Peyton's charge: Colts make short work of Dolphins, 27-23

Peyton Manning spent most of the night on the sideline and just enough time reaching the end zone.

The Indianapolis Colts had the ball for less than 15 minutes, but Manning made the most of his chances, helping his team come from behind four times to beat the Miami Dolphins 27-23 Monday night.

Manning threw touchdown passes of 80 yards to Dallas Clark and 48 yards to Pierre Garcon. The first score came on the first play from scrimmage, the latter with 3:18 left for the game's final points.

"It was about being efficient when it counted, in the fourth quarter," Manning said. "That's really what the game's about."

While the Miami Dolphins' celebrities were making a Hollywood-style grand entrance, Manning slipped in a side door and stole the show.

The Dolphins rolled out an orange carpet for the pregame arrival of new owner Stephen Ross' celebrity partners. The crowd included Serena and Venus Williams, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Buffett and Colts rooter Tiger Woods.

But Manning was the big star. He finished 14 for 23 for 303 yards, and the Colts improved to 2-0. The Dolphins fell to 0-2 even though they had 239 yards rushing, including 107 with the wildcat.

The Colts had the ball for only 14:53, the lowest time of possession for a winning team in the NFL since 1977. They ran 35 plays to 84 for the Dolphins.

"It's really disheartening," Miami coach Tony Sparano said. "That's exactly the formula to beat that team."

Indy trailed 10-7, 13-10 and 20-13, but each time pulled even. Down 23-20 after Miami scored with 3:50 left, the Colts rallied one more time with a big play by Garcon.

"Pierre was patient," Manning said. "He was more talkative than he had been all game, saying, 'I can beat him. I can beat him.' Of course we didn't get many possessions, but he came up big when we really needed him."

After completions of 15 and 17 yards, Manning hit Garcon with a short pass on the right side. Garcon cut to the middle, then broke back toward to the corner of the end zone to score.

Miami reached the Colts 30-yard line with 6 seconds left, but Chad Pennington's desperation pass was intercepted in the end zone by Antoine Bethea .

"Give credit to our defense," Clark said. "They were out there for probably 100 plays, and for that last drive I know they were tired. For them to come up with those plays and keep them from scoring was just tremendous effort."

Bethea's interception was the Dolphins' lone turnover. They were 15 for 21 on third-down conversions, punted once and controlled the ball for a team-record 45 minutes. They had to wonder how they lost.

The answer: Manning. He earned his 119th victory with the Colts, breaking the team record for a quarterback he shared with Johnny Unitas.

"I don't feel comfortable with these comparisons to Unitas," Manning said. "But I'm very proud to wear the same uniform as Johnny Unitas. He was a real winner."

Miami's Ronnie Brown rushed for 136 yards, including 62 in the wildcat, taking a direct snap each time. Teammate Ricky Williams added 69 yards rushing.

Against Manning, it wasn't enough.

"To have as few plays as he did and to do what he did, you just don't see that," Pennington said.

Manning took only three snaps in the third quarter, and the Colts had just three possessions after halftime.

"You just feel like you didn't really letter in the second half," Manning said.

The Dolphins controlled the ball for nearly nine minutes on an 80-yard touchdown drive that put them ahead 20-13 early in the final quarter.

Indy quickly pulled even again. Manning hit Clark for 49 yards to set up a 15-yard scoring run by Donald Brown. Clark had seven catches for a career-high 183 yards.

Miami drove 51 yards and broke a 20-all tie with Dan Carpenter's 45-yard field goal with 3:50 left. He made two other field goals but also missed from 49, which kept the Dolphins from trying a game-winning kick in the final seconds.

"That's one of the strangest losses I've ever been part of," Wilson said. "For us to come up short was very heartbreaking."

Notes: Manning's first pass was his longest completion since 2005. ... The highest previous time of possession in the Dolphins' record book was 43:39 against the Jets on Dec. 7, 1987.

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Not like old times: Jets beat up Pats, seek control of AFC East

After a smooth takeoff last week, the newNew York Jets appear to be settling into an unfamiliar cruising altitude.

More than 40 years after their only championship season, the Jets staked an early claim to first place in the AFC East with a 2-0 start after Sunday's 16-9 win against the New England Patriots.

The victory came under a new coach, revamped defense and rookie quarterback in his second start. And it came against the division's powerhouse for nearly a decade, a bitter rival that has usually left a bad taste in the Jets' mouth since Bill Belichick left New York for the New England coaching job in 2000.

"We're a football team that should be respected," first-year Jets coach Rex Ryan said.

Ryan's retooled defense proved last week's debut win vs. the Houston Texans was no fluke and has the look of a unit that could keep the Jets - who have won six playoff games since Joe Namath's famous guaranteed win against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969 - flying high for some time.

"The past is the past," said linebacker Bart Scott, who followed Ryan to the Jets from the Baltimore Ravens. "It's a new day. It's a new team. It's not the same old Jets people are used to."

New York's defense, which allowed 183 yards and no touchdowns vs. Houston (which was third in offense in 2008 and scored 34 points Sunday), kept New England out of the end zone for the first time since 2006. The last time the New York defense did not permit touchdowns in consecutive weeks was in 1993.

"That's a statement not just to us but to the league that every week we're going to come out and try and get a shutout," said Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, who picked off Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the first half.

In his second start since last year's season-ending knee injury, Brady completed 23 of 47 passes for 216 yards and the interception. It was the second time since December 2006 that he failed to complete at least half his passes. The other time came in 2007 against the Ravens defense then coached by Ryan.

Ryan's defenses never ranked lower than sixth in his four years as coordinator with the Ravens (2005-08). The Jets have had a defense ranked as high as sixth once (1995) since 1982.

"Our defense is just filled with studs," Sanchez said. "I felt for Tom."

The 2007 MVP, who was coming off an uneven performance against the Buffalo Bills in a Monday night win, seemed to struggle with timing and execution on short and long routes. Wideout Randy Moss was limited to four catches and 24 yards largely because of Revis' blanket coverage.

"You could just see the timing disrupted a little bit," Sanchez said. "You could see a pass here or there, an important comeback route ... the ball's not thrown yet, or it's thrown too early."

Brady, who missed several open receivers, was critical of his performance but gave the Jets credit. "It's a very talented team," said Brady, who was without injured wide receiver Wes Welker (knee).

"We're not really firing on all cylinders right now," Brady added. "To not get the ball in the end zone is unacceptable."

New England took four delay-of-game penalties and went 0-for-3 in the red zone (failing to score a TD) for the first time in nearly six years.

"I've got to do a better job," Brady said. "They (delay-of-game penalties) don't come up very often, but when they do, they hurt. And they hurt us today."

Sanchez steps up in second half

Sanchez came out on the winning end of his first matchup with Brady. Limited in the first half (3-for-5, 15 yards), the rookie came out slinging in the third quarter.

With New York trailing 9-3, Jets kick returner Leon Washington set the stage for a comeback with a 43-yard return to open the second half.

Sanchez took over, hooking up with Jerricho Cotchery for a 45-yard gain to the New England 11. Two plays later Sanchez lofted a 9-yard touchdown strike between two defenders to tight end Dustin Keller.

"He has been the leader that we need. That is going to take us a long way," Cotchery said of Sanchez.

Sanchez's final stats line was efficient - 14-for-22 for 163 yards - and devoid of turnovers. Sanchez, who led the Jets to two field goals after his touchdown strike, became the first Jets rookie quarterback to win his first two starts.

"This guy's not a rookie," Washington, who led the Jets with 58 rushing yards, said of Sanchez.

Said offensive tackle Damien Woody: "I'm glad (Sanchez is) on our team. And he's only going to get better."

The Meadowlands' infamous swirling winds weren't a factor, but the Jets did back up a lot of bluster, much of it from Ryan.

"I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings," Ryan said about New England's three-time Super Bowl champion coach in an offseason radio interview. He also questioned the toughness of the Patriots defense and touted his team's newly instilled smash-mouth ethos, all before encouraging season ticketholders last week - via voice mail - to make themselves heard on game day.

Apparently, his message got through. "I think our fans might have been the difference today," said Ryan, who granted his new 12th man a game ball.

Ryan's father, Buddy, was the linebackers coach for the Jets' 1968 title team. He also was the architect of the 1985 Chicago Bears defense that helped win a Super Bowl, and he later built imposing crews as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I said we were going to be the No. 1 defense, and I thank everyone here who laughed at me," Rhodes said. "He got it from his father. We know he's going to give us the stuff we need to get after the quarterback."

Fans make their statement

The fans helped, too.

"It's a hostile environment," said former Jets tight end Chris Baker, who signed with the Patriots in February. "I knew it was going to be part of the game."

The Jets also noticed.

"I actually felt the ground vibrating," said defensive end Shaun Ellis, the only player remaining on the Jets roster since they last beat the Patriots at home in 2000.

The Patriots came into the game with Ryan's quotes on their bulletin board as well as those from Rhodes, who said during the week that he hoped to "embarrass" the Patriots. Rhodes downplayed his comments, but like many of his teammates he has embraced the swagger brought by Ryan and Scott.

"They just outplayed us. They outcoached us, Belichick said."

Last year in Baltimore, Ryan watched his swarming defense and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who often effectively managed games, advance to the AFC Championship Game. He appears to be putting together a similar formula with the Jets.

"Sometimes we talk a little bit, but only because we have confidence," Ryan said. "We believe we are an outstanding team. We have to go out and show it."

And despite beating the Patriots, more challenges lie ahead. The Titans (NFL-best 13 regular-season wins in 2008) are next, followed by the New Orleans Saints (Drew Brees has a league-best nine TD passes in two weeks) and the Miami Dolphins (reigning AFC East champions).

The Jets know looking ahead to Super Bowl XLIV is premature. "We haven't arrived yet," Sanchez said.

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Big Ben's lawyer says rape allegation fueled in part by job fears

Lawyers for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said in court documents made available on Thursday that the woman who has accused him of raping her concocted the story, in part, to try to shield herself from losing her job.

Andrea McNulty fabricated the rape allegation against the two-time Super Bowl winner to try to prevent Harrah's Lake Tahoe resort from terminating her after she had taken prolonged bereavement leave, Roethlisberger's lawyers said.

McNulty has said she was hospitalized for several months last autumn because of trauma from the alleged July 11, 2008 attack by Roethlisberger.

The quarterback's lawyers have said McNulty's emotional collapse had nothing to do with a rape but resulted from a failed relationship with a married man and then a long-distance relationship that turned out to be a hoax.

The 31-year-old VIP hostess filed a civil suit in July, alleging Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in his penthouse suite while he was at Lake Tahoe the previous summer to compete in a celebrity golf tournament. The suit says she was hospitalized for several months because she was traumatized after the alleged attack.

Roethlisberger denies the allegation.

After McNulty returned to work in November 2008, she received a reprimand after having an emotional public outburst, Roethlisberger's lawyers said in documents filed in Washoe District Court in Reno.

"Plaintiff realized at this point that her emotional condition would not serve as a shield from possible termination. This realization led plaintiff to conclude that she needed more," lawyers said in the documents.

A telephone message The Associated Press left with McNulty's lawyer, Cal Dunlap, wasn't immediately returned.

The filing, made in support of the defense's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, included copies of e-mails from McNulty allegedly to the long-distance beau.

"Lots and lots of people getting laid off and lots of downsizing and consolidating departments," she writes in one, dated Aug. 21, 2008. "My 'Yikes' e-mail is in reference to me heading into a meeting to find out whether or not I get to stay. I was given the opportunity to resign with a good severance package but the timing didn't seem right so I passed on it and took the chance that I would not be picked to be laid off."

McNulty's suit seeks a minimum $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger, unspecified punitive damages and at least $50,000 in damages from eight Harrah's officials she accuses of orchestrating a cover-up of the incident.

Her lawyers, however, have offered to settle the civil suit if Roethlisberger admits to the alleged rape, apologizes and gives $100,000 to a nonprofit agency that helps victims of domestic violence.

NFL Insider: Sure hands turn tight ends into premier options

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron nailed a Week 1 tight-end trend in discussing how a healthy Todd Heap can accelerate Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco's second-year growth.

A dozen tight ends led or tied for their team lead in catches, receiving yards or touchdowns in the opening week. Heap matched wide receiver Mark Clayton for a Ravens-best five receptions and generated 74 yards and a 9-yard touchdown in Baltimore's 38-24 win against Kansas City.

Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, San Diego's Antonio Gates, Seattle's John Carlson, New England's Ben Watson, Washington's Chris Cooley, Philadelphia's Brent Celek, the New York Jets' Dustin Keller and Jeremy Shockey of the New Orleans Saints emerged trusted, check-down targets for quarterbacks facing more complex blitzes than during preseason.

"There's more tight ends coming out of college who are better receivers and worse blockers," Cameron said. "That's the reality of it. You don't try and make a player into something he isn't."

While that explains the influx of dynamic pass-catching tight ends, a rejuvenated Heap is healthy after back, ankle and hamstring injuries forced the ninth-year veteran to miss valuable practice time during Flacco's impressive rookie season.

"We're very fortunate because Todd is good at both receiving and blocking," Cameron said. "We were able to run for some late yards against Kansas City because Todd's an outstanding blocker.

"Todd being healthy, the quarterback being more mature … last weekend was our starting point. The key for Joe and Todd is the trust they're developing. They can be special."

The 6-5, 262-pound Heap again resembles the red-zone target with a career-best 75 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2005.

Heap had 35 catches and three touchdowns last season.

His return to two-time Pro Bowl form and the increased role of second-year running back Ray Rice in the passing game can help Flacco become the first Ravens quarterback to throw for 20-plus touchdowns since Vinny Testaverde's 33-touchdown season in 1996.

Sanchez booster:Trent Dilfer was a founding member of the Mark Sanchez fan club six weeks before Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum traded up 12 spots to select Sanchez fifth overall in last April's draft.

After studying game video of the former Southern California standout, the former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst said in early March: "Sanchez has an electric presence. He's an alpha male other alpha males trust and follow.

"He plays the game very much like Matthew Hasselbeck."

Sanchez's pocket awareness and mobility reminded Dilfer of Hasselbeck, his former Seattle Seahawks teammate and a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

The $50-million quarterback justified Dilfer's early prediction by being paying off on the money down in a 24-7 opening win against the Houston Texans.

Sanchez completed 12 of 15 passes (80%) for 191 yards on third down, including a 30-yard touchdown to wide receiver Chansi Stuckey in the face of a seven-man blitz.

It probably helps that Sanchez faces coach Rex Ryan's blitzing defense in practice. He stared down 10 Texan blitzes, eyes focused downfield as he side-stepped pressure a la Hasselbeck, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

Just don't expect Sanchez to be as successful on third down against three-time Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick, whose 1-0 squad visits the Jets on Sunday, is 5-1 as Patriots coach against rookie quarterbacks. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger counts the lone victory against Belichick in 2004, a setback the Patriots atoned for with a 2004 AFC Championship game win.

Roethlisberger, Chris Weinke, Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Vince Young combined for five touchdowns and 12 interceptions against Belichick's schemes.

"He's going to be one of the premier quarterbacks in the league for years," Dilfer says of Sanchez. "The best we can expect of Mark Sanchez is Joe Flacco's (11-5) performance last year, where he gets better each week, plays top-end football by the end and the Jets are in the playoff mix.

"They're going to lose quite a few games early on. The aura he exudes through those bumpy roads will allow him to take over that football team for years to come."

Even with 12 QB Pro Bowls on roster, Eagles turning to Kolb

In Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Jeff Garcia, the Philadelphia Eagles have three quarterbacks who have been to a combined 12 Pro Bowls.

Yet it's unproven Kevin Kolb could be making his first NFL start Sunday when the Eagles host the New Orleans Saints.

"Twelve Pro Bowls with those three guys and you just never think you'd be in the same room with all three of them," Kolb, a third-year pro at 25, said after practicing with the first unit Wednesday.

McNabb, Eagles' starter and five-time Pro Bowler, broke a rib in Sunday's opening week victory against the Carolina Panthers. He did not practice Wednesday.

His status for Sunday will depend on how quickly he heals. But it's a complete fracture, not just a crack, of a rib on his back, right side.

On Monday the Eagles signed the 39-year-old Garcia, an 11-year veteran who during a previous 2006 stint in Philadelphia filled in ably for McNabb.

Vick, three-time Pro Bowler, is back practicing his week. But under the terms of his NFL reinstatement after serving a prison sentence for dog fighting, he will not be eligible to play until the third game.

Kolb's signature NFL moment so far was a shaky 2008 appearance in relief of McNabb

Last Nov. 23, McNabb was benched at halftime of a 36-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. McNabb had thrown two interceptions. Kolb came in and threw two more, one returned 108 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed.

"I just pressed too much, tried to show everybody right now, 'hey, I'm ready' ... You can't press as a quarterback," said Kolb, drafted in the second round in 2007 out of the University of Houston.

Eagles coach Andy Reid on Kolb: "He's a young guy and doesn't have a lot of experience, so there might be a misfire here or there. But I think overall I feel very comfortable with him in there."

If Kolb falters, Garcia could get the opportunity to elevate his status from short-term fill-in to primary backup for McNabb.

In 2006, Garcia led the Eagles to a 5-1 record down the stretch in the regular season and a playoff victory after McNabb was sidelined by a torn knee ligament.

"I'm very capable of playing this position still and if I'm given that opportunity I just want to make the most of it," said Garcia, released by the Oakland Raiders on the final cut this preseason after spending two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Vick adds another layer of uncertainty to the backup quarterback situation. Why would Garcia elect to join a crowd of quarterbacks by signing with Philadelphia?

"It's tough to keep your self on the street," said Garcia, who joined Vick Wednesday in running scout team plays to simulate the Saints. "As much as I knew this was a crowded situation, it also is the most comfortable situation for me being that I'm able to come back to a team that I have had success with."

McNabb was hurt when hit in the end zone after a 3-yard TD run in the third quarter of Sunday's 38-10 victory vs. Carolina.

"The rib was fractured all the way through," said Reid. "The term the doctors use is that rib has to get 'sticky.' In other words, when he's moving, that it's not moving up and down. ... Donovan's normally a fast healer. We'll just have to see."

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook sustained rib fractures last season and in 2004 and missed one game each time. "Donovan, he's a tough guy. He might be able to take a little more pain that I can. So hopefully we'll have him back," said Westbrook.

He also said he is confident in Kolb. "If we have Donovan in there, we're excited. If we have Kevin in there, we're excited," said Westbrook. " ... We just need to be prepared to go out there and win the football game."

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NFL fines Jets, Eric Mangini for Favre coverup

The NFL assessed $125,000 in fines to the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini on Wednesday for violating the league's rules on injury reporting with former quarterback Brett Favre (FSY) last season.

The Jets failed to place Favre, now with the Minnesota Vikings, on the injury report during the final month of last season even though he had a torn biceps tendon.

The league announced it had fined the Jets $75,000, and Mangini and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum $25,000 apiece. Mangini now coaches the Cleveland Browns.

"We have been fully cooperative with the league throughout this investigation and respect their decision," the Jets said in a statement. Mangini was not immediately available for comment on his fine.

Mangini wants to put the situation behind him.

"I have worked with the league on this matter and now consider it closed," he said in a statement. "My focus is on our preparations for the Broncos."

Hiding injuries could affect an opponent's preparation and the NFL has stepped up policing such practices. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the case would be an opportunity for the league to stress that all teams must abide by the injury report rules.

Last week, Tannenbaum admitted the Jets should have listed Favre as "probable" on their injury reports. That came a day after Favre said he thought he was hurting the Jets because of the injury and discussed it with the coaches and the front office. He said he would have been willing to sit out, even though that would have ended his streak of consecutive starts, which now stands at 270 games.

Tannenbaum said the team didn't list Favre on the report because the injury wasn't severe enough to require daily treatment and there was never any doubt Favre would play. Tannenbaum also assumed full responsibility for the mistake.

Mangini said he has always abided by the league's guidelines for injury reports.

"That was true there (in New York). It's true here," Mangini said. "It'll be true every week of the season and that's how we approach it."

Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start and first place in the AFC East. But he threw nine interceptions down the stretch and the team lost four of its last, missing the playoffs.

He retired after the season, and was later released by the Jets. He came out of retirement - for the second time - last month and signed with Minnesota.

Favre told reporters last week he may not be able to play all 16 games with the Vikings, even after the biceps tendon was surgically repaired. He said he's playing with a torn rotator cuff and suggested he might have a cracked rib.

Favre completed 14 of 21 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' season-opening 34-20 win over Mangini's Browns on Sunday.

A gunslinger no more? Vikes' Peterson uptages Favre in win

On a Sunday he could have spent at home in Mississippi watching on TV from an easy chair, Brett Favre instead got a field-level view of the Adrian Peterson show.

In his first regular season start as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, his fourth NFL team, Favre's stats were not Favre-like: 14 for 21 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown. But his 25 handoffs to Peterson made the difference in the Vikings' 34-20 opening day victory vs. the Cleveland Browns.

"I haven't played with a running back like that. The guy is pretty awesome. I guess it's an understatement," Favre said after Peterson ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns, including a 64-yard highlight clip romp in the final quarter.

The game illustrated that Favre, 39, who came out of his second retirement in mid-August to sign a two-year, $25 million contract, doesn't have to carry the Vikings' offense, at least not every week.

What was Favre's take on his performance at the start of his 19th NFL season?

"I had a blast. It wasn't a 400-yard passing game, and it doesn't have to be," he said. "I'll be the first to tell you I'll take that any day of the week as long as we win."

But he acknowledged there will be days down the road when Peterson isn't running wild and the passing game will have to step up. There were moments Sunday when it was apparent Favre still is getting to know his receivers. But modest stats aside, he did also make some Favre-like plays. Peterson took note of that.

"We're going to balance it out," Peterson said. "That's our approach, to have people play us even and not overload the box. ... He helps me out. I help him out, and hopefully we will continue to win."

In his last game of the 2008 season with the New York Jets, Favre threw for one touchdown and was intercepted three times. Favre did not throw an interception against Cleveland. He was sacked four times, but Vikings coach Brad Childress didn't have a problem with him taking sacks instead of forcing throws.

"I'll take a sack anytime as opposed to turning the ball over," Childress said. He described Favre's play as "workmanlike."

"There were no blips," said the coach. "Not to make it sound like unspectacular is a bad thing. It's making the routine plays routinely. ... That's just something we're looking for."

The game manager role is a new one for Favre, who has been known during his 16 years with the Green Bay Packers as a quarterback with a so-called 'gun-slinger' mentality.

On the Vikings' second drive, they had third-and-goal at the Cleveland 3. Favre and receiver Sidney Rice got their signals crossed. Favre threw into the end zone, but his pass sailed one way, Rice turned the other and the Vikings settled for a field goal.

"I still think there's a lot of chemistry yet (to be developed)," Favre said. "It was evident on numerous plays. ... He (Rice) was right. I was wrong."

Favre, who joined the reigning NFC North champions Aug. 19, hasn't had time to jell completely with his receiving corps. And the three-time league MVP, who turns 40 on Oct. 10, is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,472 yards, 22 TDs and 22 interceptions in his one year with the Jets.

"Is he completely, completely comfortable? I'm not sure he's ready to make that assertion," Childress said. "But ... he goes to school every week. Nothing like a game to see what you've really got."

In the third quarter, Favre faced a second-and-18 at the Vikings 21. He responded with a 21-yard completion down the middle to rookie Percy Harvin. Though Favre had surgery over the summer to repair a torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm (an injury that hampered him in his final weeks with the Jets), he showed zip on the throw to Harvin.

"That's the type of play we have to make," Favre said.

The pass keyed an 82-yard touchdown drive capped by his 6-yard pass to Harvin that gave the Vikings a 24-13 lead.

Favre, who was one of five captains selected in a team vote over the weekend, tackled the rookie in celebration.

"I feel like I'm gaining the trust of these guys, and I felt like over time that I did that last year," Favre said.

It was the 465th TD pass of Favre's career, extending his NFL record.

"I don't know how many I've thrown, but they've all been a blast," he said.

The victory spoiled the debut of Eric Mangini, Favre's coach with the Jets last season, as head coach of the Browns.

"In the second half, I'm not sure how many times he actually threw the ball or threw it downfield or was asked to do those things," Mangini said. "He can do those things. I think it was more of an emphasis on running the football at that point."

Three of Cleveland's defensive starters also were former Jets.

"It was nice to see Eric. I had a nice moment with him before and after the game," Favre said.

He also chatted during and after the game with his former Jets teammates.

"I shouldn't say it felt weird looking across (the line)," he said. "If you play long enough, that happens. Guys come and go. Coaches come and go."

Then he added a line that drew a laugh: "I've come and gone."

Peterson: 'As long as he gets the job done'

Peterson, the NFL rushing leader last season with 1,760 yards and 363 carries, managed just 25 yards on nine carries in the first half. In addition to feeling what he described as "light-headed" and "weak," he also said he sustained a cut to his left arm in the first half.

At halftime, Peterson said that for the first time in his three-year career he was given intravenous fluids. They appeared to work, because in the second half, he ran for 155 yards on 16 carries.

"I was able to come back in the second half, get back in sync with those guys and take care of business," he said.

On his 64-yard scoring run, at least five Browns defenders got at least a hand on him.

"It was pretty good," he said.

Just pretty good?

"I didn't go untouched, but that was fine," he said.

Peterson did his press conference in a stylish, checked sports coat and tie. He couldn't help but notice that Favre dressed entirely differently.

"He's been doing it for a long time," said Peterson. "... He can come in here with T-shirts and Wranglers as long as he gets the job done."

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No Plax, no problem: Giants receivers rise to the challenge

The New York Giants' season-opening 23-17 victory against the Washington Redskins on Sunday suggested they may be able to use many hands to help replace big-time playmaker Plaxico Burress.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning spread the ball to seven receivers in hitting 20 of 29 pass attempts for 256 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

"I know they wanted to come out and play well," said Manning of a young receiving corps that was questioned throughout the offseason. "They saw what was being said in the papers and on TV. They don't like hearing that."

But the question had to be asked. After Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a New York City nightclub last November, the NFC's top seed lost its way without him. New York dropped four of its last five games and its offense was feeble in a 23-11 divisional playoff loss to the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles.

While rumors swirled that general manager Jerry Reese would trade for an established wideout such as the Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin or the Cleveland Browns' Braylon Edwards, he invested first- and third-round draft choices in Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, respectively. Beyond that, he kept faith in young wideouts such as Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon as well as tight end Kevin Boss.

Smith (six catches, 80 yards), Boss (three grabs, 62 yards), Manningham (three receptions, 58 yards, one TD), Nicks (two catches, 18 yards) and Hixon (one reception, 10 yards) all did their part. The one negative was that Nicks left with a foot injury that required X-rays. The results were not immediately known.

"We know what we can do," said Smith. "Showing it on game day makes it official."

Burress is preparing to serve a two-year jail sentence under a plea agreement stemming from his possession of an unlicensed firearm. His loss is enormous because he used his tremendous reach and leaping ability to make one sensational catch after another for New York.

His one-man highlight film included the winning catch with 35 seconds left to secure a 17-14 Super Bowl XLII victory against the previously perfect New England Patriots to close the 2007 season.

According to Boss, the offseason made a world of difference in the team's ability to adjust to life without a go-to receiver such as Burress and someone as dependable as Amani Toomer, the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (668) and receiving yards (9,497). He signed with the with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released.

"Having that opportunity to work through mini-camp and spring practices and training camp and getting our timing down helped a lot instead of having it happen in the middle of the season," said the third-year tight end who represents an inviting target at 6-6, 253 pounds.

Manningham produced only four catches for 26 yards and failed to score in a disappointing rookie season in which he was limited by injuries. He showed big-play potential, though, with a 30-yard catch and run that gave New York a 10-0 advantage early in the second quarter against Washington.

Manningham made a sure-handed grab along the right sideline. He then showed his strength in pulling out of one tackle, his elusiveness when he abruptly pulled up to avoid onrushing cornerback DeAngelo Hall and his speed as he accelerated to reach the end zone.

Manningham said receivers are so eager to do well that they practice moves in the hallways of Giants Stadium on the way to meetings. But he added, "In the game, it's just straight reaction."

Smith, in his third year, came up big when he made consecutive catches, for 10 and 26 yards, early in a critical 7-play, 72-yard drive that consumed 6 minutes and 11 seconds of the fourth quarter. The march ended in a 28-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal that pushed the Giants' margin to 23-10 with 3:22 left.

"I think it's something we can build on," Manning said. "We can't start thinking we're invincible or anything. Some things can get better but they definitely did some good things."

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Three NFL players to donate brains for concussion research

Three active NFL players are joining former players in agreeing to donate their brains after death to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries.

The donations by Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks and Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals were announced Monday.

Morey says his donation will help improve the safety of retired and future athletes.

The players' brains and spinal cord tissue will go to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy so researchers can better understand the effects of concussions. More than 150 former athletes, including 40 retired NFL players, are already in the program's brain donation registry.

The center was created in 2008 as a collaborative venture between BU and Sports Legacy Institute.

McNabb injured in Eagles' 38-10 rout of Panthers

Donovan McNabb was walking gingerly to the locker room with a cracked rib about the same time Jake Delhomme was mercifully yanked after his fifth turnover.

It was the third quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles' 38-10 rout of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and both franchises suddenly had big worries about their veteran quarterbacks. One was injured two weeks before Michael Vick is eligible to return, the other can't seem to throw it to the right team anymore.

With Delhomme increasing his two-game turnover total to 11, the Eagles' dominating defensive performance in their second straight season-opening rout was tempered by concerns about McNabb, who was crunched by several tacklers on a 3-yard touchdown run.

"He's sore right now. He's got a broken rib," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "We'll just see how he does over the next little bit."

With the suspended Vick watching from a luxury suite, Kevin Kolb finished at quarterback as the Eagles ran out the clock on a miserable day for the Panthers.

Reid wouldn't rule out McNabb, who did not speak to reporters, from playing next week against New Orleans.

"Don is very resilient," said running back Brian Westbrook, who caught one of McNabb's two touchdown passes. "He heals fast."

While Panthers coach John Fox hinted Delhomme will remain the starter, his teammates were peppered with questions about their confidence in the 34-year-old quarterback two years removed from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Playing his first meaningful game since throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble against Arizona in the playoffs, Delhomme was constantly under pressure and nearly as bad in a miserable start for the defending NFC South champions.

With the boos increasing before he was finally replaced by Josh McCown, Delhomme was 7 of 17 for 73 yards with four interceptions and a lost fumble. His passer rating was 14.7.

"I hope so," Delhomme said, when asked if he deserves to be the starter next week against Atlanta. "I'm not looking for the easy way out."

He may have to start since McCown left with knee and foot injuries. Third-stringer Matt Moore threw his own interception, one of Carolina's team record-tying seven turnovers.

"Offensively, we just sucked. Let's be honest," receiver Steve Smith said.

Victor Abiamiri picked up Delhomme's fumble and plunged 2 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Moments later, DeSean Jackson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown - the second longest in franchise history.

Delhomme soon collapsed under the relentless blitzing from the Eagles, who were playing their first game since the death of longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson from cancer.

Sheldon Brown had two of the interceptions and Akeem Jordan and Asante Samuel each had one on consecutive Delhomme throws in the third quarter.

"The combination of hitting him, and him throwing a couple picks, it seemed like he got a little streaky," linebacker Chris Gocong said. "We kind of got him on his heels a little bit. It was a tough day for him."

McNabb, who finished 10 of 18 for 79 yards, rumbled for a TD after the Jordan pick for the game's final score. He was on the ground for several minutes after a hard hit by several would-be tacklers. Vick, watching from Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie's suite, looked concerned.

McNabb was moving slowly a few minutes later when he headed to the locker room. McNabb last year started all 16 games for the first time since 2003.

With Vick not eligible to return until Week 3 from penalties related to his dogfighting conviction, the Eagles could have uncertainty at quarterback next week against New Orleans.

Fresh off receiving a five-year, $42.5 million deal in the offseason that includes $20 million in guaranteed money, Delhomme and the Panthers may have bigger worries.

After DeAngelo Williams' 11-yard TD run on the opening drive, Delhomme imploded.

"He probably won't sleep very much tonight," Panthers receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "It's a cruel environment and people only love you when you're winning in this league, in this game. Obviously he's having a tough time right now."

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Eric Mangini won't name Browns starting QB for Week 1

Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson still don't know who won their competition. The Vikings are in the dark, too.

Cleveland's starting quarterback remains Eric Mangini's secret. And he'll keep it as long as he can.

Mangini has finally made his choice between Quinn and Anderson, but the Browns' first-year coach declined to identify who will start Sunday's season opener against Minnesota. On Monday, he said won't reveal who will open at QB anytime between now and kickoff.

"In terms of announcing it publicly, that's not something I plan to do," he said. "It will be internal. I understand everybody has a different opinion on it. I respect that. I understand the excitement in relationship to that and I respect that as well. But that will be something that will be internal."

Before practice, Mangini said he had not yet told the quarterbacks who won the job and that he plans to meet with them individually to discuss his decision.

Months of speculation will last at least a few more days.

Both Quinn and Anderson claimed ignorance about a topic that dominated Cleveland's training camp and exhibition season.

"I know as much as you guys know," Anderson said as he dressed at his locker stall.

Quinn didn't seem to be in any rush to find out.

"I'm not worried about it," he said. "You guys are more worried about it than I am."

It was not clear if Mangini talked to either of the players following his news conference and before practice. During the 30 minutes the workout was open to the media, both Quinn and Anderson went about their business without any visible signs of a winner - or loser - being declared.

As the players stretched out, Lady Gaga's hit single "Poker Face" blared through the outdoor speakers, an appropriate tune on another day when Mangini refused to tip his quarterbacking hand.

A former defensive coordinator, Mangini said he wants to keep the Vikings quessing.

"It is more difficult to plan for two (quarterbacks) than it is to plan for one," he said. "I'm not saying that's going to be the difference or not the difference, but I know that there is time allotted to that and you can't put the same amount of time into focusing on one player."

Vikings coach Brad Childress was asked if the uncertainty of Cleveland's quarterback would affect Minnesota's defensive game plan.

"It doesn't," he said. "Just schematically, you're going to go back and look at tape and see what you've seen. And then I know, as do our guys, that there will be unscouted looks. They certainly haven't showed their whole hand, offensively and defensively. So you're just going back and looking at formation-wise where they're putting people and what kind of players they are. It will be more about us deploying to what they do."

Childress' starter at quarterback was resolved when the club signed Brett Favre. He said he'll wait until Sunday before choosing Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels as his backup.

"But at least you know who the starter is here," he said, playfully jabbing Mangini.

Quinn and Anderson have been competing almost since the moment Mangini was hired as Cleveland's coach in January. He had no track record with either player and wanted to evaluate them through minicamps, training camp and four exhibition games before making his decision.

Surprisingly, he sat Quinn and Anderson in last week's preseason finale in Chicago. The pair finished in a virtual statistical stalemate, with Quinn throwing the lone touchdown pass and Anderson tossing two interceptions.

Mangini felt both QBs improved during their battle and said he plans to keep Quinn and Anderson on the roster.

"I have been happy with the progress that both guys made," he said. "I'm happy with the way they've worked. I'm happy with the way they approached this competition, and it's not always easy to approach a competition in a team fashion, and I respect the way they've handled it."

Wide receiver Joshua Cribbs said he's looking forward to Mangini's secret being revealed.

"Both of them are great quarterbacks," he said. "You can look at through our preseason and see the success that both of them had. There's a lot of room for both of them to get better. Yeah, I'm interested and whoever the coach chooses we're behind him 100%."

Quinn and Anderson are expected to speak with reporters on Wednesday, when they'll face a barrage of questions. As much as he'd like to control everything, Mangini understands there's only so much he can do.

"I know how we're going to approach it and I know that the team should be focused on Minnesota," he said, "and should be focused on doing everything that we can do to maintain any competitive advantages."

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Move over, AFC powerhouses; now it's time for NFC to reign

In the bipartisan world of the NFL, another power shift is underway. The AFC's decade-long NFL dominance is about to be undercut by a deeper and more-talented NFC.

This is not to suggest the Patriots are retreating or the Steel Curtain is falling. But beyond the dynamic duo is a new group of superheroes waiting to claim NFL supremacy and most are wearing an "N" on their chests.

The NFC is deeper, and we don't mean that in any Deepak Chopra kind of way.

We present as evidence.. .

• Last season's final statistics.

The top four passers in the NFL in 2008 all are NFC guys this season: the Saints' Drew Brees, the Cardinals' Kurt Warner, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Bears' Jay Cutler, who came from the AFC's Broncos in the offseason.

The top four rushers in the NFL in 2008? All NFC guys: Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, Atlanta's Michael Turner, Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Washington's Clinton Portis.

The NFC also was tops in team offense, passing and rushing.

• The support of Las Vegas.

Say what you will about oddsmakers, but they do their homework. Almost every sports book has New England and Pittsburgh as the first and second choices, respectively, to win the Super Bowl.

After that, five of seven teams are from the NFC: Philadelphia, New York Giants, Minnesota, Dallas and Chicago. Only the AFC's Chargers and Colts squeezed inside that group.

• The agreement of analysts.

ESPN's current power rankings, for example, have four AFC teams in the bottom six. The West Division is well represented by Denver, Kansas City and Oakland. And don't forget about Cleveland — did the Browns really hire the Raiders' defensive coordinator?

That's one reason the scales are tipping in the NFC's favor. The cream of the slop in the NFL is definitely on the AFC side.

No offense, gentlemen.

Meanwhile, some of the NFC's perpetual cellar-dwellers — hello, Cardinals — have done an about-face.

There never is an easy answer as to why the power shifts when it does in the NFL.

Part of it simply is the swing of the league's talent pendulum. Years of head-scratching drafts will catch up with a team.

But it also is about those rare organizations that can build dynasties.

Beginning in 1985, the NFC won 13 consecutive Super Bowls. The power shifted in 1998 and the AFC has won nine of the past 12, including five of the past six.

Much of that had to do with a few teams who put together strong runs. During the NFC's surge. San Francisco and Dallas combined to win seven of the 13 Super Bowls.

During the AFC's run, it has been the Patriots who captured three Super Bowls and the Steelers and Broncos who won two each.

Offseason moves appear to be helping the NFC's case this year. Brett Favre jumped from the AFC's Jets to the NFC's Vikings. Cutler went from the Broncos to the Bears.

Injuries also can play a role. The Patriots know what losing a player the caliber of quarterback Tom Brady can do.

The Patriots and the AFC still have plenty of muscle. But in terms of depth, this is the NFC's year.

No Harrison, no Dungy: Times changing for Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, who has thrived on repetition and consistency as one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history, faces new challenges entering his 12th NFL season.

He must embrace change.

The Indianapolis Colts mainstay could not help but think of how different game days will be as he was driving to training camp in Terre Haute, Ind., this summer. He reflected on Tony Dungy, his head coach for the last seven years, and their success: a triumph in Super Bowl XLI, five consecutive AFC South titles, a playoff appearance every year and at least 12 wins in each of the last six seasons.

He recalled wideout Marvin Harrison and all the time they spent together during practice, after practice, in meeting rooms and before games. They dissected defenses and perfected routes until each could anticipate the other's every move. And they became the most potent quarterback-wide receiver tandem in history with 112 touchdowns.

"I sent both of them a text on the way (to camp), telling them that the whole team will miss them, that I will miss them," says Manning, 33. "You always take time to let that sink in a little bit. That's not something that you can get over right away, (not only) what both of those guys have meant to this team but to me."

Dungy provided a sea of calm for the ever-intense passer. They enjoyed a level of trust that also can be established with new coach Jim Caldwell, but not overnight. It will take time as Caldwell, the ex-quarterbacks coach, adjusts to new responsibilities after serving as Dungy's longtime aide and confidant.

Harrison? It seemed he was always where he was supposed to be. Always open.

"Really all that I've ever known is that 88 will be out on the right," Manning says.

They established a rare and immediate rapport. Manning recalls that his first NFL pass involved a three-step drop and a toss that Harrison turned into a 48-yard completion for a score during a preseason road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

"I was thinking, 'Man, this NFL is pretty easy. All you do is throw the ball to Marvin Harrison and he catches touchdowns,' " Manning says. "And for the most part, that's what he and I did for 11 years."

Harrison, released in February because of declining skills and salary-cap constraints, set franchise records with 1,102 receptions and 14,580 receiving yards, among numerous other marks in his 13-year Colts career.

While Anthony Gonzalez has the enormous task of replacing at least some of Harrison's production, he is quick to limit expectations. "How do you fill Marvin Harrison's shoes?" he asks rhetorically. "I don't think you do."

Those words cannot be comforting to Manning. But change also has a way of motivating and keeping things fresh.

He is taking that approach.

"I felt like a rookie. I was excited to drive up here," he says of the ride to training camp.

After texting Dungy and Harrison, he began calling many of his teammates, excitedly outlining the challenges ahead.

"I talked to him on the way to camp," wide receiver Reggie Wayne says. "He hit me up on the phone, and you could tell in his voice he was fired up and ready to go."

Given the circumstances, Manning, a nine-time Pro Bowler, comes off what was possibly his finest year. He dealt with his first significant injury last preseason as he recovered from two surgical procedures that dealt with an infected bursa sac in his left knee.

He spent most of camp rehabbing or in his dorm room reviewing practice film. He did not begin practicing until 11 days before the regular-season opener.

"It just wasn't a fun time for me last year, rehabbing and not being able to go out on the field with all the guys," he says. "I've always believed that training camp is when you form the foundation of your team and truly iron out the little details that you're going to need to be on the same page with as you go into the season. I definitely think it had an effect on the way I started the season last year."

Manning threw almost as many interceptions (nine) as touchdown passes (10) while Indianapolis stumbled to a 3-4 record. He then made up for lost time by completing 72.1% of his passes with 17 scores and three interceptions as the Colts rattled off victories in each of the last nine regular-season games before their season abruptly ended with a 23-17 overtime loss at the San Diego Chargers in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Manning calls it "the most rewarding regular season that I've been a part of." It culminated in his third MVP award, equaling Brett Favre for the most MVPs. Manning shared his first with the late Steve McNair in 2003 before earning another after the 2004 season, when he threw a record 49 TDs (a mark since eclipsed by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady).

But even without Dungy and Harrison, no one expects Manning, also the MVP of Super Bowl XLI, to stop there. Colts owner Jim Irsay compares him to Tiger Woods and Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winner.

"Those are the three guys I think about in terms of what they do in preparation and how much that fire burns," Irsay says. "And it's no coincidence that Tiger and Peyton are friends because Peyton has that understanding.

"It's kind of like you run a marathon - you think you run your best time, and then you get to the starting line again and they say, 'We need five more minutes.' You have to find a way to bring it to the next level, and that serves us well, having that kind of leadership."

Center Jeff Saturday emphasizes that the new-look Colts will rely on Manning more than ever. "With Tony moving on and Marvin moving on, he's been around the team and knows how to set the pace for coaches and players alike," he says.

Manning still has plenty of weapons. Wayne will pursue his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season and his fourth Pro Bowl berth in a row. Dallas Clark comes off franchise records for catches (77) and receiving yards (848) by a tight end. Gonzalez has produced 94 receptions for 1,240 yards and seven scores in his first two years. A running game that ranked 31st received help when Donald Brown was drafted in the first round to complement Joseph Addai, who battled injuries in 2008.

When Manning was asked what he will do when he glances right and does not see Harrison and his No. 88 that provided Manning with a target for so long, he doesn't miss a beat with his answer. "I think my head will be turning a little bit more to the left, toward No. 87," he says, referring to Wayne.

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Economy affects some NFL teams' worth

Here's how nasty this recession is: NFL teams now are worth only as much as they were a year ago.

So says Forbes in its annual ranking of NFL team values at Forbes.com, which concludes teams are still worth last year's average - a cool $1.04 billion.

That might not seem like much of a setback these days. But consider that most of the league's revenue comes from national TV money - split evenly between teams - that's guaranteed via long-term deals. So while those TV deals this year boosted team revenue by 7%, Forbes says, eight teams' values - the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders- are down this year.

Which means this is the first time in a decade that any NFL team's value dropped from the previous year. The question for the rest of us: What can we do to help?

Sorry, not much. Unless you want to buy luxury suites. Or beg your local politicians to use taxpayer money to build lavish new digs for your NFL team.

NFL teams are largely in the commercial real estate business. Beyond their TV deals, teams also split national radio and merchandising money, then have the less-than-Herculean task of selling out eight regular-season home games.

Meaning the big variable is whether teams have an edifice complex and milk every nickel out of their stadiums. This year's seven most-valuable teams - led by the Dallas Cowboys at $1.65 billion and followed by the Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, the New York Giants, New York Jets, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles- were ranked in the same order last year.

Breathe easy: It will take more than this recession for any NFL owner's private jet to go wheels-up without enough Grey Poupon onboard.

Clear skies ahead? Henry ready to haul in success with Bengals

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has upset some players because of the frequency with which he fines and suspends them.

Wide receiver Chris Henry, one of his most habitual violators of the personal-conduct policy after being arrested five times, is not among them as he shows signs of reviving his career.

"Yeah, it helped me," Henry says. "It helped me focus up, and it made me realize that if I continually wanted to play, I had to do right and be a professional."

Henry, 26, was suspended for two games during the 2006 season, the first eight games in 2007 and the first four games last year. He has been arrested on charges of marijuana possession, carrying a concealed weapon, drunken driving, providing alcohol to minors and assault.

The assault charge, which led to his being sidelined at the start of the 2008 schedule, was dropped after a trial resulted in a hung jury.

Cincinnati, which drafted the 6-4, 200-pound wideout out of West Virginia in the third round in 2005, became so weary of his transgressions that he was waived April 3, 2008. Owner Mike Brown decided to give him yet another chance, despite objections from coach Marvin Lewis, and he was re-signed last August.

Henry leads Cincinnati with 13 catches for 217 yards and three scores this preseason entering today's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is convinced his oft-troubled teammate is at last ready to fulfill his considerable potential.

"I'm very close with him. We spend a lot of time together. I've seen it firsthand. He's a different person," Palmer says.

He says the suspensions forced Henry to reflect on his mistakes and to make changes.

"Goodell's taken a lot of heat," Palmer says, "but his system works where you sit a guy out and you threaten to take the game away from him."

Lewis, in his seventh season as Cincinnati's coach, recalls how ill-equipped Henry was at the start of his career for life away from the field.

"Chris came here very unprepared for the NFL and all the challenges he was going to have," he says, adding, "Chris had to learn some social skills."

Henry's hometown is Belle Chasse, La. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, he needed to respond to urgent calls for help from his family and those he viewed as extended family.

As Lewis sees it, that burden became too great.

"He was put, for a guy with his maturity level, in a very difficult position where it was going to be very difficult for him to succeed," Lewis says.

Henry, in his own way, was a victim of Katrina.

"My whole family is from New Orleans. It was tough, man," he says. "It was a lot of pressure on me to help people. But we got through it.

"I'm not going to sit here and say that had anything to do with me getting into the things I got into, but it was tough. I had people lose houses, lose a bunch of things. But it's four years later now, so everything is cool."

The fifth-year veteran returned from last year's suspension to make 19 catches for 220 yards and two scores. Given that limited production, his preseason statistics are particularly encouraging for the Bengals even as Lewis pushes him to work harder and to sharpen his blocking skills.

Palmer builds his confidence by referring to him as Randy Moss Jr.

"It's tough to compare anybody to Randy. Randy is going to go down as one of the best to play the game," Palmer says of the New England Patriots star. "But he's (about) 6-5, he can run by every-body and he's very good at jumping and attacking the ball."

Henry talks of outperforming Moss. "I'm totally focused," he says. "Now it's time for me to go out there and show my fans and the world that I'm a great ballplayer."

For Lewis, seeing is believing.

"People here have worked very closely with Chris on being a professional and being what a young man should be. He has a ways to go in different areas," Lewis says. "Now he's got to match on the field what he's done off the field.

"He's got incredible athleticism, but there are a lot of guys hanging on street corners with athleticism in their pockets."

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Brady looks fine at practice four days after hurting shoulder

Tom Brady zipped passes from 10 yards, lofted softer ones from 25 and showed no sign that his shoulder hurt.

It certainly was much better at Tuesday's practice than it was four days earlier when 350-pound Albert Haynesworth of the Washington Redskins landed on him, forcing his throwing shoulder into the ground on an incomplete pass.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn't say if Brady would play Thursday night against the New York Giants, although he prefers not to use starters much in the final exhibition game.

He's more interested in watching backup quarterbacks Andrew Walter and Brian Hoyer than exposing his two-time Super Bowl MVP to hard hits.

They should get more playing time now that Belichick has cut Kevin O'Connell, a third-round draft pick last year who became the No. 2 quarterback behind Matt Cassel after Brady's season-ending knee injury in the opener.

"Kevin was put in a position last year because of some circumstances. I think he's worked hard. I think he's a very athletic player," Belichick said. "We gave him the opportunities that we could and we evaluated what we saw from our players and we made decisions based on that."

O'Connell, who was cut Monday, took over for Brady on the first series of the second half of the Patriots' 27-24 win at Washington and completed only 3 of 10 passes for 18 yards and two interceptions. Brady had gone 12 for 19 for 150 yards and two touchdowns before suffering what the team called a sore shoulder just before the two-minute warning.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin played in this league with another team and another offensive system," Belichick said. "One of the things that's working against Kevin, right now, unfortunately, is the fact that he's not practice-squad eligible."

That's because O'Connell was on the active roster last year for more than eight games, the cutoff point for a player to be eligible. Any team that signs and keeps him would have to put him on the 53-man roster.

His departure leaves Walter, who has been with the Patriots only since Aug. 4 after being waived by Oakland, and Hoyer, a free agent rookie from Michigan State, as Brady's backups.

Belichick wouldn't rule out adding a more experienced quarterback.

"Am I saying there's going to be no more player movement? No, I'm not saying that," Belichick said. "Could something happen at any position? Yeah, it could."

Walter is trying to catch up on the playbook after spending three years with the Raiders, who drafted him in the third round in 2005. But he played just 15 games for them.

"It's the first time in my career I've had to learn an offense in this amount of time," he said. "So (there's) a lot of work to be done."

Belichick is being patient.

"We want to give him a fair opportunity to pick things up. He's improved in a lot of areas," Belichick said. "There're some things that we've asked him to do that he hasn't had a chance to do yet or he's only had a chance to do them one or two times."

Walter wears No. 16, the same number Cassel had when he was forced into the starting role after spending three years as Brady's seldom-used backup. Cassel had an outstanding season and was traded to Kansas City, where he signed a six-year, $63 million contract.

Walter and Hoyer have had much less time to familiarize themselves with the offense.

Fortunately for the Patriots, Brady is throwing again with speed and accuracy.

As practice began Tuesday, the three quarterbacks took turns throwing to a Patriots staffer, gradually lengthening their passes. Then Walter and Hoyer went to the other end of the field, leaving Brady with the staffer and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien.

Brady threw 16 more passes - some after faking handoffs, others about 10 yards straight ahead, and more throwing across his body from right to left and then from left to right.

Then he lined up and called signals in an 11-on-11 drill. He won't be doing that much, if at all, on Thursday.

"I would expect that the players that played more against Washington will probably play a little less against the Giants," Belichick said.

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Blackout blues? NFL ticket sales slumping in some cities

If the economy is slowly rebounding, ticket sales for many NFL teams have yet to take the corresponding bounce for the upcoming season.

Two teams - the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars- say it's likely they will have home TV blackouts this season due to an inability to sell out their stadiums. At least 10 other teams could also face blackouts.

The Jaguars, in the northern Florida economy that was hit hard by the housing crunch, are bracing for a worst-case scenario in which all eight of their home games fail to sell out. NFL rules require local TV blackouts for any games that fail to sell out 72 hours prior to kickoff. That blackout also extends to DirecTV's premium package. There were nine such blackouts league-wide last season.

"People are having it tough down here," Jaguars senior VP of business development Tim Connolly said. "People are watching their dollars and they're being tighter than ever."

At least 12 teams, including stalwart franchises such as the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Washington Redskins, have sold out stadiums for the season. Twenty-four teams kept their 2009 ticket prices steady with last season.

Chargers COO Jim Steeg, after acknowledging earlier this month that "blackouts are likely," even for the defending AFC West champs, said his organization will "think outside the box and pull out all the stops" in sales efforts.

The sluggish economy, poor performance in recent seasons and the high cost of tickets (which averaged more than $72 last season) all can contribute to slow ticket sales, said David Carter, a sports business professor at USC. "You add those things up," Carter said, "and it results in empty seats for those teams that don't have a compelling offering."

The demand for tickets in some cities has resisted the down economy. The Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers have sellout streaks that date back to the 1970s, and fans who cancel their season tickets would quickly be replaced by those on a waiting list. But in cities where there's less demand, there's less pressure to prioritize spending on tickets.

Connolly said fans are "taking a breather" from anything that's not essential to their budgets. "There are a lot of people saying, 'Well we're a year away,' " he said, "and they'll put off this purchase."

Blackout forecast: Teams' outlook for potential TV blackout of home games in 2009

• Arizona Cardinals: Too early to tell. Sold out all regular-season games in three-year history of University of Phoenix Stadium.
• Atlanta Falcons: Anticipate all eight games sold out.
• Baltimore Ravens: Sold out all eight games.
• Buffalo Bills: Four sold out. Anticipate all seven games sold out by early October. (Does not include Dec. 3 game in Toronto.)
• Carolina Panthers: Blackouts unlikely.
• Chicago Bears: Anticipate all eight games sold out.
• Cincinnati Bengals: Too early to tell. "Hopeful of selling out the entire schedule," spokesman Jack Brennan said by e-mail. Have had 44 consecutive sellouts, but did not sell out first preseason home game.
• Cleveland Browns: Too early to tell. Have sold out four games.
• Dallas Cowboys: No blackouts expected as they open new stadium.
• Denver Broncos: Sold out all eight games.
• Detroit Lions: Too early to tell. Had five blackouts last season.
• Green Bay Packers: Sold out all eight games.
• Houston Texans: Sold out all eight games.
• Indianapolis Colts: Sold out all eight games.
• Jacksonville Jaguars: Blackouts are likely. Team spokesman Dan Edwards said by e-mail they are "not certain how many."
• Kansas City Chiefs: Spokesman Bob Moore said by e-mail they don't expect any blackouts "at this time." They have sold out 149 consecutive regular-season and playoff games.
• Miami Dolphins: Spokesman Harvey Greene said by e-mail they don't expect blackouts, but he was unable to rule them out. Said Green, "We are working hard to insure all our home games are televised locally."
• Minnesota Vikings: Too early to tell.
• New York Giants: Sold out all eight games.
• New York Jets: Anticipate all eight games sold out.
• New England Patriots: Sold out all eight games.
• New Orleans Saints: Sold out all eight games.
• Oakland Raiders: Too early to tell. Had two blackouts last year and Saturday's preseason game was blacked out.
• Philadelphia Eagles: Sold out all eight games.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Sold out all eight games.
• San Diego Chargers: Team COO Jim Steeg said in early August that "blackouts are likely."
• San Francisco 49ers: Declined to share details of ticket sales.
• Seattle Seahawks: Sold out all eight games.
• St. Louis Rams: Had two blackouts last year. Spokesman Ted Crews said the team is "focused on selling out all our games" and will release details on a week-by-week basis.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Too early to tell. Spokesman Jeff Kamis said the team is "hopeful there will be no blackouts." (Does not include Oct. 25 game in London.)
• Tennessee Titans: Sold out all eight games.
• Washington Redskins: Sold out all eight games.