NFL notes: Pat’s Brady has 2nd procedure
Published 10:18 pm Friday, October 17, 2008
Report: Pats’ Brady has 2nd procedure
Tom Brady has undergone a second procedure in 10 days on his injured left knee, according to a published report. The Boston Globe reported Friday that the New England Patriots quarterback had the procedure Wednesday for an infection in his left knee that was operated on Oct. 6.
Brady’s agent, Donald Yee, did not respond to a phone call or an e-mail. Calls to the Patriots and the doctor who performed the first surgery in Los Angeles, Neal ElAttrache, were not returned. Brady suffered the season-ending injury in the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Browns’ Winslow practices
Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow practiced for the first time since being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness and could play Sunday against the Washington Redskins. During a brief interview at his locker, Winslow declined to give any details about what forced him to be kept at the Cleveland Clinic for three days last week.
Winslow worked with the first-team offense during the portion of Friday’s practice that was open to reporters. He looked fine while running pass routes for quarterback Derek Anderson.
NFL fines Broncos’ Bly
The NFL fined Broncos cornerback Dre’ Bly $20,000 for inappropriate remarks about officials after Denver’s 24-17 loss to Jacksonville last weekend. Bly was agitated over an illegal contact call he drew in the third quarter, plus a pass interference call on Broncos safety Marlon McCree in the waning moments of the game.
Bly wasn’t available for comment after the fine was announced Friday. However, he stood by his comments the day before, saying he didn’t think his criticism was excessive or out of line.
Fins’ Porter fined $20,000
Miami linebacker Joey Porter was fined $20,000 by the NFL for comments critical of beleaguered referee Ed Hochuli and his crew in Sunday’s loss at Houston. On the first play of the Texans’ drive for the winning touchdown late in the game, Porter stripped quarterback Matt Schaub. Hochuli ruled the play an incomplete pass rather than a fumble, saying Schaub’s arm was moving forward when hit.
“I know for sure that I had both his arms when the ball came out,” Porter said after the game. “I’m looking for an apology or something on Tuesday or Wednesday on NFL Network, but it will be too late by then. The game’s over. …
“I thought we won the game, actually, but they kept getting calls.”
… Also, Dolphins fullback Casey Cramer is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Baltimore because of an ankle injury and be replaced by newcomer Lousaka Polite. Cramer missed practice for the third day in a row Friday. Polite was signed Thursday after sitting out the first part of the season.
Packers’ Harris won’t play
Green Bay cornerback Al Harris was declared out against the high-powered Colts on Sunday. Harris is recovering from a lacerated spleen he suffered Sept. 21. He returned to practice this week, doing conditioning drills off to the side while wearing a weighted vest.
Bears WR Lloyd, DB Manning won’t play
Chicago wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and defensive back Danieal Manning will miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings because of injuries. Lloyd has been hobbled by a knee injury while Manning has a pulled hamstring.
Bengals promote 2 players, lose 2
Cincinnati signed tight end Nate Lawrie and cornerback Geoffrey Pope, and placed safety Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring) and center Kyle Cook (dislocated toe) on injured reserved on Friday.
Lawrie played in three games for the Bengals last season. Pope spent the 2007 season on the Giants’ practice squad, and played against his former team in the Bengals’ third game this season.
Bills CB McGee won’t play
Buffalo starting cornerback Terrence McGee will not play in Sunday’s game against the Chargers. McGee will miss his second consecutive game because of a left knee sprained in Buffalo’s win at St. Louis last month. Rookie Leodis McKelvin will start in McGee’s place.
Giants LB Pierce misses 3rd practice
New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce missed practice Friday for the third consecutive day with a quad injury and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against San Francisco. Pierce has not said how or when he suffered the injury, but indicated it probably happened in the Giants’ 44-6 win over Seattle on Oct. 5. He aggravated the injury Monday night against Cleveland, but returned to the game.
Jets’ Pace expects to play
New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace was listed as questionable Friday with a jammed toe, but expects to play in the team’s game at Oakland. Pace, third on the team with 25 tackles and 3½ sacks, jammed the big toe on one of his feet when he landed awkwardly in practice Thursday. He wouldn’t reveal which toe was injured, saying, “I can’t let that out. Got to keep them guessing.”
5 Panthers starters questionable
Carolina has a slim chance of getting its five starting offensive linemen on the field Sunday for their NFC South game against New Orleans. Right tackle Jeff Otah and center Ryan Kalil didn’t practice for the second straight day Friday because of lingering ankle injuries. Both are listed as doubtful on the team injury report. The Panthers haven’t had their starters together since the first week of the season and only one lineman, right guard Keydrick Vincent, has started every game.
Ravens rule out Terry, Figurs
Baltimore officially ruled out starting offensive tackle Adam Terry and return specialist Yamon Figurs for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. With Terry sidelined with a sprained right knee and lateral meniscus issue and right offensive guard Marshal Yanda out for the season with three torn ligaments, former second-round draft pick Chris Chester will start at right guard.
Figurs has a knee contusion. Candidates to fill his spot include safeties Jim Leonhard and Ed Reed, wide receiver Mark Clayton, and running back Ray Rice. Although Reed is listed as questionable with a tweaked hamstring, coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism that he would play.
Redskins’ Springs doubtful, Portis practices
Washington cornerback Shawn Springs was unable to practice Friday and was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Springs aggravated a calf injury near the end of Thursday’s practice. The injury caused Springs to miss the victory over Philadelphia two weeks ago, but he returned to play last week against St. Louis.
Clinton Portis, the NFL’s leading rusher, returned after missing Thursday’s practice with a mild hip flexor. He is questionable.
Steelers’ Parker out again with knee injury
Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker didn’t practice for a third consecutive day Friday and won’t play in the Steelers’ division game in Cincinnati on Sunday. Parker has missed the past two games with a sprained left knee. He returned to practice Monday and was expected to play against the Bengals, only to aggravate the injury while working out on his own Tuesday, according to coach Mike Tomlin.
Texans activate CB Robinson
Houston activated cornerback Dunta Robinson and put running back Chris Taylor (deep thigh bruise) on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Robinson has been out since November, when a collision with a teammate tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and ripped his hamstring off the bone. He returned to practice Wednesday and could play Sunday against Detroit.
Titans starting receivers miss practice
Tennessee starting wide receivers Justin McCareins and Justin Gage missed practice again Friday and will be questionable for Sunday’s game at Kansas City. McCareins injured his hamstring in Wednesday’s practice, and Gage has not practiced in three weeks because of a right knee injury. McCareins said he will be a game-time decision.
