After improving their record to 3-2 with a come-from-behind victory at Carolina last Sunday the team finds itself heading into the off week off week just a half-game behind first-place San Francisco in the NFC West.

"We have played the No. 1 (Carolina) and No. 2 (Giants) defenses in the league back-to-back," McGinnis pointed out, "and we have worn them both down in the fourth quarter."

He gave the team Monday off as a reward. The Cardinals will practice Wednesday and Thursday, then get three more days off before resuming preparation for their Oct. 20 contest against Dallas with team meetings next Monday.

By design, the offensive line is supposed to be the team's strength. Even with an injury to tackle Anthony Clement, the line has helped Arizona mount a persistent, if not spectacular, running game.

"I haven't seen everybody play, but I think they're playing as good as any offensive line in the league," McGinnis said. "We've had three running backs in five weeks that have had success behind them."

With Thomas Jones and Marcel Shipp out with injuries, undrafted rookie Damien Anderson was activated from the practice squad for the Carolina game. He gained 61 yards on 23 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards.

The team has won despite the erratic play of Jake Plummer and a bad start to the season by David Boston. Plummer completed 18 of 40 passes for 244 yards and was intercepted once against Carolina. But in the fourth-quarter comeback, he made big plays.

Boston caught just three passes for 43 yards, and dropped several. He has 19 catches for 305 yards in five games. A sore ankle kept Boston out of practice the last two weeks.

"I don't know," McGinnis said when asked how much the ankle was affecting Boston. "But I know this, when you can't practice at full speed, it affects what you do. I guess it's just like a hitting slump in baseball, the only way to get out of it is to keep working. Just keep practicing, keep throwing it to him.

"He's caught more than he's dropped in the past, so we'll just keep working on it."

And as the coach added: "This bye could not have come at a more perfect time. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

So. ... Just how good was Anderson's pro debut?

Well, I think we can put the undrafted free agent's first effort as an NFL starter -- a game in which he faced the league's toughest defense -- in perspective by noting that he out-rushed former first-round draft pick Edgerrin James, who picked up 60 yards on 22 carries -- against the Bengals.

And after watching the newcomer rack up 97 total yards from scrimmage, guard Pete Kendall told reporters: "That deer-in-the-headlights look that I expected to see a little bit, I didn't see it. .."

Fullback Joel Makovicka pulled his left hamstring and sprained a shoulder against the Panthers, but the former Cornhusker should be ready to go after the off week. ... In case you haven't been paying attention, veteran wideout Frank Sanders has been picking up Boston's slack nicely. The result: Seven catches over the last two games. ...

On Monday, coach head Dan Reeves noted the struggles of veteran back Warrick Dunn, the starter, and is considering giving rookie T.J. Duckett more work.

"We've got to look at that and evaluate it," Reeves said.

Dunn rushed nine times for 14 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. Five of his nine rushes were for one yard or less, and he's averaging 2.9 yards per carry this season on a team-high 47 carries.

A final decision on playing time won't be made until later in the week.

Reeves, who didn't say if he was considering making Duckett the starter or simply increasing his carries, is in an awkward situation. In March, the Falcons gave Dunn a six-year, $28.5 million deal that included a $6.5 million signing bonus -- one of the biggest contracts of the past offseason.

Coaches talked of getting the ball to the speedy Dunn on sweeps and isolating him against linebackers and safeties on passing plays. Little of that has happened, however, with many of his carries coming between the tackles.

The 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett, a first-round pick in April's draft, has led Atlanta in rushing the past two games. He's averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 40 attempts with a team-high 190 yards.

Reeves noted the discrepancy in production.

"You've got to deal in reality, not what you hope will happen, but what's happening," Reeves said. "Those are things you've got to evaluate. We've got to look at that. That is a problem."

Since rushing 15 times for 69 yards, a 4.6-yard average, in the opening loss at Green Bay, Dunn has rushed for averages of 2.3, 2.3 and 1.6 yards against the Bears, Bengals and Bucs, respectively.

Duckett had 11 carries for 52 yards against Tampa Bay, although he carried just twice in the second half for 5 yards. Coaches are growing impatient waiting for Dunn to adjust to his new team and offense. Dunn does have three of the Falcons' four rushing touchdowns, and has caught a scoring pass. But the three rushing scores were from three, two, and four yards. He often appears to run haltingly and is not making many tacklers miss. That's important since, at 5-8, 180, he's not going to bowl over many defenders.

Offensive line coach Pete Mangurian said Dunn is so quick that he sometimes gets to the hole before it's there. Then he gets swamped.

"This run attack is very specific," Mangurian said. "And he may get [to the hole] too fast sometimes.''

"Warrick's doing the best he can to make things happen. We just aren't getting it done," Reeves said. "Certainly, when you look at the production, it wasn't where we would like for it to be. ..."

Back to Vick, whose sprained right shoulder hurt so much Monday that he struggled to get dressed.

"I can't put socks on," the former first-round draft pick said. "I really can't do anything with it. It's just that sore and it's just that stiff. I feel like I'm handicapped right now."

A day after leaving in the third quarter of Sunday's game, the Falcons' star quarterback agreed with Reeves' decision to list him as doubtful for this week's game at New York.

Vick fell on his non-throwing shoulder, spraining his AC joint when he sacked by Simeon Rice. Vick underwent several treatments Monday -- sitting in a hot tub, receiving electric stimulation and packing the shoulder in ice -- but he still felt very sore and stiff. X-rays were negative.

"I got in the hot tub and tried to rotate it a little bit," Vick said. "It was tough, but we're just going to take it day by day and see how it feels as the week goes on."

If Vick can't play, the Falcons will start Doug Johnson against the Giants. Johnson was 13-of-25 for 150 yards and three interceptions, one of which defensive tackle Warren Sapp lateraled to linebacker Derrick Brooks for a 15-yard touchdown.

"I don't know how many times we threw in the second half, but we were trying to scramble from behind," Johnson said. "When you start doing that, you might be trying to force the ball into a team like Tampa that plays that deep cover-2. It's hard to get deep balls in there."

Vick entered with a 101.1 quarterback rating, tops in the NFC and fourth overall. He ranked first in the league with 7.7 yards per carry, and his 184 yards rushing led the Falcons. Against the Bucs, Vick was 4-of-12 for 37 yards and he ran once for 1 yard.

"He wanted to go back when he was on the sidelines and throwing it, but you could see he was in pain," Reeves said. "He didn't have to prove his courage to me or to anybody. If anybody doubts how courageous he is, that has nothing to do with it. It's a long season and hopefully a great career. We don't want to do something that could damage him for the rest of the season in a one-game situation."

Also according to Preston, the team's receivers came up big after head coach Brian Billick openly challenged them to raise their level of play last week. Brandon Stokley had two touchdown receptions and tight end Todd Heap kept the chains moving with key receptions during drives.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of their overall performance in Cleveland was how well the receivers blocked for Lewis down field.

Which brings us to Chris Redman. ... And yes. ... I'm ready to admit the former Louisville star has already become a far more effective Fantasy prospect than I expected him to. As the Sports Xchange noted on Tuesday, Redman is playing smarter in every game and heads into Week 6 after compiling a quarterback rating over 100 for two weeks in a row.

The first-year starter managed Sunday night's game perfectly and helped the Ravens convert 5-of-10 third downs in a dominating first half. The ball was distributed evenly, with receivers (8 receptions), running backs (7) and tight end Todd Heap (4) all getting involved. Redman has not been intercepted in his past 57 pass attempts.

Does that mean I'd chisel Redman's name into stone as my starter on a regular basis?

No.

But I'd sure as heck be interested in acquiring him as a backup if he was available in my league.

And this week's Player Performance Rankings lend considerable credence to Allen's contention. Price currently ranks third; Moulds fifth.

The dynamic duo each posted 100-yard days against the Oakland Raiders last Sunday, the second time this season they have accomplished the feat.

Moulds' 112-yard day was his third game over the century mark this year and 19th overall. He's the first Bills receiver with back-to-back 100-yard games since his three-game streak in 2000. He has 41 receptions (for 525 yards) this season, a team record through five games, and has at least eight catches in every contest.

Price had seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. It was his second 100-yard day of the year and seventh of his career. His 35 receptions (for 493 yards) through five games rank second behind Moulds in the Bills' record book.

"We're pretty decent athletes, so we'll make our share of plays," Moulds said. "Have a quarterback like Drew [Bledsoe] makes it easier to make things happen."

Even though Oakland was minus their best defensive player -- All-Pro corner Charles Woodson -- they have a pretty good secondary. If Moulds and Price can roll up numbers on them, they feel good about their chances against anyone.

"I think it speaks volumes of our talent and Drew's confidence in us to make plays," Price said of their production. "Sometimes we were covered and he threw it up. It's great to have a quarterback to have confidence in you like that. They're supposed to be a good secondary, and I feel that Eric and I are one of the best 1-2 punches in the league."

Unfortunately for Moulds and Price, another great performance was spoiled by a loss.

No matter what their numbers are at the end of the season, it would be less meaningful to them if the Bills aren't a playoff contender.

"The thing about me and Peerless is we're just trying to win games," Moulds said. "It's hard for us to feel good about our day when the team loses. It's frustrating."

"It's always tough to swallow when you lose," Price added. "When you feel you've played well enough to win, it's even tougher."

This was the eighth time the Bills and their opponent combined for 80-plus points in a game. This is the first time it has occurred twice in one year. The Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings, 45-39, in overtime three weeks ago.

Other items of interest this week. ...

Bledsoe continues to lead the NFL in net passing yards (1,672), completions (148) and attempts (218). He is second in the league in completion percentage (67.9) and touchdown passes (12).

His 1,762 gross passing yards through five games are a team record and the most in NFL history by quarterback with a new team. With two touchdowns Sunday, he is the first Bills quarterback to throw for a score in his first five starts.

Bledsoe was 18 of 22 for 252 yards and two touchdowns on the Bills' four TD drives against the Raiders, and he accounted for 434 of Buffalo's 497 gross yards -- totals sufficient to move him into 16th place in career completions (2,692) ahead of Steve Young, and into 16th place in career attempts (4,736), passing both John Hadl and Troy Aikman. ... Bledsoe also broke Jim Kelly's franchise record with his 173rd consecutive attempt without an interception. The streak ended three attempts later. ...

Along those same lines, Bledsoe's second 400-yard day of the season against the Raiders gives him two of the top three single-game passing performances in Bills history. He torched the Minnesota Vikings for a team-record 463 yards three weeks ago.

He now has six career 400-yard passing games, tying Dan Fouts for the fourth most in NFL history. Only Dan Marino (13), Joe Montana (seven) and Warren Moon (seven) have more. Bledsoe could tie Kelly's team record of three consecutive games over 300 yards this Sunday.

But perhaps the most telling stat of all here is this: For the season, Bledsoe's 1,783 yards passing and rushing represent a whopping 82.6 percent of the Bills' total offense.

Wow. ... I'm certainly impressed.

And finally. ...

Backup tight end Dave Moore suffered a broken left hand during Sunday's loss to the Raiders. The injury occurred during the third quarter, according to head coach Gregg Williams.

Moore, a solid blocker and long snapper, has become more involved in the passing game. He has seven catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the last two contests.

Being left-handed, Moore won't be able do any long snapping. Starting tight end Jay Riemersma assumed that duty after Moore went down and will likely get most of the work this week.

Moore will be evaluated today on whether he can be fitted for a cast that will allow him to play. For now, Williams won't rule him out of Sunday's game at Houston.

"Dave is a real tough guy and if anybody can do it, he could do it," Williams said. "But we're going to have to look at the practice situation and see how he gets through this week."

They may get their wish soon -- receiver Muhsin Muhammad was able to run Monday and will test his strained hamstring as the week goes on and rookie running back DeShaun Foster is getting closer to making his season debut.

Despite recent reports hinting that Muhammad might not return until later this month, head coach John Fox said on Monday: "Moose has got a chance to be ready this week. We'll know more on that Wednesday, but I think he's upgraded."

Asked about Foster, out since knee surgery during training camp, the coach said the former UCLA star is progressing well and "getting closer" to returning.

"He ran today straight ahead," Fox said of Foster. "He is coming along in their ;[doctors and trainers] mind pretty good. I think they are going to start the angle running this week as far as changing direction. He is making progress. He looked very good running straight ahead today. Now, it is just building some stability back with the angle running and change of direction drills."

Asked if Foster might be held out of the next two games because they are on artificial turf, Fox said: "Yes, that would play a part in the decision process, although the turf we are on this week (at Dallas) is a little bit different than Atlanta’s. It is a field turf that is softer. You can wear cleated shoes versus the nub type of shoes that you wear on the true carpet. ..."

As Charlotte Observer staffer Pat Yasinskas noted on Tuesday, the team needs Foster to add diversity to the offense. Yasinskas went on to explain that Foster, who probably won't return until October 27 against the Bucs, has the speed that could make him effective even if defenses are looking for the run.

The same can't be said of current starter Lamar Smith.

Also of interest. ...

Rodney Peete was given the starting job because the coaches believed he wouldn't make as many mistakes as Chris Weinke. But Peete has made several bad throws the past two weeks, including two interceptions against the Cardinals. ...

Tight end Wesley Walls played Sunday with a splint on the right ring finger he broke Thursday."It was a huge mental factor; I didn't play with a lot of confidence," said Walls, who had two catches for nine yards. "Physically I couldn't feel it; they numbed it up. And I hadn't had a chance to practice or anything, so I just didn't know what I was going to do. I'll get more used to wearing that splint as I go; I've got to wear it for six weeks, so I better get used to it."

Walls suffered the injury, which left the finger a stitched-up mess, on a pass thrown by Peete during last Wednesday's practice.

"The stars were lined up wrong, I guess; it had to be a perfect lick," Walls said. "The ball just hit the tip of my finger. The bone is only an inch long, and it snapped it in two."

And finally. ... The Panthers signed free agent tight end Jermaine Wiggins to a contract Tuesday. With Walls obviously bothered by his broken finger and third-string rookie Keith Heinrich expected to miss some time with a high ankle sprain, the Panthers were short-handed at the position.

Kris Mangum was the lone healthy tight end on the roster before Tuesday's move.

In three seasons with the Jets, Patriots and Colts, Wiggins has played in 34 games with eight starts and has totaled 34 receptions for 357 yards and six touchdowns.

Terrell, the Bears' top draft pick in 2001, hurt his foot late in the fourth quarter of Monday night's 34-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He had a stress fracture in that same foot his last season at Michigan, but never missed a game or a practice.

Unfortunately, the former Wolverine told reporters on Wednesday he'll miss four to five weeks after undergoing surgery Thursday. Doctors will insert a screw in his foot to connect the bone during that procedure. Head coach Dick Jauron said the Bears will have a better idea after the surgery how long Terrell will be out, but the receiver said he expects to miss a month.

"About four to five weeks, I guess," he said as he left the Bears locker room on crutches. "That's about it."

Terrell has only nine catches this season, but three were for touchdowns.

Losing Terrell would leave Marty Booker and Dez White as the only two completely healthy wide receivers familiar with the offense. Marcus Robinson still is recovering from last year's season-ending knee injury. Ahmad Merritt was active Monday night for the first time since fracturing his hand in training camp, and newcomer Vinny Sutherland still is being introduced to the Bears' system.

In an article published Tuesday, Chicago Tribune staffer John Mullin noted the team's passing attack is not yet at a level where it can consistently take over games when necessary, though the fault seems to lie in places other than Jim Miller.

Miller can use the entire field and is getting excellent protection from the line. But other than Marty Booker, the receivers aren't getting enough separation in routes. And on third downs, the play-calling too often asks the wide receivers to do too much after the catch.

Those plays call for the wide receivers to catch passes short of the first-down marker and then try to maneuver for first downs. But they haven't been able to do that enough to sustain drives.

Of course, the rushing attack hasn't been anything to write home about either. ... As noted by the Sports Xchange, the company line coming out of team headquarters last week said the Bears wouldn't abandon the disappointing ground game that has been the backbone of John Shoop's offense.

But for the fourth time in five weeks, the results were much less than expected. The Bears managed just 45 yards on 16 attempts for a 2.8-yard average.

After four weeks, the Bears were 29th in average gain per running play and 19th in rushing yards, and they didn't improve those numbers against Green Bay.

Anthony Thomas picked up just 45 yards on 15 attempts, matching his season average of 3.0 yards per carry.

On 110 carries this season, Thomas has just one gain of longer than 11 yards.

Monday night the Bears converted just 6 of 15 third-down attempts, and many of the failures occurred on running plays that required short gains but failed nonetheless.

"We didn't convert a lot of third-and-shorts," Miller said. "You have to do that in this league. That hurts."

Bottom line?

Tribune columnist Don Pierson probably put it best when he wrote: "On the Bears' offense, there is only one difference-maker -- Marty Booker, and he is not the deep threat the Packers pose with Terry Glenn, Javon Walker and Donald Driver.

"Anthony Thomas is a good running back, good enough to win with, but he is not a breakaway back like Ricky Williams, Edgerrin James, Deuce McAllister, Ahman Green or Fred Taylor or an all-around scoring threat like Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes."

Also of interest. ...

In his second year in Chicago, Leon Johnson has emerged as a go-to situational back who is getting more playing time. According to Mullin, Johnson has been much more effective than Thomas in short yardage situations.

Coaches say the 6-0, 216-pound Johnson has a knack for getting "skinny" in tight spaces. With his powerful legs and exceptional forward lean, he usually will get two or three yards if the line can push forward a yard.

And finally. ... Fred Baxter missed his second game in a row with a sprained ankle. John Davis continues to line up as the starter in Baxter's absence with Dustin Lyman getting significant playing time in two-tight end sets.

"That is an ungrounded rumor," Brown said after the Bengals' loss to the Colts in Indianapolis Sunday. "It's totally new to me, and there is no truth to it."

Brown, who serves as the Bengals' de facto GM, has been under fire. The Bengals are 53-128 since he assumed control from his late father, Paul Brown, before the 1991 season, and haven't made the playoffs since the 1990 season.

On Sunday afternoon, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said no permission has been given to another team to discuss a job with Jauron, who is under contract. He signed a three-year deal to coach the Bears at a little more than $2million per season after going 13-3 in 2001.

"With Mike Brown, he never is going to let someone take over the team," Angelo said. "It's the same with [Dallas'] Jerry Jones and [Washington's] Dan Snyder. It might bottom out this season and he might (hire a GM) because they hit rock bottom, but I doubt it."

Fox Sports' Terry Bradshaw reported Brown offered Jauron $4 million to become coach and general manager of the 0-5 Bengals.

Jauron, who played safety for the Bengals from 1978-81, is in his fourth year as Chicago's coach and has a 26-26 record.

Jauron is unlikely to leave Chicago for any job, Bears insiders say. He is close to the team's McCaskey family ownership and is a serious candidate to be the club's general manager some day.

Despite all the denials, I tend to agree with Sports Illustrated insider Peter King's take on this one: "I think there couldn't be a better match than Dick Jauron and the Bengals. Fox reported the nugget on Sunday that Cincinnati would be interested in him, and if I'm the Bears, I listen to the Bengals' offer for compensation, assuming there will be one."

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Jon Kitna, last Sunday's game could be a turning point for Chad Johnson.

A second-year wide receiver, Johnson had a career-high 72 yards on six receptions.

But it's the ball he missed that Johnson will remember. With the Bengals trying to tie the score, Kitna's pass bounced off Johnson's hands at the 20-yard line and into the arms of Colts cornerback Idrees Bashir.

Kitna, making his first start this season, talked to Johnson after the game.

"I told him I have more confidence in him than ever before," Kitna said. "He's learning the importance of every single play. ..."

Corey Dillon's two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the Bengals' first offensive TD of the first half this season, and only the second for the offense in five games.

The Bengals were outscored 21-7 in the second quarter and now have a 66-10 disadvantage in that period this season. The Bengals were also outscored 7-0 in the first quarter and now have a 33-7 scoring disadvantage in that period.

Through five games, Cincinnati has been outscored 147-44. ...

And finally. ... This also from King, who wrote in his weekly CNNSI.com Monday Morning Quarterback column: "News Flash! Bengals QB Akili Smith asks to be traded! I have learned exclusively that the Bengals offered Smith to Slippery Rock for a bag of footballs, and Slippery Rock laughed at them."

One day after tearfully assailing Cleveland fans for booing him and then cheering as he staggered to the sideline with a concussion, the Browns quarterback refused to take back a single word.

"If fans don't like the way I'm playing or the way we're playing, they have a right to boo us or boo me," he said. "But to cheer when I got hurt, that's a whole other level with me. I don't agree with that at all."

Following Sunday night's loss to Baltimore, Couch choked back tears as he recounted the moment in the fourth quarter when Browns fans -- some of whom think backup Kelly Holcomb should be starting -- turned on him.

While recovering a fumble near Cleveland's goal line, Couch was hit by four Ravens, including linebacker Peter Boulware, whose helmet appeared to slam into the back of Couch's head.

Wobbled by the blows, Couch was dazed as he attempted to walk back toward Cleveland's huddle. Seconds later, he dropped to a knee hoping his head would clear.

As medical personnel rushed onto the field to assist Couch, some fans started to cheer knowing that Holcomb, who started the first two games this season while Couch nursed an elbow injury, would be coming into the game.

"I'll remember being on the ground, a little dazed and hearing cheers," Couch said. "It's tough. To have the rest of the country watching as home fans cheered when I got hurt, is something that didn't set well with me. It's embarrassing for me, and it's tough for my family to sit in the stands and watch that."

Couch said the rough treatment from the crowd has forever changed him.

"Now I can expect what's going to happen every time I walk into the stadium," he said. "I guess I'll treat every game like a road game because yesterday was like playing on the road."

While Couch was being helped, several of his offensive teammates huddled over him in support.

"That's our guy," tight end Mark Campbell said. "He's the backbone of the offense. If we don't have him we're missing a lot more than just our quarterback. Tim's our leader. He's going to take us to the Super Bowl."

Before that can happen, Couch is going to have to play much better than he did against the Ravens.

In just more than three quarters, the former No. 1 overall draft choice, went 16-of-26 for 216 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Couch said the picks were a direct result of trying to win over a crowd that seemed to target him early.

"I kind of got caught up in trying to do that and I hurt the team," Couch said. "I threw a couple of interceptions trying to do stuff like that and that's not the way I've been playing this year."

It's also worth noting that head coach Butch Davis said Couch played better than his stats showed.

"I thought he played well," Davis said. "There's one or two things that I wish he wouldn't have done."

Asked if Couch would start this Sunday at Tampa Bay, Davis said, "If he's healthy enough, absolutely he is."

Couch had better be healthy, because Holcomb certainly isn't.

In fact, the veteran backup has a hairline fracture in his left leg and a strained knee, his agents told the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal in stories published Tuesday.

In a brief statement, the Browns had no comment on how long Holcomb might be out. His playing status will be evaluated on a "week-to-week basis," the statement said.

The Browns probably will have to add a quarterback to their roster until Holcomb can play. For now, Josh Booty is the only other QB on Cleveland's roster.

Earlier this year, the agent of Elvis Grbac said he contacted the Browns and told them Grbac would be willing to end his retirement if the Browns needed him.

Other items of interest. ...

In an article published Sept. 30, Pro Football Weekly cited the emergence of receivers André Davis and Dennis Northcutt behind starters Quincy Morgan and Kevin Johnson for transforming a Cleveland offense that Davis had envisioned would be built on running and play-action passing.

With rookie William Green struggling to get on track and injuries besetting the offensive line, the Browns have shifted gears. Through the first four games, Cleveland has thrown the ball 63 percent of the time.

Northcutt has been one of the team's most productive receivers and has turned in a number of big plays. With eight catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-21 loss to Baltimore on Sunday, he pushed his season totals to 16 catches for 270 yards. He leads the team with an average of 16.9 yards per catch, and is tied for the team lead with four TDs.

"He has done outstanding," Davis said. "We recognized that in the preseason games. When it came time to make cuts, a lot of people thought we might cut Dennis or trade Dennis. We recognized he was catching the ball with a lot more consistency than he had a year ago. ... We're trying to find ways to get him the ball and get him in the ballgames."

According to PFW, Andre' Davis has a firm hold on the No. 3 WR spot and that the Browns are pleasantly surprised that Davis, who didn’t play football until his senior year of high school, has played so well so early in his career.

And according to Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer, Butch Davis suggested Monday that some of the problems Green is experiencing have to do with the short-yardage situations in which he is being used to spell Jamel White.

"The tough thing about William, when he gets into the ballgame, it has never been the most advantageous situations," Davis said. "He goes in the ballgame and it's third-and-one, and there's nine men guarding the line and instinct tells him if the hole is plugged, try to bounce outside. He isn't going to make it if he runs into the hole. He runs outside into unblocked guys."

"Jamel is playing good. I'm very proud of him. But when he goes in the ballgame and he causes the [defense] to spread the field, it's a little bit easier situation to run the football. Circumstances have helped Jamel and he's made the best of them."

He tried to prove that Sunday with a 30-yard touchdown run in last Sunday's loss to the New York Giants.

Smith finished with 13 carries for 70 yards, leaving him 234 yards shy of Walter Payton's total and becoming the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

As Taylor noted, Smith's first touchdown of the season was "vintage Emmitt."

He broke a tackle in the backfield, ran over a defender in the secondary, bounced outside and sprinted to the end zone.

"There have been four months of criticism. It started in training camp," Smith said. "The people who understand the game and see the game know what's happening. I don't have to explain myself.

"When the opportunity is presented, I will take advantage of the opportunity. I had an opportunity to make a play, and I did it. And I can do it again. And again. I'm confident enough to know I can do it again."

But that has been tough with a patchwork offensive line that has struggled with injuries and adapting to offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet's new blocking scheme.

On Sunday, left tackle Flozell Adams was the only starting lineman holding the same position that he had a month ago in the opener.

Right tackle Larry Allen aggravated his sprained left ankle and lasted only 12 plays. He returned at left guard in the second half because starter Kelvin Garmon suffered a bruised hip.

Allen's injury, though, forced him to leave the game several times in the second half. That affects Smith.

He's averaging 4.2 yards per carry and has not gained more than 70 yards in a game. He hears the criticism that suggests he's no longer the best running back on the team.

"I'm not going to sit here and worry about what some couch potato is talking about," Smith said. "It's not just me on the football field. I can't run the ball by myself. It's the whole offensive unit.

"It requires a lot of precision and consistency. It requires a lot of people doing their jobs individually. If they get their jobs done, then I can make something happen. And if one person breaks down, I might still be able to make something happen, but when too many people break down, it's kind of tough."

And without a running game, the Cowboys' offense will continue to struggle sustaining drives and scoring because much of Coslet's passing game is based on run fakes.

"It was good to see Emmitt get into the end zone on a long run," owner/general manager Jerry Jones said. "I know it has been frustrating for the offensive line because those guys are banged up, but they're playing hard."

Other notes of interest. ...

Quincy Carter earned "Goat Of The Week" honors from Sports Illustrated insider Peter King on Monday. King explained how Carter earned that distinction as follows:

"With the game there to be won, and wideout Antonio Bryant flying open down the field -- wide open, I mean, with no Giants within eight yards -- Carter threw the ball three yards past his receiver. A 24-21 Cowboys win? Nope. A 21-17 Cowboys loss. "I've got to make that throw for this football team to be successful," Carter said after the game. No kidding."

And finally. ... Reserve receiver Randal Williams sprained his right ankle against the Giants, but Campo said he would probably play against the Panthers.

Smith, Denver's leading receiver with 26 catches for 307 yards, was injured when San Diego's Alex Molden drove him into the ground on a reception midway through the first quarter of Denver's 26-9 victory Sunday.

Smith lay on the field for about a minute but later returned to the game. He finished with six catches for 83 yards.

Head coach Mike Shanahan said Smith had a first-degree separation -- the mildest type -- and should be ready to go against Miami next weekend.

"I don't think it will keep him out, but it's sore right now," Shanahan said Monday. "He played with it during the game. I don't think we'll know for a couple of days."

Keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Smith throughout the weekend. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Denver Post reporter Patrick Saunders noted that Brian Griese is a great system quarterback. When the game plan is clicking and Griese doesn't have to strong-arm the ball, he can be superb, as he was against the Chargers when he completed 26 of 35 passes for 316 yards.

On short and midrange passes, Griese is very accurate. When he hits players in stride, big plays result.

But Griese has yet to prove he can wing it downfield and improvise when he has to. ...

Also according to Saunders, we can expect to see more of the no-huddle offense. The major reason is that Griese likes the control and options it gives him. By calling two or three plays in the huddle, Griese gets up to the line with more time to scan the defense.

Griese, a true student of the game, likes to make adjustments at the line because it lets him get into a comfort zone. Against the Chargers, he completed 13 straight passes, many after making checks at the line.

Griese is a rhythm passer, and if he gets on a roll, he gets better and better. If he gets in a funk, he plays poorly. ...

The following item was published by The Sporting News on Tuesday:

"Ladies and gentlemen, your new Broncos feature back: Mr. [Clinton] Portis. Yes, Mike Anderson was hurt and didn't play Sunday, and Olandis Gary might have been a little gimpy still, but Portis' 119 total yards and TD against San Diego showed he can carry the load against anyone. The biggest question he needed to answer -- fumbling troubles in the preseason -- are history. In 61 touches, Portis has yet to drop the ball."

Ford, who had the players called to the locker room prior to a light workout the day after the Lions fell short against the Packers, told the team that current head coach Marty Mornhinweg would hold the job for a long time. The bulletin was met with cheers from many players.

President and CEO Matt Millen met the media later in the week and said he has always been comfortable that both he and Mornhinweg had great job security. Now, barring a complete team walkout or mutiny, the "M&M Show" appears to be safe for the remainder of the season, as Ford has a record of sticking to his word.

In an article published Tuesday, Booth Newspapers beat writer Tom Kowalski stated that even though Joey Harrington has started only two games, it's clear he is the real deal. His command of the game and leadership skills are advanced for a young player.

Of course, Harrington still has to prove he can play with the kind of consistency necessary to truly excel at this level. And that won't be easy. As Kowalski noted, Harrington is at a greater disadvantage because he's not getting any practice time with his receivers.

During the off week, Scotty Anderson was the only healthy wideout. Starters Bill Schroeder and Az-Zahir Hakim have been in and out of practice since camp started with an assortment of nagging injuries.

The West Coast offense is based on precision route running and timing passes, and little is being accomplished with backups and practice-squad players in practice.

One last note here. ... PFW noted last week that Mike McMahon handled his demotion with class. McMahon knew he was in a position that required him to make a lot happen in a hurry with the third overall pick -- Harrington -- waiting in the wings. McMahon’s practice and preparation have remained at the same level since being bumped to the bench.

Attacked by a defense that was keyed to stop him, Favre beat the Bears for the 17th time in 21 career tries with a virtuous performance. He finished with a passer rating of 133.3, completing 22 of 33 for 359 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Packers' 34-21 shellacking of Chicago.

"To be totally honest with you, I don't treat this game any differently than any other game, and that's the truth," Favre said. "For our fans and for the media, it may be a bigger game for them than it is when we play someone else, but as a team, you should play every game like it was the Super Bowl."

Favre picked apart the Bears just like he has owned them all these years. In his career, he now has thrown 42 touchdown passes against 20 interceptions against Chicago.

"From day one in all the success I've had, I never imagined any of it," Favre said. "I always wanted an opportunity to play; I got that. And, to be as successful as I've been and to have accomplished what I have, takes a lot of luck and determination and competitiveness. I love to compete, but as far as playing like this for this long. ... I never dreamed any of this. ..."

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, despite the debilitating migraine headaches Terry Glenn suffered as a result of head trauma suffered earlier this season, he apparently has no plans to begin wearing Riddell's new Revolution helmet.

Glenn would appear to be the kind of player the helmet was designed to better protect. It's marketed on the claim that it could reduce concussions because of its increased interior padding, extended jaw protection and newly designed face-masks, head coach Mike Sherman said Glenn chose to stick with the standard model, however.

"Our trainers have looked into that and haven't gone anywhere with it to be honest with you," said Sherman. "He has to feel comfortable with it. It's really players' choice in regard to that. You can't force headgear on a guy who has a problem just like you can't make guys wear ankle braces, because if he has an accident with an ankle brace then the accident's because of it.

"So you have to be very discretionary in regard to what you mandate they do in this day and age."

No. 2 tight David Martin, who Sherman said suffered many of the same symptoms Glenn did after being elbowed in the head by the Detroit Lions' Barrett Green, also has chosen not to wear the new helmet.

Offensive lineman Marco Rivera made the switch early in the season after having his bell rung but is now back to the standard model.

"I got my melon knocked against the Atlanta Falcons and I just wanted to try it to see how it is," he said. "It's a lot lighter and it's a good helmet, but I went back to my old one because I was having trouble with my chin strap. During the Detroit game I switched and I just never went back to it.

"It's hard to leave something when it's been reliable all these years."

Only three Packers - fullback Tony Carter, linebacker Torrance Marshall and defensive lineman Aaron Kampman -- currently wear the Revolution helmet.

And finally. ... Tyrone Davis went out with strained muscles in the back of his neck in the second half. Sherman indicated the injury wasn't serious.

Bradford's speed makes it difficult for any cornerback to cover him one-on-one -- just ask Eagles Pro Bowl defensive back Troy Vincent, who gave up two touchdowns to Bradford in Week 4.

Bradford has great hands and very good upper-body strength. His downfield blocking gets better each week.

Bradford needs to be more consistent with his route adjustments, but that will improve as he and Carr get a better feel for each other.

Carr has taken a beating behind the injury-troubled line, but he has won over his teammates and coaches with his poise and toughness. Not once has his confidence appeared to be shaken.

The early stages of a quarterback's development are critical as the coaches learn how he handles the inevitable adversity. There never was any doubt about Carr's arm strength or his ability to make all the throws. Now, the Texans know he has the physical and mental toughness to handle the job at this level.

Also according to Thompson, rookie receiver Jabar Gaffney was a big-play threat at the University of Florida, but he has started slowly as a rookie. That can be expected, as Gaffney, 21, is the youngest player on the team and entered the draft with two years of eligibility remaining.

Gaffney's body is a work in progress, with the emphasis on developing his upper body. The coaches are confident he will get bigger and stronger within a couple of years, during which time the team must decide if he is best suited to play in a wide position or in the slot.

Peyton Manning, Marcus Pollard, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James all scored touchdowns. The variety of solid options makes it impossible for defenses to concentrate on one or two players.

By the way. ... Manning's TD run was the Colts' first rushing touchdown of the season. ... James, the NFL rushing champion in 1999 and 2000, had a 3-yard touchdown run for Indianapolis -- ending his 34-quarter scoreless drought that dated to Sept. 23, 2001. He gained 60 yards on 22 carries, the first time in 11 home games that James failed to crack the 100-yard mark. ...

Place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt extended his consecutive-game scoring streak to 59, breaking the team record. Lou Michaels scored in 58 straight games from 1965-69. ...

Chappell also noted that Qadry Ismail is the first legitimate complement to Harrison, and both are off to strong starts. Harrison is on pace to become the first NFL player to catch at least 100 passes in four consecutive seasons.

Ismail has three touchdowns in the first four games. Ismail's speed allows him to blow past outside coverage. The threat of his speed also makes him effective over the middle.

Other notes of interest. ...

Tight end Joe Dean Davenport could miss four to eight weeks with a separated right shoulder. Davenport suffered the injury after catching a short pass in the second half of Sunday's 28-21 win over Cincinnati. The third-degree separation was not initially thought to be as serious as it eventually turned out to be.

"It was kind of strange how it happened," Davenport said. "I caught the ball and turned to go upfield. Their guy hit me and got up underneath my shoulder pads. I felt my shoulder pop out and then pop back in. But I didn't think I hurt it as badly as I did."

With the injury to Davenport, the Colts will elevate Mike Roberg to the main backup role behind Pollard. Roberg has been with the team for little more than two weeks. "We'll have to make do with Mike until we can get Joe Dean back. I think he'll do a good job for us," said Tony Dungy, who coached Roberg when both were with Tampa Bay last season.

The return of fullback Jim Finn from a preseason foot injury could prove useful now that the Colts could be a bit shorthanded at the tight end position for the immediate future. "That's one good thing about having Jim back," Dungy said. "He can play a lot of spots for us, including using him at tight end as a blocker and receiver, or as an H-back or on special teams."

The team that hired a sports psychologist to help turn things around this year suddenly has a big pool of unexpected playmakers, a coach whose every decision turns to gold and a surprising three-game winning streak.

"It's fun," coach Tom Coughlin said, still smiling after Sunday's victory over Philadelphia. "It's fun to see the effort and enthusiasm."

"Fun" has never really been a word to describe the Jaguars who are among the biggest early season surprises in the league.

When they were bad the last two seasons, Coughlin the taskmaster made them even more miserable. When they were good a few seasons before that, the players and coach came off more like CEOs than football men.

The popular sentiment around Jacksonville over the offseason was that Coughlin shouldn't even be around this season. But for all his flaws, the eighth-year coach deserves a lot of credit for turning it around.

He's the one who pulled the trigger on the unpopular move to jettison Tony Boselli, Keenan McCardell, Gary Walker and others in the offseason and replace them with cheaper, lesser-known players. One of them, Bobby Shaw, returned a punt for a 69-yard touchdown that broke the game open against the Eagles.

So far this year, Coughlin has been as solid on the sideline as he was in the personnel office.

Among a number of good calls he made Sunday was the decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Philadelphia's two-yard line, even though a field goal would have given Jacksonville a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars made it, scored a touchdown and gained all the momentum they needed for the win.

"I felt it was the right thing to do at that point in time for us," the coach explained.

Finally, Coughlin is the one who hired sports-psychology consultants to help a franchise that had been mired in negativity to see the positive side of things this season. It's a move that has been widely ridiculed around the league, but several players insist it has helped.

"I think it's pretty good," receiver Patrick Johnson said. "They talk about positive visualization. You learn a lot. You learn to counter all the negative self-talk, and learn to be more positive."

On a less positive note. ... After having his way against the New York Jets a week earlier, Fred Taylor had one of his worst days in terms of production with just 48 yards on 21 carries. It was his second-lowest output in 29 career games with a minimum 20 carries, exceeded only by the Tennessee game in his rookie season (1998) when Taylor was held to 42 yards on 20 carries. The only thing that keeps this from a failing grade is Stacey Mack's terrific second effort on fourth down to sustain the Jaguars' last touchdown drive.

And finally. ... In an article published Tuesday, Florida Times-Union staffer Bart Hubbuch noted that the double-tight end formations Coughlin favors only look conservative on paper because he rarely lets opponents know where Pete Mitchell and Kyle Brady are coming from.

As his own offensive coordinator, Coughlin continues to show great creativity with his tight ends, frequently putting Mitchell in motion, lining him up in the backfield or even splitting him out as a wide receiver.

Brady (6-6, 278) also moves frequently as part of Coughlin's bid to create coverage mismatches with his size.

Coughlin's moves are paying off for both players. Mitchell has rejuvenated his career and Brady is on pace for one of his best receiving seasons as a pro.

In the past, Green might have thrown into multiple coverage on a number of recent plays in an effort to force progress. Now those passes are intentionally being dumped to an unoccupied patch of grass.

Green must walk a fine line because head coach Dick Vermeil and offensive coordinator Al Saunders expect big plays. But Green also can't consistently commit turnovers and forfeit good scoring position or provide great field position to opponents.

Also of interest this week. ...

Morten Andersen has a pulled hamstring in his plant leg, and the Kansas City Chiefs are trying out kickers this week in case he cannot play against San Diego on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Anderson was injured while warming up for Kansas City's game at the New York Jets on Sunday. Andersen still played and kicked three field goals -- extending his streak to 23 straight -- but his status is uncertain.

The biggest concern may be on kickoffs, where Anderson could not get much distance Sunday. Punter Dan Stryzinski kicked off once and did not do particularly well.

"It's possible Morten could kick field goals and we'd have somebody else do the kickoffs," Vermeil said.

"He still has good strength in the leg. But we're still bringing four kickers in [Tuesday], four guys off the street, to take a look at and see if we have to go in that direction."

Special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. said one of the four was Michael Husted, who was in Kansas City's mini-camp last year.

The Chiefs probably will make a decision on a temporary kicker later in the week.

Williams ran 36 times for 105 yards last Sunday's win over New England, setting a franchise record for attempts in a game and leaving him one 100-yard game shy of tying the single-season mark.

He did it despite a Patriots defense designed to shut him down.

"Whenever you play a Bill Belichick-coached team, you know they're going to punch you in the mouth," center Tim Ruddy said. "They stacked the line a lot on us, but we knew the running game had to be successful for us to win."

And it was.

Williams gained most of his yards between the tackles and helped the Dolphins burn time off the clock in the second half, preventing the Patriots from making a comeback.

"They put a lot of guys in certain positions against our bread-and-butter plays," tackle Todd Wade said. "It threw off our double-teams, and we weren't able to get the push we wanted. We found out quickly that it was going to be a grind-it-out day.

"But we pretty much wore those guys down and were able to get some yards late in the game."

Williams carried 15 times for 49 yards in the first half, then got a much-tougher 56 yards on 21 attempts in the second half -- running when Miami had a 23-6 lead and when New England knew it was coming.

"It's not always being able to get the yards," Williams said. "When you run the ball, it is also taking time off the clock."

It was something they weren't able to do last week against Kansas City. The Chiefs are the only team to hold Williams under 100 yards this season. The Dolphins were behind most of that game, and they passed to try to move the ball faster and save the clock.

This game was completely different. Williams was a factor from beginning to end, gaining 9 yards on the Dolphins' opening possession and 18 on their last.

"We're never going to give up on the running game," Ruddy said. "As the game went on, we were able to figure out what they were doing and had some success with the basic stuff."

That means Williams between the tackles. His only mistake was his second fumble in as many games -- a problem that plagued him in New Orleans. He fumbled on the opening drive of the second half, and the Patriots turned it into a touchdown to cut the lead to 16-6.

"That was a shaky moment in the game," head coach Dave Wannstedt said. "It could have been a turning point."

Williams made sure it wasn't.

His fourth 100-yard game of the season left him one shy of Delvin Williams' team record, set in 1978. His 36 carries broke Karim Abdul-Jabbar's regular-season record of 33 attempts set in 1998, but they were four shy of Lamar Smith's record set in the playoffs in 2000.

"He's going to get his yards if he carries that many times," Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

Also of interest. ...

Jay Fiedler entered the New England game saying he would learn from his previous week's mistakes. He did.

Fiedler, coming off a career-worst four-interception day against Kansas City on Sept. 29, played error-free football against the Pats.

Fiedler was 17-of-27 for 190 yards without a turnover, prompting Wannstedt to rave about his resiliency.

"It all starts with the quarterback -- and the guy was fantastic," Wannstedt said Monday. "We all know his numbers and what he did. ... I didn't realized they pressured him as much as they really did, as far as different types of looks. And he handled things well, made good decisions and bounced back."

And finally. ... According to Pro Football Weekly, even though he's been a solid mentor for Chris Chambers, this could be James McKnight’s last year with the team. He’s fallen to fourth on the depth chart, and with pass-catching tight ends Randy McMichael and Desmond Clark on the roster, McKnight may not figure into future plans.

The fine was levied prior to this season. Moss' four-game fine, which is likely valued in the $120,000 range, was never revealed due to the NFL's strict confidentiality guidelines. But it does shed light on the fact he is already in Phase II of the league's program.

The next positive test would place him in Phase III, which brings an automatic six-game ban. It also means if Moss' drug test administered by league two weeks ago comes back positive, he will be suspended six games by the league barring an appeal. Any future positive test would also result in an automatic suspension by the NFL.

The league's Drug and Alcohol Program merely places a player in a random testing phase for a first offense. The league can test up to 10 to 12 times per month should a player be placed in the program.

The second positive test allows for a fine of four weeks worth of salary.

The third test results in an abbreviated suspension followed by a one-year ban for a fourth infraction. The Raiders' Darrell Russell is currently serving such a suspension.

The fact Moss has been fined four game checks shows he had already been in the program. Those close to Moss say he was placed in the program coming out of college because of a previous history with marijuana.

Moss this week was also formally charged with marijuana possession after police found small amounts of the drug in his car following his arrest.

Moss found trouble two weeks ago after he was charged with slowly pushing a female Minnesota traffic officer down the street with his car. After his car was impounded, police found a very small amount of marijuana, which prompted this week's drug charge.

Even if Moss comes up clean in recent and future tests, he is also subject to discipline by commissioner Paul Tagliabue for his arrests. The commissioner will wait until Moss is either found guilty, pleads down, or is exonerated before making any decisions. If he is not cleared on all charges, the league will likely levy some sort of punishment for the embarrassment Moss brought to the game last week.

Moss, by the way, stunned coaches in their loss to the Seahawks by dropping four touchdown passes. Usually a player such as Moss would use his on-field national TV stage to make people forget what happened off the field. Instead, Moss again baffled head coach Mike Tice.

On one play, Moss and Daunte Culpepper devised their own play in the huddle. However, when they ran the unscripted spur-of-the-moment play, Moss actually ran a different route from the one they just drew up. ...

In a related note. ...

Pro Football Weekly reported last week that Tice had planned on sitting Moss for the Seattle game for his vehicular mischief. But the league does not allow suspensions of players with pending court hearings or trials. Until Moss is proved guilty or not guilty, he can’t be handcuffed by the Vikings. At this point, however, we’re told it doesn’t appear Tice would attempt to keep Moss out of the lineup.

PFW went on state that team leaders, including Culpepper and center Matt Birk, revealed to Tice after a specially held meeting that the team didn’t want Moss punished. In addition to a unanimous feeling around the team that Moss’ crime was not serious enough to warrant a team suspension, at least one player told Tice that benching Moss would unnecessarily punish the other 52 players on the roster more than it would Moss.

And finally. ... Tice told the St. Paul Pioneer Press Tuesday that Michael Bennett is now his primary running back. "I like where he's at," Tice said of Bennett. "He's running tougher and harder than I've ever seen him run. There's no more sharing. Michael is starting, and Moe [Williams] will be our third-down back."

But he turned the ball over three times and it cost his team mightily.

Miami defensive end Jason Taylor owned Patriots left tackle Matt Light early on and had two sacks and a forced fumble as a result. Miami recovered the fumble at the Patriots 39 and converted it into a touchdown. Brady then threw an interception at his 29, on a pass that could have been picked off by either Patrick Surtain or Sam Madison.

That turnover also was converted into a touchdown. He threw a second interception early in the fourth quarter on a play where it looked like Madison was the intended receiver.

Brady was sacked three times, and the protection was terrible as Miami pressured him with only its front four, making it difficult to throw against seven defenders in coverage.

In Brady's defense, the absence of wideout Troy Brown has hurt. He missed his second straight game Sunday. "I've been day-to-day since I first got hurt," Brown said. "I didn't suffer any setbacks during the week or anything like that. My knee just wasn't well enough to go out there and play."

Rookie Deion Branch, who has been starting in Brown's absence, surpassed the Pro Bowler as the team's reception leader. Branch is the first rookie to lead the Patriots in receptions at any point since Terry Glenn finished the 1996 season as the team leader when he caught an NFL rookie record 90 passes. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Boston Herald staffer Michael Felger noted that Donald Hayes has been something of a forgotten man in the offense.

When the club signed Hayes, the thought was that he would challenge No. 2 wide receiver David Patten for a starting job. Hayes' presence seems to have elevated Patten's play.

Branch also is a consistent playmaker and Brown remains the No. 1 threat in the offense. That all adds up to a secondary role for Hayes, who is generally the fourth player in four-receiver sets.

The club also signed Hayes, who's rangy, to give Brady a larger target in the red zone, but so far the Patriots haven't needed him. ...

Also according to Felger, the team's attempt to balance the offense and add a ground game ended badly at Miami. running back Antowain Smith was ineffective, putting Brady in plenty of third-and-long situations. The team has had success throwing on first and second down, so why get away from that? There will be plenty of chances to run later in the year, when the weather turns cold. ...

And finally. ... Daniel Graham, who is battling a shoulder injury, could be on the shelf for a couple weeks. The rookie had been making progress carving out a bigger role in the offense before the injury.

Along the way, the gun-slinging ball coach openly mocked the extremes Haslett goes to in getting his team prepared each week. Spurrier said he'd never be a coach who sleeps in his office, pointing toward Haslett and saying look what it did for him after a 7-9 season.

Haslett, a defensive-minded coach, doesn't sleep in his office and says he doesn't care what Spurrier says about him. Still, he bristled when the topic was brought up Monday.

"Steve can work whatever time he wants. I really don't care," Haslett said. "He can do his deal and I'll do my deal.

"There's not a coach in this league that doesn't work hard. I don't know of any coach that comes in at 9 and leaves at 4. If that's the norm, I'm sure more people would get into [coaching]."

Delivered with that kind of feeling, it sets up another emotional week for the Saints. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Times-Picayune staffer Jeff Duncan noted that unlike most young running backs, Deuce McAllister sets up his blockers and is patient after the handoff, letting plays develop. His savvy resulted in a 52-yard touchdown run against the Steelers.

When running the same play in the first half, McAllister noticed the linebackers overpursued the ball. On the touchdown, he set up the linebackers by taking the handoff to the left, then cutting back against the grain and away from the play's intended path to the right. From there, he used his speed to outrun the Steelers' secondary. ...

And finally. ... Reports out of team headquarters early this week indicated that Donte' Stallworth, who missed last week's game with a strained hamstring, ill not play this week and is targeting the Saints' Oct. 20 game against San Francisco for his return. ...

Shockey, who was the 14th overall pick in the April draft, hurt his toe in the first quarter Sunday against Dallas.

Although team officials haven't made it official, the New York Post reported Wednesday that the decision has already been made to sit Shockey this week. The Post cited a source close to Shockey with the information. Shockey himself said that his toe is "feeling a lot better every day". He added, "I'm doing what I can do to get better, but I can't work miracles."

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

In an article published Sunday, SportsLine.com insider Jay Glazer reported that the Giants are still recovering from what he characterized as a "major blowup within the ranks" in the wake of the team's Week 4 loss to the Cardinals.

The interpersonal problems surfaced after Glazer interviewed several Giants players and coaches to uncover the inside story of why the Giants would throw a short out at the end of last week's first half, a pass that was picked off and returned for a touchdown.

Described by New York media as one of the worst blunders in recent Giants seasons, head coach Jim Fassel came out following the game and seemed to publicly question his offensive coordinator Sean Payton. Fassel was quoted as saying he would make sure Payton doesn't pull a similar stunt again and, "Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you."

Not so fast. It turns out Payton called for the Giants to kneel on the ball, but Fassel talked him out of it.

According to several players and coaches, Payton announced to his offensive players they would run "Amani Toomer 22" -- the team's safety-kneel play used to run out the clock to secure victories. The personnel for this formation ran onto the field after hearing instructions from Payton. Other players admitted they were on their way to the locker room after hearing Payton's call for a knee.

"Sean told us all that we were going with 'Amani Toomer 22' so we started to head down the sideline to go into the locker room," said one offensive player who asked for anonymity because of the accusations. "If you look at it, we had the wrong personnel on the field. Ron Dayne, Dan Campbell, we had our big set in.

"The next thing you know, guys like Tiki [Barber] and Ike [Hilliard] are called to run on the field. Tiki had to run over because he was almost in the locker room and Ike couldn't find his helmet."

When Payton informed Fassel they needed to take a knee, Fassel insisted Payton call a play to try to get the team into scoring range, despite the fact they were 80 yards away from the goal line with just 14 seconds remaining on the clock.

"Sean clearly called for the knee and told everyone," one team source said. "Then Jim told him, 'No, I want to get in position to score.'"

Other coaches say Payton clearly did not agree with the call but was simply following the urges of his boss. Following the game, Fassel insinuated blame needed to be shared among himself, Payton and quarterback Kerry Collins.

Fassel then made it worse by telling the world he is making Payton pare down his offensive game plan.

Coaches revealed Monday Payton confronted Fassel in a private meeting regarding the blame game. The young offensive coordinator was angered by the initial reaction of his head coach, but Fassel had already covered himself to the press by admitting he should share the blame. While he said all the right things to the media, the damage had already been done.

"When I heard the true story, I couldn't believe how he made it after the game," another player said. "I still can't believe it. He made it like it was Sean's fault, when it turns out it was Jim's call."

The bottom line, however, is the entire affair could have been avoided had Collins not the thrown in the first place. The ball was called to go much deeper downfield. The quarterback cannot throw the ball where he did under such circumstances.

One last note here. ... The Giants released wide receiver Jonathan Carter on Tuesday.

Some scouts wonder if he has the kind of zip needed to throw 30-yard strikes to the sidelines, but that wasn't a problem last week. In fact, the Jets attacked vertically better with Pennington than they had with the deposed Vinny Testaverde, who has more pure arm strength.

It's also worth noting that Pennington has re-discovered wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who wasn't getting many opportunities with Testaverde, who preferred Wayne Chrebet. In the last two games, Pennington has completed 17 passes to Coles. Obviously, they have a good chemistry.

Coles traces it to the fact he and Pennington arrived in the same draft (2000).

One last note heading into the bye week. ... Chrebet is not expected to practice this week, but coaches expect him to return to action when the team takes on the Vikings Oct. 20.

All this without offensive genius Jon Gruden calling the shots.

With a cast of old-timers and their former rising-star coach gone to Tampa Bay, the Raiders are the only undefeated team left in the NFL.

And if everything goes as planned at winless St. Louis, Oakland will be 5-0 on Sunday, the day Jerry Rice celebrates his 40th birthday.

"It's beautiful," tight end Roland Williams said. "When you see an offense work and execute and score points, it's a beautiful thing. We're still looking for that Utopia, which is scoring every time we touch the ball.

"We still have to get better. But God bless the Raiders. We're entertaining people, we have hardworking guys and Hall of Famers who are doing unbelievable things."

One thing to consider, though: The Raiders haven't played an AFC West opponent, and the teams they have beaten are a combined 5-13.

Still, it's hard to argue with Oakland's impressive numbers. The Raiders have the NFL's top offense, averaging 461.5 yards per game, and they are outscoring opponents 162-90.

Quarterback Rich Gannon has three of the top seven passing games in the league this season -- his 403-yard day at Pittsburgh on Sept. 15 ranks fourth behind two performances by Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe and one by Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady of New England.

Aside from the big stats, they're first in first downs per game and third-down efficiency. They lead in punt-return average and they're plus-7 in turnovers, another NFL best.

They're second in yards per play, first in points per game.

Had enough yet? First-year coach Bill Callahan hasn't.

"I'm just realistic," he said. "Being in this league for eight years, I've seen teams go up and down, start fast, start slow. I just temper it right now. I'm just at the point I want our team to understand we have a lot of work to do.

"If we continue to prepare hard, work hard and do the things we're capable of doing, I think success takes care of itself."

Under Callahan, this team already looks a lot more like the Raiders of old. He has opened up the playbook and is anything but predictable -- a stark difference from the conservative Gruden.

The successful start surely has owner Al Davis smiling; he's in love with the long pass and strong-armed quarterbacks who can heave a football halfway down the field, or even further. Gruden went away from that during his tenure.

Callahan insists it's much too early to be thinking Super Bowl in the Bay area.

For one thing, the Raiders are as beat up as they've been all season. Callahan listed 11 injured players Monday, seven of whom were hurt in Sunday's 49-31 win at Buffalo. Many are questionable for this weekend's game against the Rams (0-5). The injuries range from turf toe, to groin strains to knee sprains. That has Callahan shuffling his lineup and even considering adding players to the roster.

Then, there's the issue of kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who's in trouble with the law yet again. Janikowski was charged with driving under the influence after he was stopped for speeding in Oakland early Wednesday and failed a sobriety test.

With all that, center Adam Treu believes the Raiders will get past it all.

"I have no answers," he said. "This is the big league so to speak. Guys here have to prepare and take personal accountability to play up to standards. We're definitely lucky and blessed to have the capable backups we have."

The Raiders are taking a cautious approach to their fast start. Last year, they went 4-5 after winning six of their first seven games.

"It is a concern because last year we didn't finish as strong down the stretch," said Callahan, the offensive coordinator under Gruden. "Looking at the schedule and the divisional matchups we face late in the year, it's going to be key that we play very hard and that we're fresh for that run."

One last reminder here. ... Charlie Garner injured his hamstring on a long TD this past Sunday, and he is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams. Keep a close eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more on Garner and the team's situation at halfback.

There's plenty of blame to go around, starting with the offensive line, which has been very inconsistent. McNabb also has a tendency to hang on to the ball too long.

"Being a leader on the offensive side, I have to take full responsibility," McNabb said. "Maybe I can get the ball out of bounds or try to limit the many times I try to make a play back there."

McNabb attempted 48 passes Sunday. He's already got 201 attempts in the first five games, which is a 643-pass pace for the season. He also ran the ball a career-high 12 times Sunday for 100 yards.

"[Responsibility for the sacks] is spread all around," said head coach Andy Reid. "Everybody's got a piece of it, including me. I've got to make sure I'm calling the right plays against the defense. There are times that all the guys are coverage and that comes down to me calling the right play."

Other notes of interest heading into the bye week. ... James Thrash suffered a concussion against Jacksonville, but returned to the game. The former Redskins should be good to go when the Eagles battle the Buccaneers on Oct. 20.

According to reports out of Philadelphia early this week, Correll Buckhalter (knee) might begin practicing in three weeks. Buckhalter, who injured his knee during the preseason, might be taken off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list if his health permits it.

And finally. ... Second-year quarterback A.J. Feeley was added to the roster Tuesday.

Feeley, who spent all of last season and the first three games of this season with the Eagles, had been on the practice squad since being cut Sept. 26.

A fifth-round pick last year, Feeley got his only action during the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Tampa Bay. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to lead the Eagles to a comeback victory.

Maddox does a good job of throwing the ball quickly and allowing the receivers to run with the ball after the catch.

Teams will try to blitz him to disrupt his passing rhythm, but the Steelers will counter with screens to running back Amos Zereoue, a tactic that was successful against the Saints. ...

Other items of interest this week. ...

Jerome Bettis, off to the slowest three-game start of his career with 100 yards, looked like the old Bus when he ran 19 times for 84 yards in New Orleans. He also scored on a 6-yard run. He pushed his career yards to 11,060. He's No. 12 in NFL history and closing on No. 11, O.J. Simpson, who has 11,236 yards in 11 seasons.

"It's the same Bus," Bettis said. "I've been saying I just need an opportunity. People can say what they want to say but I'm the same guy."

According to the Sports Xchange, Plaxico Burress has become more of a scoring threat with Maddox under center. Burress caught his second TD pass in three quarters when he scored on a 20-yard reception in the second quarter at New Orleans. Maddox hit him the previous week with two minutes left to tie the game against Cleveland.

Rookie running back Verron Haynes played on third downs, his first action in the backfield. He dropped one pass and could not get to the only other ball thrown his way. He did not have a carry. ... Terance Mathis, who caught four passes through nearly 12 quarters of the season from Stewart, has five receptions from Maddox over the past five quarters (including overtime).

"I hope they're angry, more than mentally beat down, I hope they're just flat angry," head coach Mike Martz said Monday, a day after a 37-13 loss at San Francisco ended their six-game winning streak over the 49ers.

"They need to be upset," Martz said. "They need to be real upset. That's the only way things are going to get better is if they get upset enough."

Things in St. Louis can't get much worse. With Sunday's loss, the Rams' hopes for a return to the Super Bowl are all but gone -- no team that's started 0-5 has even made it to playoffs, let alone the final game.

But wait. ... It actually does get worse. ...

Orlando Pace, the Rams' All-Pro offensive tackle who tore his left calf muscle last month, likely won't be around to help out quarterback Jamie Martin, who Martz generously said "missed a couple of throws" in his first start replacing the injured Kurt Warner.

After throwing two interceptions the 49ers converted into 10 points, Martin wasn't able to put Rams on the board until the game was almost over, completing a 7-yard pass to Lamar Gordon with less than a minute left.

"He's still a little bit unfamiliar with some of the stuff, still a little hesitant with some things, and he'll only get better the more he plays," Martz said. "And we'll change some things, too, there are some things that we can do to help him."

Martin banged a knee against San Francisco, will probably have it drained Tuesday and play against Oakland, Martz said.

"He's a little gimpy today," Martz said. "There's no damage in there, it just got swollen."

The team focuses on running the football to limit mistakes and turnovers in the passing game. But the Chargers will struggle against quality defenses that are stacked to stop running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Against the Broncos, the Chargers were forced to play catch-up in the second half, and the passing game could not meet the challenge. Part of the reason might be a lack of game-time experience. Drew Brees hasn't had many pass attempts in the second half of games. ...

Also according to Trotter, Tim Dwight was a big part of the passing game last year when healthy. He was a consistent threat from the slot as the No. 3 receiver. This year, Dwight was promoted to the starting lineup, but until last week he had been virtually invisible.

Dwight (5-9, 180) has excellent speed and quickness, but he lacks size, which is one reason the Chargers often put him in motion, trying to keep defenses from getting a good jam on him at the line.

Dwight must be more consistent catching the ball and running his routes. The club has to find a way to get Dwight involved, even if it means putting him back in the slot as the third wideout. That might allow him to face more favorable matchups.

All of which bring up another point of interest here. ... So far this season, Curtis Conway has 26 catches while the rest of the team's receivers have a combined 16.

A majority of Conway's receptions have come on short and intermediate routes, although Brees will take a shot at him downfield if he sees Conway facing one-on-one press coverage on the outside.

The Chargers essentially are a two-man tandem on offense: Conway and Tomlinson. Defenses are catching on to this, and the offense must figure out a way to spread things around.

Also of interest. ...

Tight end Stephen Alexander sprained his right foot against Denver and team officials aren’t sure if he will be ready to play against the Chiefs this weekend. ... The same goes for Terrell Fletcher, who left Sunday's game early with an injured ankle.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia threw for a TD and he rushed for one. It was the eighth time in his career Garcia has accomplished that feat in the same game.

And according to Owens, we can expect to see more of the same in coming weeks.

"[Garcia] and I, we know we haven't played the type of ball we played the last couple years," Owens said. "We want to be great, and the key is to be aggressive. I think for myself, I've got to be more aggressive whether it's blocking, catching or concentrating."

Also of interest. ...

J.J. Stokes is questionable for the San Francisco 49ers' game at Seattle on Monday night after an MRI on Tuesday revealed a sprained knee ligament.

Stokes was hurt while making a 51-yard catch last Sunday in the 49ers' 37-13 victory over St. Louis. The eight-year pro has 13 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown this season after catching 54 passes for 585 yards and seven TDs last year.

If Stokes can't play against the Seahawks, Tai Streets is likely to take his place in the starting lineup. ... It's also worth noting that Owens is expected to open the week listed as probable with a turf toe injury.

And finally. ... In an article published on Sept. 23, Pro Football Weekly stated team officials maintain a lack execution and the usage of two-deep zone defenses were the primary causes of their surprising early-season offensive problems, but some observers believe Garcia hasn’t been throwing the ball nearly as well as he had the last few seasons.

While the team couldn’t find fault with Garcia’s completion percentage (.654), PFW stated there are certain types of throws -- especially the kind of seam routes in which he specialized last season -- that he hadn’t even attempted to make.

There have also been times when receivers were ignored deep, as was the case in the Week 2 loss to Denver, when Stokes threw his helmet down on the sideline in disgust.

With injured left guard Steve Hutchinson sidelined for two months, veteran right guard Chris Gray moves into his spot, with backup right guard Floyd Wedderburn moving into the starting lineup for the first time since 2000.

The change leaves Seattle much bigger on the right side of its line. Wedderburn and right tackle Floyd Womack are in the 340-pound range.

"Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes it isn't," head coach Mike Holmgren said. "We still have to pass protect and have the quickness to get some things done, but time will tell on that one."

Womack has quick feet and should remain at right tackle for the long term. Wedderburn is less athletic and he doesn't finish blocks with the tenacity coaches would like. If he falters, Womack could ultimately move to right guard, with veteran right tackle Jerry Wunsch returning to the spot he held the first two weeks.

The lack of continuity is affecting the offense.

"Football is real simple," running back Shaun Alexander said. "You get in a rhythm and get hot, or you don't get in a rhythm and you're never really comfortable.

"I think the thing is, our guys like playing together and that should make it easier to get into a rhythm."

Other notes of interest. ...

Although Trent Dilfer was only 2-of-11 passing for 10 yards in the second half against the Vikings, Holmgren attempted to put the performance in perspective.

"It wasn't just Trent," Holmgren said. "Our entire offense did not execute well when we came out in the second half.

"I think the score (45-10 lead) had something to do with that, but that is a lame excuse and I am not ready to accept that at all. ..."

Koren Robinson has shown an ability to make things happen after the catch, but the Seahawks have struggled to get him the ball in the right situations. Coaches used the bye week to evaluate all phases of the offense. Look for Seattle to make a more concerted effort to get the ball in Robinson's hands. ...

In an article published on Sept. 30, Pro Football Weekly advised readers to look for third-year receiver James Williams, who wasn’t on the active roster the first three games this season, to possibly become more of a factor in the hopes of opening up Seattle’s offense. ...

And finally. ... In case you missed it, rookie tight end Jerramy Stevens will miss this week's game -- and possibly one more -- due to the sprained ankle he suffered against the Vikings.

"It's not about anybody else. It's about us. That's the theme that we have, really. I think that's a theme the defense has established here over the last five or six years," Jon Gruden said. "It's not about who we play, but how we play. If we're 'on it,' we're a darn good defense that's capable of being dominant."

Much of the success can attributed to the health of Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, who were both slowed by injuries last season. The unit is also benefiting from a decision to retain the entire defensive staff of former coach Tony Dungy.

No one is more excited about the way the defense has rebounded from a sub-par performance in a 26-20 season-opening loss to New Orleans than Gruden.

The coach challenged the unit during training camp to score nine touchdowns this season. Last week, he asked each player for more effort, whether it be in the weight room, during film study or on the field.

"He has his way of motivating us," Brooks said. "He challenges the coaches, too. ... Like he says, it's all brand new to him. He's impressed. But he's so impressed he wants to see more. We're trying to give it to him."

So why am I writing about Tampa Bay's defense? Cause there ain't much to say about the offense -- good, bad or indifferent. Sure, Brad Johnson managed to hit Keyshawn Johnson for a 76-yard touchdown, but according to the Sports Xchange, "The Brad" gets a low mark for ball security. His fumble on the second offensive play and interception to end the half were responsible for a 3-3 halftime score.

And then there's Michael Pittman. ... The former Cardinal had 25 touches against the Falcons and didn't produce much, just 70 yards of total offense. His season rushing average is 3.5, not exactly game-breaking material. And Mike Alstott? The "A-Train" is playing a reduced role in the Bucs offense and is now seldom used even as a blocker for Pittman.

According to Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings, the field vision and quickness reserve running back Aaron Stecker has displayed on kick returns is earning him some time in the offense.

Stecker also is proving to be an adequate blocker, so much so that he is playing ahead of Alstott on some downs.

If Stecker continues to make the most of the few opportunities he gets each game to handle the ball, he should continue to see increased playing time. ...

Also according to Cummings, tight end Rickey Dudley is fast making the position the focal point of the passing game. He has been using his speed and size (6-6, 255) to get open down the seam.

Dudley has lacked consistency, and his work ethic has been questioned. But he seems to know that he must play hard consistently and work harder off the field to keep a job.

Dudley takes better angles now, but there's no question he's at his best on the move in the secondary, where defensive backs are overmatched against him.

Bud's rant prompted Arizona Republic reporter Lee Shappell to write: "Who is Bud Adams to call out Titans coach Jeff Fisher? The team stinks, but for Adams, a career loser as their owner, to suggest Fisher can't coach is a joke. What's next? Rams showgirl/owner Georgia Frontiere calling out Mike Martz? In song?"

It should be noted, however, that Adams emphasized he's not planning any immediate changes. It's hard to imagine Fisher's job being in jeopardy even if the team follows its current course the entire season. But coordinators and assistants may be on notice. Those sentiments did not surprise Fisher.

"We're all frustrated, he has every right to be frustrated," Fisher said. "He's down an awful lot to allow us to put this football club on the field... He just said he's not happy. Neither am I, I don't blame him. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, when the Titans took a 14-10 lead just before halftime against Washington, Steve McNair knew he threw an eight-yard touchdown pass, he just didn't know who caught it.

"I was lying on my back at that point," the quarterback said.

McNair was actually throwing for tight end Frank Wycheck. But running back John Simon wound up in front of Wycheck, and jumped up to snare the pass in a space between two defenders.

"It was a great catch," said Fisher, who said Simon was positioned incorrectly and the pass would have hit Wycheck in the numbers. "I'll take it." Simon, the undrafted rookie out of Louisiana Tech, continues to get touches for the Titans. He had two carries and two catches for 22 yards to go with the touchdown.

With three touchdowns this season, he's second on the team behind only Eddie George.

And according to Tennessean staffer Jeff Legwold, Simon and backup fullback Mike Green are making the most of their chances. That has pushed George and starting fullback Greg Comella to the bench more than anticipated, especially in hurry-up and two-minute situations.

Simon is one of the league's real surprises. Though undersized at 202 pounds, Simon has quick feet and remarkable instincts and can sift through traffic.

As a former college wide receiver, Simon also is a productive addition to the passing game. He knows how to run routes and set up defenders and can run by linebackers who line up against him.

Green has been a better blocker out of the two-back look than Comella and surprisingly has been more productive in the passing game than Comella. ...

Also according to Legwold, with Derrick Mason out possibly until October 27, Kevin Dyson must be the guy in the passing game. Mason is McNair's favorite target when things get tight, so Dyson must get open.

Dyson must get off the jam better and can't drop passes as he did against the Redskins. Corners still can frustrate him by tangling him up as he starts his route.

And finally. ... Just for the record, the Titans opened last Sunday's game in a three-receiver set featuring Dyson, Justin McCareins and Drew Bennett.

Rookie Patrick Ramsey came off the bench and threw for two touchdowns and 268 yards as the Washington Redskins bounced back after two straight losses to beat the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.

Spurrier started Danny Wuerffel, the first NFL start since Oct. 11, 1998, for the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner. Wuerffel lasted one series before leaving with an injured right shoulder, and Ramsey didn't give Spurrier any reason to turn to Shane Matthews, who started the first three games.

Ramsey, Washington's first-round draft pick, easily handled pressure from the blitzing Titans (1-4). He rallied the Redskins (2-2) from a 14-10 halftime deficit by leading them to two touchdowns in the third quarter to clinch the victory.

Ramsey was 20-of-34, and Washington rolled up 442 yards. Stephen Davis ran for a touchdown and caught another despite spraining his right knee at the end of the first quarter. He carried 18 times for 90 yards.

And now that his name has come up. ... Davis told Washington Post staffer Mark Maske on Tuesday the MRI exam he underwent Monday confirmed he has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Davis reiterated that he intends to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at FedEx Field, but indicated he expects the team's coaches and trainers to withhold him from practice Wednesday.

"I don't think they're going to let me do anything," Davis said.

Davis hurt his knee during a 31-14 win at Tennessee on Sunday. He returned to the game to complete an 18-carry, 90-yard rushing performance, and said Monday he had no doubts that he would be in the lineup against the Saints. He remained unwavering on that issue yesterday.

"I'll be there," Davis said.

But if Davis sits out today's practice, the Redskins likely will begin readying reserve tailbacks Kenny Watson and Ladell Betts to fill in Sunday if needed.

Watson was productive against the Titans while Davis was sidelined temporarily, producing 62 rushing yards on only eight carries. He had an 18-yard run to start the third-quarter touchdown drive that put the Redskins ahead to stay, and a 24-yard run in the final minutes as the club was running out the clock. Entering the game, Watson -- who joined the Redskins last season as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State -- had 21 rushing yards on four carries in his NFL career.

He has been Davis' primary backup ahead of rookie Betts, the club's second-round draft choice out of Iowa. The Redskins drafted Betts as a possible future replacement for Davis, who would be in jeopardy of being released for salary cap reasons next offseason without a new contract, and expected Betts to back up Davis this season and perhaps play in passing situations. But he has received little playing time, with only one carry for two yards. He has been on the inactive list for three of the team's four games. ...

Spurrier told reporters on Monday that Derrius Thompson will receive more playing time this week than he did against the Titans. In fact, he might wind up starting if the Skins open the game in a three-receiver set. However, Thompson will not unseat Kevin Lockett as the No. 2 receiver.

And finally. ... Wuerffel is expected to miss 1-to-2 weeks with a bruised shoulder.