Taylor to be a Dolphin again? 'No ships have sailed,' he says

Jason Taylor isn't ready to end his celebrated NFL career just yet. Could a third go-around with the Miami Dolphins be on the horizon?

The Dolphins' all-time sack leader ruled out another run with the team four months ago, saying "that ship has sailed." But the 36-year-old seemed more open to the idea Friday.

"I appreciate the interest and the concern if there is any," Taylor told the South Florida Sun Sentinel at former NBA star Alonzo Mourning's charity golf outing in Miami. "No ships have sailed, no bridges have been burned.

"There's nothing to do right now (because of the NFL lockout). I'm going to play this year, if there's a season, and I think there will be. ... Until this thing works itself out, I'm playing golf."

Taylor played with the Dolphins from 1997 to 2007, then returned in 2009 after a one-year stop with the Washington Redskins. He spent last season with the AFC East rival New York Jets, who released him in February, making him a free agent.

Taylor shares a trainer with several Dolphins, but he hasn't participated in any workouts with them. He also said talk of a reunion has never come up.

"I really don't talk at all about the business side of things," Taylor said. "We talk as friends."

The Sun Sentinel reported that the Dolphins are looking for a veteran linebacker to pair with second-year pro Koa Misi opposite Pro Bowl pass rusher Cameron Wake. Taylor spoke positively about working with a player as talented as Wake and likened it to memories of his Miami heyday.

"It's a good spot. It's a good fit for both players," Taylor said. "It's good to be opposite Cam Wake and then for Cam to have somebody opposite him, too. It's very beneficial to both sides. I had the pleasure of playing with Adewale Ogunleye and Trace Armstrong and Kenny Mixon and those guys. We kind of scratch each other's backs."

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Latest talks accomplish little, but sides will meet again Monday

NEW YORK -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in January that a deadline "has to be real" to create the anxiety needed to push parties to a new collective bargaining deal that works for everyone.

And so it is.

NFL players and owners wrapped up a frustrating couple of days in Manhattan with 10 hours of talks Friday that didn't produce much. In fact, three sources, including figures on each side, said there was little to no progress on the core issues the parties had hoped to break through in constructing a new labor deal this week.

Players could file another injunction According to legal sources, the language from Friday's ruling creates an opportunity for the NFLPA to file another expedited injunction seeking more rights for rookies and free agents not under contract. More ...

As a result, the lockout, which is now in its fifth month, will continue into next week. There will be communication between the parties over the weekend -- it's not considered a "weekend off" -- but the next set of face-to-face labor talks won't occur until Monday. The legal teams and staff from each side will convene in Manhattan, with the players and owners expected to join them Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We're going to break for the weekend, get back to work next week. We continue to work hard to get something done," NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "I know our fans want us to get something done as quickly as possible."

Smith led a six-man group of players, with retirees Kevin Mawae, the NFLPA president, Sean Morey and Pete Kendall joined by active players Charlie Batch, Jeff Saturday and Domonique Foxworth. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was accompanied by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II, Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and the New York Giants' John Mara.

Smith conducted a conference call with players at 3 p.m. ET, about six hours into the meeting, was thanked for his efforts by a number of players and told the group would stay united during an important time.

Next week's talks will be critical, with the days waning before preseason games will be forced off the schedule. The NFL estimates an entirely canceled preseason would cost nearly $1 billion in revenue, and although the players believe that number is inflated, there is little question the figure would be significant and take a serious toll on any proposal made by the league.

Judge Arthur J. Boylan, who is mediating the labor dispute between NFL owners and players, also scheduled a future session for July 19 in Minneapolis. Boylan set the meeting on Saturday, just before starting his vacation. But he also made clear that both sides should continue their own sessions in the interim as they work toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

Boylan ordered both sides to continue mediation without him "in an effort to define and narrow the differences between their respective settlement positions." He also ordered attorneys from both sides to be ready to meet with him on the evening of July 18 "for an in-person agenda- setting session" that presumably would set the stage for meaningful, fruitful talks the following day.

Adversely affecting Friday's talks was the late-morning ruling from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson's April decision to issue an injunction to lift the NFL lockout.

Although the decision enabled the lockout to remain in place, the players were afforded leverage as well, and NFLPA officials found solace in elements of the decision.

First, the appeals court allowed the players' antitrust litigation to move forward, meaning the owners are operating in treble damages liability as long as the lockout is ongoing.

Second, the court declined to rule on the legality of the owners locking out the league's unsigned players -- rookies and unrestricted free agents. The players can file for an injunction with Nelson's court to allow those players to sign with teams, something they are confident they would be granted based on the district judge's earlier decision, and create a chaotic situation for the league.

Judge Kermit Bye dissented on the decision. He had said at a June 3 hearing that the decision would be one "both sides aren't going to like," and the panel certainly delivered that.

The idea, ultimately, is to place the parties in uncomfortable positions that encourage them to resolve the situation on their own, something they said in a joint statement that they'd continue to work to do.

One more outstanding court decision remains: Judge David Doty has yet to issue his ruling on the networks rights-fees case, which will determine the fate of more than $4 billion in television revenue.

Doty, like the 8th U.S. Circuit Court, said in court he would rather the players and owners work out their differences before he makes a ruling in his case.

Next Friday, July 15, has long been seen as a deadline to get a deal and save the preseason in full. There are a number of issues -- including the rookie salary system and funding of retiree benefits -- on which the parties have failed to make breakthroughs.

Those issues flow into the larger issue of the revenue split. After progress June 30 and July 1 in Minneapolis, larger concepts in that area, such as the all-revenue model, may no longer be stumbling blocks. But the related issues have potential to tear down what's in place.

When talks resume next week, the lawyers will continue to hammer away at language and details, an area where they were able to make progress earlier this week.

It has been estimated that it would take between 10 and 14 days to go from an agreement to a signed document, and the aim of those sessions is to cut down that time and lay groundwork to quickly move things from a settlement to the opening of training camps. The Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams, who are scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7, are scheduled to report to camp July 22.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Favre suffers concussion vs. Bears, not sure if he'll play again

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brett Favre talked his way back into the starting lineup, hoping a snowy Monday night game would be just the setting he needed.

The 41-year-old got the hometown crowd roaring when he led the Minnesota Vikings to a touchdown on the opening drive, and all the ingredients were there for one last memorable Monday with Favre.

"I knew it was the last home game," Favre said afterward. "This also may seem kind of crazy, but I was looking forward to playing in a blizzard."

Instead, his surprising return ended all too quickly. Bears defensive end Corey Wootton slammed the quarterback to the frigid turf in the second quarter. Favre watched the rest of a 40-14 loss from the bench, his night, and perhaps his career, ended by a concussion.

Favre shrugged off a sprained right shoulder to start the game on Monday night, receiving a thunderous ovation from the crowd when he was introduced. Favre said he wanted to play one more time in front of the Vikings fans who have come to embrace him in his two seasons in purple.

"It made a lot of sense that, if this were the last game, to play it here in front of our fans," Favre said.

He went 2 for 2 on the opening drive, throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Percy Harvin to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. Favre leaped on to guard Ryan Cook's back in the end zone to celebrate, but the fun ended quickly in the second quarter.

Wootton beat Bryant McKinnie off the left side and flung Favre to the turf. The quarterback stayed motionless for a few seconds before slowly rising and walking off with his head hung down. Favre's face was streaked with material from the artificial surface and he appeared dazed as he put on a jacket on the sideline.

He finished 5 for 7 for 63 yards with a TD and an interception. Favre has said several times this year that this will be his last season, and only two games remain, at Philadelphia and at Detroit. He didn't rule out playing again this season, but didn't sound as if he had much left, either.

"My last pass was just as much fun as my first one," Favre said.

Favre wasn't supposed to even suit up at all, after being declared out Saturday on the official injury report. But the Vikings upgraded him to questionable Monday after he woke up feeling better and wanted to give it a try.

"I assume 'out' means that," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "You learn something new every day."

The Vikings notified the NFL and the Bears of his status change, and league spokesman Greg Aiello said there is nothing in the rules that prevents a team from changing a player's injury report designation.

"If a player's medical status changes during the course of the week, the club must update his playing status accordingly prior to the game," Aiello said. "That is what the Vikings did when Brett's status changed today."

He came out for warmups wearing a black ski mask, and after making some throws with flakes falling around him, he was announced as the starter. Favre had his NFL-record starts streak end at 297 games last week against the Giants.

Speaking before the game, Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "We don't allow people to play games with the injury list. They have to be legitimate medical injuries."

Favre was originally hurt when he was blindsided by Bills linebacker Arthur Moats and drilled into the turf on his first pass of the game on Dec. 5. He did not throw a pass in practice all week and rookie Joe Webb was set to start.

But Favre can never be counted out, especially on Monday nights. He's had some of his greatest performances on the NFL's biggest regular-season stage, none more notable than when he threw for 399 yards and four TDs in a Monday night win at Oakland -- the day after his father died of a heart attack.

"Just watching the way he came out and performed, the way he took command of our team in our huddle, just convinced me during our warmups that it was the right thing to do," interim coach Leslie Frazier said. "Because our players really fed off the energy that he brings, the leadership that he brings."

After that opening drive, a brief glimmer of hope.

"I think everybody in America who was watching was thinking, 'Here we go again,'" Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell said. "You expect the best from him because he's given us no reason not to expect that in situations like this."

The Vikings and Bears played at the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium because the Metrodome's roof collapsed last weekend after a heavy snowstorm.

Favre's 20th NFL season has been one of his toughest. In addition to the streak ending, Favre has 19 interceptions, third most in the league, and his 69.6 quarterback rating was good for 30th before the game started.

"I wouldn't trade it, this season, last season, the 20 years, for anything," Favre said.

Favre is also the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent inappropriate text messages and photos to a New York Jets employee when both worked for the team in 2008. Goodell said he is still evaluating the findings and hoped to make a decision before the end of the regular season.

Favre said the two met briefly before the game, but declined to discuss specifics.

"I'm still following up on some of the information, making sure that we've been thorough," Goodell said. "We want to be as thorough and serious about it and reach the right conclusion."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Rally Cats: Jaguars rally again to top Browns

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Maurice Jones-Drew followed a 75-yard reception with a 1-yard touchdown dive, and the Jaguars overcame turnover problems to beat the banged-up Cleveland Browns 24-20 on Sunday.

Jones-Drew broke four tackles on a fourth-quarter screen pass from David Garrard and weaved his way toward the end zone. Browns rookie Joe Haden made a touchdown-saving tackle, but it ended up taking precious seconds off the clock.

Jones-Drew scored two plays later, giving both teams dramatic finishes for the second time in two games.

The Jaguars (6-4) beat the Houston Texans last week on Garrard's desperation TD pass to Mike Thomas on the final play. The Browns (3-7) lost to the New York Jets in overtime on Santonio Holmes' 37-yard TD reception.

Cleveland had a final chance to win this one, but Jacksonville's Sean Considine tipped Colt McCoy's pass to Mike Bell at the goal line. The pass bounced off Bell's chest and landed in Considine's arms.

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Williams misses practice again, further hurting Panthers' offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A year ago, Carolina Panthers running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart had a catchy nickname and a new website, and they became the first teammates in NFL history each to rush for more than 1,100 yards.

This year, there's little to celebrate. The Panthers are 1-5, both backs are struggling, and now Williams is hurt, too.

Double Trouble has become troubled.

Williams, who missed practice for the second consecutive day Thursday because of a sore foot, has managed just 361 yards on 87 carries with one touchdown. Stewart has fared even worse with just 148 yards on 50 carries and one score.

Last season, they each averaged more than 5 yards per carry, combining for 2,250 yards and 17 touchdowns for the league's third-best rushing attack.

This year, there has been little talk of website subscriptions and Double Trouble T-shirts.

"Instead of building up frustration, you've got to believe in the guys in front of us, that eventually things will start opening up the way they are supposed to," Stewart said.

There are plenty of reasons why neither player has looked explosive.

The Panthers' running game has been bogged down by eight-man fronts, a struggling and banged-up offensive line, a new fullback learning on the job and a passing game that has featured horrible quarterback play and failed to earn the respect of opponents.

Now the Panthers face the prospect of not having Williams, a 2009 Pro Bowl selection, for Sunday's game at St. Louis. Williams hasn't talked to reporters this week.

That would leave Stewart and Mike Goodson in the backfield against the Rams.

"Eventually, if you keep pounding, keep pounding, it will open," Stewart insisted. "Keep knocking on the door and eventually it will open up."

Even in the Panthers' first victory of the season last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, the running game played a minimal role. Williams had 44 yards on 19 carries and lost a fumble before hobbling off in the final minute. Stewart had 29 yards on 14 carries.

It has left the Panthers with the NFL's 23rd-ranked rushing offense, and neither Williams nor Stewart has a 100-yard game.

"This game is a lot easier when the opponent is one dimensional," coach John Fox said.

That had been the Panthers' plight in the first five games. Quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen combined for nine interceptions and four lost fumbles, and no receiver stepped into the No. 2 role behind Steve Smith. It allowed teams to stack the line of scrimmage with eight or nine defenders to stop the run.

"We've seen eight-man boxes before, and we've been able to run against them," center Ryan Kalil said.

Not this year. A revamped offensive line has struggled to open holes after right guard Keydrick Vincent wasn't re-signed, and right tackle Jeff Otah has been sidelined all season because of a knee injury.

The Panthers benched right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau last week, moving Geoff Schwartz there and putting Garry Williams in Schwartz's old spot at right tackle. They will keep that lineup against the Rams.

Carolina also lost stalwart fullback Brad Hoover, who was released during the offseason youth movement. Second-year pro Tony Fiammetta has taken over, but he's still learning to be a lead blocker in the NFL.

There have been key mistakes by the backs, too.

Williams' longest run was a 39-yard touchdown on a cutback against New Orleans. He tried the same thing again as the Panthers were driving late against the Saints, but he was brought down for a 4-yard loss, helping to knock Carolina out of field-goal range in a 16-14 loss.

Stewart, who barely practiced the past two years because of an Achilles' tendon problem, hasn't taken advantage of being healthy after offseason surgery.

Stewart, who said he feels well physically, is "hopeful" last Sunday's success in the passing game will unclog the line of scrimmage. Moore threw for a career-high 308 yards in his return as a starter, and rookie David Gettis caught eight passes for 125 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns.

"Everyone knows we have two great running backs, really three including Mike Goodson," Gettis said. "Everybody is going to focus on the run. It's our jobs as receivers and quarterbacks and linemen blocking to make plays downfield and kind of loosen up the box.

"Give them a chance to make plays, because that is our strength in the offense."

Notes: LB Thomas Davis, who remains on the physically unable to perform list, is still hoping to return this season after his second major knee surgery in a year. "I'm still trying to make the Tampa game (Nov. 14)," Davis said. "That's my goal." ... DE Tyler Brayton returned to practice Thursday, one day after his wife gave birth to a baby girl. ... WR Devin Thomas (groin) was limited in practice.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Kolb more likely to start for Eagles as ailing Vick again rests

Michael Vick didn't practice Thursday, so Kevin Kolb took all of the first-team repetitions at quarterback for the Eagles, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Vick, who is recovering from a rib cartilage injury, attended the early portion of practice and participated in warm-ups and did some throwing. But when the formal portion of practice began, the Eagles' starting quarterback left.

On Wednesday, Eagles coach Andy Reid wouldn't rule Vick for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, the quarterback's former team. But the coach qualified that statement by saying that if Vick didn't practice, he would miss his second consecutive game.

Vick was hurt during the first quarter of the Eagles' Oct. 3 loss to the Washington Redskins and missed last Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, when Kolb led the team to victory. Vick could sit out next weekend's road game against the Tennessee Titans, too, because the Eagles have a bye week after that.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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