Kolb hopes for extra playing time in Cards' preseason opener

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- After just five practices, Kevin Kolb will lead the Arizona Cardinals into their preseason opener Thursday night at Oakland.

Kolb said he hopes Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt will give him as much playing time as possible as he works to learn a new system and develop chemistry with his teammates.

"Obviously, Ken's been around a lot longer than I have and he makes those calls," Kolb said before Tuesday's final pre-game practice, "but as much time as he'll give us, that's how much time we need because there's a lot of work to be done."

Whisenhunt said he probably will stay with his new quarterback a bit longer than he would under normal circumstances in a preseason opener.

"I just would just like to see him continue to be comfortable with calling and operating the offense," the coach said. "I've seen some good strides as far as handling it in the huddle, but this is a whole new deal now, going out on the field, working the communicator, getting in and out of the huddle, get the plays lined up. I'm sure there's going to be some confusion out there, not necessarily his but other people on the team. You just never know."

Forget game planning for the Raiders. With such a limited time to prepare, Kolb will do well to just oversee the basic offense.

"I guess the biggest thing that I want to see is just how he handles everything," Whisenhunt said. "I'm not too concerned about statistically what he does or a lot of those things. You want to see him do good things, but I think really you obviously want to see how he handles the situation. It will give us a better feel of what we can do, what we can put in, how we can adjust things going forward. That's what this is all about."

Kolb, obtained in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, couldn't practice with the Cardinals until last Thursday after he signed a five-year, $63 million contract with $21 million guaranteed. He said he's a perfectionist and it has been frustrating when he struggles sometimes with the terminology of Arizona's offense.

"It is hard because I put a lot of pressure on myself and I want to be perfect from the word go," he said. "It frustrates me beyond belief whenever I have a tough time spitting out a play. If I stutter through a long-worded play, that frustrates me because that's not my style. But I also understand I'm going into Day 5 here, so I have to calm myself down. But I still want to chase that perfection every day."

Kolb is coming off a mixed performance in the Cardinals' red and white scrimmage, when he made some big plays but threw three interceptions.

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Asked what he learned from that day, Kolb said, "Don't force things."

"We did some great things, and that happens to me sometimes," he said, "You know, I get caught up in trying to make too many plays."

Kolb said the important thing is not to repeat mistakes.

"I know I'm going to make some mistakes. I just want to learn from them," he said. "Just like the scrimmage on Saturday, just like the practice yesterday. All those are sticking in my head, and I'll remember them, and hopefully I won't make those mistakes again. Obviously, we don't want to make a bunch of them.

"I don't know how much playing time we're going to get, but every down, every snap, I'll make sure I'm learning from that experience and putting them in my memory bank for later on."

The Cardinals had Sunday off, but while some of his teammates chose to return to Phoenix, Kolb stayed at camp.

"I said I needed to hang out here and make sure I was catching up on the fast-paced first couple of days there," he said. "I feel good, though, even the next practice yesterday, just spitting it out felt a lot better. And every day's a little bit better."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Leaner, stronger Moreno hopes to finally meet expectations

Knowshon Moreno was drafted 12th overall by the Denver Broncos in 2009, but his production in his first two seasons likely has left team brass wondering if they made the right choice.

Moreno suffered a knee injury in his rookie training camp, then experienced serious hamstring issues last year. When he has been on the field, he has shown little of the explosiveness that the Broncos believed would make him a star, managing just three runs of more than 20 yards last season.

But Moreno has spent this offseason trying to change both perception and performance. The 24-year-old has logged serious hours in the gym, reshaping his body with the hope of finally fulfilling expectations. He has dropped from 215 to 200 pounds while adding strength, especially in those troubled hamstrings.

"I want to come into the season in the best shape I can be," Moreno told The Denver Post in a story in Saturday's editions. "I want my body to be in great shape so I can go out there and practice hard, practice to the best of my ability."

The Broncos could add new elements to their backfield after the NFL lockout ends, with several notable running backs set to hit free agency. But Moreno told The Post that he welcomes competition and even used the 2009 Carolina Panthers as an example of how two runners can thrive in one system.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart each ran for over 1,100 yards in then-Panthers coach John Fox's system that year. Fox now is the Broncos' coach, so Williams is one of the notable free agents who could be on the team's radar.

"It's always good to have more people on the team that can help out," Moreno said. "You shouldn't look at it like, 'Oh, damn, someone else is coming in.' You should look at it as a challenge. If you're not going to compete, you shouldn't be playing this game."

Despite an inability to create big plays, Moreno did put up respectable numbers last season. He amassed 779 yards on 182 carries for a 4.3-yard average, and he scored five touchdowns on the ground and three more through the air.

Those are good numbers but not great, so Moreno is seeking to make the leap from servicable player to star. His trainer, Matt Chan, said he's "absolutely stronger." Now, Moreno must translate that to the field.

"I know I've got more in me," he said.

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With spotlight dimmed, QB Leinart hopes for a chance to play

Free-agent quarterback Matt Leinart has heard the "bust" label applied to his uneven NFL career, but it hasn't stopped the five-year veteran from believing he still belongs in the NFL.

Leinart, the former USC quarterback, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and helped the Trojans to successive national championships, was a disappointment with the Arizona Cardinals after they selected him with the tenth-overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft.

"I’ve heard everything. I’ve seen everything," Leinart told 710 ESPN in Los Angeles on Friday. "For me, I haven’t proven anything ... I haven’t proven that I can play game in and game out. And I understand that. Now, I believe I can play and I’m not one to make excuses. I’ve never made an excuse in my time with Arizona. It just didn't work out for whatever reasons.

"... You kind of look at the timeline of what's happened to me and ... having a pretty good rookie year and then the second year just getting the injury and then, you know, Kurt Warner, I mean Kurt Warner played himself into the Hall of Fame the last three years. There’s not a lot I can do about that. I battled with a Hall of Famer two training camps in a row."

The Cardinals cut Leinart in September just days before the start of the regular season. He signed with the Houston Texans, but couldn't win the No. 2 slot from Dan Orlovsky behind starter Matt Schaub.

Leinart disappeared last season, not throwing a single pass. His distance from the spotlight helped Leinart shed a party-boy image that hampered perception of him coming out of USC.

"Perception is perception," Leinart said. "One person can think one thing of me and then that can escalate and then thousands of people jump on the bandwagon, when it may not even be true."

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Said Leinart: "You look at where I was in college and, I've said it many times, USC was the pro football of California, of L.A., and we were on top. And myself, Reggie (Bush), you know, other guys on the team, it was kind of wherever we went that's how we were treated. (People would say) 'Oh there's USC guys. There's Matt. There's Reggie.'

"I was a 20-, 21-year-old kid and I feel like I’ve always remained the same. I've remained humble. I've always worked hard, but at that time it was kind like wherever we went it was a story, whether it was good or bad. It didn’t really matter. There's a few things, you know, I think I've I learned."

Leinart remains confident in his ability to be an NFL starter despite pedestrian career numbers -- 20 interceptions, 14 touchdown passes and no more than eight appearances in any season. What he'd like to happen next is receive an opportunity to start somewhere.

"I thought Houston was a small and good stepping stone for me to get my career back on track and get a chance to compete somewhere and get that opportunity to start," Leinart said. "We’ll see what happens. Your guess is as good as mine to see what happens, but I’m excited."

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Brunell getting finances in order, hopes for return to Jets

Mark Brunell is edging closer to an escape from bankruptcy.

The veteran quarterback filed for Chapter 11 last June, and on Tuesday U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerry Funk gave conditional approval to the disclosure statement that details his plans to eliminate his debts, The Florida Times-Union reported.

Funk will set another hearing to confirm the reorganization plan once the statement gets final approval.

An investment in 12 Whataburger restaurant franchises in Jacksonville played a key role in Mark Brunell's financial troubles. (Paul Jasienski/Associated Press)

Brunell's lawyers will have to add more information in the disclosure statement before getting final approval from the judge. This came after objections from creditors seeking more details on the QB's finances.

As Brunell attempts to get his financial house in order, he has his eye on returning for his 19th season in the NFL.

Brunell, who spent last season behind Mark Sanchez, signed a two-year deal with the New York Jets in 2010, but the second year of the deal isn't guaranteed. The original filing said Brunell's "future income is highly uncertain."

Michael Freed, an attorney for Brunell, said the 40-year-old's future with the Jets is in doubt.

"If there is an opportunity to play, I expect he will," Freed told the Times-Union. "We're hopeful though."

Brunell became wealthy during a lucrative and successful NFL career that began with the Green Bay Packers in 1993.

He was the first quarterback for the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, receiving three Pro Bowl nods with the team while entrenching himself in the community. But two failed business partnerships -- a real-estate development company called Champion LLC and an investment in 12 Whataburger restaurant franchises -- led the quarterback to serious financial trouble.

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Vick hopes his example helps Burress get back on his feet

PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick's advice for Plaxico Burress is to put his family ahead of football.

Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles' Pro Bowl quarterback, said Wednesday he hopes Burress uses him as an example in his return to the NFL. The former New York Giants receiver spent nearly two years in prison for a gun charge and was released Monday.

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Vick has made a remarkable comeback to the league after spending 18 months in federal prison for dogfighting charges. He led the Eagles to the NFC East title last season and was voted The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year.

Vick hasn't communicated directly with Burress, but shared his thoughts on what he would say to him.

"Just take your time coming back and getting acclimated. Think family first and football second and it'll all work out," Vick said. "It's great that he'll get a second chance. We'll pray for him, we're going to support him 100 percent and we're in his corner and we just want him to excel."

Vick was reviled when he came back, and there was an outcry from animal rights groups when the Eagles signed him in August 2009. But Vick won over fans in Philadelphia -- and outside the city, too -- with his sensational performance on the field and his service in the community.

Burress doesn't have to overcome similar animosity, though he still faces some challenges.

"Hopefully he'll use my situation as an example and go out and try and emulate what I've done in his own way," Vick said. "That's what it's about. It's about growth and it's about learning. Things in life happen in stages, and those are some things you have to go through as an individual."

The Eagles are rumored to be a potential home for Burress, and they were even listed on one betting website as the favorites to land him at 3-2 odds. But a person familiar with the team's thinking told The Associated Press that Burress isn't in their plans.

That makes sense considering the Eagles already have two standout receivers: DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Jackson has been to the Pro Bowl twice and Maclin has star potential. Jason Avant and Riley Cooper give the team depth at the position.

Burress would fit in perfectly as a situational receiver inside the red zone because of his size. But it's likely he would prefer a team that would offer him a chance to be the No. 1 or No. 2 target.

"He definitely brings a lot to the game, his passion, enthusiasm and the way he plays," Vick said. Vick and several other Eagles have said they would welcome Burress to Philadelphia.

It's not their decision, though.

"We haven't even gone there," Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said during the team's annual playground building event. "There is nothing you can do there."

Vick was 29 when he returned. Burress turns 34 in August. While age is a factor, Vick said Burress' position helps him.

"It's actually easier being a receiver and coming back and playing the game," Vick said. "You have to get your legs back up under you. I was a guy that had to live that. It's tough. You think you can do it, but you have to take that time out and make sure you're ready to go."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Williams hopes he figures in Bucs' plans next season

Running back Cadillac Williams will be free to sign with any team he wishes once the lockout ends, but if the seventh-year veteran has his way he'll be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Tampa is a very special place for me," Williams said via The Tampa Tribune on Tuesday. "This is the team that drafted me. It's a team that has been through the good times and bad times with me. At the lowest point of my career, the organization was definitely behind me.

"The fan base in and out the community, dealing with different people, it's a very special place to me. I've grown accustomed to the area and living here. Tampa is a great city, great place and most of all, a really great place to play. It's definitely a place I would love to play and finish out my career, but only time will tell."

A first-round draft pick in 2005, Williams overcame severe knee injuries in 2007 and 2008 to play in all 16 games in 2009. He has rushed for 3,677 yards and 20 touchdowns during his career.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris has made it clear he would like Williams, 29, and fellow free agent Barrett Ruud back.

"First of all, you mentioned two guys with great character," Morris said. "Two leaders in our community and two guys that gave us great service throughout their time and hopefully it can continue.

"We'll get a chance to sit down when all the collective bargaining agreement stuff is solved. We'll get a chance to find out if we can have both of those guys back on our football team, the two guys that we know we'll have in free agency right now. We'll just have to wait and see."

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Chargers LB English hopes second surgery fixes foot issues

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Redskins win in OT to deal Jaguars' playoff hopes a blow

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Redskins CB Rogers downplays sore calf, hopes to face Giants

Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers hopes his nagging sore calf won't sideline him against the New York Giants in the season finale, according to The Washington Post.

Rogers left Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half due to the calf injury and did not return.

"It's alright, right now," Rogers told The Post after the game. "It's kind of straining a little bit. I know from the previous one I had last training camp, if I kept going, I was going to pop. And I didn't want to do that."

Rogers intercepted Jaguars quarterback David Garrard on Jacksonville's initial possession to set up the Redskins' first touchdown. It was Rogers' second interception of the season, to go along with 54 total tackles.

The sixth-year veteran leads a banged-up Redskins' defense that played against the Jaguars minus several starters, including linebacker Brian Orakpo and safeties Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bucs beat 'Hawks to keep playoff hopes alive

TAMPA, Fla. -- Josh Freeman threw for 237 yards and a career-best five touchdowns Sunday to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep their playoff hopes alive with a 38-15 rout of the struggling Seattle Seahawks.

Kellen Winslow and rookie Mike Williams each had a pair of TD receptions for the Bucs (9-6), who guaranteed themselves a winning record after going 3-13 a year ago in their first season under coach Raheem Morris.

Seattle (6-9) played most of the game without injured quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Amazingly, the Seahawks can still win the NFC West - thus earning a playoff spot with a losing record -- by beating the first-place St. Louis Rams (7-8) at home next Sunday.

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Vikings RB Peterson hopes to shake thigh injury, play vs. Eagles

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- There are just two games left in the Minnesota Vikings' miserable season, and Adrian Peterson is hobbling around with a painful thigh bruise.

With the playoffs out of reach, why risk further injury to the team's most dynamic player? Why not sit him for the final two weeks and make sure he is ready to go next season?

Peterson doesn't see it that way. The Vikings are 5-9 and going nowhere fast, but he wants to be out there with his teammates until the bitter end.

"It's been a roller-coaster season. It hasn't gone the way we planned," Peterson said Thursday. "But I love to play this game. That's why I do what I do. I definitely don't think that way about it. If I can play, I'll definitely be out there on Sunday."

Peterson injured his left thigh two weeks ago when he collided with Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson on a handoff. Peterson missed Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears, the first time he has sat out since missing two games with a knee injury his rookie season in 2007.

"It's nothing like a torn ligament or anything like that," Peterson said. "I don't feel like I can do any further damage to it. It's basically just a quad. Muscles are just tight. Pushing it will probably help it stretch a little more."

Peterson did some running in practice Thursday for the first time this week, and Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said the running back has dramatically improved over the last several days. If Peterson can't play, rookie Toby Gerhart will receive the bulk of the work.

The Vikings lost 40-14 to the Bears and have been outscored 61-17 in the last two weeks, showing signs that some are packing it in and thinking about the offseason. Peterson isn't among them. He practiced on a limited basis Thursday and said he hopes to play Sunday night.

Peterson has been one of the few bright spots for a Minnesota team in such a trying season. He has rushed for 1,149 yards and 11 touchdowns and appears to have solved his fumbling problem. After leading the NFL with 16 fumbles over the previous two seasons, Peterson hasn't lost one this year in 280 touches.

"That's a story that's not been written about enough, the kind of year he's having, even though our team is not having a great year," Frazier said. "But Adrian, he is having a Pro Bowl season, there's no question about it."

Brett Favre again missed practice Thursday with a concussion, and Frazier said the 41-year-old quarterback was still experiencing some symptoms from the injury. Favre will go through another concussion test Friday, as will safety Madieu Williams.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams also missed practice for personal reasons, but Frazier expected him to return Friday.

Frazier said none of the Vikings who had concussions this season played the week after being hurt.

"It can vary from person to person. Some guys respond a little bit better," Frazier said. "But in this era, where we're very cautious when it comes to head injuries, you're just very cautious. But it varies from guy to guy. Some guys have fewer symptoms than another two days later or a day later."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bills safety Whitner wants new deal, hopes to avoid free agency

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner said he's having contract talks with the team in a bid to avoid becoming a free agent after this season.

Whitner said the two sides have been negotiating for more than a month, but no deal has been reached. Whitner hopes a new contract can be reached because he'd prefer remaining in Buffalo (2-10) and help turn around a team that will miss the playoffs for an 11th consecutive season.

The Bills will host the Cleveland Browns (5-7) on Sunday.

Whitner has been a starter since his rookie season in 2006, after being drafted eighth overall out of Ohio State. He's second on the team this season with 111 tackles -- the second season he has had at least 100.

The Bills have a policy to not discuss contract talks.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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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.

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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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Fisher hopes addition of Moss can propel Titans to next level

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- How long the Tennessee Titans and Randy Moss stay together remains to be seen. For now, Jeff Fisher is thinking playoffs and the Super Bowl that has eluded the NFL's longest tenured coach with his current team.

Fisher said Monday he isn't thinking past the end of the season -- whenever that is. The contract extension Moss has been seeking most of this year won't be on the table until then.

"I don't have a ring. He doesn't have a ring, so we're going to try," Fisher said.

Moss arrived early Monday, and Fisher said the receiver passed a physical, worked out and met with coaches to start learning the offense. He also got his locker and met everyone in the building. Moss was even seen running around on the team's outdoor practice fields Monday afternoon.

Fisher insists what happened between Moss and the New England Patriots or the Minnesota Vikings is not an issue now. The coach does think Moss is in the best place he possible, saying the changes would have taken an emotional toll on any player.

"Usually, it's the case where you really don't have all the information," Fisher said. "There's a lot of things that go on, and I think that was the case there. We discussed a lot, and we've put it behind us. I'm excited for him. He's got a bounce in his step, and he's looking forward to getting on the field and helping us win."

How Moss feels remains unheard.

He hasn't commented publicly of being waived a week ago by Minnesota or on the Titans being the only NFL team to put in a claim on the receiver. Since the Titans won their waiver claim last Wednesday, both Fisher and Moss' agent have said the receiver is excited Tennessee claimed him.

Moss arrived in Nashville late Sunday afternoon but didn't talk to a handful of reporters staked out at a private airport terminal. The Titans currently plan to make Moss available to reporters Wednesday after practice. That doesn't mean Moss will actually speak or take questions.

The receiver hasn't spoken to reporters since Oct. 13 and was fined $25,000 by the NFL for failing to cooperate with the media.

Fisher said Moss won't be treated differently than any other player on the roster, and he sees no risk whatsoever in bringing the well-traveled receiver to town. Fisher said Moss obviously has talked to people who knows how the Titans do things.

"He's heard great things about the locker room, and I don't see a risk at all," Fisher said. "He's a very good football player who became available to us, and it's a new start. It's a new start for him, and it's an opportunity for us to get better offensively."

The timing is perfect.

The Titans (5-3) enjoyed their bye by moving back into a tie with Indianapolis (5-3) atop the AFC South with five divisional games left. Fisher still sees the defending champion Colts as the team to beat despite their list of injuries with 12 players on injured reserve.

"You're going to have win the division to get in the playoffs ... There's no telling how the wild card thing's going to fall," Fisher said.

Fisher expects Moss to play when the Titans visit Miami (4-4) on Sunday. Moss didn't have a catch against the Dolphins in his last game with the Patriots on Oct. 4 before being traded to Minnesota, and Fisher said the receiver may have only a set of plays he's familiar with as he works to also learn the offense and a game plan.

He also gets to meet another new quarterback. Vince Young spent part of the weekend in Austin, Texas, opening up a steakhouse and treating his left ankle, but the Titans are due back at work Tuesday after a four-day break for the bye.

As the waiver claim worked out, Moss wound up enjoying a bye week that will leave him playing just 16 games this season instead of the 17 he had been on pace to play in if he had stayed in Minnesota.

But it's time to get back to work.

"He enjoyed his off weekend, his bye week, just like we did," Fisher said.

Notes: Fisher refused to give a timetable on receiver Kenny Britt's injured right hamstring other than to repeat Britt will not play at Miami.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans' Johnson hopes to shake ankle injury, play vs. Giants

Andre Johnson practiced Thursday with his ailing right ankle in a brace and said he expects to play in the Houston Texans' game this weekend against the New York Giants.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said the status of Johnson, who sat out last weekend's victory over the Oakland Raiders, will be a "game-time" decision, but the four-time Pro Bowl receiver said he was anxious to be back on the field.

"I plan on playing, but at the same time, if it was up to me, I would have tried to play last Sunday," Johnson said after Thursday's practice. "Coach Kubiak is in charge of all of that. I'm not sure if they'll have me work out or not before the game. ... I just plan on playing. I'll find out more as the week goes on."

Johnson injured the ankle Sept. 19 during a 30-27 road victory over the Washington Redskins and aggravated it one week later in a 27-13 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He missed two practices last week and was listed by Kubiak as a game-time decision, but the receiver didn't play.

"It feels better than it felt a week ago," said Johnson, who was limited in Thursday's practice. "At this point last week, I wasn't able to practice, so me being able to go out there running around ... and I also ran yesterday. It feels better. I mean, of course, it's not 100 percent, but I feel I'm able to go out there and play.

"It's a little soreness here and there at times, but at the same time, I mean, it's not nothing where it's, like, killing me."

Jacoby Jones, who replaced Johnson in the lineup against Oakland, left that game with a strained calf muscle and hasn't practiced this week. Kubiak said Jones' status also is a game-time decision.

Johnson's ability to perform at or near his capabilities will play a role in the decision on whether or not he plays, Kubiak said.

"(There's) going to be a risk whenever he comes back, regardless," the coach said. "We would never put a guy out there that we didn't think could protect himself and play at a level that we think you need to play at. This week will be no different from last week from that standpoint, but he's way ahead of where he was last week at this point."

Kubiak said Johnson "took what we expected for him today. He was limited for practice, but he did practice, and (we'll) see how he comes out of it. It was very encouraging as we work toward the weekend."

Johnson wore a brace Thursday to keep his ankle stable and was pleased with the results.

"I've never played in a brace before," he said. "Today is the first time cutting and stuff in it. That was kind of new for me. I was just trying to get adjusted to that. They're making so more adjustments to it ... trying to make it as comfortable as possible for me. I'll go out there tomorrow and do some more stuff."

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Moss' return in trade boosts Vikings' Super Bowl hopes

Brett Favre finally received his wish. He will play with Randy Moss, and the Minnesota Vikings couldn't be happier about it.

The Super-Bowl-or-bust Vikings acquired Moss from the New England Patriots on Wednesday for two draft picks, another eye-opening acquisition that comes just in time to rejuvenate a stagnant offense for a challenging stretch of games.

The Patriots gave Moss, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, the exit he expected and sent him back to the team that turned him into a superstar after drafting him in the first round in 1998.

In Minnesota, there still are plenty of fond memories of Moss's electrifying performances, along with his colorful comments and contrarian behavior.

"He can still go downtown and get the football, which is a stand-alone factor," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "He could sprain his toe here sometime coming up, and you could say that he's 33 -- it's old age. But there's always risk-reward. I don't necessarily see this as boom or bust. I think he's got some more football in him. ... I'm always excited, as they say, to add a good piece to the puzzle."

A league source told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that the Patriots received a 2011 third-round pick in exchange for Moss. Lombardi also confirmed that the Patriots will give the Vikings a 2012 seventh-round selection in the deal.

The Vikings play Monday night at New York, and Childress said without hesitation that Moss would be in uniform against the Jets -- in his old purple No. 84.

"Man, we wish this would have happened a week later," Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson said.

The drama will be high around the Twin Cities all month. Check out Minnesota's last two games in October: at rival Green Bay and at New England.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said his dealings with Moss have been "honest, thoughtful and with great mutual respect."

"While I will keep private the details of internal conversations with players and staff, suffice it to say that many things were taken into consideration before making the trade,” Belichick said in a statement released by the team. "In this business, there are complex and often difficult decisions, but it is my responsibility to make them based on what I feel is best for our football team, in both the short term and long term.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss, and, aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career."

The Vikings didn't practice Wednesday. Moss is expected to join the team Thursday and talk with reporters afterward.

Rather than catching passes from Tom Brady, Moss will be a target for Favre, who desperately needed a downfield threat after Pro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice underwent hip surgery in August. Struggling Bernard Berrian hasn't been a factor, and Percy Harvin -- when healthy -- is better suited for the slot position. The Vikings traded for Greg Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins in late August and signed Philadelphia Eagles cast-off Hank Baskett in Week 3, but neither move made the kind of impact that acquiring Moss is expected to make.

"This is an exciting move. I think everybody feels that in the locker room," Favre told the team's official website. "It's rare you get to play with a future Hall of Famer and get to appreciate their talents up close. Randy Moss is a great player, and his career speaks for itself. I've admired him from a distance for a long time, and you can't help but be impressed by the guy."

Moss spent his first seven seasons in Minnesota, where he set all kinds of records and evolved into one of the NFL's most exciting playmakers. He often burned Favre's Packers, racking up 9,142 yards and 90 touchdowns during his time with the Vikings and fueling runs to NFC title-game appearances following the 1998 and 2000 seasons.

Tired of Moss' attitude and wary of a hamstring injury that hampered him in the 2004 season, the Vikings traded the receiver to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Moss wore out his welcome there, so the Raiders sent him to New England in 2007. Favre was frustrated at the time that Green Bay didn't land Moss; they discussed a trade with Oakland.

Childress denied Wednesday that Favre lobbied for this move. The coach said Vikings owner Zygi Wilf gave his blessing Monday.

"I don't think any of us thought this guy was going to be available ...," Childress said. "It just was a rare opportunity for us to take advantage of a guy that's a potential Hall of Fame player and still has some pretty good tread on the tire.

"He's not a rookie. He's been to handling school. He's played in this league. He gets coverage, he's an extremely smart guy when you watch what he does, and by all accounts, a pretty good student of the game."

The entertaining style of football that Moss brought with him started a string of sellouts at the Metrodome that is still going 13 years later. His jersey still can be seen regularly on the backs of Vikings fans six years after his departure.

His first stint in Minnesota was, however, anything but smooth.

There was the time Moss bumped a traffic cop with his car in downtown Minneapolis, another when he left the field early from a game in Washington. He repeatedly was fined or admonished for his antics or behavior.

Childress said Moss has a clean slate in Minnesota.

"I'm just satisfied to judge him, not backward, but judge him going forward and what he does with us here," the coach said.

Childress insisted Moss' acquisition isn't a sign that Rice's recovery has slowed. Rice recently said he hopes to be off his crutches next week.

The Vikings began the year with championship aspirations after reaching the NFC title game in January, but they have lost two of their first three games, and Favre's passing game has struggled to get off the ground. The Vikings talked last month about acquiring another disgruntled, talented wide receiver, Vincent Jackson, but the San Diego Chargers chose to keep his rights.

"The problem," Favre said after a Sept. 26 victory over the Detroit Lions, "is it's been a new guy every week, and you say, 'OK, I'm going to play this guy at slot and this guy at flanker,' and then the next week you take the flanker and you move him to slot."

"We've just been missing something, and I think he (Moss) can give us another threat down the field," running back Adrian Peterson said on the team's website.

Moss is in the final season of a three-year, $27 million contract and has said several times that he expected 2010 to be his last season with the Patriots. He didn't have a catch Monday night in the Patriots' 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the first time since 2006 that he went without a reception.

"When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted," Moss, frustrated he hadn't been offered a contract extension, said in September. "I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling -- feeling not wanted."

Moss later backtracked from those statements, telling The Associated Press that he hoped to finish his career with the Patriots.

"For me to be 33 years old, it's like I'm held at bay," he said. "If this is my last year here, I want to leave as good as I came in here in '07. I know that's really hard to duplicate, but I don't want the fans, the organization, coaches or my teammates to have a sour taste in their mouths about Randy Moss."

Moss' agent, Joel Segal, said the Vikings haven't contacted him about a long-term deal, so the receiver joins a long list of prominent Vikings in the final year of their contracts, including Rice, Favre, linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway and defensive end Ray Edwards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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