Week 21 Players in the News

The Latest News

Quarterback

*** Friday Update *** QB Tom Brady (NE) played half of the season with a hernia and will have surgery to correct the problem, probably within two weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The hernia problem did not keep Brady from practicing or force him to miss any time.

*** Friday Update *** QB Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) is 26-4 as a starting QB (including the postseason). This is the best start for any QB in NFL history.

Running Back

*** Friday Update *** RB Edgerrin James (IND) has resigned himself to the possibility his playing days with the Colts are over. "I don't see nothing happening," he said Thursday night. "You can read between the lines and from the things I'm hearing, nothing's going to happen. Maybe I'll get to a situation where somebody appreciates me. I'm going to always be a ballplayer. You know I've got game. You can't knock what I do."

*** Friday Update *** RB Deuce McAllister (NO) says he about two weeks ahead of schedule in rehabbing his knee. “I’ve been doing good,” said McAllister. “I’ve been working out and was released to start jogging three weeks ago.” He believes he will be full speed for the team’s training camp in July.

*** Friday Update *** RB Dan Kreider (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Wide Receiver

*** Friday Update *** WR Reggie Wayne (IND) is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent but will likely receive the franchise tag from the team.

*** Friday Update *** WR Reggie Williams (JAX) was offered community service as part of a first-time offenders program for marijuana possession within the State of Florida, authorities announced on Thursday. If Williams keeps out of trouble, the marijuana charge against him will eventually be dropped. No word is yet available from the NFL as to whether Williams will receive a suspension by the league, but he is expected to be ordered into the league's drug treatment program in the coming months.

*** Friday Update *** WR Hines Ward (PIT) was limited in Friday’s practice as he rested his shoulder in what's being called a precautionary measure. Ward is not on the injury report and will start in the Super Bowl. Coach Bill Cowher said he's fine.

*** Friday Update *** WR D.J. Hackett (SEA) did not practice on Thursday, but he did practice on Friday and is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Tight End

Kicker

Offensive Line

*** Friday Update *** OL Denver Broncos (DEN) C Tom Nalen has signed a three-year extension with the team. Nalen says he expects to play only three more seasons.

Defensive Line

*** Friday Update *** DL Richard Seymour (NE) expressed optimism Thursday that he and the Patriots will come to terms on a new contract, avoiding the events of last year when the four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman sat out mandatory spring minicamp and then held out the first few days of full training camp in July.

*** Friday Update *** DL Travis Kirschke (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Linebacker

*** Friday Update *** LB James Harrison (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Defensive Back

*** Friday Update *** DB Troy Polamalu (PIT) “tweaked” an ankle in Thursday’s practice. However, he is expected to play in the Super Bowl after an MRI taken on his injured ankle was negative. HC Bill Cowher said today in his final news conference before Sunday's game, that an MRI was taken on Polamalu's ankle after he did limited work in practice Thursday. "It may be from working on a different surface," Cowher said. "We think he'll be fine."

*** Friday Update *** DB Clinton Hart (SD) has signed a three-year contract extension with the team.

*** Friday Update *** DB Andre Dyson (SEA) practiced on Thursday and Friday and is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Friday Update *** DB Ken Hamlin (SEA) intends to play in the 2006 season according to a release by his agent.

General Team News

*** Friday Update *** TM Buffalo Bills (BUF) New HC Dick Jauron confirmed the team will run a 4-3 defense and play more of a two deep zone instead of the zone blitz defense the team ran under DC Jerry Gray. This defense puts less pressure on the cornerbacks to play one-on-one coverage. That may mean the Bills don't need Nate Clements as much as they would have in the other defense.

*** Friday Update *** TM Detroit Lions (DET) Former Rams HC Mike Martz now apparently will not become Detroit’s offensive coordinator. Martz did not sign a contract to become the Lions' offensive coordinator because, according to his camp, the team refused to increase their offer from $1 million per year for three seasons to $1.5 million per year. Sources close to the situation, though, said money wasn't the deal-breaker for the Lions. Instead, new HC Rod Marinelli simply didn't feel comfortable enough with Martz as the coordinator. However, other sources claim the team is still trying to court the former Ram. For his part, Martz says he will not coach anywhere in 2006.

*** Friday Update *** TM Kansas City Chiefs (KC) The Chiefs are reportedly interested in adding Terrell Owens to their roster. HC Herman Edwards and TE Tony Gonzalez are both on board with making the move.

All the news

Quarterback

*** Wednesday Update *** QB Brett Favre (GB) would like to wait until training camp to decide whether to retire or return to the Green Bay Packers for a 16th season. But the quarterback realizes this amount of time is likely not a luxury he will be afforded. "I wish I knew where I stood," Favre told Chris Mortensen in an interview that aired as ESPN's Sunday Conversation. "If I had to pick right now and make a decision, I would say I'm not coming back."

*** Friday Update *** QB Tom Brady (NE) played half of the season with a hernia and will have surgery to correct the problem, probably within two weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The hernia problem did not keep Brady from practicing or force him to miss any time.

*** Wednesday Update *** QB Donovan McNabb (PHI) says his off-season rehab from sports hernia surgery is “going great” and he hopes to be able to participate in the Eagles first minicamp. He's also dealing with some potentially serious locker room issues as Hugh Douglas recently made some unfavorable comments about McNabb's leadership abilities.

*** Friday Update *** QB Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) is 26-4 as a starting QB (including the postseason). This is the best start for any QB in NFL history.

*** Wednesday Update *** QB Drew Brees (SD) is approximately three weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. “There are guys that get hurt and wait for (the recovery) to happen,” said physical therapist Kevin Wilk. “[Brees is] making it happen.”

Running Back

*** Friday Update *** RB Edgerrin James (IND) has resigned himself to the possibility his playing days with the Colts are over. "I don't see nothing happening," he said Thursday night. "You can read between the lines and from the things I'm hearing, nothing's going to happen. Maybe I'll get to a situation where somebody appreciates me. I'm going to always be a ballplayer. You know I've got game. You can't knock what I do."

*** Friday Update *** RB Deuce McAllister (NO) says he about two weeks ahead of schedule in rehabbing his knee. “I’ve been doing good,” said McAllister. “I’ve been working out and was released to start jogging three weeks ago.” He believes he will be full speed for the team’s training camp in July.

*** Friday Update *** RB Dan Kreider (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Wednesday Update *** RB Dan Kreider (PIT) did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Wednesday Update *** RB Marshall Faulk (STL) told reporters in New Orleans during the past week that he's still deciding whether to return to play with the team in 2006, or if he will retire from professional football. "I'm still a Ram; I'm still under contract," Faulk told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "We'll see. It's hard to say. I haven't made any decision yet. When I play isn't a question. It's if I play. I'm going to play with St. Louis if I play."

*** Wednesday Update *** RB Mike Alstott (TB) is apparently very interested in returning to the team in 2006 if the team is interested in retaining his services and still thinks that he has a lot to offer them as a player. It had been reported in previous weeks that Alstott had been leaning towards retirement following the conclusion of the 2005 season.

Wide Receiver

*** Wednesday Update *** WR Chris Henry (CIN) HC Marvin Lewis said on Tuesday that the team will deal with troubled wide receiver Chris Henry following his recent arrest on gun charges. Lewis said that "[it] is unfortunate and does not shine a good light on the Bengals organization," adding that he "will deal with Chris in relation to his standing on our football team." As this was Henry’s second arrest in the last two months, he is also facing disciplinary action from the NFL.

*** Friday Update *** WR Reggie Wayne (IND) is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent but will likely receive the franchise tag from the team.

*** Friday Update *** WR Reggie Williams (JAX) was offered community service as part of a first-time offenders program for marijuana possession within the State of Florida, authorities announced on Thursday. If Williams keeps out of trouble, the marijuana charge against him will eventually be dropped. No word is yet available from the NFL as to whether Williams will receive a suspension by the league, but he is expected to be ordered into the league's drug treatment program in the coming months.

*** Wednesday Update *** WR Terrell Owens (PHI) met with Broncos coaches in Denver. The team is interested in adding him to their roster. It is reported that other interested teams include Miami, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and the NY Jets.

*** Friday Update *** WR Hines Ward (PIT) was limited in Friday’s practice as he rested his shoulder in what's being called a precautionary measure. Ward is not on the injury report and will start in the Super Bowl. Coach Bill Cowher said he's fine.

*** Wednesday Update *** WR Kassim Osgood (SD) has signed a four-year contract extension with the team.

*** Friday Update *** WR D.J. Hackett (SEA) did not practice on Thursday, but he did practice on Friday and is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Tight End

Kicker

Offensive Line

*** Friday Update *** OL Denver Broncos (DEN) C Tom Nalen has signed a three-year extension with the team. Nalen says he expects to play only three more seasons.

*** Wednesday Update *** OL Kansas City Chiefs (KC) G Brian Waters has signed a six-year contract extension with the team.

Defensive Line

*** Friday Update *** DL Richard Seymour (NE) expressed optimism Thursday that he and the Patriots will come to terms on a new contract, avoiding the events of last year when the four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman sat out mandatory spring minicamp and then held out the first few days of full training camp in July.

*** Friday Update *** DL Travis Kirschke (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Wednesday Update *** DL Travis Kirschke (PIT) did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable to play in the Super Bowl.

Linebacker

*** Friday Update *** LB James Harrison (PIT) did not practice fully on Thursday or Friday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Wednesday Update *** LB James Harrison (PIT) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

Defensive Back

*** Wednesday Update *** DB J.R. Reed (PHI) is facing the real possibility that his NFL career is over after damaging the peroneal nerve in his left leg in a freak accident last February jumping over a fence. The injury prevents him from lifting and fully controlling the movement of his foot. "If you can't lift your foot up, you can't really control your ankle," Reed said. "Running's not a problem, but going side to side is. If they put me on the field and I got hit wrong, I'd break my ankle."

*** Friday Update *** DB Troy Polamalu (PIT) “tweaked” an ankle in Thursday’s practice. However, he is expected to play in the Super Bowl after an MRI taken on his injured ankle was negative. HC Bill Cowher said today in his final news conference before Sunday's game, that an MRI was taken on Polamalu's ankle after he did limited work in practice Thursday. "It may be from working on a different surface," Cowher said. "We think he'll be fine."

*** Friday Update *** DB Clinton Hart (SD) has signed a three-year contract extension with the team.

*** Friday Update *** DB Andre Dyson (SEA) practiced on Thursday and Friday and is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Wednesday Update *** DB Andre Dyson (SEA) did not practice on Wednesday but is expected to play in the Super Bowl.

*** Friday Update *** DB Ken Hamlin (SEA) intends to play in the 2006 season according to a release by his agent.

*** Wednesday Update *** DB Sean Taylor (WAS) faces up to 46 years in prison after two additional assault charges were filed against him Friday. Michael Grieco, an assistant state attorney, said the charges reflect Taylor's alleged threatening of three people with a gun in an armed confrontation over an all-terrain vehicle on June 1.

General Team News

*** Friday Update *** TM Buffalo Bills (BUF) New HC Dick Jauron confirmed the team will run a 4-3 defense and play more of a two deep zone instead of the zone blitz defense the team ran under DC Jerry Gray. This defense puts less pressure on the cornerbacks to play one-on-one coverage. That may mean the Bills don't need Nate Clements as much as they would have in the other defense.

*** Wednesday Update *** TM Buffalo Bills (BUF) The team has named former Lions interim HC Dick Jauron as their new head coach.

*** Friday Update *** TM Detroit Lions (DET) Former Rams HC Mike Martz now apparently will not become Detroit’s offensive coordinator. Martz did not sign a contract to become the Lions' offensive coordinator because, according to his camp, the team refused to increase their offer from $1 million per year for three seasons to $1.5 million per year. Sources close to the situation, though, said money wasn't the deal-breaker for the Lions. Instead, new HC Rod Marinelli simply didn't feel comfortable enough with Martz as the coordinator. However, other sources claim the team is still trying to court the former Ram. For his part, Martz says he will not coach anywhere in 2006.

*** Wednesday Update *** TM Detroit Lions (DET) Former Rams HC Mike Martz will soon be named the offensive coordinator for the Lions.

*** Friday Update *** TM Kansas City Chiefs (KC) The Chiefs are reportedly interested in adding Terrell Owens to their roster. HC Herman Edwards and TE Tony Gonzalez are both on board with making the move.