Rex Grossman's Kevo

Posted 01/07/2009 07:06PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger looks like he'll be fine to start Sunday's Division Playoff against the Chargers after practicing in full on Wednesday. Big Ben practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a concussion late in the second quarter of a meaningless 31-0 win over Cleveland on Dec. 28. He has had ongoing headaches, but until Monday didn't pass the memory tests given players who receive a concussion. He took three or four such tests last week but is now apparently healthy enough to play and you can bet he'll be in there.

Posted 01/07/2009 07:04PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson (groin) did not practice on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's Division Playoff at Pittsburgh. Held to just five carries for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card win over the Colts, Tomlinson is looking more and more like he may miss Sunday's game.

Posted 01/07/2009 07:00PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

San Diego TE Antonio Gates did not practice, as expected, on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's Division Playoff game at Pittsburgh. Gates is dealing with a high ankle sprain that definitely will not be healed by Sunday. That said, he's been dealing with it for a while now and toughing it out. He caught eight balls for 87 yards in the Wild Card win over the Colts.

Posted 01/07/2009 06:56PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Eagles WR Kevin Curtis practiced in full on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's Division Playoff at New York. His calf injury should not keep him out for the game.

Posted 01/07/2009 06:55PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, who caught three passes for 83 yards and a score in the Wild Card game against the Vikings and added 20 carries for 38 more yards, did not practice on Wednesday in preparation for the Division Playoff game at the Giants on Sunday. Westbrook has been dealing with this current knee injury for a few weeks now and has continued to play.

Posted 01/07/2009 06:47PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Arizona WR Anquan Boldin missed practice for a second straight day on Wednesday with a hamstring problem in preparation for Saturday's Division Playoff at Carolina. Boldin was seen doing exercises on the side of the field, reports the Arizona Republic.

Posted 01/07/2009 06:43PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Baltimore WR Derrick Mason (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's Divisional Playoff game at Tennessee. Mason has been dealing with bangs and bruises for some time now and has continued to play, and play well, through the pain.

Posted 01/07/2009 06:41PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Baltimore TE Todd Heap did not participate in practice on Wednesday in preparation for the team's Divisional Playoff game at Tennessee on Saturday. Heap was also an injury risk for the Wild Card win over Miami with the same back ailment but he played in that game. Of course, he only caught one pass for 31 yards.

Posted 01/07/2009 12:40PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Vikings QB Gus Frerotte wants to come back to the Vikings next year as the starter, not as the backup. Earlier this week, Frerotte had expressed some disappointment in not being the Vikings' starter down the stretch and into the postseason and doesn't want to start another season as a backup behind Tarvaris Jackson in 2009. He might ask for his release from the club or could retire. "It's up to coach (Brad Childress)," Frerotte said. "If they want me back, they've got to tell me something, whether it's to compete or whether it's to start."

Posted 01/07/2009 12:31PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer won't need surgery on his right elbow and should be ready for the team's regular offseason workouts later on this year. Team spokesman Jack Brennan said Tuesday night the latest MRI on Palmer's elbow indicates the quarterback won't need an operation to repair a ligament and tendon partially torn from the bone. Palmer had torn a ligament and tendon in the third game of the season when his arm was hit while he threw a pass and played in only one game after that. On the advice of doctors, he rested the elbow for two months to see if the injury would heal on its own.

Posted 01/07/2009 11:46AM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

The Saints have confirmed that running back Reggie Bush had microfracture surgery on his left knee, and will require months of rehabilitation. The surgery in December entailed drilling small holes in the bone around the knee joint in order to generate soft tissue that mimics the padding effect of cartilage. Bush's injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn't usually require surgery. But the team confirmed Wednesday that he had surgery. Bush is expected to be ready for minicamp in June.

Posted 01/06/2009 02:42PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of drunken driving. Jackson failed sobriety tests shortly after 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning and was taken to the San Diego County jail and released. He was on probation for a previous DUI arrest, according to a Highway Patrol Officer. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said he was aware of Jackson's situation. "Obviously we're disappointed," Smith said. "We take these issues very seriously. Moving forward, we will monitor the situation and have no further comment."

Posted 01/06/2009 12:36PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

A gun owned by Colts WR Marvin Harrison was used in an April shooting, but investigators still can't determine who pulled the trigger, the city's chief prosecutor said Tuesday. Five of the six bullet casings found at the North Philadelphia shooting scene came from Harrison's weapon, but investigators have conflicting witness accounts of who fired it, Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham said. No charges have been filed in the April 28 shooting and the investigation remains open. The victim has sued Harrison and law enforcement will be keeping tabs on that proceeding to see if any new evidence emerges that could help the criminal investigation, Abraham said.

Posted 01/05/2009 02:47PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

James Harrison slams down the current version of the Steel Curtain better than any Pittsburgh Steeler, earning him The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award. The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. "That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do -- and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do." Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.

Posted 01/05/2009 02:43PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

The New England Patriots plan to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report. Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season. Franchising Cassel would keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent and give the Patriots an option if they feel Brady might not be ready for the start of the 2009 season. If they're confident that Brady will be ready, they'd be able to trade Cassel. The Patriots' plan for Cassel was first reported by the National Football Post. "It's been talked about quite a bit (publicly)," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Monday. "We won't be commenting on it until something happens. And if we don't use it (the tag), we probably won't comment."

Posted 01/04/2009 10:20PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb led his team to a playoff victory Sunday at Minnesota, finishing 23-of-34 passing for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a 71-yard pass to Brian Westbrook in the fourth quarter.

Posted 01/04/2009 10:16PM CST on NFL Player News CBS SportsLinecom

Eagles rookie WR DeSean Jackson caught one pass for 34 yards in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game at Minnesota. He now has two receptions or fewer in four of his last five games.