DirecTV won't charge 'Sunday Ticket' owners for missed games

DirecTV issued a statement to its "NFL Sunday Ticket" subscribers Thursday, saying no one will be charged for the service unless games are played.

"If the NFL negotiations result in a shortened or canceled season, rest assured that DIRECTV has you covered," the satellite television provider said. "Your subscription to NFL SUNDAY TICKET is risk-free: You will not pay for any game that the NFL does not play."

The NFL lockout is in its third month, although the league and players held three consecutive days of mediated talks this week.

DirecTV added that a subscriber who already has paid for the 2011 package will receive a credit for every missed week. A subscriber whose package is up for renewal will not be charged until a start date for the 2011 season is confirmed.

"NFL Sunday Ticket," which started in 1994, makes out-of-market games available to viewers. DirecTV has exclusive rights to the package through the 2014 season.

Players have contested the league's TV deals, saying the NFL illegally secured $4.078 billion to build a "lockout fund." The players cited $400 million in revenue from DirecTV, as well as $40 million from ESPN and $17 million from Verizon, as money that the league didn't need to repay if there isn't a 2011 season.

U.S. District Judge David Doty, who has ruled against the league, heard the players' argument for damages May 12, but he hasn't issued a decision.

Lawyer Tom Heiden said the players want $707 million stemming from the TV contracts, plus additional undetermined compensation arising from other rights and compensatory and punitive damages that would punish and deter future behavior. A special master previously awarded the players just $6.9 million in damages, a ruling that the league asked Doty to uphold.

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Chiefs' Cassel has appendectomy; no word on Sunday status

Quarterback Matt Cassel, a key reason the Kansas City Chiefs have emerged as contenders and lead the AFC West late in the season, underwent an appendectomy Wednesday.

The Chiefs said the procedure was a success, and they expect Cassel to return to work this week. They didn't say he would be ready to play Sunday when the Chiefs (8-4) travel to San Diego for a showdown with the Chargers (6-6), who trail Kansas City by two games in the division.

Brodie Croyle, who is 0-9 as an NFL starter and hasn't appeared in a game all year, took most of the practice snaps Wednesday. The Chiefs also signed quarterback Tyler Palko to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Coach Todd Haley, who insisted on saying during his news conference only that Cassel had "an illness," declined to speculate on whether or not his quarterback will be ready for Sunday's game.

"Again, he'll be on the injury report as illness today," Haley said. "And we'll just take it from there as we do all injuries."

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underwent an appendectomy four days before the 2006 season opener. He returned to play in a Week 2 game -- 15 days after the surgery -- and his passer ratings in that and the following contest -- 38.7 and 30.7 -- were among the six worst of his career.

While the Chiefs didn't release any details of Cassel's operation, the American College of Surgeons website advises patients who have had a minimally invasive appendectomy not to "lift or participate in strenuous activity for three to five days" after the procedure.

Cassel helped present area high school star Bubba Starling an award Tuesday morning, then appeared at another event Tuesday night. The Chiefs didn't say if Cassel underwent emergency surgery, which might suggest a more invasive procedure.

In his second season as the Chiefs' full-time starter, Cassel has thrived under the tutelage of Haley and first-year offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, connecting on 212 of 354 passes for 2,503 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has thrown an NFL-low four interceptions. His current streak of 158 passes without an interception is the third-longest active streak in the league.

Cassel was the AFC's Offensive Player of the Month in November, completing 90 of 144 passes for 1,111 yards and 12 TDs with only one interception.

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Croyle, a third-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2006, was projected as the Chiefs' foundation quarterback before Herman Edwards was fired as head coach after the 2008 season. Injury prone, Croyle immediately dropped to the second team when new general manager Scott Pioli traded for Cassel before the 2009 season. Croyle hasn't started since the 2009 season opener, when Cassel was hurt.

Croyle said this week will be no different than any other for him, other than the fact he'll take more practice reps.

"Just got to prepare like you always do," he said. "My number's called, got to be ready to go. You've got to be ready to go on any play."

Croyle has seen action in 16 regular-season games, completing 173 of 300 passes for 1,631 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions.

The Chiefs also placed cornerback Jackie Bates (knee) on season-ending injured reserve and signed linebacker Micah Johnson to the practice squad.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Home games for Lions, Chargers will be blacked out Sunday

Two NFL teams announced local television blackouts for Sunday's games.

Neither the Detroit Lions' game against the Washington Redskins, nor the San Diego Chargers' meeting with the Tennessee Titans will be shown in their respective home markets.

A Lions spokesman said 8,500 tickets remained available as of Thursday afternoon. The Lions had sold out their first two home games this season.

The Chargers announced that more 8,000 general tickets and club seats were available. This will be San Diego's third blackout in four games this season.

The NFL's long-standing policy requires all games not sold out 72 hours before kickoff to be blacked out in the local market. This includes all signals within a 75-mile radius of the stadium and those areas whose television signal reaches within that 75-mile zone. The league's policy affects all telecasts, including cable and satellite.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bengals QB Palmer rests hip, should be ready Sunday

Carson Palmer sat out practice to rest an injured hip, but Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis expects his quarterback to be ready for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, the team's official website reported.

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Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour split the snaps in practice Thursday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Also sitting out practice were cornerbacks Leon Hall (hamstring) and Morgan Trent (knee), and safeties Chinedum Ndukwe (knee) and Roy Williams (knee).

Linebacker Brandon Johnson (knee), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle), wide receiver Terrell Owens (hand) and linebacker Keith Rivers (foot) were limited.

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Cards QB Hall healing from 'Hawks beating, could play Sunday

Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Max Hall experienced "concussion-like symptoms" during Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he is feeling better Monday, according to a league source.

The early prognosis is that Hall, who was named the Cardinals' starter in place of veteran Derek Anderson in Week 5, should be ready to go against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, barring any setbacks.

Hall still needs to pass the tests required by the NFL after a blindside sack knocked him out of Sunday's game in Seattle with a concussion.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said that if the rookie is cleared, he will be the starter against Tampa Bay, his poor performance in the 22-10 loss to the Seahawks notwithstanding.

"We can't make too much of what happened yesterday," Whisenhunt said at his Monday news conference. "He's a rookie quarterback. We can't lose sight of that. You know that you're going to have some things that you have to go through the first time. This is his first start on the road in a tough environment, and it didn't go very well. But what I've seen of Max, he'll bounce back and he'll improve."

Whisenhunt said he is looking to simplify Arizona's game plan in hopes that Hall can return to the freewheeling form that impressed the coaching staff during the preseason.

"We ran a bunch of plays that we ran in camp that we were familiar with and we executed them well," Whisenhunt said. "We're going to go back to a little bit of that. Hopefully that will help us be more efficient."

Hall was knocked out in the third quarter of last Sunday's game, the result of a hard but legal sack by Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons. Hall was blindsided, and he fumbled the ball at the Arizona 11-yard line, setting up one of Olindo Mare's five field goals.

Hall wasn't in the Cardinals' locker room when reporters were there Monday.

After the game, Hall said he was "a little woozy" and "a little nauseous" after the play.

"But I'll be OK," he said.

Hall struggled with his grip on the ball in the wet weather, leading Whisenhunt to suggest the quarterback might want to try gloves.

"It was tough. At times, it was really wet. But, it's no excuse," Hall said. "You still have to be able to execute. We were running the ball well. But we kept having turnovers and mistakes. It is hard to win when you do that."

Anderson, who started in Arizona's first four games, relieved Hall and directed the Cardinals to their only touchdown, but he was erratic, as is his custom. Anderson was 8-of-17 passing for 96 yards.

Wide receiver Steve Breaston was kept out of the game because of the wet conditions, Whisenhunt said. Breaston has missed three games while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. The Cardinals expect him back against the Bucs.

Arizona's offense has scored two touchdowns in the last three games, and one of those was a 2-yard return of Hall's fumble by offensive tackle Levi Brown. The team hasn't had a passing touchdown since Week 3.

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Again, the Cardinals had trouble taking advantage of Larry Fitzgerald's talent. Arizona threw to him 10 times Sunday, but Fitzgerald caught just three for 30 yards.

"Really, the quarterback play has been inconsistent," Whisenhunt said. "We've missed opportunities, and that's what hurt us, and obviously when we do get something going we've turned the ball over."

The Cardinals had five turnovers, four of them fumbles. Tim Hightower, who lost two fumbles in the season opener, lost another one at the end of a 28-yard run that gave the Seahawks the ball at their 28-yard line. Hightower gained 59 yards in six attempts, but he didn't carry the ball again.

Whisenhunt praised his defense for keeping the Cardinals close despite the turnovers. Seattle's only touchdown in seven red-zone trips came after Andre Roberts' muffed punt gave the Seahawks the ball at the Arizona 2-yard line. The Cardinals sacked Matt Hasselbeck five times, two by Alan Branch.

But it wasn't enough to overcome Arizona's punchless offense and the many mistakes.

The Cardinals (3-3) weren't about to concede that the Seahawks (4-2) are the best team in the NFC West.

"A game like that, we killed ourselves," running back Beanie Wells said. "We've got to give them credit. They're a good team, but I definitely don't think they are better than us."

The teams have a rematch in Arizona on Nov. 14.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Packers WR Driver says quad injury won't sideline him Sunday

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers wide receiver Donald Driver missed practice for the second consecutive day, but he still expects to play in Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Driver has a lingering quadriceps injury, but the durable veteran said Thursday, "If you've seen my history, I will play."

Linebacker Clay Matthews was limited in practice for the second consecutive day, and coach Mike McCarthy is optimistic his defensive star will be able to play after sitting out last Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins with a sore hamstring.

Cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby continued to make progress in their return from the physically unable to perform list, and McCarthy said the Packers could wait until Saturday to decide if they will play against the Vikings.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bears QB Cutler expected to start Sunday vs. Seahawks

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was cleared to fully participate in practice and is scheduled to start this weekend, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Tuesday.

Cutler's status has been the dominant topic surrounding the Bears ever since his nine-sack first half during a loss to the New York Giants two weeks ago left him with a concussion. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Cutler will practice Wednesday and return to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Cutler sat out last Sunday's 23-6 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Backup Todd Collins struggled mightily in that game, completed just 6 of 16 passes for 32 yards with four interceptions.

Bears coach Lovie Smith said Monday that he hoped Cutler could play in the next game, but he quickly tried to have reporters change their line of questioning.

"I'm not going to talk about Jay anymore," Smith said. "There's nothing else for me to tell you about Jay. He's doing better. Wednesday, we'll be able to tell you a little bit more."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Delhomme's ankle better; QB could play Sunday for Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme said Thursday that his right ankle has steadily improved and he could return for this weekend's meeting with the Atlanta Falcons after missing three games with the injury.

Delhomme sustained a high ankle sprain during the Sept. 12 season opener. He has been inactive the past three games, but he said he was able to move better during practice Wednesday, and as long as he doesn't have any setbacks, he's hoping to face the Falcons.

"(Jake) did more than he did last Wednesday and felt pretty good this morning, which is positive," Browns coach Eric Mangini said Thursday. "He'll do a little more today and then we'll just keep playing it by ear through the week."

Seneca Wallace has filled in for Delhomme the past three weeks, throwing for 554 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

Delhomme said it will be up to Cleveland's coaches if he plays, but the 35-year-old took snaps with the starting offense during the portion of practice open to reporters Thursday.

"Both guys will be prepared to play Sunday and (we'll) make sure Jake, if he can, is right to take advantage of that opportunity," Mangini said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Docs cautious on concussed Bears QB Cutler, who'll sit Sunday

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jay Cutler was in helmet and pads at practice, but don't expect to see him on the field when the Chicago Bears visit Carolina on Sunday.

The quarterback will sit out the game against the Panthers with a concussion -- the result of being sacked nine times in the first half of last week's loss to the New York Giants.

"He's making progress," coach Lovie Smith said Thursday. "All we know right now is he's not playing this week. Hopefully, he'll be ready to go next week."

Cutler is among several players who have had to sit out at least one game with a concussion, including fellow quarterbacks Kevin Kolb and Matt Moore.

Cutler was examined by team and independent doctors after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday, and the decision was made to have him sit this week.

He went through another limited practice Thursday and declined comment afterward. He is also expected to practice again Friday and have his status re-evaluated next week.

Veteran Todd Collins, who took over to start the second half against the Giants and left with a stinger, will make his first start in three years.

"I'm pretty comfortable," Collins said. "The best way to provide leadership, I think, is to go out there and perform well. That's the job as the quarterback, to move the ball and score points. That's what I'm going to try to do to help lead the team."

Collins said Smith told him late Thursday morning that he would be starting, news that he was expecting.

"Jay went down with a concussion, and usually with concussions, they want you to come back fully ready before you get on the field again," he said.

This will be the first time Cutler has missed a start due to injury. He had made 57 in a row since Denver turned to him as a rookie in 2006, but he'll be watching this week after a brutal performance against the Giants that wiped out much of the good will created by a 3-0 start.

"I'm not going to sit here and say it doesn't hurt," receiver Devin Hester said. "It does hurt."

Smith said the Bears started noticing symptoms after the second-to-last play of the second quarter, when Cutler's head banged the turf while being taken down by Aaron Ross on the Giants' ninth sack.

Cutler, though, started taking a beating as soon as he stepped on the field. There was one sack early in the second quarter when Osi Umenyiora ran past tight end Greg Olsen and nailed Cutler from behind, the ball popping out and into the arms of center Olin Kreutz.

Cutler got up and took a few steps toward the wrong sideline before correcting himself.

Soon after, he had what appeared to be a dazed look when the TV cameras showed him sitting on the sideline, and his decision-making was questionable at best. Cutler held onto the ball too long at times and didn't see open receivers, and he wound up taking hit after hit.

It didn't help that the Giants also had a clear path to the quarterback.

"Everybody's just counting us out," right guard Lance Louis said. "It seems like we're the only ones that believe in us."

If he's worried about taking a beating, Collins wouldn't say.

"If you're thinking about the protection and the offensive line, you know I've got better things to worry about than that because you simply can't control it," he said. "You've got to let those guys do their job and I'm going to try to do mine and get the ball to the playmakers."

The 38-year-old Collins has endured long stretches with little activity since he entered the league with Buffalo in 1995. He has barely played since he helped Washington win its final four games in 2007.

He took over for the injured Jason Campbell in a game against Chicago and threw for two touchdowns after going three years without attempting a pass in a 24-16 victory. That came only 1 1/2 weeks after the shooting death of safety Sean Taylor and three days after his burial.

The Redskins closed out that season by winning the next three games with Collins, but he did not take a snap in 2008 and made just three appearances as a backup in 2009. He was released last March and signed a one-year contract with the Bears in late August.

"I've been around for awhile," Collins said. "It's a team game, but I look forward to going out there and doing my part, contribute to a victory."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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