Shawne Merriman
SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Diego Chargers waived outside linebacker Shawne Merriman(notes) on Tuesday, three weeks after he was placed on injured reserve with a “minor injury” designation.
The Chargers said back then that they would release Merriman once his calf injury healed.
General manager A.J. Smith, who hasn’t been a fan of Merriman’s celebrity-leaning lifestyle, didn’t return a call seeking comment. Merriman didn’t return an e-mail seeking comment.
The Chargers also placed frequently injured wide receiver Craig “Buster” Davis on injured reserve with a groin injury, meaning his season is finished. Davis has been one of Smith’s most questionable draft picks, failing to live up to his billing as the team’s first-round pick in 2007.
Browns’ Holmgren
BEREA, Ohio (AP)—The coach inside Mike Holmgren can’t sit still or stay quiet.
Still adjusting to his new football life following a storied NFL coaching career, Holmgren, in his first year as Cleveland’s president, hinted Tuesday that he would consider a return to the sideline but promised he will not interfere with coach Eric Mangini on picking the Browns’ starting quarterback.
Mangini must choose whether to stick with rookie Colt McCoy(notes) or go back to veterans Seneca Wallace(notes) or Jake Delhomme(notes), who have both been sidelined with severely sprained ankles. Wallace could be back at practice Wednesday as the Browns prepare for Sunday’s game against New England.
Chicago Bears
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Brad Childress and the Minnesota Vikings have another big mess on their hands.
Randy Moss’(notes) abrupt departure was just the latest in what has been a season long on drama and short on success for a 2-5 team that started with Super Bowl aspirations.
From Brett Favre’s(notes) late arrival to training camp, through an NFL investigation into improper messages allegedly sent by the quarterback a few years ago and now with Moss’ release, the Vikings have been plagued by distraction and now their season is in danger of spinning completely out of control.
NFL Player Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders autographs helmets at the 2008 NFL Players Rookie Premiere on May 17, 2008 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
Denver Broncos
LONDON (AP)—Fresh off a fourth straight sellout at Wembley Stadium, the NFL vice president of international business is optimistic the league will be playing multiple regular-season games in Britain.
The San Francisco 49ers rallied to beat the Denver Broncos 24-16 Sunday in the NFL’s fourth regular-season game in London. And with a more than 84,000 fans packed into Wembley, Chris Parsons has already started thinking of ways to keep the momentum going.
Parsons says the NFL will talk to owners in January or February about a game next year. But he says the decision could be delayed by the collective bargaining agreement talks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Ho hum, just another fourth-quarter rally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Aqib Talib intercepted two passes, returning one 45 yards for a touchdown and saving the game with the other, and the Bucs rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit for the fourth time this season to beat the Arizona Cardinals 38-35 on Sunday.
The Bucs (5-2) won their fifth straight on the road dating to last season and moved into a tie with idle Atlanta for first in the NFC South.
Will Witherspoon
SAN DIEGO – Antonio Gates is playing pretty well for a guy with turf toe. Vince Young isn't as lucky.
Taking advantage of yet another mismatch, Gates got behind linebacker Will Witherspoon to haul in a go-ahead, 48-yard pass from Philip Rivers midway through the third quarter to help the San Diego Chargers rally for a 33-25 win Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, who lost Young to another injury.
Young was hurt while scrambling with less than six minutes to play and had to be helped off the field. Kerry Collins moved the Titans to the Chargers 15 before Chris Johnson dropped a pass on fourth-and-2 with 30 seconds to go.
