GIANTS LB expected to play EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — The New York Giants expect Antonio Pierce to play in Sunday’s game against Philadelphia while the team gathers information on the linebacker’s involvement in a shooting that led to the season-ending suspension of receiver Plaxico Burress. Coach Tom Coughlin said Pierce would practice Wednesday with the Super Bowl champions. “Each case is different. Each is separate,” Coughlin said when asked about the decisive action the Giants took against Burress on Tuesday — fining and suspending him for four games, the rest of the regular season.
The team also placed Burress on the reserve nonfootball injury list for conduct detrimental to the team, which means he won’t be back for the playoffs, either. Coughlin said there currently is no need to consider potential punishment of Pierce, the Giants’ leader of defense. The Giants punished Burress a day after he was charged with two counts of illegal weapons possession. He shot himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub early Saturday morning. Pierce, who was with Burress, has not talked to police about his involvement since the incident. Authorities are trying to determine whether he tried to cover up the shooting; investigators impounded Pierce’s Cadillac Escalade and are searching it for any blood or gun residue. He might face potential charges and a possible suspension if he did. Pierce smiled but declined to speak to The Associated Press on Wednesday morning when he reported to Giants Stadium about 8 a. m. After the shooting, police say Pierce drove Burress to the hospital and returned to New Jersey with Burress’ gun in the glove compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade.
STEELERS
Roethlisberger slips PITTSBURGH — Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat out the final 20 minutes of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice Wednesday after his right leg slipped while he was throwing a pass.
The problem is not believed to be serious, but backup quarterback Bryan Leftwich finished out practice as a precaution.
Roethlisberger apparently slipped in some mud on the Steelers’ outdoor practice field. Coach Mike Tomlin prefers to practice outdoors most days when the Steelers are to play in a cold-weather city, as they will Sunday at home against Dallas. Tomlin did not speak to reporters after practice. Roethlisberger was listed on the team’s injury chart as being a limited participant in practice.
TITANS
Young sits out NASHVILE, Tenn. — Tennessee backup quarterback Vince Young sat out practice with an infection in his right thumb. Coach Jeff Fisher said the Titans will not let him throw for a couple of days to let the injury heal. Fisher said Young had an infection in the corner of the cuticle of the thumb on his throwing hand. They put Young on antibiotics after the game with the weekend off. “The antibiotics didn’t do the trick. It spread a little bit, so we’re just treating the infection. We expect him to play. We’re just going to back him down from throwing the next few days,” Fisher said. Young’s thumb is a bit swollen and sore. The 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year came in as a substitute for Kerry Collins and wrapped up the Titans’ 47-10 victory over Detroit on Thanksgiving. Young made national news when Fisher called police for help finding the quarterback the day after he sprained his knee in September, an incident they all called blown out of proportion even though SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were on hand to assist. Collins was handed the starting job immediately after that episode.
BILLS
QB sidelined ORCHARD PARK, N. Y. — Quarterback Trent Edwards missed practice with a groin injury, opening the possibility of J. P. Losman making his first start in more than a year Sunday, when the Buffalo Bills host the Miami Dolphins in Toronto. Noting that Edwards was still “pretty sore,” Coach Dick Jauron said the decision on the quarterback won’t be made until gametime. Edwards tried to play through the injury before being sidelined after the first half of a 10-3 loss to San Francisco on Sunday. Losman took over and went 11 of 17 for 93 yards, but failed to generate a touchdown as Buffalo came away with three points on three trips inside the 49 ers 20 in the second half. Losman lost his job twice to Edwards last season and hasn’t started since a 36-14 loss at Jacksonville on Nov. 25, 2007. Tonight’s game Raiders at Chargers 7: 15 p. m., NFL Network
1 Line — Chargers by 9 / 2 LAST MEETING Chargers 28, Raiders 18, Sept. 28, 2008 LAST WEEK Raiders lost to Chiefs 20-13; Chargers lost to Falcons 22-16. NOTES Raiders are 3-0 against Chargers in Thursday night games. In 12 career starts, QB JaMarcus Russell has completed 163 of 308 passes for 1, 953 yards with 8 TDs, 5 interceptions and a 74. 5 passer rating.... Norv Turner’s record in three NFL stops has dipped to 73-95-1. He was 9-23 with Oakland from 2004-2005 and is 15-13 in two seasons with Chargers.... Turner is 4-1 against Raiders.... Two-time defending AFC West champion Chargers are three games behind Denver with four to play.... LaDainian Tomlinson dominates Raiders like no other team. He averages 121 yards rushing (1, 815 total ) against Oakland and has nine 100-yard games against them.
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