PATRIOTS-RAIDERS Belichick denies tampering FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots Coach Bill Belichick denied Wednesday the claim by Raiders owner Al Davis that New England had a workout with Randy Moss before obtaining him in a trade with Oakland. Davis said Tuesday that the Patriots had tampered with Moss before the deal in April 2007 that brought the wide receiver to the Patriots for a fourth-round choice that year on the weekend of the NFL Draft. “I’ve told the story about Randy many, many times,” Belichick said in a conference call with members of the media covering the 49 ers, “and the first time I ever talked to Randy was the Sunday morning of the second day of the draft last year. “ So that’s the first time I met him. That’s the first time I talked to him. There was no workout. There was no other contact with him.” Davis made the tampering accusation after ending a news conference in which he announced the firing of Coach Lane Kiffin. Asked Wednesday if he had a response to Davis, Moss said, “No, not at all.”
STEELERS
Davenport, Russell back PITTSBURGH — Down to one healthy running back, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought back two players from last season by re-signing Najeh Davenport and promoting Gary Russell from the practice squad. The Steelers, third in the NFL in rushing last season, lost Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker to a sprained knee last week and first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall to a season-ending fractured shoulder Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens. The earliest that Parker will play again is Oct. 19 at Cincinnati. Mewelde Moore, normally the Steelers’ third-down back, is expected to start Sunday night in Jacksonville, despite being limited to one carry this season before the 23-20 overtime victory over Baltimore.
Moore has started 11 games in his career, rushing for 100 yards or more in four — two with the Vikings in 2004 and two more in 2006.
Davenport, a former Green Bay Packer, was the Steelers’ second-leading rusher last season with 499 yards and a 4. 7 yards per carry average. He also led them with five rushing touchdowns and had two more touchdowns as a receiver.
Davenport was released June 28, or two months after Mendenhall was drafted, because the Steelers owed him $ 1 million if they kept him this season.
Russell made the Steelers’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent last season and began this season with them, but was taken off the roster before their Sept. 21 game at Philadelphia to clear room for a special teams player. Russell then joined the practice squad.
TITANS Young returns to practice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Start the clock on the Tennessee Titans’ quarterback controversy.
On Wednesday, Vince Young practiced for the first time since spraining his left knee Sept. 7 and sparking concern after police were called to help search for him. He was limited, but took a few snaps with both the scout team and the first-team offense.
Young didn’t talk to reporters and hasn’t since Sept. 11, when he explained his mother had overreacted to him taking off without his cell phone. That day he also said he expected he would return as starter once healthy.
Veteran Kerry Collins did speak and said he thought Young was excited to be back on the field.
The Titans drafted Young with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft and turned the offense over to him in his fourth game as a rookie.
But Collins now is the Titans’ starting quarterback, a job Coach Jeff Fisher has said the veteran will keep as long as the team keeps winning. The Titans are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history and among only three remaining undefeated teams in the NFL.
The only decisions that will be made before kickoff Sunday at Baltimore (2-1 ) is whether Young dresses for the first time since his injury and whether he remains as the No. 3 quarterback behind Collins and Chris Simms or backs up Collins. Fisher said Young’s work will increase each day before he makes his decision.
BENGALS Palmer has limited practice CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer handed off during practice but didn’t participate in plays that called for a pass, part of the plan to help his sore elbow heal. Palmer sat out a 20-12 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday with a sore elbow, hurt a week earlier in a loss to the New York Giants. Coach Marvin Lewis plans to wait until late in the week to decide whether Palmer will play Sunday in Dallas. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick ran most of the plays on offense Wednesday. He started against the Browns and threw three interceptions. Palmer thinks he can be ready to play against the Cowboys. Palmer said the inflamed elbow is getting better. Although the injury is not considered serious, it could get worse if he tries to come back too quickly. He threw a football on Wednesday, though not in team drills. Chris Henry rejoins team CINCINNATI — Receiver Chris Henry rejoined the Bengals in practice. It was Henry’s first workout since he served a four-game suspension for misconduct. Henry had to sit out the first four games because of his latest violation of the NFL’s conduct policy. The Bengals have a one-week roster waiver allowing Henry to practice without being added to the active roster. He worked out with the scout team on Wednesday, playing the part of Dallas receiver Terrell Owens against the Bengals’ starting defense.
CARDINALS Boldin has fractured sinus TEMPE, Ariz. — Anquan Boldin has a fractured sinus as a result of what he acknowledges was the worst hit he’s received in his football career. The Arizona Cardinals standout wide receiver doesn’t know how long he will be sidelined, but when he returns, he says, there will be no change in his trademark tough, aggressive style. “For me, it was just a part of football,” Boldin said. “It’s an unfortunate incident that happened but, you know, you take your bumps and bruises.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended New York Jets safety Eric Smith for one game and fined him $ 50, 000 for the helmet-to-helmet hit on Boldin in the end zone during the waning seconds of the Jets’ 56-35 victory over the Cardinals at the Meadowlands on Sunday.
PACKERS Light duty for Rodgers GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still nursing a sprained right shoulder and performed only a few handoffs before leaving practice. Rookie backups Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm got most of the work, while Rodgers took several snaps early on. Rodgers then left the Packers’ indoor practice facility and didn’t return during the portion of practice open to the media. Rodgers was hurt at Tampa Bay on Sunday, but Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Rodgers intends to play this week. If Rodgers can’t go, Flynn is expected to start Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. ODDS & ENDS
Travis Henry arrested DENVER — Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry has been arrested after an alleged cocaine deal, the Drug Enforcement Administration said Wednesday. Henry and James Mack were arrested Tuesday after the two met to buy cocaine from a person who was cooperating with authorities, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The case has its roots in Montana, where a trooper and DEA agent stopped a car that was carrying 6 pounds of marijuana and about 3 kilograms of cocaine Sept. 16, the affidavit said. If convicted as charged, Henry and Mack face up to life in prison and a $ 4 million fine.
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