Chris Dishman, who became a starter when right tackle Anthony Clement went down with a torn triceps in the preseason.

"The O-line did a really good job of blocking and coming off the ball," Jones said, "giving me the opportunity to have some lanes to run through."

Until Sunday, Jones had been the least successful of the four running backs picked in the first round of the 2000 draft. Jamal Lewis of Baltimore was picked ahead of him. Ron Dayne of the New York Giants and Shaun Alexander of Seattle were selected behind him.

After a standout college career at Virginia, Jones was made the starter by then-coach Vince Tobin as a rookie, but soon was benched in favor of Michael Pittman. When Pittman left as a free agent for Tampa Bay after last season, head coach Dave McGinnis turned the job over to Jones, who had averaged 3.4 yards per carry his first two years as a pro.

"Thomas Jones has got a lot of ability," McGinnis said. "He's got a lot of pride, and he's a good football player. I didn't make a decision based on a wish and a hope. I knew what we were trying to put together with this offense. ... I never had any doubts, but until you go out and do it and actually show it, everybody else is going to say `Yeah, sure."'

Asked if he had silenced his critics, Jones said, "I guess so."

"I really don't care about the critics. I don't pay much attention to what people say," he said. "All that matters is what I do and how hard I work to make things happen."

Jones wasn't the only Arizona back who had success against the Seahawks' shaky defense. Backup Marcel Shipp, who never had carried the ball in an NFL regular-season game, had 39 yards in eight carries. That's two more yards than Alexander had in 17 rushes for Seattle.

Jones and Gruttadauria said that success as a running back is related directly to the number of carries. Jones knows that he might not get nearly as many Sunday when the Cardinals play their home opener against a San Diego team that has yet to allow a touchdown.

"It felt good to be able to run the ball yesterday," Jones said. "We kind of got it out of our system by watching the film and enjoying it. Now we're on to the Chargers."

On a less positive note. ... Starting left tackle L.J. Shelton is questionable for this week's game because of a badly sprained ankle and a knee injury. "I hope I can play," Shelton told the Arizona Republic. "I'm waiting for the swelling to go down a little bit. It's still tender. I sprained it on both sides on that final (90-yard) drive. It's more my ankle at this point."

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Monday, Republic staffer Kent Somers offered the following take on the team's passing attack against Seattle:

"Jake Plummer played poorly against Seattle and was rarely on target with his throws. He hasn't looked sharp this season.

"[The team's receivers] didn't get much of a chance against Seattle because Plummer was so bad. David Boston fought cornerback Shawn Springs to a standoff. Frank Sanders' first catch of the year went for a touchdown."

And finally. ... Joel Makovicka missed last Sunday's game with a sore hamstring. However, the former Cornhusker expects to return to action in Week 3.

But then the kick, which was plenty long, began to bend. "When I hit it, I thought it was good, but I looked up and it slid left," he said. "It hooked."

Feely has had kicks hook before. He said that problem comes and goes. When it arrives, he adjusts by aiming a little to the right on longer field goal tries. He didn't plan on that problem Sunday.

"Usually, [my aim] depends on how I'm hitting the ball," he said. "I didn't miss a kick in warmups. I wasn't hooking them at all, so I was aiming right down the middle."

Also according Winkeljohn, wide receiver Brian Finneran led the Falcons by pulling in six receptions against the Bears. He might have had two more if he had been able to pull in a couple of high, hard passes from Mike Vick.

"If you don't expect the ball, and he throws it on you quick, you're probably not going to catch it," Finneran said, "especially if you're within that 5-yard range. But we should be expecting that that ball's going to come hot most of the time."

In this week's Monday Morning Quarterback column, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King offered readers the following take: "Vick has completed 62 percent of his passes through an eighth of the season. Too early to be a trend, but I have to admit he's looking accurate enough for my tastes. ..."

Mine, too. ...

T.J. Duckett had five carries for 32 yards in the first half of Sunday's game but the rookie running back didn't see the field in the second half.

And yes, he was healthy. ...

"When you fumble three times, you're not going to get a lot of possessions, you're not going to have a lot of people going in there," head coach Dan Reeves told the Journal Constitution. "There's no question we've got to get him more involved, but it's easy to look back now and, you know, second guess those things."

Interestingly enough, Duckett wasn't responsible for any of the above-mentioned fumbles. Warrick Dunn, who racked up 74 yards from scrimmage and scored a TD against the Bears, laid the ball on the carpet twice; Vick was charged with the third. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Just for the record, Atlanta opened last Sunday's game in a two-back, two-tight end, one-receiver set with Dunn and Duckett as the two backs. ...

In an article published earlier this month, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli offered the following theory:

"Maybe Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves knew exactly what he was doing after all in bypassing all those wide receivers in the first round of this year's draft and choosing tailback T.J. Duckett instead. While the Falcons needed a deep threat, and still do, Reeves might have considered his track record for choosing wide receivers since arriving in Atlanta in 1997.

"In his six drafts there, he has chosen nine wide receivers, and none remain on the current Falcons roster.

"Tim Dwight was traded to San Diego in 2001, as part of the Michael Vick deal, but the rest departed via the waiver wire. Here's the list of wide receiver chosen by Reeves during his Falcons tenure: Jammi German, 1998 (third round); Tim Dwight, 1998 (No. 4); Eugene Baker, 1999 (No. 5); Rondel Menendez, 1999 (No. 7); Mareno Philyaw, 2000 (No. 6); Vinny Sutherland, 2001 (No. 5); Quentin McCord, 2001 (No. 7); Kahlil Hill, 2002 (No. 6); Michael Coleman, 2002 (No. 7)."

It's probably worth noting that Hill was promoted from the practice squad to handle the punt return duties last week. His tenure, however, was brief. In fact, the former sixth-round draft pick was released on Tuesday after fumbling a kick that resulted in Chicago's game-winning touchdown. Hill's release cleared a roster spot for Damon Gibson, who spent last season as Jacksonville's primary punt and kick returner. One last note here. ... In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly stated that team officials like what they’ve seen from former Cowboy and Brown Darrin Chiaverini. The third-year receiver showed good hands in the preseason and performed well on special teams.

"I understand the frustration, but I'm the one responsible," said Billick, whose offense never finished higher than 14th in his first three seasons. "If anyone wants to make a case for [offensive coordinator] Matt Cavanaugh or the scheme, I'm responsible. That's where the focus and the criticisms and the observations ought to come. I'm going to use my experience as best I can to overcome these things."

The Ravens (0-2) have struggled from the opening kickoff this season, managing just one touchdown in the first two games. Ranked 30th in the 32-team league, the Ravens' offense has scored seven points while their mistakes have led to nine points (interception returned for a touchdown and a safety).

The scoreless string has reached 20 straight drives - with the Ravens crossing into their opponent's red zone once during that stretch - and trumps the five-game touchdown drought of 2000 in one aspect of futility. During that so-called "Dust Bowl," the Ravens never went more than 12 drives without scoring a point.

A day after a 25-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Billick enters the bye week coping with the first shutout of his 11-year NFL coaching career along with the limitations of an attack that relies on eight players with two years' or less starting experience.

"I can draw it up with the best of them," Billick said. "I can empty the backfield. I can do double reverses. I can throw route combinations that would cross your eyeballs. But you've got to be able to execute and do what your players do well. That's what we're trying to do."

The most frustrating part of the shutout was the regression of quarterback Chris Redman, whose 57.6 quarterback rating ranks near the bottom of the league.

The first-year starter made nine mental mistakes and missed three potential touchdown passes. He short-armed a throw to Brandon Stokley on a post pattern, delivered a pass behind Stokley instead of leading him downfield and overthrew Ron Johnson in the end zone.

"Those are three throws that a quarterback in this league has to make," Cavanaugh said. "But we're in it for the long haul with him. There's going to be days like that. We knew it as a staff back in the spring when we decided he was our guy and we're going to let him play with a bunch of other young guys. It's going to get ugly at times, but we'll get through it, too."

Billick re-iterated that he is committed to developing a young quarterback unless the situation forces him to make a switch to Jeff Blake.

"If it came to the point where Chris lost the confidence of his teammates and this coaching staff," Billick said, "then I would consider making a move to the more veteran guy."

Redman's teammates, though, have publicly supported him.

"That's our quarterback," receiver Travis Taylor said. "We're going to go out on a limb for him. Whatever it takes, that's our quarterback."

Redman wants to learn from his 22 incompletions yet doesn't intend on dwelling on the mistakes.

"Hopefully, I'm going to look back at that game and say that's when I started to grow up," Redman said. "But I'm going to tear the rearview mirror off. I'm going to keep moving forward."

Hensley further noted the team's play selection had a hand in the struggles, too. The Ravens had a game plan of physically pounding the ball, but Cavanaugh called three draw plays on the first seven runs and never allowed the offense to have that smash-mouth mentality.

"Believe me, if it was one thing, we'd change it," Cavanaugh said. "If that one thing was me, then I'd ask them to change me. If it was one thing, we would attack that one thing. But it's a lot of things."

To get the offense back on track, the Ravens have to establish an identity. Cavanaugh thinks his personnel is best suited for that grind-it-out, conservative running attack that fueled the Ravens' Super Bowl championship run.

"It's worked before and it'll work again," Cavanaugh said. "I still feel that formula is what we are right now."

That formula was developed after that long touchdown drought in 2000. But getting this attack out of its rut may take more than altering the play-calling.

Especially with Redman at the controls. ... Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio, citing several "NFL-types," reported on Monday that Redman is one of the main reasons Baltimore's offense is so anemic.

According to Florio, Redman has looked "intimidated and confused" during his two starts this season. The former Louisville star also has a tendency to lock in on his primary receiver and has come up short when it comes to recognizing defenses so far this season. ...

Getting back to Billick. ... As reported by Houston Chronicle columnist John McClain, after dropping the season opener to the Panthers, the coach discussed the fine line he must walk when it comes to picking up his players from an emotional standpoint.

"I can't let this team fall into the desperation of hopelessness," Billick explained. "At no point -- no matter how frustrated I get -- I can't melt down. These players have to be dealt with in a certain way. I'm going to be positive and upbeat and demanding.

"You have to dog-cuss them a little bit to make sure they understand what it takes to win. But at the same token, it has to be in a teaching mode. You have to be comforting to a degree but not to the point where you condone it."

Other notes of interest. ...

Redman has not yet heard from the NFL about violating league rules in wearing black high-top cleats in Sunday's loss. Redman wore the shoes in honor of late Colts legend John Unitas. ...

Although he racked up 91 total yards from scrimmage, Jamal Lewis was held without a touchdown for the second straight week. The former first-round draft pick will use the off week to recover from what team officials have called a minor rib injury suffered against the Bucs. ...

Tight end Terry Jones suffered a broken hand against Tampa Bay and will likely miss the Broncos game. ... Stokley left Sunday's game briefly with a lower leg contusion. He was able to finish the game and the injury was not considered to be serious. ...

The Ravens opened Sunday's game in a two-back, two-tight end, one-receiver set with Johnson as the lone wideout. ... Taylor, who spent most of last week nursing a sore shoulder, came off the bench to catch two passes for 18 yards. ... Veteran place-kicker Matt Stover had the first "did not play" of his 13-year career last Sunday. J.R. Jenkins handled the game's opening kickoff and the Ravens' field-goal try, which was blocked.

"I had been kicking off during the course of my career other than last year, I always kicked off at the beginning of the game or halftime," Stover said. ...

And finally. ... Fullback Sam Gash was inactive for Sunday's game, and the two-time Pro Bowl player may have to get used to such a status the next few weeks. "That is our profile right now," Billick said. ...

Sensing that his Buffalo teammates were looking to him for inspiration, Bledsoe went for the full effect.

"That cut on my neck? I was trying to get some of the blood to drip down on my jersey," Bledsoe recalled Monday. "To make me look tough."

A year -- almost to the day -- after losing the starter's job in New England after suffering a severe chest injury, Bledsoe erased any lingering doubts about his durability during Buffalo's overtime victory at Minnesota last Sunday.

Bledsoe finished with 463 yards passing, setting both personal and franchise marks, and placing him 25th among single-game performances in NFL history. And he did it with a dramatic flair.

After forcing overtime with a 29-yard drive in the final 21 seconds to set up Mike Hollis' 54-yard field goal, he capped it with a two-play, 76-yard drive that ended on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Peerless Price.

It marked the 20th fourth-quarter comeback of Bledsoe's career, his fifth 400-plus-yards passing game, placing him in a tie for fifth all-time, and it came on a day in which he became the 24th player -- and third-fastest -- to pass for 30,000 career yards.

Bledsoe played down the numbers, calling the victory -- his first in two games with the Bills -- much more important.

Sunday's performance might have eclipsed even the expectations of the Bills, who were looking to Bledsoe to rejuvenate a talented but underachieving offense that sputtered under Rob Johnson for most of the past two seasons.

In two games, Bledsoe has racked up 734 yards passing -- something that took the Bills almost four games to produce last season. ...

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle staffer Sal Maiorana noted that there was a point in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's game when Eric Moulds swallowed his pride for the good of the team.

Normally Buffalo's primary receiver, Moulds realized that the Vikings were making his life miserable, double-covering him all over the field. It was their clear intention to take him out of the game and dare Bledsoe to beat them with Price and rookie Josh Reed.

So, on the advice of his star receiver, that's what Bledsoe did.

"They were doubling me a lot, so I told the coaches to forget about me and keep feeding Peerless and Josh because they were the hot guys," Moulds said.

"Those guys are great young receivers and they are going to make my job a lot easier as the season goes on."

Price set career-highs for catches (13) and yards (185) and caught two touchdowns, the second a 48-yarder in overtime to give the Bills a wild 45-39 victory.

Reed also had career-highs with eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, his yardage total the most by a Bills' rookie receiver since Chris Burkett in 1985. And by the way, even though they shadowed his every move, Moulds still caught eight passes for 86 yards.

It was a sparkling performance from a receiving corps that was expected to be one of the Bills' strengths, and, with a combined 47 receptions for 606 yards and 4 TDs in two games, is certainly turning out to be.

"With our quarterback, receivers, tight ends and running backs, I think we have one of the best, if not the best, passing attacks in the NFL," Moulds said.

"I was proud of the way Peerless played. I've always told him he has the ability to be a dominant receiver and he showed that. The sky's the limit for Josh. The more he plays the better he gets.

"We still need to be more balanced, but it's nice to know we can score anywhere on the field when we put the ball in the air."

Bledsoe has always had that confidence, but now, he said, that confidence is starting to filter throughout the offensive unit.

"I'm confident in a game like that that we can makes plays," said Bledsoe, who was asked by the Pro Football Hall of Fame to send a ball from the game to commemorate the fact that he became the third-fastest quarterback in NFL history to surpass 30,000 yards passing (tied with Brett Favre at 126 games).

"And the reason I'm confident is the guys around me. With Eric and Peerless and Josh and Jay (Riemersma) and Larry Centers and these big guys blocking in front of me, I'm confident we can make those plays.

"Those guys feed off me, but I feed off them at the same time."

And finally. ... In an article published last Sunday, Boston Globe staff writer Nick Cafardo noted that Travis Henry needs to work on his ball security. Although he did a nice job running for 149 yards against the Jets two weeks ago, coaches gave the former University of Tennessee star a bit of a tongue lashing for changing the ball from one hand to the other.

"It's elementary stuff, changing the ball in traffic," said coach Gregg Williams. "It's Pop Warner. You can't do that stuff."

Peete had been operating on a week-to-week basis with the Panthers, needing to do enough on game days to keep Chris Weinke on the bench and possibly lead Carolina to a few wins.

He's done both -- sparking the Panthers to a 2-0 start and giving Weinke a permanent spot on the sidelines by throwing for 310 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's lopsided win over Detroit.

The 36-year-old Peete hasn't thrown for more than 300 yards since Sept. 27 of 1992, when he racked up 323 as a Lion.

Based on that effort, head coach John Fox finally ended the uncertainty when he confirmed Monday that Peete is the Panthers' starter.

"I'd say that's fair," Fox said. "When you're named the starter, it's your job to have or to lose and Rodney has prepared and played admirably and he's the starting quarterback."

The announcement was hardly a surprise: The Panthers have won their first two games for the first time since 1996 and Peete has a lot to do with it.

He's got the offense rolling, has yet to commit a turnover and his quarterback rating of 105 ranks second in the NFC.

"I'm just trying to go and be steady," Peete said. "I'm not trying to put this team in bad situations throughout the course of the game, I'm just trying to play consistent. When there are plays to be made, then make them. That's my focus for each and every game."

Those who follow the team closely say the Panthers have avoided a quarterback controversy in large part because teammates have rallied around Peete.

"He's a leader," said receiver Steve Smith. "He comes in there and tells people `Listen up, this is what we're going to do.' It's like, shut your mouth because the captain's talking."

Peete's performance has left Weinke's future in limbo. When Peete was named the starter, Fox insisted Weinke was still the quarterback of Carolina's future. But as long as Peete continues to win, there seems to be little room for Weinke. He got spot playing time Sunday after the victory was already in hand, failing to complete his only pass attempt and mishandling a snap that was nearly fumbled.

On Monday, Fox had little to say about Weinke's place in the organization.

"I will say he did have his best week of practice last week," Fox said. "And he got a little bit of time Sunday against Detroit and I thought he did OK there.

"Right now, guys are always being evaluated and right now the quarterback list is the same as it was last week."

One last note on this one. ... Asked to explain why he went with Peete over Weinke and rookie Randy Fasani, Fox replied: "He had 37 wins in this league, and the other two had one between them. ..."

Fair enough. ...

DeShaun Foster update. ... The former UCLA star, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery late last month, continues to recover. "It's pretty much like it was last week; he's getting better, it's improving, he's picking up his conditioning, picking up his rehab," Fox told the Charlotte Observer. "I'm sure he'll be listed as out (for Sunday) come Wednesday. ..."

At this point it's still not clear when Foster will return, but according to Gaston Gazette reporter Steve Reed, the youngster is likely to miss at least two more weeks and possibly more. The second-round draft pick was originally expected to miss the first four games of the season. ...

And finally. ... John Kasay missed 2-of-3 field goals attempts last Sunday -- a 46-yarder that was partially blocked and 40-yard attempt wide right. According to the Sports Xchange, Kasay appears to be kicking the ball too low into the line. It appears his timing is off after missing most of the preseason with a groin injury.

Kasay is now 2-for-5 on the season and was booed Sunday for the first time ever in his eight seasons with the Panthers.

"It's more of a timing thing, I think," Fox told the Winston-Salem Journal when asked about the veteran place-kicker's struggles. "We had a couple of kicks that came out of there low. We need to analyze why that happened and get it corrected. You can't keep leaving points out there when you have a chance to put them up on the board."

If Miller's ankle does not respond to treatment and time off, Chris Chandler could be called on to make his first start as a Bear. ...

According to the Sports Xchange, after an impressive training camp and preseason, starting wide receiver Dez White's performance seems to have tailed off.

Although Miller threw six passes his way against the Falcons, the third-year wide man finished the day with just one catch for four yards. He dropped two catchable deep balls, the second of which -- and the easier catch of the two -- would have been a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, with the Bears clinging to a 14-13 lead, White was wide open at the Falcons' 20-yard line, and Miller dropped the ball onto his fingertips. But when White tried to bring the ball in, it was jarred loose by his right knee, and the Bears wound up punting.

Meanwhile, Marcus Robinson, who holds the franchise record with 1,400 receiving yards in 1999, is itching to return to his role as a big-play performer. Currently the No. 4 wideout, Robinson continues to work his way back from the torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered last Oct. 21.

Only two passes were directed toward Robinson on Sunday. The first was an underthrown deep ball down the right sideline late in the first quarter. Robinson did a good job preventing Falcons cornerback Juran Bolden from intercepting it. Midway through the fourth quarter, Miller's pass for Robinson hit Bolden in the hands, but he couldn't hold on to it.

Robinson wants his starting job back, but he knows he has to show more production than the one catch for 10 yards he had in the opener. But that's difficult to do when your number is rarely called.

"I had two plays called my way this weekend, and I didn't make those plays," Robinson said. "I'm a little upset with myself because I know in the position I'm in right now, I have to make those plays. In order for me to get on the field, I have to get out there on Sunday when the ball comes, and I have to make that play no matter what. ...

David Terrell, on the other hand, continues to make the most of his opportunities.

As Chicago Tribune staffer John Mullin noted this week, Terrell may not be the most prolific Bears receiver at this point of the season, but his two receptions have accounted for the winning scores in both games for a Bears team that is 2-0 for the first time since 1991.

After his 14-yard reception in the third quarter put the Bears ahead 14-10 Sunday, Terrell leaned against the goal post and imitated a "counting the money" routine by comedian Mike Epps, whose moves teammate Marty Booker also has borrowed for celebrations.

"I was counting my money," said Terrell, who was criticized heavily after going into the stands and punting the ball after his game-winning catch against Minnesota last Sunday. "You've got to have fun, regardless, with the criticism or without the criticism. I'm going to rise to the top anyway. I always have.

"I'm just going to be myself, come out here and make plays and knock the criticism off my back. It's hard to do, I'm so immature," Terrell deadpanned.

Terrell earlier had missed on a connection with Miller, resulting in a first-quarter interception that killed a promising drive in Atlanta territory.

Terrell, the primary receiver, ran a short route. Miller threw to the spot where Terrell stopped, but Terrell cut to his left in a part of the pattern Miller did not expect. Miller took the blame for the foul-up.

"I can't make mistakes like that," Miller said.

Terrell, a Michigan man, talked to Miller, a Michigan State grad, later in the game to encourage Miller to look his way again for the touchdown pass.

"I guess I grabbed Jim and in the back of his ear told him, 'Just throw the football up there. I'll take the hit and make a play on it,'" Terrell said. "I guess he believed in me again this week."

But the quick hook is waiting.

Head coach Dick LeBeau informed Frerotte on Wednesday that he will start against the Atlanta Falcons, leaving Jon Kitna as the backup. LeBeau also made it clear that he wouldn't hesitate to turn to Kitna if Frerotte struggles on Sunday night.

"We would take a very close look at production," LeBeau said.

Frerotte had the decisive gaffe Sunday in a 20-7 loss in Cleveland. He tried to throw the ball away with his left hand to avoid a sack, but the pass floated to Kenard Lang. His 71-yard interception return set up the clinching touchdown.

The winless Bengals have been outscored 54-13 in their first two games behind Frerotte, who is still learning the offense. Cincinnati has opened each of the last five seasons with a different quarterback.

Frerotte threw three interceptions and was sacked five times in Cleveland, prompting LeBeau to consider a change. After watching game films for the past two days, LeBeau decided his offense didn't play so badly.

He knows his opinion is in the minority in Cincinnati, where fans are prepared for a 12th straight season with a losing record.

"That's why I don't like to talk too much in these situations, because it sounds like you're making excuses," LeBeau said. "I also hear the house falling down around here, from the comments I'm getting. That's why I say the game was a close game."

Frerotte led the offense to only two field goals in an opening 34-6 loss to San Diego. He threw a touchdown pass in the closing minutes in Cleveland against a defense that went soft with the game well in hand.

The Bengals crossed midfield seven times, but scored only once, when it no longer mattered.

Cincinnati usually changes quarterbacks when the season is starting to slip away. Two games into the season would have been awfully quick, even by their standards.

Which isn't to say it's out of the question. And if that's the case, Jon Kitna is waiting in the wings.

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Bengals.com online editor Geoff Hobson, coaches were mulling over more than just a change at quarterback. Moves at left tackle (No. 1 pick Levi Jones for Richmond Webb?) and possible changes at wide receiver (increased roles for T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson?), and a re-evaluation of the pass-protection scheme that led to the first five-sack outing in 31 games.

On the injury front. ... Wide receiver Peter Warrick didn't finish last Sunday's game because of a bruised shin, but trainer Paul Sparling said the former first-round draft pick should be ready to go when the Bengals take on Atlanta Sunday night. ... Frerotte's right thumb sprain has improved, and Sparling said he won't wear tape this week. ... And finally. ... Sparling said Corey Dillon received two IVs during Sunday's game to treat dehydration.

Maybe he should tell his coach.

Couch missed the first two games while resting his sore right arm. The fourth-year QB tore scar tissue near his elbow in an Aug. 26 exhibition game, and had his throwing limited the past few weeks.

While Couch has been sidelined, backup Kelly Holcomb has started and led the Browns (1-1) to a 20-7 victory on Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Two games was more than enough time away for the antsy Couch, who says he'll be the one under center against the Titans.

"I'm going for sure," Couch said Monday. "That's kind of been the plan, as far as I know."

However, head coach Butch Davis wasn't quite as confident that Couch would be back in the lineup this weekend.

"I have no idea," Davis said. "We'll find out Wednesday. The doctors have targeted this week as when they think he has a chance to be the starter.

"He has done what our medical people have asked him to do, and we're all moving forward with the idea that hopefully he'll be able to do it. He has taken no negative steps in the last two weeks, so all indications are is that we're heading in that direction."

Davis' answer didn't rule out the possibility that Couch might sit out again, however.

Couch will test his elbow during practice Wednesday, and said that unless there's a setback he'll make his first start of the year.

But that's what Couch thought was going to happen last week before doctors told him to rest his arm for another week.

"I thought I was ahead of schedule, and they wanted me to stick to the schedule," Couch said. "That's the only conflict that we've had."

Despite Holcomb's excellent play in the first two games, Davis said that whenever Couch is ready, the Browns are his team.

"Kelly has played well," Davis said. "But Tim is the starting quarterback, and if Tim is well enough to play and be the starting quarterback he'll be the starting quarterback. We'll watch as the week goes on."

Holcomb has done everything the Browns could have hoped while keeping Couch's starting spot warm.

After two games, Holcomb has completed 44 of 69 passes for 524 yards with five interceptions and no interceptions. Entering Monday night's game, the career backup's rating of 111.0 is the NFL's second-highest among regular quarterbacks.

He passed for 326 yards in the opener against the Chiefs, and followed it up with an unspectacular but very efficient performance against the Bengals.

While watching from the sideline, Couch has been impressed by his understudy.

"I thought he played excellent," Couch said. "He did his job. When guys get hurt, guys get to step up and play. He won us a game. If you're going to win and make the playoffs, you've got to have quality backups."

Couch was asked if he learned anything about running Cleveland's offense while watching Holcomb.

"Not really," he said. "I'm going to do my own thing and play the way I played in the preseason. I had the offense moving and was playing well."

Couch had the best exhibition season of his career, completing 30 of 39 passes for 310 yards and two TDs.

Holcomb, who has made three career starts, served as Peyton Manning's backup in Indianapolis and has been No. 2 behind Couch since last season. But after getting some experience starting, he admits it will be tough going back to the bench.

"I wouldn't be human if I said it didn't bother me," Holcomb said. "I understand. The realistic point of view is that's my job."

For now, Davis has dismissed any notion of a quarterback controversy once Couch can play.

"He's the proven guy," he said. "He won seven games last year. There's no question in anybody's mind that he's the best quarterback."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

In an article published Monday, Medina County Gazette beat writer Steve King noted that rookie running back William Green is off to a slow start. There's no explosion, no ability to push the pile. He must start running with more authority. Jamel White has been the playmaker thus far. ...

According to the Sports Xchange, an obviously unhappy Green sat alone on the bench during Sunday's win over the Bengals. ... So far this season, Green has averaged a very James Jackson-like 2.12 yards per carry while White has been good for four yards per carry. ...

And finally. ... Also according to King, no one in the league is kicking the ball better than Phil Dawson, who has made 21 straight field goals dating to last season.

That player gained more than 1,000 yards receiving in three of his first four seasons, each in Seattle. He scored 36 touchdowns in those four years.

Galloway suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the 2000 season, and last season, he caught 52 passes for 699 yards and three touchdowns from four quarterbacks. More important, he didn't like former offensive coordinator Jack Reilly's approach. Galloway's strength is blowing past defenders and catching the deep ball.

Galloway finished Sunday's surprising win over the Titans with five catches for 88 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown grab between two defenders. He had six catches for 69 yards and a 21-yard reverse in the opener against Houston and was one of the few players to draw praise for his performance in that game.

At times, Tennessee committed both safeties to run defense. New offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet threw deep because he knew Galloway had single coverage much of the game.

"I feel a lot better with my role in this offense and what this offense is trying to accomplish," Galloway said. "We called a couple of deep balls at the end of the game. That's being aggressive."

Galloway also has been helped by second-year quarterback Quincy Carter, who throws a nice deep ball. Since Carter returned from groin and thumb injuries with six games left in the 2001 season, Galloway has resembled the receiver who was one of the NFL's most dangerous early in his career.

In his last eight games with Carter at quarterback, Galloway has caught 33 passes for 501 yards. He has five receptions of more than 30 yards in his last six games.

"Joey Galloway is really into it," head coach Dave Campo said. "He feels like he's going to get the football and that he's being implemented into the game plan.

Other notes of interest. ...

Veteran tight end Tony McGee didn't catch a pass in the season opener. He recorded his first catch with the Cowboys with a 17-yard touchdown reception from Carter in the second quarter.

The pass came off play-action, as Carter faked a handoff to Emmitt Smith off right tackle, then rolled left and found a wide-open McGee near the goal line.

"We dusted that one off from Cincinnati," McGee said. "We used to pull it out there a couple of times. That was a called and designed play. We worked on that throughout training camp. It was good to see it work. ..."

According to Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo, Antonio Bryant, who along with Ken-Yon Rambo, was cited for poor route running and a lack of aggressiveness in the season opener against Houston, received a special phone call last week.

Bryant caught four passes for 47 yards against the Texans, but had 15 balls thrown to him, and he was often forced off his routes by veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn. On one play, Glenn outmuscled Bryant for the ball. Former Cowboy Michael Irvin saw it on TV, and it irked him so much he called the Cowboys.

"He needs to be more aggressive and fight for his position," said Irvin. "You can't run a slant with a guy sitting that close. He's going to have to run him over to back him off. If you have to take a penalty to get him off of you, so be it. It's the big picture. It's a matter of experience."

And finally. ... The Cowboys are installing a new playing surface at Texas Stadium this week. The new surface, Realgrass Synthetic Grass Playing Surface, was used by the Cowboys during training camp at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The team also plans to install the surface at its Valley Ranch headquarters.

Brian Griese has completed passes to eight different receivers, and Denver has added a few trick plays, including two double reverses against the 49ers.

The Broncos also have incorporated the shotgun again to give Griese more time, something they haven't used on a consistent basis since John Elway led them to consecutive Super Bowl titles.

The key, though, has been the running game.

Terrell Davis, Denver's all-time leading rusher, is on injured reserve and might be forced to retire because of bad knees, but the Broncos haven't missed him.

Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson and rookie Clinton Portis have given the Broncos three distinctive running styles and made it difficult for teams to key on one player. The trio has combined for 256 yards on 49 carries this season.

"If you have the ability to keep people fresh, and go into the game and have that speed and explosion that you're looking for, it's nice to have," head coach Mike Shanahan said. "Very seldom do you have that luxury. I think we have that luxury right now."

Griese, who struggled last season, has been unspectacular but solid.

He was nearly pulled after two interceptions and a fumble in the third quarter against the Rams, but later took the Broncos to the deciding score. Against the 49ers, he eliminated the mistakes and completed 14 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's playing the way I always thought he could play, and I'm very pleased with his progression and his performance," Sharpe said. "Basically, what we do is a reflection of him, and if he takes care of the football then we go out there and do our job, everything will be hunky dory."

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Pro Football Weekly, even though the decision to release tight end Desmond Clark, a Pro Bowler last season when he caught 51 passes and six touchdowns, raised a few eyebrows around the league initially, the move was viewed as an obvious one when looked at from all angles.

Clark’s dislocated forearm would have kept him out until at least Week 5, and he was due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The salary-cap-strapped Broncos knew they wouldn’t be able to afford him, so they chose to rely on their depth at the position, continue to develop rookie Jeb Putzier and save the $1.227 million base salary they would have owed Clark.

The Broncos believe Putzier is in Jeremy Shockey’s class as far as athleticism and pass-catching ability, and in no way did they want to expose him on the waiver wire. Shannon Sharpe and Dwayne Carswell make up Denver’s two-TE set while Patrick Hape can play tight end and fullback.

And finally. ... The Broncos contacted the NFL on Monday about using alternative means of communication in future games after their headsets failed to work against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Broncos usually give the plays to Griese through a radio transmitter in his helmet, but the signal was crossed with one being used by emergency personnel and ushers at 49ers Stadium in San Francisco on Sunday.

Denver had to shuttle players into the game to get the plays to Griese, and he even called a few plays of his own when the calls didn't come in quick enough.

Shanahan said league officials told the team before the game that there was a problem with the frequency, but they couldn't do anything about it. San Francisco had no problems with its headsets.

"We're going to check into it and see what type of alternatives we do have, what type of backup systems we can have," Shanahan said. "Can we change the frequency, so we can at least be able to communicate? We're working on that hard today, and hopefully we can come up a solution in the next couple of days."

NFL spokesman Michael Sigsignora said the officials were correct in letting the 49ers continue to use their headsets.

Under rules in the NFL Operations Manual, if one team has trouble communicating from the coaches' booth down to the field, the other team must not use its system.

But the rule only applies to coaches trying to talk to other coaches, Sigsignora said.

"The coach-to-quarterback is not subject to the equity rule," Sigsignora said. "If one team experiences difficulty with the coach-to-quarterback communication, the other club does not have to shut down."

Teams use encryption to keep their communications from being tapped into, but somehow the Broncos were getting interference on their frequency, Sigsignora said. Denver's coaches had no trouble communicating between the booth and the field.

Harrington played behind second-year-man Mike McMahon in the first two games, both blowout losses for the Lions, who have only one two games since the start of the 2001 season.

"This is a little earlier than we wanted this to happen, but we think he is ready," head coach Marty Mornhinweg said Wednesday. "He threw a ton of balls in the preseason, and he's had two regular-season games to learn from."

Harrington has completed 7-of-18 passes for 52 yards and has a dismal quarterback rating of 23.8. McMahon, a fifth-round pick last year, is 22-of-44 for 275 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

McMahon, who makes about $300,000 a year, knew it was only a matter of time before he was benched in favor of Harrington, who has a six-year contract worth about $36.5 million.

"It was expected," McMahon said. "This is the NFL. It's a business. If things aren't going well with your team, it's almost like you have to do it."

When the Lions chose Harrington instead of a player to fill an immediate need at another position, such as cornerback, McMahon knew he would not be the starting quarterback for long.

"It's almost like, if we're winning, everything will be fine," McMahon said. "If not, there's going to come a time when they're going to replace me. That day has come and you got to deal with it."

Mornhinweg didn't dispute McMahon's assessment.

"This is a brutal business," Mornhinweg said. "This isn't fair to Mike, but it was a move we felt we needed to make. I think highly of Mike and like him very much. He has handled this amazingly well.

"He told me that he will be ready whenever we need him. But he is at a point in his career where he is going to be up-and-down, up-and-down, and we need more consistency from the quarterback spot."

Mornhinweg said he thought the quarterback switch would happen before the fifth game of the season, after a bye week but now believes Harrington has progressed enough to provide more stability.

Of course, the change really comes as no surprise given the fact that Mornhinweg, who has led the team to a 2-16 record as head coach, is under the gun.

Not that he'll admit it. ...

"Once you start thinking about job security, it's over," Mornhinweg said Monday, a day after the Lions (0-2) lost 31-7 to Carolina. Detroit has been outscored 80-28.

The blowouts are in contrast to last year, when the Lions lost their first 12 and finished 2-14. Still, they were in almost every game until the end, setting an NFL record by losing nine straight games by eight points or fewer.

"Last year, if we lost, at least we were in ballgame even until the end," running back James Stewart said. "The way we're losing, we're not even in the ballgame."

Mornhinweg made a brief statement after the game, but did not answer questions.

"Allow me to do that once in a blue moon," the coach said Monday. "Trust me, if you guys want to see somebody twist in the wind a little bit and anguish, we're doing that."

The Lions have neither forced a turnover nor gotten a sack. They have five turnovers and allowed nine sacks. They have been penalized 17 times for 168 yards while their opponents have drawn just eight flags.

One other item of interest. ...

Bill Schroeder has a rib injury and his status for this week's game against the Packers is unknown. Schroeder left Sunday's game after taking a knee to the ribs in the first quarter. The former Packer was unable to return. ...

Green did not take part in the team's short workout Monday afternoon and could be sidelined all week.

"I don't anticipate him being able to practice," head coach Mike Sherman said.

Green's knee injury is mostly soreness. It is the strained tendon that will be the focus of his medical treatment. The injury is bad enough that Sherman couldn't say for sure whether Green would be able to play against the Detroit Lions.

Since coming to Green Bay in 2000, Green has not missed a game. In his four-plus years in the National Football League he has missed only two games, both because of a hamstring pull suffered in 1999 when he was with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers are probably being cautious with the injury because two years ago, defensive linemen Santana Dotson and Steve Warren both suffered torn quadriceps tendons and were lost for the season.

"I haven't talked to the trainers so I don't know how extensive it is," running backs coach Sylvester Croom said. "Ahman's a little bit banged up; his knee is sore. We'll definitely still try to see what he can do, but the other guys have to be ready to go."

Green played into the fourth quarter. He was hurt on the first play of the Packers' 61-yard drive that ended in Ryan Longwell's 36-yard field goal, which pulled the Packers within 28-20. He limped off the field and did not return.

Green accounted for 134 yards in all, 81 rushing in 17 carries and 53 receiving in six receptions, despite missing practice time last week because of stomach problems. His second-quarter fumble - his third of the season - led to a Saints touchdown that gave them a 14-3 lead.

Backup Rondell Mealey replaced Green but suffered a neck injury on the next play and had to leave the game. However, he returned a few plays later and said Monday that he was fine.

"No question," Mealey said when asked whether he would be ready for the Lions game.

If Green can't play, Mealey would start and rookie Najeh Davenport would be his backup. Davenport played two downs while Mealey was on the sideline and did not carry the ball.

The Packers would probably keep rookie running back Tony Fisher active as an emergency back even if Green can play.

One other item of interest. ... Coaches are only teaching rookie receiver Javon Walker one position because they don't want to dilute his learning process.

Most receivers come in and learn at least two positions, but the coaches want Walker to contribute right away, so they are sticking with him at flanker.

That means if there's an injury at split end, he couldn't step in and start. It's a risk, but his development has been reasonably quick and he's a major part of the passing game because of it.

He helped lead the Texans to a 19-10 upset victory over the Cowboys in the first regular-season game in franchise history. He also was sacked nine times in a Week 2 loss to the Chargers.

"They said the NFL would be like this," Carr said. "Super highs one week and then a game that's the total opposite."

Rookie running back Jonathan Wells vows to spend this week working on picking up blitzes better. Wells allowed a sack of quarterback Carr in the second half Sunday and narrowly escaped allowing another.

Although head coach Dom Capers is refusing to commit to one back, James Allen's experience and blocking skills are earning him more reps at this point in the season.

"James has more experience in blitz protection and pick-ups," Capers said.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Houston Chronicle reporter Carlton Thompson noted that Billy Miller is the only tight end on the roster who has good hands and a knack for getting open, but he hasn't made much of an impact through the first two games.

A pass-catching tight end can be a safety net for a quarterback, so it's in Carr's best interest for Miller to be active in the passing game.

Things didn't look much different against Miami.

Peyton Manning was 26-of- 45 for 289 yards and one touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions -- two of which were bobbled. Several other passes were dropped.

Other notes of interest. ...

Marcus Pollard is expected to be able to play this week when Indianapolis travels to Houston to face their new AFC South rivals. Pollard wanted to play Sunday against Miami, but bruised rib cartilage kept him on the sidelines.

"I felt like Superman out there when he got around kryptonite," Pollard said. "The desire to be out there on the field with everybody else was there, but the body wasn't able. I still had a lot of soreness, so the doctors told me that I should wait. But I'm going to work hard to be back for this week's game in Houston."

According to the Sports Xchange, Qadry Ismail isn't known for mincing his words. He admits that it gets frustrating when you try to get open against a Miami secondary that is known for being a tad bit aggressive in pass coverage.

"They've been doing it for years," said Ismail. "It's something you expect from Miami."

Ismail caught three passes for 21 yards, but he spent a lot of his time talking to the officials about the constant bumping and grabbing Indianapolis receivers faced for most of Sunday's game. The former Baltimore Ravens receiver said the Dolphins' approach is to be as physical as the officials allow.

"At times it gets somewhat frustrating, especially if the ref doesn't see it the way you see it," he said. "You just persevere."

When he was asked if he thought he was bumped by Miami safety Brock Marion on the last play of the game, an incompletion in the end zone, Ismail chose his words carefully.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to say stuff," he said, aware that criticizing the officiating can result in a fine. When asked if he could elaborate, Ismail deferred.

No, you're not the one getting fined," he smiled. ...

Second-year receiver Reggie Wayne was shaken up late in Sunday's game as he attempted to make a diving catch near midfield. Wayne hit his head on the RCA Dome turf, but he is expected to be able to play this week.

"I'm fine," Wayne said Monday. "I just banged my head on the turf and things got a little woozy there for a bit. They told me that I had a mild concussion, but that I should be okay for this week's game."

And finally. ... Edgerrin James became the fastest player in NFL history to 25 100-yard games. He needed just 40 games to achieve the feat, one fewer than Houston's Earl Campbell. ... Place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt became the fourth Colts player to surpass the 500-point mark. He now has 506 career points, 80 points behind Lou Michaels. ...

Long plays were a trademark of the club for much of the late 1990s before the offense went into an injury-induced slumber the past two seasons. But this season the Jaguars have touchdown passes of 79, 37 and 18 yards and, much to their delight, saw Fred Taylor sprint 63 yards for a game-deciding score in the final minutes Sunday at Kansas City.

With Taylor, Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith and Patrick Johnson, the Jaguars certainly have a solid array of weapons -- as long as they stay healthy. ...

Also according to Hubbuch, head coach Tom Coughlin, who doubles as the offensive coordinator, is committed to the run for probably the first time in franchise history.

Coughlin continued to go to Taylor despite few holes in the Chiefs' defense. The move finally paid off when Taylor broke his big run. ...

According to the Sports Xchange, it's been a long time since Taylor has rushed for 100 yards or scored a touchdown -- December of 2000, to be exact -- and it felt even better when he did it last Sunday because he got to enjoy it in a winning locker room.

The last time Taylor cracked the century mark, the Jaguars lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 17-14 in horrible playing conditions at Paul Brown Stadium. The following week, he ran for a 44-yard touchdown against the New York Giants in a 28-25 loss to end the 2000 season.

What made his latest visit to the end zone even sweeter was the fact it proved to be the game-winning touchdown. It also provided further evidence that he has properly recovered from a severely torn groin muscle that forced him to miss the last 14 games of the 2001 season.

"I had to make sure I got to the end zone [before celebrating] because I hadn't been there in a long time," said Taylor, who finished with 114 yards on 20 carries.

Before Taylor's game-breaking run, he was held to just 37 yards on 15 carries and also had a fumble that killed another drive.

"That's the run game for you," said Taylor. "Just pounding, pounding away no matter how ugly it is at the beginning. Somebody has to wear down eventually. They were tough early on. They weren't so tough in the fourth quarter."

The obvious omission is quarterback Trent Green, who threw two costly interceptions and failed to see open receivers on several plays.

Vermeil acknowledged that Green must play better if the Chiefs are to be consistent winners but insisted the quarterback wasn't the difference between the offensive explosion in Cleveland and the meltdown against Jacksonville.

"I get disappointed," Vermeil said. "I get disappointed in each player I have when he does something wrong. The trouble is, the quarterback is the only one you guys ever critically evaluate. There's a lot of other things that go into a quarterback's performance that only a coach can evaluate."

Of all the positive developments in Cleveland, the Chiefs were most encouraged by the play of Green. He appeared to have put his mistake-filled season of a year ago behind him by playing error-free except for an early interception that was clearly not his fault.

The Jacksonville game was a flashback to last season for Green, who led the NFL in interceptions and had one of the lowest passer ratings in 2001. Vermeil appeared to give up on the hope the Chiefs will see the Cleveland Green on a reasonably consistent basis.

"That doesn't happen in this world," Vermeil said. "Every week is a new week, every week is a new game, every week is a new defensive football team representing new problems. There's different breakdowns by the other people in the game.

"We didn't do as good a job (Sunday)."

Since joining the Chiefs last year, Vermeil has frequently gone out of his way to praise backup quarterback Todd Collins. But Vermeil said it never entered his mind to replace Green with Collins.

"You don't have to keep asking me that because you're going to keep getting the same response," Vermeil said. "The day I'm dissatisfied, all of a sudden you'll see a change made. I know more about the factors that control the performance of a quarterback.

"I can't be a bouncing ball -- high one day, low one day, high one day, low one day -- or else that guy never (raises his performance consistently)."

Despite their obvious defensive weaknesses, the Chiefs maneuvered during the off-season to help Green, adding veteran offensive tackle Willie Roaf and wide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Morton has yet to make an impact with only three receptions for 38 yards, the identical totals as fullback Tony Richardson.

Morton could have had a touchdown against Jacksonville when he got behind the secondary. Green couldn't get him the ball, and the pass was intercepted.

"It's tough because I want to do what I can to get in there and make some plays," Morton said. "You can't let your emotions take over where you get upset and frustrated."

On a more positive note, Priest Holmes is also off to a fast start with 206 rushing yards, third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL.

But, as the Chiefs saw against Jacksonville, it's all going to waste if Green doesn't play better.

"We've got to do a better job on first down in the passing game," Vermeil said. "Trent's got to hit some guys when they're open.

"He did some things well, and he did some things I'd like to see him do better. We had guys open a couple of times, and he didn't see them. He missed a couple of guys by inches. For us to be a playoff-caliber football team, he's got to do better."

Other notes of interest. ...

Also according to the Star, Green was hobbled by a sprained left ankle Monday and Eddie Kennison left Sunday's game for a short time because of a bruised right knee. Both players are expected to be ready for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

And finally. ... According to Pro Football Weekly, even though team officials maintain they're happy with their current receiving corps, they can’t hide the fact they are desperately thin at the position after placing Sylvester Morris (knee) on injured reserve and Marvin Minnis (foot) on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

That leaves return specialist Dante Hall, Marc Boerigter and Curtis Jackson as the reserves behind starters Kennison and Morton.

So far, so good. ... Williams is off to a terrific start, racking up 243 yards on 44 carries.

"He gives them the feeling they can run on anyone," said Colts coach Tony Dungy, whose team ranked 25th against the run last season. "He's a tough back, a force, a battering ram. We're going to have to bring our shoulder pads with us."

Adds Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt: "Ricky's a contact player. He likes the physical part of it."

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Palm Beach Post staffer Todd Archer wrote that because he does not have great speed, Oronde Gadsden does not get much credit as a wide receiver. He is a very good intermediate receiver with tremendous ability after he catches the ball.

Gadsden (6-2, 215) is bigger than most cornerbacks, and he can break arm tackles. He is very adept at using his body to shield defenders from making plays on the ball. That skill helps in the red zone, especially on fades.

Gadsden has the best hands on the team. Because of the strength of his fingers, he can catch the last quarter of the ball when the pass is almost by him. Even with the emergence of receiver Chris Chambers, Gadsden remains Jay Fiedler's go-to guy. ...

James McKnight spent last Sunday on the inactive list and according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the veteran receiver doesn't figure to be a big part of the offense anytime soon.

"I pray that these guys continue to stay healthy," McKnight said. "We pray as a wideout group before each time we go on the field. I want my guys to be successful. I want [Chambers and Gadsden] to have great years. Everything is being done at my expense right now, but that's OK. It's a long season, and there's still a lot of football to be played."

And finally. ... The Dolphins waived tight end Alonzo Mayes on Tuesday. The former Bear was placed on IR shortly after injuring a knee back in August.

The Vikings reached terms with Anderson two days after kicker Doug Brien missed two extra points and a field goal in an overtime loss to Buffalo.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Anderson, who cut short a fly-fishing trip in Colorado to return to Minnesota and work with punter Kyle Richardson, his new holder.

Brien will remain with the Vikings to handle kickoffs and long field goals.

Anderson, 43, is the NFL's oldest active player, in his 21st season, and is the league's leading scorer with 2,133 career points. The Vikings signed him as a free agent in 1998 and he played with the team through last season, making 91 of 106 field goals and 179 of 180 extra points.

But Minnesota cut him this spring, in part because neither Anderson nor Richardson handle kickoffs and the team didn't want to use three roster positions for kicking duties. The team signed Brien instead, believing he would be a more all-around kicker.

Though Brien remains on the roster, Anderson isn't worried about having to look over his shoulder.

"I'm a professional," Anderson said. "If he decides that's for the best, then I'm fine with that. I learned 20 years ago worrying about that type of stuff is a lot of wasted energy. You need to put that energy toward making field goals."

Brien, in his ninth season, previously played in 113 games with San Francisco, New Orleans and Tampa Bay. But the Vikings nearly cut him earlier this month after he missed four of five field goals during the preseason. Though he had trouble Sunday, he did make two field goals against the Bills and three against Chicago a week earlier.

After Sunday's game, Brien blamed himself for the loss and said he wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings cut him.

"Everybody has a job to do, and you have to do it. You have to make 100 percent of your PATs," he said. "I mean, who misses two PATs in a game? High school kickers don't do that. Terrible."

Head coach Mike Tice was also critical of Brien after the loss, but on Monday he praised Brien's kickoff abilities.

Other notes of interest. ...

Tight end Jim Kleinsasser will be out 2-to-4 weeks with a broken bone in his leg.

Kleinsasser, second on the team with 11 receptions and 114 yards, broke his shin bone below the knee on Sunday. He still managed six catches and 56 yards in an overtime loss to Buffalo. ...

After missing last week's game with a strained PCL in his left knee, Byron Chamberlain told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Monday: "I feel confident that I'm ready to play."

Chamberlain, who sustained the injury in week one against the Bears, will test his knee in practice later this week.

... Michael Bennett remains the starter at the halfback position, but Tice admitted that Bennett's holding call on a TD pass to Randy Moss prompted him to remove Bennett from the game.

I'll also remind you that Tice is going with a committee approach at halfback -- a committee he intends to operate by instinct with only one assurance: Each back will get meaningful carries in every game.

Tice plans for Bennett to play more than Doug Chapman or Moe Williams, but the coach also intends to keep all three at least slightly on edge -- while also providing the Vikings a set of multiple options they have not enjoyed since Herschel Walker, Terry Allen and Darrin Nelson combined for 1,598 yards in 1991.

A fourth back, first-year player James Wofford, could eventually work his way into the rotation.

One last note here. ... Tice told reporters early this week that Daunte Culpepper has to stop trying to make a big play on every snap. The coach said he thought Culpepper's desire to make a big play may have contributed to his holding onto the ball too long on plays in which he fumbled. ...

Brady had great protection from the offensive line. He was not sacked once, and was rarely hit or hurried. Receivers had a couple of minor problems.

The aforementioned Branch problem (though he also caught a 49-yard TD pass) and Troy Brown, who led the team with nine catches fumbled at the goal line after a 26-yard pass play.

The Patriots also amassed 163 yards rushing and averaged 4.1 yards per carry last Sunday. That was the desired result and goal. Antowain Smith is beginning to run with more authority and appears to be in better shape that when he failed his conditioning run in training camp. ...

According to Providence Journal reporter Paul Kenyon, while offensive coordinator Charlie Weis missed the start of training camp because of complications from gastric bypass surgery, head coach Bill Belichick said there never was any problem in getting the offense in gear.

"Even though Charlie wasn't physically at camp the first week, we had a lot of communication with him. We sent him the tapes of all the practices. He was in communication," Belichick said.

"When he came back, the first thing that Charlie and I did is sit in there, probably for about an hour or so, with the quarterbacks. We went through all the fine-tuning, the adjustments that we had made when he wasn't there so that all of us were on the same page as to why there had been change, what the new nuances were. Some of them we changed back, some of them we left and some of them we ended up adjusting again," Belichick said.

And finally. ... According to Boston Herald reporter Michael Felger, when Belichick was asked what player he was least concerned about this season, he said it was Adam Vinatieri.

Vinatieri has remained one of the most consistent kickers in the league, hitting all six of his field-goal attempts this season. Vinatieri's true value, however, will come when the weather turns.

As last season showed, Vinatieri might be the best bad-weather kicker in the league. ...

McAllister's straight-up running style exposes him to hits and extra punishment, which can lead to injuries. That style led some scouts to doubt whether he could withstand the grind of a 16-game season.

Time will tell, but McAllister went a long way toward answering those questions in the first two weeks, earning his yards against the Bucs and Packers.

Other notes of interest. ...

Joe Horn racked up 106 yards receiving in the first half of Sunday's win over Green Bay. More impressive still is the fact that 85 of those yards came after the catch. ...

Reserve running back Fred McAfee, the Saints' special teams leader, injured a hamstring and will miss at least one game. ... "I was just running and then it just went, like a popping feeling," McAfee said. "I've heard about it before, but I never had one myself. If it had been quiet out there I'm sure you could have heard it pop, but I didn't hear anything. It felt pretty bad when it happened."

Also according to Duncan, Boo Williams is gradually emerging as a standout at tight end. A former college wide receiver, Williams had to add 25 pounds and learn the intricacies of the position last season. He appears more comfortable this season, and the results are becoming evident in the statistics.

Williams has exceptional hands and leaping ability and can beat linebackers deep with his speed. However, mental breakdowns and missed assignments have held him back. ...

And finally. ... Our quote of the week comes from Aaron Brooks, who was asked last week how he might change as a result of his new contract:

"Money can't change me. I'm too humble. I see it having no bearing on me as a person. Is it going to change me? Hell, yeah, it's going to change me some. Like Deion [Sanders], it's going to change the way I dress and what (car) I drive. It's going to change me materialistically but not as a person."

How strange is that?

The Giants had a streak during the Dave Brown era of 96 games without a 300-yard passing game.

Collins is now the fifth quarterback in Giants history to throw for more than 10,000 yards. The others are Phil Simms (33,462), Charlie Conerly (19,488), Fran Tarkenton (13,905), and Y.A. Tittle (10,439) ...

In an article published Monday, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King reminded readers of something Jim Fassel predicted this summer: When Jeremy Shockey takes up so much defensive attention, there have to be holes elsewhere.

And as noted by the Sports Xchange, Shockey has had a profound impact on the team and, more important, on the defenses of the teams the Giants have played, both through the preseason games and the first two games of the season.

His effect on the Giants' offense has been startling, and not because he has caught a bushel of passes. He hasn't, although he had caught seven for 94 yards and a touchdown. But that isn't where his value lies. He has "opened up" the receiving game for the wideouts.

The Rams for example, used a sort of rotating zone defense to keep Shockey in their sights, and what that did was open up the deeper secondary for the team's wideouts. Ike Hilliard had four catches for 97 yards. Amani Toomer had four for 92. Ron Dixon had one for 23. And while Shockey's 28-yard scoring catch was the Giants' only offensive TD, the concern for him and his whereabouts made it easier for Collins to locate and hit his targets.

"You have to wonder what defenses are thinking," Collins said. "Here is a big, fast guy who likes to make contact running past your cornerbacks, linebackers and safeties. Of course they are going to have to do something to keep him in check."

Asked about his style of play and the defenses he faces, a smiling Shockey replied: "I just love it when a guy wants to cover me one on one. 'll beat him no matter who he is."

Other notes of interest. ...

Fassel doesn't want Ron Dayne to get depressed about his early-season failures.

"I talked to [running backs coach] Eric [Studesville] and I said, 'I don't want anybody getting down on this guy now,'" Fassel told the Bergen Record. "On four of his carries, he was hit in the backfield. That's not his fault."

And finally. ... According to SportsLine.com senior writer Jay Glazer, Fassel told his players on Saturday night that he's no fan of Rams' head coach Mike Martz. Fassel gave a rather simple explanation.

"You know how some coaches are cocky?" asked one Giant rhetorically. "Well, Jim told us that Martz isn't just cocky, he's also demeaning to the opposing players. He made us all aware of what he thinks of the guy. I don't think Jim took too kindly to what Martz said about Jason [Sehorn] when he ripped him last year."

"Right now, we're trying to find ourselves, because we don't know what we are, I don't think," Edwards said. "We are not really running the ball well enough. In preseason, we passed the ball well and made some plays.

"My concern right now is that we have to feel like we can do something really well. For some reason, we haven't found anything we can do really well. We are not running the ball real well now and obviously we're not making any plays for the passing game."

After Sunday's games the Jets were ranked 29th in the NFL in total offense and 32nd -- and last -- in rushing offense.

"What are we?" Edwards asked. "Right now, when I watch us play I really don't know what we are. Last year, I think we had an identity. We were more of a running team.."

The coach went on to say the Jets are going to make sure running back Curtis Martin is back to being the focal point of the offense, the way he was last year when he rushed for 1,513 yards, second in the NFL.

Through two games, Martin has carried the ball only eight times for 11 yards, alarming numbers.

"What we have to do in the next day or two as we get ready to play Miami is have a plan that says: 'This is what we are going to do and we are going to stick with it,"' Edwards said, referring to Sunday's trip to play the Dolphins.

The Jets have beaten Miami eight consecutive times. But the Dolphins are currently 2-0 and feeling confident and the Jets are 1-1 and feeling a lot more like 0-2.

"We're identifying ourselves and going into a tough game at the same time," Martin said. "We've got our work cut out for us."

According to the Sports Xchange, Vinny Testaverde may be hurt the most with the more balanced offense, with 200-yard passing games becoming less of a staple.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, New York Daily News staffer Rich Cimini wrote that Santana Moss hasn't made much of an impact on offense. According to Cimini, the coaching staff must do a better job of integrating him into the game plan, but some of the responsibility must fall on Moss, who is getting jammed on the line. The coaches should put Moss in motion, enabling him to break clean off the line.

By the way. ... The Jets threw to Moss nine times against New England but the former University of Miami star only caught one of them. Overall, Moss has pulled in just four of 26 passes thrown his way.

It's also worth noting that Wayne Chrebet could be relegated to a smaller role as a third-down specialist against the Dolphins, which means the Jets will probably just be looking for him on quick passes over the middle.

If he had his way the Oakland Raiders would play this Sunday and save their week off for sometime around midseason.

Why disrupt things in the third week?

But Callahan doesn't control the schedule, so the Raiders will wait two weeks to play the Tennessee Titans.

"We have to take it," Callahan said Monday. "It is what it is."

He gave his players the day off after a late cross-country flight from Pittsburgh, where quarterback Rich Gannon's pass-fest highlighted the team's 30-17 victory over the Steelers.

In Oakland's season-opening win over the Seahawks, the Raiders ran for 221 yards. On Sunday, Gannon threw for 403 yards (43-of-64) to break almost every major Raiders passing record for a game.

"The first game, of course, was predominantly run-oriented and this last game was pass-oriented," Callahan said. "We kind of know where we're at from that aspect. It's just a matter of getting prepared for the next team and seeing what we can do from a formation standpoint, an offensive standpoint, improve our special teams and defense as well."

The way the Raiders (2-0) have played so far, it's a little scary to think what they will do to the Titans with an extra week to get ready.

Callahan insists there's still plenty to perfect.

"We'll put it to good use," he said of the week off. "We can use it to get back to more fundamentals and improve our team at some of the things we need to get better at. And get ourselves in preparation not only for the Tennessee Titans but possibly get ahead on a couple other teams as well on the schedule."

The Raiders' numbers are impressive.

They lead the league in several offensive categories: total offense with 443.5 yards per game; first downs per game at 27; third-down conversion percentage at 59.4 (19-of-32); and time of possession at 37:13. They even converted their lone fourth-down try.

Gannon, who did not throw a TD pass all preseason, has a quarterback rating of only 83.5, but that doesn't seem to matter right now. Consider this, one of the 21 players ahead of him is Rodney Peete of Carolina, Oakland's third-stringer last year. Gannon's 617 yards passing are third in the NFL.

"The way I see it, we're capable of doing a lot of different things on offense because we have a maturity," Callahan said. "We have a guy at the helm who has outstanding leadership ability, that understands the role and can get you in and out of a lot of different things. When you have that capability, you can do a lot of things on offense."

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly noted that Jerry Rice’s preseason plan to bulk up in an effort to better withstand the pounding of an NFL season did not sit well with him, and he has decided to go back to what has worked for him in the past.

Rice came into training camp at 220 pounds, up from the 190-pound level he has played at for most of his career. Rice, long known as one of the league’s best-conditioned players, didn’t feel comfortable with the added weight in the team’s pre-camp conditioning test and later noticed in practice and while watching film that he had lost a lot of speed.

Rice was down to about 200 pounds by the opener and plans to shed another 10 in the coming weeks. ...

According to Houston Chronicle columnist John McClain, the Raiders thought they had a big playbook under former coach Jon Gruden, but Callahan hasn't given them any breaks when it comes to the game plan.

"Every Wednesday, we get a playbook that's bigger than a phone book," guard Frank Middleton said. ...

"It doesn't hurt to spread it around," head coach Andy Reid said. "It keeps the defense honest. It means the defense can't key on one or two guys. They have to cover more people."

James Thrash, who was shut out in the second half of last week's come-from-ahead loss to Tennessee, came up big against the Redskins. He finished with six receptions for 107 yards and a 39-yard TD early in the third quarter that put the game away. He also set the tone early with a 33-yard catch against Bailey on the Eagles' first offensive play of the game.

It's probably worth noting that the Eagles, who have been notoriously slow starters in the past, have racked up 47 points, 24 first downs and 426 yards in the first halves of their first two games.

Said Reid: "The longer you're together and the more you mature. ... Those are the kinds of things that add up to fast starts. We've been stressing it since we got here."

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Trenton Times staffer Mark Eckel noted that Chad Lewis has made himself into one of the best tight ends in the NFC. A Pro Bowl pick in each of the last two seasons, Lewis is a good fit in the West Coast offense and has become a favorite target of McNabb, especially inside the 20.

Lewis is at his best against zone defenses; he has the knack of finding the open seam and provides a good target for McNabb. Defenses have had the most success against Lewis by trying to jam him at the line and playing him man-to-man.

Also according to Eckel, one of Reid's greatest strengths is his ability to mix up his formations and play-calling to keep defenses off-balance and guessing. For example, Reid loves to line up four wide receivers, with one back, and run the ball. He especially likes to do it with speedy rookie Brian Westbrook as the lone back.

The three-headed backfield of Westbrook, Duce Staley and Dorsey Levens has given Reid even more flexibility, because all three backs are very good receivers. Look for Staley to line up in the slot and split out quite often this year. The same goes for Levens. Westbrook is the wild card in Reid's hand. Reid isn't exactly sure what to do with him yet.

One last note here. ...Reid said that Westbrook is "day-to-day" with an abdominal injury he sustained Monday night, but he's still expected to hit the field against Dallas this Sunday.

While the most obvious weaknesses are on the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh's offense hasn't been especially impressive either.

Kordell Stewart completed 18 of 34 passes for 201 yards, two TDs and one interception -- on the game's final play -- last Sunday. However, he overthrew open receivers and rarely hit them in stride. Two receivers also lost fumbles.

The rushing attack wasn't anything to write home about either. The Steelers only came up with 72 yards rushing against a Raider defense that isn't known for it's run-stopping.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staffer Gerry Dulac wrote: "Plaxico Burress was one of the NFL's most dangerous one-on-one receivers last season. But this year he is frustrated because he is getting double-teamed and not seeing the ball as much. He has to find other ways to get open and make plays. If he doesn't, QB Kordell Stewart will continue to look for WR Hines Ward first."

And finally. ... The team let go of one of its six wide receivers, Lenzie Jackson, because a cornerback was needed to replace injured cornerback Hank Poteat (turf toe), who could be out for several more weeks. The loss isn't huge because the team usually carries only five receivers.

The team also has a surplus with four tight ends, but it didn't want to cut Matt Cushing because he also can play fullback.

They averaged over 30 points each season behind Kurt Warner's uncannily accurate arm, Marshall Faulk's eye for the end zone, a brigade of speedy wide receivers and an ever-improving defense.

This season, they are 0-2 and looking up at the rest of the NFL with an attack that has looked somewhat drab and predictable, and a defense that bends far too much and puts no pressure on the quarterback.

Counting the loss to New England in the Super Bowl last February and the preseason, the Rams have lost seven in a row.

Yet, the team is far from worried. As head coach Mike Martz pointed out Monday, a play here and a play there and the Rams are 2-0. Just like last year, when the Rams overcame sloppiness in a three-point overtime victory against Philadelphia and a four-point win over San Francisco en route to their third straight 6-0 start.

"Last year at this time we could be sitting here at 0-2 very easily," Martz said Monday. "It's not an attitude thing."

Warner blamed himself repeatedly for the 26-21 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, bemoaning his late interception just after the 2-minute warning that snuffed out the Rams' last chance. It was Warner's second interception and the last of St. Louis' four turnovers.

"This one's completely on me," the NFL's MVP said, never looking more dejected.

But he was the exception. Others on the team are far from panic mode.

"It's no time to sulk," Faulk said minutes after the loss. "What we've got to do is get better. We've got to fix the things that are wrong."

Perhaps because the No. 1 offense was together so little in the preseason, somewhat due to injuries and somewhat due to a reluctance on Martz' part to expose his stars, players seem to still be in get-to-know-each-other phase. There's a lot less flash than in previous seasons under Martz, with the only innovation on Sunday a no-huddle offense that was somewhat effective.

Cover 2 defenses have taken away the long ball for the most part and the Rams, forced to grind it out, are in the bottom third of the league with an average of just 18 points per game. Last year, they averaged 31.

They're next-to-last in the NFL with six turnovers, and a minus-3 in giveaway-takeaway ratio.

The turnaround, players believe, could begin now. Help is on the way for the offense, with Terrence Wilkins finally getting a handle on the system and Troy Edwards back from a knee injury.

"It's not like we're going in the tank or anything," Faulk said. "We're not going away. You don't panic in this business because a lot of things can happen."

It's worth noting that Pro Football Weekly, in an article published last Tuesday, stated that even though Edwards will miss most of September, team officials believe he could make a significant contribution before the season runs its course.

At the very least, the feeling is that he could emerge as the team’s primary threat on kickoff returns, which remains an area of concern. Edwards, who was obtained from the Steelers for the bargain price of a sixth-round draft pick in 2004, has reportedly been on Martz‘s radar screen since being selected 13th overall in the 1999 draft because of his speed and, in particular, his cutting ability, which is a primary ingredient in the Rams’ spread-the-field offensive scheme.

And one last item here. ... As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, second-year tight end Brandon Manumaleuna started his first NFL game ahead of Ernie Conwell, who was limited due to a neck injury suffered in week one.

"They just wanted to protect me this week, because my neck was still bothering me some," Conwell said. "They wanted to be careful with me, and keep me out of banging."

Brees made some bad throws and some of his decisions were questionable.

On a more positive note, however, Brees and veteran wideout Curtis Conway appear to be on the same page.

Conway had his 19th career 100-yard game Sunday, and collected his second touchdown of the season.

"It's just opportunity," said Conway, who added a three-yard touchdown run. "Drew just gave me some opportunities to make plays, and that's basically it."

Conway is the team's leading -- not to be confused with only -- receiver with 10 catches for 152 yards.

Neither Stephen Alexander nor Tim Dwight -- both of whom signed five-year, $15 million deals earlier this year -- have emerged as legitimate threats. Alexander has three catches for three yards, Dwight three for 45.

One last note here: Alexander, who suffered a concussion against Houston, didn't report any lingering on Monday and the former Redskin is expected to start and play as usual this Sunday.

Nobody at team headquarters seems to know exactly why one of the NFL's most talented offenses has played so poorly in its first two games this season. San Francisco was dominated in a 24-14 loss to Denver on Sunday.

Mariucci, one of the foremost practitioners of the West Coast offense, said there's no single reason his team failed to run the ball, failed to throw long passes and failed to maintain possession long enough to stay with the Broncos.

"It was a lot of things that we can correct," Mariucci said. "It wasn't any one thing you can put your finger on. It was mistakes on things that we've done very well around here for a long time."

There was plenty of blame to go around on Monday as the 49ers regrouped from their most disappointing home loss in two years. From the apparently overmatched offensive line to Jeff Garcia's shaky arm to Terrell Owens' butterfingers, almost everything went wrong.

The 49ers have just 540 total yards and three touchdowns this season. Garcia is averaging less than six yards per passing attempts, while Pro Bowl player Garrison Hearst has 45 yards rushing. Their leading receiver is tight end Eric Johnson, with 10 catches for 113 yards.

Mariucci spent a long night reviewing tape of the loss to Denver. According to his circular reasoning, the 49ers' rushing game was hurt by problems with the passing game, but a team can't throw unless it runs the ball first.

The coach contends Garcia's decisions seemed sound when he avoided long passes in favor of short routes to his tight end and running backs, but the 49ers' receivers also seemed open for long passes that were not thrown.

In any case, it's up to Mariucci to fix things in time for Sunday's visit from Steve Spurrier and the Washington Redskins. If not, the 49ers might be in for a long season.

"I've seen it in these guys before," Mariucci said. "I have all the faith in the world we're going to get it done. I thought we were very prepared. It just didn't happen the way I thought."

For once, Mariucci is on the same page with Owens. And the star receiver, who has just nine catches for 79 yards this season, is in no position to make his usual complaints about his role in the offense. Especially in the wake of Sunday's loss -- a game in which constant zone double-teams, two big drops and several penalties conspired against him.

"We had a good game plan, anticipating how [the Broncos] were going to play defense," Owens said. "Every time we got something good, we shot ourselves in the foot. [The penalties] were a lack of concentration on my part. I don't know why."

San Francisco is the birthplace of the West Coast offense, a scheme that features short, quick passes to receivers in stride. No NFL team has been running its offensive system longer than the 49ers have. Until now, few thought familiarity would lead to stagnation.

As always, much of the responsibility for this offense falls on the quarterback. After consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, Garcia has an 82.1 quarterback rating, and even Mariucci is wondering why Garcia isn't looking downfield more often.

Garcia blamed the problems against Denver on the Niners' 10 penalties for 114 yards coupled with the Broncos' conservative defense. But Garcia's arm strength again proved questionable when he badly underthrew his only significant long pass.

"We knew we had to be patient, but we never had the consistency to get them out of what they were doing defensively," Garcia said. "We've got to execute, and we've got to keep ourselves out of bad situations."

According to Associated Press columnist Steve Wilstein, Dilfer did about all he could to get his team going. On the sidelines, he waved his arms and a towel to the crowd and the defense. The crowd, at least, responded.

Dilfer insists he's as much to blame as anybody on the Seahawks, even if that's not quite true. It's the sort of thing that a leader says, that he takes responsibility. He even offered a public apology to Seahawks fans for the loss.

Leadership is what separates the great quarterbacks, men like Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana, from all the guys with cannon arms and swift legs. More than any of his other talents, Dilfer has shown himself to be a leader on the field, and that quality may help him right the Seahawks yet.

Dilfer thought these Seahawks were the most explosive team he's been on, more so even than the Baltimore Ravens he led to a Super Bowl victory over the Giants two seasons ago. So far they've only been self-exploding, but Dilfer hasn't lost faith.

"I really believe in my heart that we're going to be one of those teams," that makes the big plays to win, Dilfer says. "Each one of those teams I was on, we went through our times where we weren't that way. When you have guys that care about one another and want to be good, you learn from them. You don't look at the guy next to you and blame somebody else. You look in the mirror and think about the things you can do differently. That way you don't make the same mistake the next time."

Dilfer said he will study the films of the game "as closely as I've ever watched a film" to see what went wrong.

"If I fix that, we win," he said. "That's how I will approach it."

Other notes of interest. ...

Dilfer's return was good news for Darrell Jackson owners. Jackson's 10-catch, 174-yard performance against the Cardinals confirmed what the Seahawks already knew. It's why they opened contract talks with him last week. Jackson was a third-round choice from Florida in 2000.

In an article published Tuesday, Seattle Post-Intelligencer staffer Clare Farnsworth noted that after a rookie season filled with injuries and frustration and not enough production, Koren Robinson is becoming the receiver the Seahawks envisioned when they made him the ninth pick overall in the draft last year.

Against the Cardinals, he even supplied the run after the catch that was his trademark at North Carolina State.

Robinson has very soft hands and catches the ball away from his body. His contributions should increase as he continues to improve his route running. ...

One last note. ... Shaun Alexander should benefit from the return of left tackle Walter Jones. The Seahawks hope Jones can start Sunday against the Giants. The combination of Jones and guard Steve Hutchinson is among the best in the league.

The Buccaneers dominated time of possession, but struggled to run the ball and get into the end zone during Sunday's 25-0 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

The defense, bouncing back from a sub-par outing in a season-opening loss to New Orleans, scored as many points as the offense, which produced three field goals.

Gruden's top priority is to fix a running game that the Ravens limited to 74 yards on 30 carries. Through two games, the Bucs are averaging 73 yards on the ground -- tied for 24th in the NFL.

"We won 25-0 on the road, which is a great accomplishment and I don't want to diminish it," Gruden said Monday.

"But part of my job is not to be satisfied with every single thing that happens, not get too giddy or overly excited. We have to run the ball better and get ourselves into better down and distance situations."

While Brad Johnson, who has not committed a turnover in two starts this season against very opportunistic defenses in the Saints and Ravens, was 24-of-31 for 211 yards, Michael Pittman gained 37 yards on 13 carries and Mike Alstott ran for just 23 yards on 11 attempts.

Johnson, who benefited from improved pass protection, is not concerned.

He felt the Saints forced Tampa Bay out of its game plan by dominating time of possession and taking an early lead in the opener, and that the ground attack shouldn't be judged by the fourth quarter against the Ravens.

"I think we've just got to stay the course. ... We were running the clock out with nine or 10 guys in the box, so I don't think you can go by that," Johnson said.

"I think the key is just finding different ways to win. Yesterday, it was a punt return, a safety, a defensive score. Offensively, we controlled the clock. Those are all different kinds of way to win."

While Gruden is looking for more out of the offense, he didn't want to be overly critical of the unit. The Bucs finished with 279 yards, held the ball for 21 minutes in the first half and didn't have an offensive turnover for the second straight week.

"I haven't been associated with many shutouts, but the ones I have been associated with aren't just about the defense. It's a team effort," Gruden said. "It's the offense not turning the ball over, it's the special teams creating good field position, and normally your offense has good time of possession."

Other notes of interest. ...

The Buccaneers signed free agent tight end Rickey Dudley on Tuesday. The former Ohio State star, released by Cleveland before the season, played for Gruden when both were with the Oakland Raiders.

Dudley flourished in three seasons under Gruden, catching 104 passes for 1,454 yards and 18 touchdowns from 1998-2000.

Dudley was the ninth player selected in the 1996 draft and spent the first five seasons of his career in Oakland. He signed with Cleveland as a free agent in 2001, and had nine receptions for 115 yards before being placed on injured reserve with a right foot sprain.

In 84 career games, Dudley has 195 catches for 2,742 yards and 29 TDs. ...

Starting tight end Ken Dilger left Sunday's game in the first have with a bruised triceps and didn't return. However, Gruden told reporters on Monday that the former Colt will be listed as probable for Monday night's game against the Rams.

One other item of interest at tight end: According to SportsLine.com senior writer Jay Glazer, the Bucs have been practicing a package featuring defensive tackle Warren Sapp at tight end. ...

And finally. ... Keyshawn Johnson and Gruden had an exchange on the sidelines in Baltimore, but it wasn't confrontational. The coach told reporters he was giving the former USC star a pep talk. What he told him was not to be held on the line of scrimmage.

Gruden added: "If you thought that was a confrontation, you haven't seen anything yet."

"He says he's had it before but not this bad," Fisher said. "He had attributed it to taping before. He gets taped so tight. ... He says he'll practice Wednesday. We'll have to see. We want to be sure it's nothing working as far as a foot sprain or anything."

An MRI failed to turn up any structural damage to his foot or ankle.

George had a tendon connected to his right big toe repaired surgically in February 2001, and has never missed a game, a streak that reached 98 on Sunday. George carried 19 times for 65 yards in that game but had only five carries for 15 yards in the second half.

The bad news?

Fisher said showed little improvement Tuesday and is unlikely to practice today.

"He is really sore, he is on crutches and he is still in the boot," the coach stated.

George who never has missed a game in his NFL career, will be listed as questionable on the team's injury report for Sunday's game against Cleveland.

Other notes of interest. ...

Steve McNair, who crashed into an equipment trunk and bench on the sideline in the second quarter against Dallas, had soreness in his head, neck and right shoulder on Monday. Fisher said McNair's low back also stiffened up.

Fisher went on to say that Dallas linebacker Dexter Coakley, who gave the former first-round draft pick a slight shove as he went out of bounds on the play, might have been deserving of a flag.

Fisher was not complaining about the play, and said those who've said the Cowboys on the bench should have helped slow McNair down were off base, as no one was really in that area.

But the coach does think the Titans' tough quarterback sometimes doesn't get the benefit of the doubt on calls because of his willingness to take on hits.

"I get frustrated at time because Steve does take a lot of hits in the pocket, downfield running and on the boundary," Fisher said. "But I don't believe an officiating crew will call a game any differently based on who the quarterback is."

And finally. ... Derrick Mason came up with another 100-plus yard receiving effort -- the sixth time he's done so in his last nine starts -- wants his teammates to study their mistakes carefully as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Browns.

"If we don't, it's going to be the same thing week in and week out," Mason said. "If we try to pass it off and say it's going to be OK, it's going to be the same thing. We just have to get on our own selves and continue to do the things that we need to do to win ball games, and that's not quitting."

Spurrier said he will give Patrick Ramsey more extensive practice time but does not believe the rookie quarterback is ready to start. The quarterbacks were only a few of Spurrier's concerns on the day after Monday night's 37-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"We were not even competitive," Spurrier said. "It's one thing to lose [but] we didn't play well at all. It was embarrassing, embarrassing for the whole team. Offense, defense -- we just didn't perform. It starts with me and goes through the coaches to the players. We were bad. We're going to try to regroup and hopefully not play like that again. ... They outplayed us in every phase. They were sharp. They looked good and we looked awful."

Matthews was hurt when he was hit on the Redskins' final drive of the first half, and Spurrier went to Danny Wuerffel in the second half. Matthews said early yesterday that his non-throwing shoulder was "pretty sore" and "doesn't feel like a bruise." Later in the day, Matthews said: "I plan on playing. ... I feel like I could play, maybe not [Tuesday], but maybe later on in the week."

Spurrier said: "I don't think it's too bad. He may be a little limited in practice, but we'll see how that goes this week. ... We'll check his shoulder situation and so forth. If he's 100 percent, Shane will still be the starter."

Ramsey remains third on the depth chart behind Matthews and Wuerffel. However, he has the strongest arm of the three and getting him on the field has become an option for Spurrier, who said late in the preseason he did not believe that Ramsey would be ready to play this early. Ramsey, the final player picked in the first round of the draft in April, sat out the first 16 days of training camp because of a contract dispute, and nearly was traded to the Chicago Bears before signing.

"I don't think he's ready to start," Spurrier said yesterday. "But we'll try to coach him up a little bit more."

Wuerffel was sacked four times and threw an interception while completing 6-of-9 passes for 57 yards in the second half against the Eagles. He lost the starting job to Matthews with a five-sack, three-fumble first half in the final exhibition game.

Spurrier said Wuerffel has been plagued by poor pass protection and some faulty play calls in those two outings, but added of his former Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida: "His confidence level is somewhat missing right now. He's done some things the last couple times out that I've never seen him do."

Spurrier's offense managed only 179 yards Monday, and the Redskins scored only on a 90-yard punt return by Jacquez Green. Matthews completed 10 of 22 throws for 62 yards on the heels of being named the NFC offensive player of the week for his three touchdown passes in the season-opening triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.

"We were just dominated," Matthews said. "It was a good lesson. Hopefully we can learn a lot from it. We anticipated playing a lot better. But sometimes you have to learn from it and get ready to play your next opponent. We just didn't play well as a team. I didn't play well. We didn't run the ball well."

Spurrier suffered only two losses by 30 or more points in 12 seasons at Florida, and last went without an offensive touchdown in a game in 1992. But he maintained his sense of humor yesterday, saying as he left Redskins Park at midday: "I'm not quitting. I've just got to go get a haircut."

But later, Spurrier said somberly, "I thought we had a pretty solid game plan and practiced well. That's what's disappointing, to pack in 85,000 [fans]. That's the first time I've been at FedEx when it looked like everybody was there. ... Our fans were into it. They were sky-high. I guess they were more ready to compete than we were. We gave them nothing to yell about, nothing at all. Well, we gave them the punt return."

Also of interest. ...

According to Associated Press sports writer Joseph White, one of Spurrier's favorite new toys in the big leagues is the headset transmitter, which allows him to talk to his quarterback through a small speaker inside the player's helmet. The NFL introduced the device in 1994 as a way for coaches to call plays, but it's a boon for someone like Spurrier who loves to coach his quarterbacks every chance he gets.

"You can say: `Hey, you should have thrown the post the last play,"' Spurrier said last week.

In fact, Spurrier did give such an admonishment to Matthews in the Redskins' season-opening victory over Arizona. And, because the system is one-way, Matthews couldn't answer back until he got to the sideline.

"They had a safety back there," Spurrier recalled Matthews saying when the series was over.

"No, they didn't," the coach replied.

So coach and quarterback walked over to the bench and looked at a photograph of the play.

"You're right, coach," Matthews said. "They didn't have one."

"I know I'm right," Spurrier replied. "I was watching the game. You're supposed to be watching the game."

Many NFL head coaches do not call the plays into the quarterback, leaving the job instead to the offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach. But Spurrier holds all three jobs with the Redskins, and it's rare that he simply states the name of a play and shuts up.

"You give them a little game plan each play," Spurrier said. "I'm trying to learn how to use that thing. I usually punch it as soon as the play's over and start talking to him. It takes a little while to get comfortable and good at it."

Matthews has been distracted by unnecessary noise in his helmet while getting his team to the line of scrimmage. Spurrier has been the cause, as he tries to get used to the transmitter.

"Sometimes he forgets he has his hand on the button," Matthews said. "And you hear not only him talking, but you hear all the coaches on the sidelines talking about different things."

Button pressed or not, the transmitter shuts off automatically when the play clock hits 15 seconds or when the ball is snapped. That way Spurrier -- although he'd probably love to -- can't talk to Matthews while the play is in progress.

Matthews rolled his eyes at the thought.

"Thank goodness," Matthews said.