| Rod Smith, WR, Denver Broncos | Friday 1/4, 10:24 AM CT |
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| Rod Smith will undergo left hip surgery on Tuesday. It will be his second operation on the joint within the past 11 months. Back in February, doctors performed a microfracture operation and found a torn labrum, torn cartilage, bone spurs, and arthritis. Smith is expected to retire, the Denver Post reports. |
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| Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson confirmed on Thursday that he has no plans to trade either running back Larry Johnson or tight end Tony Gonzalez this offseason. "Once you make a commitment to a player as we did this year to a Tony Gonzalez and a Larry Johnson for multiple years for guaranteed dollars there is literally no way you trade them in the second year. The cap acceleration would destroy you," Peterson explains to the team's official web site. |
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| Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit Lions | Friday 1/4, 10:09 AM CT |
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| Jon Kitna expressed his disappointment in the team’s decision to fire offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was replaced on Thursday by Joe Colletto. “I’m not sure what to expect because I’ve been immersed in coach Martz’s system, so I’m not sure what Colletto’s philosophies are,” Kitna told the Detroit Free Press. Colletto served as the offensive line coach prior to his promotion.
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| Nate Kaeding continues to nurse a sore left leg. The injury didn't stop him from handling field goals and extra points in Week 17, and he'll perform the same duties this weekend. However, the Chargers will continue to use Dave Rayner on kickoffs, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. |
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| Cedric Benson will be forced to earn the starting job this summer. “I’d like to think (Benson) could still be a feature back,” general manager Jerry Angelo told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday. “But there’s going to be competition at that position. If something were to arise and there’s a good back in the marketplace or in the draft that we feel can complement the backs, we’re going to look at that, as well.”
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| Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday that he would consider placing the franchise tag on unrestricted free agent Bernard Berrian . Such a move would guarantee Berrian nearly $8 million next season.
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| Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers | Friday 1/4, 9:44 AM CT |
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| Hines Ward returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session because of a sore knee. “Who is really 100 percent healthy right now?” Ward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It’s late in the year and it’s the playoffs. There is no tomorrow. That’s what makes the magnitude of the playoffs even greater. I’m excited. I look forward to playing in the playoffs.” |
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| Terrell Owens (ankle) didn't practice again Thursday, the last workout for the Cowboys before their three-day weekend, the AP reports. "Everything's been real positive with what I've heard again today. I heard some good things," coach Wade Phillips said Thursday, though he didn't elaborate about the Pro Bowl receiver's status. "We'll see where he is next week." Owens was able to do some light jogging this week, but that's been the extent of it. |
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| Warren Sapp announced his retirement Thursday, putting the wraps on a 13-year career, the AP reports. Sapp finished his career with 96 1/2 sacks, the 28th most since the NFL began keeping track of the statistic in 1982. What made that even more remarkable is that Sapp played primarily on the inside at tackle, where sacks are traditionally much harder to come by. |
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| Chris Brown (back) was able to have a full practice Thursday. His status is important for Sunday's game at San Diego, with LenDale White battling a sore knee (White didn't work Thursday). |
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| LenDale White missed Thursday's practice with a sore knee, the AP reports. He also sat out Wednesday's practice, albeit that was for personal reasons. If he can't do a lot Friday, the club might have to roll with Chris Brown as the starter at San Diego. Stay tuned. |
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| Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans | Friday 1/4, 2:08 AM CT |
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| Vince Young (quad) split practice reps with Kerry Collins Thursday. It's still not clear who the Titans will start for Sunday's game at San Diego. |
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| Roydell Williams broke his right ankle at Wednesday's practice and is out for the balance of the playoffs, the AP reports. "There's no damage to the ligaments, no damage to the tendons," head coach Jeff Fisher said. "It was peculiar in that he cracked it, a significant crack at the base of the tibia. It's going to require a plate and screws to be repaired." The Titans also lost Bo Scaife this week, so their pedestrian receiving corps becomes even more thin entering the Wild Card game at San Diego. |
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