Former Dolphins LB Crowder abruptly announces retirement

MIAMI -- The NFL will be a bit quieter this season: Channing Crowder says he's retiring.

Crowder, one of the league's most notorious trash-talkers, said Tuesday he has decided to call it a career less than two weeks after being cut by the Miami Dolphins. The veteran linebacker made the announcement on WQAM-AM, where he has been a talk-show host.

"I know I can still play football," said Crowder, 27. "But I decided to hang it up. Now I'm not worried about icing my knees anymore or getting stingers or concussions. I did it long enough. I played football since I was 9 years old."

That included six NFL seasons, all in Miami, where Crowder developed a reputation as a jester and motormouth. For that reason, he conceded, his announcement might be met with skepticism.

"I'm not making a comeback," he said. "If somebody tells me I don't have to go through training camp and I can come in Week 1 and play -- but I don't see it."

After being released by the Dolphins, Crowder said, he tried out with the New England Patriots.

"It was just so weird," he said. "I went to their practice facility to work out, and I ran over the red dummies instead of the orange ones. I was so used to Miami, and I loved Miami so much."

Crowder said several other teams also expressed an interest in signing him, but he and his wife are expecting a baby, and he wants to remain in South Florida.

"I don't want to be jumping from team to team," he said. "Financially, we're stable. It's not there. I don't want to go."

Crowder's agent, Joel Segal, said he doesn't anticipate a change of heart for his client.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

"I think Channing has made a permanent decision to retire and pursue a career in broadcasting," Segal said. "He's a passionate guy. He loves football. He loved playing for Dolphins. Once that chapter ended, I think he's ready to move on."

Crowder played at the University of Florida before being drafted by the Dolphins in the third round in 2005. He was a starter for Miami since his rookie season, winning praise for his leadership and toughness while drawing criticism for his failure to make more big plays.

The day after they released Crowder, the Dolphins signed veteran Kevin Burnett as a replacement at inside linebacker.

Last season, Crowder made 33 tackles in 11 games. He missed five games with injuries.

After Crowder was released, Dolphins players said they would miss his yakking, which always kept the locker room loose. He famously feuded with New York Jets coach Rex Ryan.

"A lot of teams we played either hated me or loved me," Crowder said. "You love the stuff I talked, or you hated it because I was talking it to you. But I have friends around the league that enjoyed it. It got me going when I played."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Miami nice? Broncos QB Orton appears headed to Dolphins

There wasn't any official word on a new address for Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton on Wednesday, but several signs point to it being in Miami.

Sources close to the situation told NFL Network's Michelle Beisner, reporting from Denver, that a trade is very close to happening. Orton would compete with Chad Henne for the Dolphins' starting job.

Observations from Dolphins camp NFL Network reporter
Scott Hanson checks in from South Florida with the latest on Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby and a possible trade for Broncos QB Kyle Orton. More ...

NFL Network's Albert Breer reports the Dolphins' pursuit of a trade for the Broncos quarterback might hinge on Miami's ability to renegotiate Orton's contract. Orton has a salary-cap figure of $8.4 million for 2011.

The Broncos put Orton on the trade block Tuesday, and they are unlikely to deal him for less than a third-round draft pick, league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora. There is the possibility that the compensation will escalate based on Orton's performance and/or his new team signing him to an extended contract.

Orton is in the final year of his deal and has put up solid numbers in Denver after being a part of the Jay Cutler trade with the Chicago Bears in 2009, but apparently, new Broncos coach John Fox has decided to go with Tim Tebow, a first-round pick in 2010, as the starter.

Orton has made it clear that he doesn't want to back up Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Florida, who replaced Orton for the final three games last year.

Orton participated in Broncos player-led workouts during the lockout and, despite his hazy status, reported to Dove Valley on Wednesday for a physical and Fox's first team meeting.

The six-year veteran has started 28 games for the Broncos the past two seasons, passing for 41 touchdowns and almost 7,500 yards, along with 21 interceptions.

The Broncos' first practice is Thursday morning. Orton declined to comment to reporters as he left the facility Wednesday about 1 p.m. and again when he returned three hours later for the team meeting.

After saying early on in the offseason that Orton was the incumbent, the Broncos' new front office football chief, John Elway; general manager Brian Xanders and Fox haven't made any public comments about the quarterback's situation of late.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, however, described Orton's presence at the facility Wednesday as awkward.

"Yeah, I didn't know what was going on," Lloyd said. "I didn't know all the rules and stuff, but there's obviously some logistical things about showing up to camp. Technically, he's still a member of the Denver Broncos football team, so it was normal after I saw him."

Lloyd and Orton made a great duo last season, but Lloyd has moved on, figuring it's Tebow's time now.

"I've been spending most of my brainpower in the offseason focusing on how to get Tebow better and what I can do to help him develop as a quarterback," said Lloyd, who spent a week with Tebow preparing for training camp.

"Kyle's going to be awesome, wherever he goes," Lloyd said. "There's a lot of vacancies in the NFL for really good quarterbacks, and Kyle's a really good quarterback, and he's going to be fine."

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Actually, those vacancies are starting to fill up, whittling the list of potential landing spots for Orton.

Tebow went 1-2 as a rookie, completing 41 of 82 passes for 654 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions with six sacks. He also rushed for 227 yards and six scores.

"I think Tim's ready," Lloyd said. "And I think it's going to put a lot of pressure on us veterans to make him better. That's what it comes down to."

Star pass rusher Elvis Dumervil praised both quarterbacks.

"Man, I think both of those guys are good players. That's a decision the front office has to make. That's not really my area," he said. "Well, whoever the guy is we've got to rally around him because obviously he's the team captain being the quarterback."

Defensive captain Brian Dawkins said Tebow's trial run in 2010 showed he possessed "a lot of grit, a lot of determination, and he is as advertised as far as being a fiery guy."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dolphins' Marshall ends silence, speaks to cops about stabbing

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall finally talked to law enforcement officials about an April incident in which his wife allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen.

Broward County sheriff's office spokesman Ron Ishoy confirmed Thursday in an email to FoxSports.com that Marshall recently was served a subpoena to speak with investigators about the incident.

"He indeed appeared at the Broward state attorney's office and gave a statement to investigators," Ishoy wrote. "The investigation continues."

Marshall previously refused to speak with authorities. His attorney, Harvey A. Steinberg, said in May that the reason was the receiver disagreed with the no-contact order placed on his wife.

"(Marshall) has never felt threatened by his wife and misses her," Steinberg said. "When (they) drop the no-contact order, he'll be more than willing to sit down and discuss this matter, bringing some clarity to this unfortunate misunderstanding."

Michi Nogami-Marshall was arrested again in June after violating the order during a "verbal dispute" at the couple's home in Southwest Ranches, Fla.

Despite the order requiring her to stay at least 500 feet from the home, Nogami-Marshall told deputies she had been living there while Marshall was out of town. When Marshall returned, an argument occurred, followed by a 911 call, but deputies said there was no sign of physical violence.

Nogami-Marshall was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after she allegedly stabbed her husband in the stomach with a kitchen knife April 22. According to the arrest report, she admitted stabbing Marshall but said it was in self-defense.

Marshall initially claimed he suffered his stomach wound when he slipped and fell onto a broken glass vase, but the police report noted there was "no blood within the immediate area to substantiate his claim." Marshall required surgery and a stay in intensive care.

Marshall, who signed a five-year, $50 million contract last year after four seasons with the Denver Broncos, caught 86 passes for 1,014 yards in 14 games with the Dolphins last season. He has been in trouble off the field numerous times for domestic run-ins, although he hasn't been charged with any crime in this latest incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Henning: Dolphins will give Henne chance to be their QB

Some Miami Dolphins fans are crying for the Chad Henne era to end. But Henne's former offensive coordinator, Dan Henning, has some bad news for those folks.

"I feel like Chad will get the opportunity to turn it around, I really do," Henning told The Palm Beach Post last week. "He's always ready to do what you ask him to do, very studious about the game. Good questions, aware of personalities and idiosyncrasies with player personnel that he has to deal with. No problem working with Chad Henne."

Brooks: Change might do QB good Dolphins QB Chad Henne could improve under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who helped develop Colt McCoy as a rookie in Cleveland, Bucky Brooks writes. More...

» Fates of Henne, Sparano linked

Henne struggled last season, his second as the Dolphins' starting quarterback, going 6-8 and throwing 15 touchdown passes with 19 interceptions. Henning wasn't interested in dissecting Henne's performance during his interview with The Post, saying he'll leave that to the team's current staff, including new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

"As I used to tell (coach) Tony (Sparano), 'I don’t tell anybody but you how I feel about player personnel,' " Henning said. “Because then you have so many different layers of opinions running around there, and they get carried off the reservation. That should all come from Tony.

"I don't want to expend any brain power or observations on what could or should or would have been," he added. "The people that are there, they have an on-going obligation to get things turned around."

Henning also didn't want to discuss wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who didn't exactly back the coordinator or Henne as Miami's offense faltered last season, ranking 30th in the 32-team NFL.

"I'd rather not comment on that," Henning said.

For those people who believe the Dolphins' struggles cost Henning his job, think again. Henning told The Post that he always planned to retire in January, after Sparano asked him to return for the 2010 season.

"It was understood between (Sparano) and I that I was going to be moving on, regardless of whether he stayed or they won the Super Bowl or were 1-15 again," said Henning, who's 69. "So I knew it (leaving the team) was coming from January 2010."

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Best yet to come? Dolphins not sold when it comes to Wake

Having just completed his second season in the NFL, Cameron Wake would typically be viewed as a player who has his best football ahead of him.

Wake is a special case, however. The standout pass rusher spent two years out of football after being cut by the New York Giants as a rookie in 2005, then starred in the Canadian Football League for two seasons before the Dolphins signed him in 2009. He will 29 when the new NFL season is scheduled to begin in September.

Wake has lobbied to replace the modest four-year, $2.3 million (plus incentives) deal he signed before he piled up 19.5 sacks in his first two seasons in Miami, but the Dolphins are wary the linebacker could plateau in the near future, according to a report in Thursday's edition of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“He could (regress) if he doesn’t do what good players in our league do, which would be to take the next step to grow,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said earlier this offseason. ”There’s obviously things that Cam can improve on. Cam would be the first to tell you that."

Sparano said the underestimation of Wake's talent is what fuels him. The linebacker was one of the game's best defenders last season, finishing with 14 sacks and three forced fumbles.

“Cam is a guy who plays with a chip on his shoulder from the journey that it took for him to get to where he is right now. He does not forget it," the coach said. "If you look in his locker it paints a picture of where this guy has come from, to where he’s gotten.

"He plays with that type of passion. Me and him have had conversations about not forgetting what it took to get there. It’s made him right now a good player, and I think this guy has better than good in him.”

The Sun Sentinel reported that Wake recently bought a $1.45 million home in Plantation, Fla., close to the Dolphins' facility in Davie. It's clear that Wake wants to remain with Miami, but it remains to be seen if the team will tear up a contract that amounts to one of the NFL's best bargains.

Wake was voted by his peers at No. 63 on NFL Network's "The Top 100: Players of 2011" list.

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Dolphins' Crowder backtracks from college jersey comments

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Dolphins RB Clay working odd jobs to pay bills during lockout

Charles Clay grew up dreaming about getting drafted by an NFL team then living the good life.

Clay achieved the first half of that dream when the Miami Dolphins selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April. The "living the good life" part, however? Not even close.

With the NFL work stoppage past the three-month mark and no finish line in sight, Clay -- like other rookies -- lives in financial limbo.

To pay his bills, Clay has taken up day labor type work with a company called LPD, which has him cutting grass at oil wells and doing other various odd jobs, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“It’s hard times right now,” said Clay, who starred collegiately at Tulsa. ”I’m working little small jobs and things to get money. Not getting an income right now is tough, especially when I’m trying to have a facility to workout in, and have to pay for things like [trainers].

Clay concedes the pay for his side work is minimal, but it's better than the flat-broke alternative.

“It’s tough, but at the same time you’ve got to get by somehow,” said Clay. “I’m pretty sure there are other guys doing the same thing. Nobody is getting any kind of income. You have to get money some kind of way.”

And in a reality that puts Clay's situation in perspective, he admits he hasn't taken part in the Dolphins' players-only workouts in Florida because he can't afford the trip.

”At one point I actually thought about going down there, but when you go down there and you have no source of income I’d just be down there," he said. "You also take risks of being injured."

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Report: Panthers' Moore might fit into Dolphins' QB picture

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne acknowledged last week he will "still have to compete" for the starting job with an established veteran after the club declined to draft a quarterback in April's draft.

The Palm Beach Post speculated Tuesday that competitor could be the Carolina Panthers' Matt Moore.

The assertion is based on three factors:

First, Moore has ties to Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland as both were on staff with the Cowboys when Dallas signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

Second, Moore could come cheap because the Panthers also have quarterbacks Cam Newton -- the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike, both 2010 draft picks, and veteran Brian St. Pierre on their depth chart. Heading into his fifth season, Moore is an unrestricted free agent whom the Panthers could choose not to re-sign. Depending upon the free-agency rules in any collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players, Moore could become an unrestricted free agent.

Third, Moore has plenty of game experience -- a prerequisite for the Dolphins -- with 11 starts and 20 appearances during the three seasons he's been on the Panthers' active roster. He missed all of 2008 because of a broken leg. Plus, at 26, Moore is young enough to have some upside to develop further.

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Are '72 Dolphins the NFL's biggest divas? Get real, Morris says

Are the 1972 Miami Dolphins really the NFL's ultimate divas? Mercury Morris doesn't believe so, and he had a few choice words for the NFL.com writer who ranked the legendary team No. 1.

In a recent "Pick Six" column, Adam Rank called the undefeated '72 Dolphins the game's top divas, focusing on the players' supposed proclivity to celebrate any team falling short of matching Miami's perfect record with a champagne toast.

Rank: '72 Dolphins great but hyped I'd like to thank Mercury Morris for proving my point and shining a little more light on me here on the moon.

Morris talks about a lack of respect for his 1972 Dolphins, but I think it should be noted that he's giving a lack of respect to the Canton Bulldogs, who went undefeated for two seasons, in 1922 and 1923. But I don't blame him for that because the Bulldogs' Hall of Fame coach, Guy Chamberlin, didn't pop a bottle of champagne after other undefeated teams finally lost.

Seriously, the '72 Dolphins are one of the best teams in league history, and I have the ultimate respect for their accomplishment. But do we have to hear about them every time a team starts a season 2-0?

-- Adam Rank

But Morris, a Dolphins running back and kick returner from 1969 to 1975, recently said he could recall just two champagne toasts in the past 39 years, scoffing at the widely held belief that it's an annual celebration. So, Morris took exception to Rank's characterization.

"The moon has no light, so the only way you see this guy is when he's actually talking about real stars," Morris said Wednesday on "The Finsiders," a podcast on the Dolphins' official website.

Instead, Morris remembers the '72 Dolphins as a lunch pail-type squad that managed to translate hard work and unselfishness into immortality.

"During that era, we were a middle-class team with middle-class values," he said. "We had a middle-class coach who preached middle-class ethics: Work hard, practice hard, do something extra, stay out when practice is over and provide yourself a winning edge."

The Dolphins went 17-0 under Don Shula's guidance in 1972, capping their dream season with a 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. Morris and Larry Czonka formed a vaunted backfield, becoming the first pair of teammates to run for 1,000 yards in an NFL season.

Several teams have come close to joining the 1972 Dolphins in perfection, but they've always fallen short. The 1985 Chicago Bears began the season 12-0 before losing to a Dan Marino-led Dolphins team on "Monday Night Football." The 1998 Denver Broncos started 13-0 before stumbling against the New York Giants. The Indianapolis Colts began 13-0 in 2005 and 14-0 in 2009 before falling in each instance. No team came closer than the 2007 New England Patriots, who won 18 consecutive games before a stunning loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Despite the unmatched achievement, Morris doesn't believe his team receives the respect it deserves. To Morris, Rank is just the latest in a long line of haters who can't properly contextualize what the Dolphins pulled off in 1972.

"That's why you have these sour grapes like people calling us a diva," Morris said. "People don't really understand what it takes to get there. They think it's simply winning, it's more than that. Because (out) of the 4,680 tries that they've had since the National Football League came into existence, it's only happened one time, and we're sitting in that seat."

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Dolphins owner Ross to meet with Sparano, Ireland this week

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will be in Florida on Monday, and he plans to meet with coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland at some point this week, according to a team source.

Ross has been out of the country and didn't attend Sunday's game, a 38-7 loss to the New England Patriots. The Dolphins might have been playing for Sparano's job, but they crumbled in a fitting end to a dud of a season.

Neither Chad Henne nor Tyler Thigpen could do much with the offense as Miami fell behind 38-0 before a late touchdown helped the team avert its second shutout of the season.

"We don't want to be in this position again, and we shouldn't forget what just happened to us out there," said Sparano, who looks forward to meeting with Ross and sharing his ideas for improving the Dolphins. "It's not a good place to be, and we did it to ourselves."

Sparano, who has one year left on his contract, led the Dolphins to the playoffs in 2008 -- his first season as an NFL head coach -- for their only postseason appearance since 2001. But Miami is 14-18 since then.

"He is such a good coach," Dolphins cornerback Benny Sapp said of Sparano. "You just hate to see it go down like that, especially when (he) works so hard during the week getting us motivated."

The Patriots (14-2) already had clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs, and the Dolphins had long been eliminated from postseason contention. But Miami (7-9) came into Sunday's game with a chance to finish .500 and end the season with a win that could help make the case for keeping Sparano.

Instead, the Dolphins' defense gave up touchdowns on two of the Patriots' first three possessions. And, after scoring on Julian Edelman's 94-yard punt return near the end of the first half, New England opened the second half with two quick touchdown drives to make it 38-0.

Only the Patriots' benevolence kept the game that close, with backup quarterback Brian Hoyer leading a 9-minute, 35-second drive to eat up most of the fourth quarter before New England ran the ball on fourth-and-9 from the Miami 19 instead of attempting a field goal.

"It was difficult, frustrating, disappointing and embarrassing. It was all those things," Dolphins defensive lineman Kendall Langford said of the loss. "We let each other down, the coaching staff and the organization. What went on out there is not acceptable at all."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Report: Dolphins' Hartline has surgery; Marshall, Crowder back

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline was absent Wednesday as the team began preparations for this weekend's game against the New York Jets.

Hartline was sidelined when he hurt a finger during last Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Miami Herald reported that Hartline underwent surgery on his injured hand Tuesday. A return this season hasn't been ruled out for the second-year Ohio State product, a source told the newspaper.

Hartline has been a favorite target of Miami quarterbacks in recent weeks, having one catch of at least 24 yards in six consecutive games before Sunday.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and linebacker Channing Crowder took part in practice Wednesday. Marshall missed the past two games with a right hamstring injury, and Crowder missed the Browns game with a knee injury.

The Dolphins also placed cornerback Al Harris on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, ending his 13th NFL season.

Harris joined the Dolphins last month after being released by the Green Bay Packers. Trying to come back from a major left knee injury last November, he played in three games off the bench for Miami.

To replace Harris on the roster, the Dolphins signed offensive lineman Ray Feinga.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Henne leads the way as Dolphins top Raiders to keep playoff hopes alive

Chad Henne had quite the roller-coaster month, going from Miami Dolphins starting quarterback to getting benched then injured and then back as starter.

He finished the up-and-down month on quite a high.

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Henne made a triumphant return to the lineup to throw for 307 yards and two scores and Dan Carpenter kicked four field goals to help the Miami Dolphins beat the Oakland Raiders 33-17 Sunday.

"I knew my day would come again," Henne said. "The biggest thing is just staying confident in myself. I know I can get it done out there, I know I can get some wins out there. So, for me, it's just staying confident, fixing mistakes and just keep on improving as a quarterback."

Davone Bess had 111 yards receiving in his first game as a pro in his hometown, and Ricky Williams ran for 95 yards and a score for the Dolphins (6-5), who won for the fifth time in six road games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Raiders (5-6) returned home following a 35-3 beating in Pittsburgh and put together another dud. Fan favorite Bruce Gradkowski got the nod ahead of Jason Campbell at quarterback, but threw two interceptions and led Oakland to just one offensive touchdown.

The Contra Costa Times reported on Sunday night that Gradkowski re-injured his throwing shoulder in the loss. Gradkowski previously suffered a third-degree separation of the shoulder in Week 5, an injury that cost him five weeks.

Rookie Jacoby Ford was the entire Raiders offense, returning the opening kickoff 101 yards for a score and catching a 44-yard TD pass from Gradkowski in the second quarter. But the Dolphins held Oakland to 16 yards rushing, including 2 on eight carries for Darren McFadden.

"We've played some great quarters, and we've played some great halves, but we haven't put a game together on defense," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "We played a complete game."

Miami also had an offensive turnaround, gaining 471 yards and holding the ball for 41:38 a week after being held to 187. But with Henne at the helm, it was a different story.

Raiders rookie WR Jacoby Ford is making a name for himself with acrobatic catches like the one to the right. Was this image of him making a grab vs. Miami the best from Week 12? Vote now!

» Vote: Should Ford make Pro Bowl?

Henne lost his job to Chad Pennington earlier this month, then was sidelined by an injured left knee after Pennington's return to the lineup was cut short by a shoulder injury. But after Tyler Thigpen struggled in a 16-0 loss to Chicago last week, the Dolphins went back to Henne against the Raiders.

The improvement was evident from the start. Henne led Miami to scores on the first two possessions as the Dolphins' offense clicked all day.

"I want somebody to go out there and make me wrong," coach Tony Sparano said. "That's good. I have no problem with that. But Chad was really positive, and he knew all along here, that as we got on in this thing, that we we're going to be counting on him."

Henne had success going against Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who still looks hampered by a sprained right ankle, and rookie Walter McFadden, who got his most extensive action with Chris Johnson out with a groin injury.

McFadden looked especially bad on the first drive of the second half when he went for an interception on an out route to Marlon Moore. Moore caught it and cruised for a 57-yard score that game Miami a 20-14 lead. Henne kept targeting McFadden after that for big plays.

"That's something we definitely scouted and wanted to exploit early and fast," Bess said. "They gave up some big plays to us and we took advantage of it."

Carpenter added a 44-yard field goal, but Miami missed a chance to break the game open after a 47-yard punt return by Bess when Carpenter missed a 47-yard field goal.

Gradkowski threw an interception to Chris Clemons in the end zone on an underthrown pass to Ford. Ford then beat his former Clemson teammate Clemons for a 52-yard catch that set up a 30-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. That cut Miami's lead to 23-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Carpenter added a 25-yard field goal and Williams iced it with a 45-yard TD run with 3:12 remaining.

The Raiders did nothing between Ford's two first-half touchdowns. Gradkowski threw an interception to Yeremiah Bell and Marcel Reece lost a fumble.

Gradkowski completed 17 of 32 passes for 252 yards and reinjured his shoulder on his final throw of the game so Oakland will likely go back to Campbell next week at San Diego.

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"There was some good stuff and some inconsistency," Cable said of Gradkowski's play. "Again when you only have the ball a handful of times you don't get a real chance to go out and get some rhythm."

Henne, who threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Cobbs in the first quarter, drove the Dolphins downfield late in the half to lead to Carpenter's second field goal, a 23-yarder with 4 seconds left that made it 14-13.

Notes: Henne has six career 300-yard passing games, second to Dan Marino's 63 in Miami history. ... The Dolphins have scored on their opening drive a league-best eight times this season. ... Ford's kickoff return was the third longest in Raiders history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL investigating spitting claim by Dolphins' Crowder

The NFL is investigating a complaint by the Miami Dolphins that Baltimore Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain spat in the face of linebacker Channing Crowder, according to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora.

McClain denied spitting intentionally, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh has absolved his player of any wrongdoing. But a video replay from WFOR-TV in Miami appeared to confirm the incident, which Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said he has verified.

"I have enough evidence," Sparano said. "It's upsetting to me."

Crowder didn't talk to reporters Monday, one day after a disappointing 26-10 loss at Baltimore dropped the inconsistent Dolphins to 4-4. McClain conceded saliva flew, but only accidentally.

"He said stuff to me I didn't want to hear. I said stuff he didn't want to hear," McClain said. "Spit came out of my mouth when I said something to the dude, and that was it. It wasn't on purpose. I'm not that kind of player."

The Dolphins weren't buying that explanation. Linebacker Karlos Dansby said McClain, a Pro Bowl fullback, should be suspended for the rest of the season.

"As a man, you spit in somebody's face, you crossed the line," Dansby said. "Where I'm from, that'll get you killed, straight up. That's around the world, period."

Crowder is widely considered one of the league's foremost trash-talkers, so it was no surprise to see him and McClain facemask to facemask trading taunts during a timeout, with an official trying to separate them.

The video shows the conversation ending when McClain rears his head back before thrusting it forward.

"That's just me talking," McClain said. "You can't see spit coming out of my mouth or anything."

Crowder then waves his left hand in front of his face, as if trying to intercept the spittle, before the players are separated.

Harbaugh found McClain innocent.

"I talked to Le'Ron," Harbaugh said. "I've seen the videotape of it. It didn't happen. I don't believe for one second it happened."

That's for the league to decide, Sparano said.

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"There are a lot of things that go on in this game from a trash-talking standpoint," Sparano said. "I'm standing there on the sideline yesterday, and I had a player talk trash to me from the other team, and I didn't say one word to the guy. That being said, that's part of the game. I get it. Whatever floats your boat. I don't think it's part of the game, but to some of them, that's what gets them going.

"But this whole deal here about spitting in somebody's face -- nowhere in this game do I see any place for that."

After the game, Crowder was so upset he mixed up his historical figures, complaining the officials who missed the spit had eyesight comparable to Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank. When reporters confused by the reference to Frank further queried Crowder, it became clear he meant Helen Keller instead.

"Is that the blind girl?" Crowder said. "Helen Keller? I don't know. ... I'm mad right now. I'm not as swift as I usually am."

None of Crowder's teammates saw the incident, either. Dansby quickly became aware of it and said his linebacking partner deserves credit for his restrained response.

"He had to weigh his options," Dansby said. "He asked me on the sideline, `Should I go whup him?' I'm like, `Yeah, go whup him.' Then I was like, 'Man, I need you. If you do it, you're going to hurt your team.' So he had to pull back."

Ironically, in the days leading up to the game, Crowder praised McClain as one of the league's best fullbacks. But Crowder also called Ravens receiver Derrick Mason old, and after the game, Mason fired back at Crowder.

"He was getting knocked down, getting pushed out of the way," Mason said. "The guy is horrible."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dolphins' Crowder accuses Ravens' McClain of spitting incident

The Ravens got the best of the Dolphins on Sunday, but it was the actions of a Baltimore offensive player that had Miami linebacker Channing Crowder fuming afterward.

Speaking to reporters in the wake of a 26-10 loss at M&T Bank Stadium, Crowder expressed extreme anger toward Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain.

“Le’Ron McClain spit in my face,” Crowder told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "That’s some real (expletive), so if you talk to him tell him he’s a (expletive). If he ever comes to Miami, he’s got to see me.”

McClain denied the charge after the game, but Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford backed up Crowder's claim.

“(The officials) said they didn’t see it,” Crowder told the Sun-Sentinel. “Then they said something about they let Karlos Dansby get away with a facemask before. Who the (expletive) cares? I just got spit in my face. I don’t give a damn about Karlos pulling somebody’s facemask.

Crowder, who also claimed that McClain was cutting him low on blocks, went on.

“That’s the first time anybody spit in my face in my life,” he said. “That’s like the worst thing you can do to a man as another man, spit in somebody’s face. Why would you do that? Why would you even try to?"

It's possible that McClain could face a fine or even suspension if game tapes reveal Crowder's accusations to be true.

Dansby said that if McClain did act improperly, the NFL “should suspend him. There’s no place for that in this game.”

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Balanced Ravens end Dolphins' road streak to win seventh straight at home

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens emphatically shut down the Miami Dolphins' highly successful road show.

Billy Cundiff kicked four field goals, and the Ravens forced three turnovers in a 26-10 victory Sunday that ended the Dolphins' unbeaten run on the road.

Baltimore (6-2) won its seventh straight home game behind Cundiff and a defense that blanked Miami (4-4) after halftime. Cundiff connected from 26, 39, 20, 24 yards, and the Ravens limited the Dolphins to 24 yards rushing over the final 30 minutes.

"I think it was important we come in and protect our home the way we did," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. "I just love the way we came out and played today."

Miami quarterback Chad Henne went 22 for 34 for 231 yards and three interceptions. The Dolphins also had only 10 players on the field upon being victimized by a fake punt and never really got in sync on offense.

"I think it's obvious: Right now, we can't beat the great teams, we can't beat the good teams," said Miami receiver Brandon Marshall, who was limited to five catches for 30 yards. "I can't put my finger on it. We just shoot ourselves in the foot."

Miami came in 4-0 on the road, but the Ravens were not impressed. Baltimore never trailed and pulled away after taking a 13-10 halftime lead. The Dolphins allowed 402 yards on a whopping 71 plays and failed to produce a turnover. The Ravens finished with a 16-minute advantage in time of possession thanks heavily to the running of Ray Rice, who gained 83 yards on 22 carries and had seven catches for 97 yards.

"It was a ridiculous performance by our defense," Miami linebacker Channing Crowder said. "It was too easy for them." Crowder and the Ravens were involved in a shoving match that he contended started when Baltimore running back Le'Ron McClain spit in his face.

Afterward, Ravens receiver Derrick Mason went on a rant directed at Crowder, who called Mason "old" in the days leading up to the game.

"I don't even think they want him on this team, but they have nobody to replace him so he has to be there," Mason said. "They took him out of the game, they played a bit better. He was getting knocked down, getting pushed out of the way. The guy is horrible."

Joe Flacco completed 20 of 27 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns for the Ravens, who are 6-0 at home since 2001 after a bye.

"We did a great job all day. I don't know if you can even point to one drive," Flacco said. "We really drove the ball well all day."

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Baltimore went up 20-10 by moving 81 yards for a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter. Rice caught three passes for 61 yards before Flacco hit Mason in the end zone from 12 yards.

Minutes later, Baltimore used a fake punt to get to the Miami 26. But Cundiff missed a 37-yard field goal.

The Dolphins then moved downfield before Dan Carpenter was wide left on a 46-yard field goal try, ending a run of 14 straight successful attempts.

Cundiff added a field goal with 6:45 left, and an interception by Ed Reed set up Cundiff's final 3-pointer with 2:07 to go.

Baltimore scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season. The drive ended when Willis McGahee took a screen pass from Flacco, broke free behind a block by Ben Grubbs and weaved his way to a 32-yard score.

Miami then became the first team to score a touchdown on its opening drive against the Ravens. Ronnie Brown carried six times for 45 yards, including a 12-yard TD run.

But Brown would gain only 14 more yards on the ground, and the Dolphins never got close to the end zone again.

"I think it was just a collective effort where we just didn't get it done offensively," Henne said.

After a 26-yard field goal by Cundiff put Baltimore up 10-7, Lardarius Webb went 32 yards with an interception to the Miami 4. Baltimore was pushed back to the 20 before holder Sam Koch muffed the snap on a field goal try.

The Dolphins were forced to punt, and a 10-play drive by the Ravens ended with a field goal for a 13-7 lead.

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Later in the half, Miami moved 79 yards to the Baltimore 1, before Carpenter kicked a field goal.

That, however, would be the extent of the Dolphins' scoring.

"We can't slip back any further," Henne said. "We're 4-4 and the place where we want to go, we've got to win some of these games and go on a good roll."

Notes: Ravens WR Donte' Stallworth made his season debut after missing seven weeks with a broken foot. He did not catch a pass. ... Webb's interception was the first of his career. ... Miami S Tyrone Culver left with an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. ... Miami's Paul Soliai recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Dolphins still steaming about controversial loss to Steelers

DAVIE, Fla. -- Upon further review, the officiating crew in Sunday's Miami Dolphins-Pittsburgh Steelers contest made only one mistake on the game's pivotal play.

That's small consolation to the Dolphins, who believe they were robbed of a win, which instead turned into a 23-22 loss.

"For the game to end like that and us to get the raw end of a deal, it hurts," Miami safety Yeremiah Bell said.

The Dolphins (3-3) were angry because an erroneous touchdown call by the head linesman might have cost them the game. Miami linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis emerged from an end-zone pile with the ball lost by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with 2:30 left.

A replay review determined that Roethlisberger's touchdown was instead a fumble at the half-yard line, but because the video didn't provide clear evidence as to which team recovered the ball, the Steelers kept it and kicked the winning field goal on the next play.

Because the touchdown was overturned, only the video review could determine which team recovered the fumble. Any ruling on the field as to which team recovered was irrelevant, because the play is considered over when a touchdown signal is given, and the officials don't continue to officiate.

Regarding the fumble recovery, conclusive video evidence is required.

"There must be a clear recovery by the defense in order to reverse to a touchback," the league's Instant Replay Manual says. "If there is a pileup and you can't see who recovered the ball, or a long delay with players stopping before the ball is recovered, the offense retains possession."

Various Steelers players claimed that Roethlisberger, offensive tackle Jonathan Scott or guard Doug Legursky recovered the ball. The Dolphins all said it was Francis.

If the linesman hadn't signaled a touchdown, the scrum would have determined possession.

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Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington argued that the linesman shouldn't have been so quick to signal a touchdown. That way, the officials on the field would have determined who recovered the ball.

"If it looked like the ball was loose, play it out," Pennington said. "Don't throw your hands up in the air, especially in the last two stinking minutes of the game."

Coach Tony Sparano said the Dolphins wrote the NFL requesting an explanation, but he expects nothing to change. And he noted many other factors contributed to the defeat.

"The thing I'm most frustrated about is just that we got close against a good football team in that situation and didn't finish," he said.

The Dolphins repeatedly squandered chances to score touchdowns, instead settling five times for field goals. They again were plagued by mistakes in kick coverage and pass coverage. Even after the disputed call, they had a chance to come back but gained just 4 yards in an ugly four-play sequence, losing the ball on downs.

As a result, the Dolphins dropped their fifth game in a row at home, a streak that dates to last season. They're the first team since the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals to start a season 0-3 at home and 3-0 on the road, according to STATS LLC.

The good news: The Dolphins are on the road this Sunday -- at Cincinnati.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Late-game call helps Steelers slip past Dolphins

MIAMI -- Officials overturned a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown and called it a fumble, but the Pittsburgh Steelers retained possession, then kicked the game-winning field goal on the next play Sunday to beat the Dolphins.

Jeff Reed made an 18-yard kick with 2:30 left, and the Steelers escaped with a 23-22 win.

One play earlier, with Pittsburgh trailing 20-19 and facing third-and-goal at the Miami 2, Roethlisberger fumbled the ball as he dived across the goal line on a quarterback draw. The play was ruled a touchdown as both teams scrambled for the loose ball in the end zone.

After a replay review, referee Gene Steratore announced that Roethlisberger had fumbled before scoring. But Steratore said his crew had no clear evidence as to which team recovered the ball, so the Steelers were awarded possession at the half-yard line, allowing Reed to kick the winner.

The Dolphins then lost the ball on downs, gaining just 4 yards in four plays.

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Dolphins' Odrick could miss rest of season after second injury

Miami Dolphins rookie defensive end Jared Odrick is hurt again, and the latest injury might sideline him for the rest of the season.

"He's done for a long time," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Thursday of his first-round draft pick.

Odrick was on the verge of returning from a broken right leg when he hurt his left foot at the end of practice Wednesday.

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The Miami Herald reported Thursday that Odrick suffered a fractured leg, but the newspaper didn't specify which side.

The Dolphins haven't decided whether or not to put the rookie on injured reserve, which would end his season.

"We'll see," Sparano said. "Right now, we're going to sit tight for a little while."

Odrick worked with the first team from the start of training camp, but he has been sidelined since he sustained a slight leg fracture in the season opener. He also broke his right leg in 2007 and missed the rest of that season with Penn State.

Sparano declined to reveal details about the nature of Odrick's latest injury. The lineman, taken with the 28th overall pick in the April draft, has one tackle this season.

"He's a heck of a player," Sparano said. "He's a guy we certainly could have used. That being said, there are guys who have stepped up and done a nice job."

Odrick's absence has meant more playing time for Tony McDaniel and Paul Soliai in the defensive line. The Dolphins (3-2) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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