Ochocinco seeks Patriots fan to be roommate to start season

Ever wanted to be roommates with Chad Ochocinco? If you live near Foxborough, Mass., you have a chance.

That's because the newly acquired New England Patriots wide receiver still is looking for a place to live, and he said Tuesday that he's toying with a novel way of getting to know the Boston area.

"I'm going to do something different -- I'm actually going to stay with a fan, probably the first two or three weeks of the season," Ochocinco said. "So that should be fun until I get myself acclimated, I learn my way around and actually just find a place."

Ochocinco hasn't picked the fan yet, but he laid out a simple set of requirements.

"They have to have Internet, and they have to have Xbox, and that's about it," Ochocinco said.

The number of tweets by Ochocinco, who has more than 2 million followers on Twitter, have decreased since he became a Patriot on July 29. So, he was asked Tuesday if he could both be himself and still be a Patriot, and he just smiled.

After signing with New England, Ochocinco said he "will always be me," but he also said he was "going to blend in and do it the Patriot way, which is win. It has been a part of my game to always be me, but there is a certain way the Patriots do it and it's easy for me."

The veteran receiver said he still has a lot of work to do, but he's starting to feel comfortable with his new teammates. He gave fellow receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch and quarterback Tom Brady credit for his progress.

"I've been able to assume a lot of information in a short period of time," Ochocinco said, while adding "there's still a lot of work to do."

Notes: Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he doubted he would play veterans more than he usually does in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also said it was "probably right" that players who haven't been practicing won't play in the game. ... Belichick said newly acquired Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis are both "day to day" when it comes to returning to the field. Haynesworth has missed the past four practices. "He's in the 'day to day' category and getting some treatment," Belichick said. "He'll be out there as soon as he can." He said Ellis is in a similar situation. Ellis has been placed on the physically unable to perform list. He can resume practicing whenever he is ready, and he still counts against the 90-man roster limit. "He's making progress and getting better," Belichick said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Kolb driven to quiet doubters, start work as Cardinals' QB

Kevin Kolb has arrived in Arizona as the new quarterback of a Cardinals team in desperate need of one, acknowledging the pressure he will be under to succeed but saying the situation simply "feels right."

"You just know when something feels right and this one feels right," he said, "all the way from flying in, driving through town, getting here to the facility, talking with everybody, meeting the players, it feels really good."

Kolb appeared at a news conference Friday and later appeared on NFL Network after undergoing his physical.

Later, he traveled north to the team's training camp in Flagstaff, Ariz., for an evening team meeting. The Cardinals hold their first practice on Saturday but, because he signed a new contract, Kolb won't be able to work out with his new team until next Thursday.

The Cardinals sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Kolb in a deal reached on Wednesday. Kolb also has agreed to a five-year contract worth just under $64 million, with $21 million guaranteed.

Kolb traced his interest in playing for Arizona to the NFC Championship Game in the 2008 season, when he watched from the Eagles sidelines as the Cardinals won 32-25.

"I just kind of always marked this one down as one of my favorites," he said, "kept it in the back of my mind."

What impressed him?

"To be quite honest, first it was the stadium. I mean, the stadium was tremendous," Kolb said. "I was shocked by it. The city alone, just how clean and nice the city looked. Granted, I was coming from Philadelphia, but it was just a great city."

That line drew a big laugh from the packed news conference.

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He went on to talk about the game itself, how the Cardinals answered every challenge.

Kolb was the Eagles' second-round draft pick in 2007 and won the starting job after Donovan McNabb's departure before the 2010 season. But after leaving the opener with a concussion, Kolb lost the job to Michael Vick. He comes to Arizona with just seven career starts, and he knows that he remains unproven. Now he must show that he is worth the high price the Cardinals paid for him.

"But there was a lot of pressure in every situation I've been thrown in so far," he said, "so it's nothing new for me. I look forward to the challenge. I look forward to answering a lot of critics and just playing my ball and settling in with this team and going and making a run."

Kolb came to Arizona earlier in the year and worked out with star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. It was, Kolb admits, an audition of sorts, a tryout he expects to go on for some time.

"But I think every day is going to feel like that, especially here for really the first year probably," Kolb said. "Week in and week out, it's going to be something different, every single day. But that's anywhere really, everywhere you go."

He is not pleased with the prospect of just watching practices for the first five days of camp.

"That's going to be a little difficult, watching the other guys practice and wanting to be out there in the heat of the battle," Kolb said. "That's how you earn respect. Forget the figures. Forget what we gave up, they gave up. You're ready to go in there and earn the respect on the field from your teammates."

He comes to a city still longing for the days of Kurt Warner. When Warner retired after leading Arizona to a second straight NFC West title in 2009, the drop-off at quarterback was a major reason the team fell to 5-11, the worst record in coach Ken Whisenhunt's four years with the Cardinals. The debacle set the stage for the franchise's willingness to give up so much to land Kolb.

"I've watched a lot of film on Kurt," Kolb said. "The things he does on the field are masterful in his mind. The mental game he has is unbelievable. That's something you can try to mimic. You'll never probably get there, but you can try to bring in more of that to your own game."

A football coach's son, Kolb said he has been a "gym rat" for as long as he can remember.

"Football has been a part of my life forever," he said.

Kolb was raised in North Texas, where he now owns a 2,500-acre ranch. Someone asked about stories that he went boar hunting with a knife, not a gun. The quarterback laughed.

"It's really not as dangerous as it sounds," he said, "but there is a kamikaze side, I guess, out there. I don't do it anymore. Once my hands started making me a little money, I stopped doing it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Houshmandzadeh hopeful for new start after dropped pass

T.J. Houshmandzadeh's last play as a Baltimore Raven might be a dropped pass that ended the team's season.

Needless to say, he isn't happy about that.

"I wish things had ended better," the veteran wide receiver told the Carroll County Times in a story posted Wednesday. "I'm not a guy who drops the ball, but I dropped a ball that really matters. Last year was a really bad year for me on the field.

"The last two years have been the most disappointing years I've had. I know people will say I can't play no more. If I get to the right team, I'll shock a lot of people."

Houshmandzadeh was shocked in January when he dropped a perfectly placed fourth-and-18 pass that could have given the Ravens a first down with 1:09 left in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game. But the ball bounced off Houshmandzadeh's chest and fell to the turf, sending the Ravens home with a season-ending 31-24 loss and the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers to the next round and eventually Super Bowl XLV.

Houshmandzadeh signed a one-year contract with the Ravens last season after being cut by the Seattle Seahawks. And with the Ravens taking wide receivers Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss in the April draft, Houshmandzadeh knows he'll need to find yet another home this year.

"I love the people there," Houshmandzadeh said of the Ravens. "I can't say a bad word about them. I wish I could come back, but I know the dynamic and how it works."

Houshmandzadeh, 33, started just two games for the Ravens -- his fewest since 2002, his second NFL season -- and caught 30 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns. Despite that decreased production, Houshmandzadeh believes he still has something to offer a team.

"I need to go to the right team and get the right opportunity," he said. "Here's the thing: You can be a good-looking man and you like a woman, but it doesn't matter if she doesn't like you. I want to go to a team that wants me to play for them."

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Vikings' Ponder wants to start but willing to learn from veteran

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, the Minnesota Vikings' first-round draft pick, told KFAN-AM that he's gunning to become the team's starting quarterback this season, but he understands the thought process behind possibly bringing in a veteran.

"Obviously, I think everyone in my position would love to start Week 1," Ponder told the radio station last week. "It's the competitor in me, and something I've always dreamed of was starting in the NFL, and I want to do it ASAP. But obviously there are some reasons behind bringing a guy in, and obviously there's some definite pros to it. If they still bring in a guy, it's going to be someone who knows what he's doing. It will give me a lot to learn from and help me out.

"But at the same time, I want to definitely start Week 1. So, we'll see what happens, and whatever happens, I'll be completely fine with it. I think the coaches are going to make the best decision for me personally."

Ponder, a former Florida State star, said his offseason training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has helped him learn NFL verbiage and play-calling in a minicamp-style setting.

"There's probably 15 to 20 guys here at IMG and some guys that are in college, some guys are in the NFL and they are coming out and catching routes," Ponder said. "We had some guys that came in that were from the Vikings a couple of weeks ago and we did the same thing when they were here. (Vikings wideout) Manny Arceneaux is down here full time. ... (Vikings tight end Visanthe) Shiancoe was just down here for a couple of days this week ... I got to work with him a bit as well."

Shiancoe joined Ponder and Vikings quarterback Joe Webb, who was forced into starting as a rookie late last season because of injuries to Minnesota's other signal-callers. Ponder and Webb likely would compete for the starting job if the Vikings don't add a veteran quarterback.

"We really went over the playbook," Shiancoe told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora last week.

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» Watch: La Canfora examines WR market

"Visanthe is a freak," Ponder said of Shiancoe's athleticism.

Ponder told the radio station that he has kept an eye on labor talks during the NFL lockout, and he can't wait to get going once things are settled.

"I've definitely been following it," Ponder said. "It's just too hard to tell (when the lockout will end) because there's not enough details being released and everyone is being optimistic about it. Then you hear comments here and there that say not to be optimistic about it because we are a long way away, so it's too hard to tell. I want to be optimistic about it, and hopefully things are going to end soon. But at the same time, I don't want to get my hopes up and nothing happens. ... Hopefully it clears up in the next couple weeks. So we'll see."

Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is waiting to see what Ponder can bring to the offense, The Star Tribune reported Monday, citing ESPN.

"I really don't know much about the guy," Peterson told ESPN earlier this month. "I've heard nothing but good things about him. I've watched him a little bit at Florida State. One thing I have noticed is he's smart with the ball, he's very accurate and just taking the surrounding cast we have as far as receivers -- Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Shiancoe -- I feel like he'll be able to do enough to get us there.

"We all have our part to do to contribute. I'm definitely going to do my part. So I'm going to do the best I can to make it easy on him, (being as how) he's a first-year guy and we'll see how he responds."

With the lockout in its fourth month, Peterson refused to count out Webb in the team's quarterback battle -- or the addition of a veteran passer.

"Obviously (Brett) Favre is retired, we've got some guys returning -- Joe Webb," Peterson said. "When you draft a quarterback (as high as Ponder), I'm sure you would assume that he's going to come in as the starter. The lockout is still in effect, and it's still undetermined when the season is going to start. I don't know how we throw a young guy into the fire like that. To just start.

"To be able to sit here and tell you who exactly is going to start, it's a long stretch for me to pick. I'm sure whenever the lockout is lifted and we start where there is some type of training camp, the best player will be on the field."

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Singletary confirms 49ers to start Troy Smith at QB vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are going back to Troy Smith as their starting quarterback while leaving open the possibility they might switch to Alex Smith at any time.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported the move Wednesday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

Coach Mike Singletary confirmed Thursday that Troy Smith will start Sunday's pivotal NFC West game against the St. Louis Rams in place of Alex Smith, who started San Francisco's last two games.

The coach also said he wouldn't hesitate to change quarterbacks during the game if the situation calls for it.

"You know what, it's kind of the same thing I've talked about all year," Singletary told reporters. "I feel that Troy has certain strengths, as well as Alex, and I think the way it works out, it is -- you know, we could possibly use them both. ... The game will dictate it.

"Even though Troy is going to be the starter, we're making sure that the game plan is such that we can possibly use both their strengths in this game."

The 49ers have changed quarterbacks after each of their last two defeats in an attempt to salvage a losing season. At 5-9, San Francisco still has an opportunity to capture the NFC West title and end a seven-year playoff drought by winning its final two games, against St. Louis and Arizona.

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Troy Smith, who didn't join the 49ers until Sept. 6, has remained focused throughout the week on his second chance as San Francisco's starter. He went 3-2 in his five games as a starter earlier this season after taking over for Alex Smith in late October. Troy Smith had a career-high 356 yards passing to lead the 49ers to a 23-20 overtime victory Nov. 14 against St. Louis.

"This is huge for me," Troy Smith said. "For any player to be able to play in a game of this magnitude, be a part of something special, it's going to be pretty big for all of us. The knick-knacks and the other little things that are going on around us, we're definitely channeling that out and worrying about winning this game."

The 49ers went back to Alex Smith two weeks ago after Troy Smith completed just 10 of 25 passes during a 34-16 loss at Green Bay. Alex Smith had statistically the best game of his career the following week during a 40-21 victory over Seattle, but he and the San Francisco offense could muster only 192 total yards during last week's 34-7 loss at San Diego.

Alex Smith began this season 1-6 as San Francisco's starter before separating his left shoulder during a Week 7 loss at Carolina. Selected by the 49ers with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft, Alex Smith is 18-31 as the team's starter.

Singletary was asked if he was concerned that the news broke before he revealed it.

"That's kind of the way it is, whether it's around the league," he said. "When you have Twitter, when you have all of the other things ... I don't want to have this organization be like the firm, you know, 'I don't want you to say anything.' ... I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out.

"There are things that I absolutely do not want to get out, that won't. But you just have to limit who you're telling. So I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out."

The 49ers have become accustomed this season to change within their offensive unit.

"We've been through everything you can go through as an offense really," wide receiver Michael Crabtree said. "It's difficult, but you just have to take what they give you and keep going. I'm just trying to stay positive about the whole situation and be ready to play this game Sunday."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan: Jets will start Brunell vs. Bears if ailing Sanchez lacks 'zip'

The New York Jets might have to try to clinch a playoff spot this weekend without Mark Sanchez.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Thursday that Sanchez's sore shoulder is worse than he first thought, though he still expects the quarterback to start Sunday at Chicago. If not, 40-year-old Mark Brunell would be under center.

"This one could be more of a game-time type decision than I thought it would be," Ryan said.

The Jets (10-4) will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Bears (10-4) at Soldier Field.

Sanchez was limited in practice for the second consecutive day and "never had a ton of zip" on his passes, according to Ryan. But offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer saw it differently, offering a more optimistic evaluation.

"As he got going a little bit, he looked pretty good," Schottenheimer said. "Early in the day, Mark was trying to get loose. He had an 18-yard curl route that was awfully sharp."

Ryan wouldn't confirm published reports that an MRI exam Monday revealed a slight cartilage tear in Sanchez's shoulder, hurt during New York's second drive in last Sunday's 22-17 win at Pittsburgh.

NFL Network insider Albert Breer confirmed the report Wednesday through a league source.

Sanchez finished the game and played well through the injury. He was 19-of-29 passing for 170 yards and ran for a touchdown, stopping an eight-game interception streak.

"I still think he's going to play, but I was shocked a little bit," Ryan said. "The fact that he played the game and he looked great, I think I made an assumption that maybe I shouldn't have."

Earlier in the week, Ryan said he was 99 percent sure that Sanchez would play. The coach downgraded that number to 80 percent Thursday.

Sanchez wasn't available to the media because he talks on Wednesdays, but he has said he's "playing, that's all there is to it."

Ryan said the decision whether or not Sanchez plays will be made by the team, along with input from the quarterback. The coach said he made a mistake earlier this season when he allowed cornerback Darrelle Revis to decide if he was ready to return from a tweaked hamstring, and it worsened.

Sanchez threw more passes during practice Thursday than he did Wednesday, an encouraging sign. Both Ryan and Schottenheimer believe the decision likely will come down to Sanchez's threshold for pain, but the team won't put him in if he can't perform.

"He's still got to improve before we'll be comfortable with him out there as our starting quarterback," Ryan said. "Do we think he will? Yes, we do think he'll be better. This is what I've said the whole time about it being a sore shoulder."

Brunell, signed during the offseason after two years with the New Orleans Saints, is prepared to step in for Sanchez if needed. Brunell's last start came in the regular-season finale last year as Drew Brees rested for the Saints' eventual Super Bowl-winning push.

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"You have to be ready, that's the job of a backup," Brunell said.

Schottenheimer said the Jets wouldn't have to change much of their offensive game plan if Brunell starts, except for the fact he's left-handed.

"There'd be a few things here or there you might want to flip over and run the other way," Schottenheimer said. "For the most part, you don't change too much."

Ryan said it's "not essential" that Sanchez plays against the Bears if he's still hurting, especially since the Jets have confidence in the experienced Brunell.

"He's smart, he's done it all," Ryan said of the 18-year veteran. "We're not talking about a guy who's never done it before in his career. This guy was a Pro Bowl quarterback for a number of years. Is he as good as Mark Brunell was back then? No, because he'd be our starting quarterback. I feel comfortable with Mark, I really do."

Notes: Safety Eric Smith (concussion) was ruled out for the second consecutive game, as was RT Damien Woody (right knee). ... WR Santonio Holmes (turf toe) was limited in practice, but Ryan expects him to play Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Broncos' Tebow earns second start of season against Texans

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos don't care if everyone knows it, including the Houston Texans: Tim Tebow will start again Sunday.

Rather than keep everybody guessing, interim coach Eric Studesville made the unusual move Monday of announcing that Tebow would be under center when the Broncos (3-11) play host to the Texans (5-9).

Studesville said Kyle Orton is still bothered by bruised ribs and that Tebow did a good job managing the game plan, the team and the crowd in his first NFL start Sunday despite Denver's 39-23 loss at Oakland.

"Well, the reason right now was that we felt that Tim played well yesterday, ran our offense effectively," Studesville said. "Compounding that was the fact that Kyle still was rehabbing ... and we just felt like prolonging this later into the week wasn't the best thing for our preparation and practice."

So, now the Texans don't have to worry about preparing for two quarterbacks, one a right-handed prolific passer and the other a rookie southpaw.

Studesville thought the benefit to the Broncos outweighed any concerns about the Texans knowing it.

"I think they'll certainly have tape on him now to have a game plan," Studesville said. "What they'll do differently ... we're going to do some things differently because we'll have more information on him too, now. So, how that all plays out I'm not exactly sure."

Tebow, who was stunningly selected with the 25th overall pick in the April draft by former coach Josh McDaniels, had thrown just one NFL pass before Sunday and most of his two dozen snaps had come in specialty situations such as short-yardage and goal line packages.

His repertoire was limited Sunday because of bad weather and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy's conservative game calling but he showed enough to merit more playing time and perhaps more of a chance to throw the ball.

"We know more now about Tim and what he can do in a game, we can give him things," Studesville said. "But the entire game plan is still based on what we think gives us the best chance against the Houston Texans, and that's what's going to determine the volume of the playbook more than anything else."

Asked if team owner Pat Bowlen might have suggested the move to ensure there isn't a sea of empty seats at Invesco Field on Sunday, Studesville said he indeed met with the owner and chief operating officer Joe Ellis in the morning but that it was his decision alone. He said Bowlen and Ellis agreed with his call.

Although Studesville gave his team the day off Monday, both quarterbacks reported to Dove Valley, Orton for treatment on the ribs he bruised in a loss at Arizona on Dec. 12, and got the news.

Studesville said Orton didn't object.

"No, he's a professional," Studesville said.

Tebow had moments of greatness and moments of grief in his first career start.

By the time the first quarter ended, he had joined Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to run for a 40-yard touchdown and throw for a 30-yard touchdown in the same game.

He was a bit lucky: his 40-yard scamper was supposed to be a hand-off and his 33-yard touchdown strike went through the hands of cornerback Stanford Routt before Brandon Lloyd caught it as he rolled out of bounds.

Tebow admitted after the game that on his touchdown run, he was supposed to hand off to tailback Correll Buckhalter on third-and-24.

"My reaction was it was seven points no matter how it happened," Studesville said Monday.

So, it's forgivable when a rookie goofs up?

"Forgivable? No," Studesville said. "But I'm happy it worked out in a good way."

The Raiders were impressed by the NFL's most intriguing pro prospect since Vick joined the Atlanta Falcons out of Virginia Tech in 2001.

Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha got a good hit on Tebow late in the game but Tebow, who weighs nearly 250 pounds, doled out a lot of punishment himself.

"A lot of guys will either slide or they'll try to take the path of least resistance. But he's going to go head-up with a guy, every time. He's a big guy, tough to bring down," Asomugha said.

That's the concern about Tebow: can he last in this league with that same style that helped him win two national titles and a Heisman Trophy at Florida?

"He's a tough runner. He runs like a back," Raiders safety Michael Huff said. "Once he gets more experience throwing the ball, he'll be a good quarterback."

He's definitely a work-in-progress quarterback who needs more polish in his footwork and throwing mechanics to go with his high energy and enthusiasm.

Tebow completed eight passes for 138 yards and ran eight times for 78 and wasn't picked off Sunday.

"People said he couldn't be an NFL quarterback but he made some good throws, he had some good runs," Oakland linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He does what suits him best and that's what it is."

And what best suits him right now is throwing occasionally and running -- he averaged 9.8 yards a carry.

"He earned a lot of respect from me today," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "He's a lot better athlete than you think he is. You heard so much about him and then you play him. He made a couple moves out there today that surprised me. I think he's got a bright future."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Giants shake off slow start to end Jaguars winning streak at three

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With his team trailing by 11 points and the season on the brink, coach Tom Coughlin wasn't the only voice in the New York Giants' locker room at halftime.

The one that stood out was Justin Tuck, and his message was simple: Stop playing like garbage.

Garrard's personal achievement

The Giants (7-4) got the message and maybe saved their season with five games to go.

Eli Manning threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Boss with 3:15 to play and Tuck and his buddies sacked David Garrard on three straight plays in the closing minute and forced a turnover as the Giants rallied to beat Jacksonville 24-20 on Sunday. The win snapped a two-game slide and ended the Jaguars' three-game winning streak.

"I talked about how you allow somebody to come into your house and take over," Tuck said after the Jaguars had taken a 17-6 halftime lead. "At that point, they were doing just about whatever they wanted to do. We couldn't allow ourselves not to be on the same page."

"I told them I was playing like garbage," Tuck added. "I told them we were playing like garbage. In the second half, we've got to pick it up. I just tried to create a spark, and it worked."

The Giants held the Jaguars (6-5) to three points, 92 yards in total offense and forced two turnovers, with Antrel Rolle's fumble recovery with 1:25 left icing the game.

"That was something that we needed," Coughlin said. "We needed to rise up and have a finish like that. We're all aware of the circumstances that we're in, that the division is in, that the conference is in, and we needed to keep pace."

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Jacksonville took a 20-17 lead on 42-yard field goal by Josh Scobee with 8:26 to play and the Giants finally took the lead with a six-play, 69-yard drive that featured an 18-yard pass to Mario Manningham and an 18-yard run by Brandon Jacobs, who gained 87 yards on 14 carries in his return to the starting lineup.

Faced with a third-and-10 at the Jaguars 32, Manning (14-of-24 for 226) and Boss caught Jacksonville in a blitz.

"He saw it," Manning said of Boss. "He went up the field looking for the ball and I got it to him."

Boss caught the ball at the 25, shook off a tackle by safety Courtney Greene and romped into the end zone.

"He almost brought me down," said Boss, whose holding penalty cost the Giants a first-half touchdown. "I was kind of fumbling and stumbling to keep my feet and get in the end zone."

Greene took the blame.

"I just missed the tackle," said Greene, who led the Jaguars with 11 tackles.

Manning also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Manningham and Lawrence Tynes kicked three field goals. Manning's late heroics also helped big brother Peyton in the AFC South race with Jacksonville -- the Colts and Jaguars began the day tied for the division lead.

Garrard and Rashad Jennings ran for touchdowns and Scobee kicked two field goal as the Jaguars lost for only the third time in eight games.

"This is a team that's been in Super Bowls and been in a lot of playoff runs, so we can't let up on a team like that," Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. "It's a sign of maturity. We have a lot of growing up to do all across the board."

Jacksonville had one last chance and Garrard drove the Jaguars from their 27 to the Giants 29, where they got a first down on an illegal contact penalty against Aaron Ross with 1:51 to play.

Tuck and Antrel Rolle sacked Garrard for an 11-yard loss on first down. Dave Tollefson tackle Garrard for a loss of 5 more on second down. Cornerback Terrell Thomas, who intercepted Garrard's first pass of the second half to set up Tynes' third field goal, then sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble that Rolle recovered.

"If you don't execute and let a team stay in the game, that's what going to happen, you're going to end up losing out there," Garrard said as he waited to be X-rayed. "That's two or three weeks in a row we've left teams back in where we had a chance to end the game."

The Giants tied it early in the fourth quarter on the touchdown pass to Manningham and a 2-point conversion run by Ahmad Bradshaw.

Garrard (20-of-35 for 162) used runs of 6, 6 and 11 yards to set up Scobee's go-ahead 42-yard field goal.

Garrard and the Jaguars were outstanding in the first half, scoring on drives on 75, 85 and 71 yards the first three times they had the ball.

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Jennings capped the Jaguars' opening drive with a 5-yard run. Garrard hit passes of 12 and 16 yards on a 15-play drive that Scobee ended with a 22-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.

The Giants appeared to tie the game on a 9-yard pass from Manning to Manningham on their next possession, but the score was nullified by a holding penalty against Boss. Tynes, who kicked a 22-yard field goal after New York's opening drive stalled at the Jags 5, added a 29-yarder.

Garrard then led a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive he capped with a sensational 5-yard run on which he avoided a sack by Osi Umenyiora and broke a tackle by Tuck in going from sideline to sideline for the TD.

Notes: Will Beatty started at left tackle for the Giants with Shawn Andrews out with back injury. ... Former Giant Guy Whimper started at left tackle for Jacksonville with Eugene Monroe out with a concussion. ... Mike Sims-Walker, who battled an ankle injury all week, had four catches for 48 yards. ... The Giants finished with four sacks. ... Jacksonville lost despite having the ball for 35:27.

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Reid: Eagles QB Vick will start game vs. Colts after bye week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is switching quarterbacks again, saying Sunday that Michael Vick will start Nov. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts in the next game after the team's bye week.

Kevin Kolb made his third consecutive start Sunday, and the Eagles lost 37-19 to the Tennessee Titans. Kolb threw for 231 yards and had two passes intercepted. He also lost a fumble at the Tennessee 3-yard line in the third quarter.

Vick was Philadelphia's No. 3 quarterback against Tennessee as he recovered from injured rib cartilage.

Reid said after the loss that Vick would be his starter coming out of the bye.

Kolb began the season as the Eagles' starter after they traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. But Kolb suffered a concussion in the opener, and Vick played so well in his place that he remained the starter when Kolb returned. Then Vick was hurt himself.

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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Browns rookie QB McCoy to make first NFL start vs. Steelers

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will start his first NFL game this weekend, a team source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Thursday.

It would take a dramatic turn of events with Jake Delhomme or Seneca Walllace -- both of whom are nursing ankle injuries -- for things to change, according to the source.

Rookie QB Colt McCoy is in line to start Sunday, but the Steelers expect to see WR Joshua Cribbs take plenty of snaps in the Browns' Flash package.
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Browns coach Eric Mangini said Thursday that he was pleased with McCoy's first practice as a potential starter. The coach hasn't officially announced that McCoy will start, but he said his lean is "more pronounced" to the rookie quarterback making his NFL regular-season debut Sunday in Pittsburgh against the blitz-happy Steelers.

Mangini said he is happy with McCoy's progress and that the third-round draft pick would take the bulk of the snaps during practice Thursday.

McCoy will be the 16th different quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999. The team re-signed Brett Ratliff this week off the New England Patriots' practice squad as a backup, and with the way things are going for Cleveland, it's not farfetched to think he could see some playing time if McCoy is hurt or struggles.

Wallace doesn't know when he'll be able to play, but he believes the former University of Texas star can hold down the fort until he returns.

"He played at Texas, it's like America's Team, like the Dallas Cowboys," Wallace said of McCoy. "He's been in the limelight before. It's not college, you're going to Pittsburgh. It's going to be tough, but with his type of character and the kind of person he is, he'll be able to deal with it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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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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Cardinals to start rookie QB Hall vs. Saints, bench Anderson

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has put his team's struggling offense into undrafted rookie quarterback Max Hall's hands.

Whisenhunt announced after Wednesday's practice that the former BYU standout would make his first NFL start Sunday when the Cardinals play host to the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Hall is Arizona's third starting quarterback since training camp opened, replacing the erratic Derek Anderson, who took over for Matt Leinart. That led to Leinart's release and left Hall as Anderson's backup.

The strong-armed Anderson, signed by the Cardinals as a free agent after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, was benched after throwing two first-half interceptions in last Sunday's 41-10 loss at San Diego. Hall came on to complete 8 of 14 passes for 82 yards without an interception, but he was sacked six times.

"I think Max certainly feels he's ready for it," Whisenhunt said. "I mean, he's a confident young man. He's been that way since he's been here. He's made progress. He believes in himself and carries himself with that confidence. I know that he wanted to play. I don't think that's ever been a question."

The Cardinals are tied for the NFC West lead at 2-2, but they have been outscored 82-17 in their two losses.

"Hopefully we'll make some more plays, be a little more efficient offensively," Whisenhunt said. "I think that one of the areas we need to improve in is just making the plays that are there. That's what we've missed on."

Hall said he's not looking at this as a one-week audition for the job.

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"I'm just going forward like it's mine," he said. "That's the mindset that you have to have. They're putting everything into me. The game plan and everything is going toward my strengths, so I'm moving forward like it's mine."

The 6-foot-1 Hall is a hometown favorite, having grown up in nearby Mesa. He initially enrolled at Arizona State, but he never played for the Sun Devils.

After two years on a Mormon mission, Hall started all 39 games in his three seasons with BYU. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 11,365 yards and 82 touchdowns while with the Cougars. In the process, he broke Ty Detmer's school record for victories as a quarterback with 32.

"We do feel good about his ability to get in there and run our offense, and that's because of the way he's handled himself since the day he got here," Whisenhunt said. "That's a little bit unusual for rookies, to have that confidence, to have that ability to handle the huddle, make some plays. Once again, it doesn't really mean anything until you see it on game day, and we're certainly expecting to have some success with that."

Hall wasn't among the 15 quarterbacks chosen by NFL teams in the April draft, but he quickly found a home with the Cardinals.

"You don't get drafted, you wonder what's going to happen," he said. "I was excited to be part of this organization. Coach Whisenhunt was always good and fair with me in everything that we did. We have a good relationship. It's an exciting thing for me to have the opportunity that's ahead of me to start for this team. I'm just going to give it my best."

Anderson was dogged by the same accuracy issues that plagued him with the Browns. He has completed 52 percent of his passes (58 for 112) for three touchdowns with five interceptions this season. His passer rating of 59.5 ranks 30th in the NFL, and his 644 passing yards are 23rd.

Whisenhunt said Anderson labored to escape the formidable shadow left by Kurt Warner, who retired after last season.

"I think what happened with Derek is he was pressing. He was trying to be perfect," Whisenhunt said. "A lot of that is because of the standard that's been set at that position around here, and I understand that. I think that's a tough way to try to play that position. That was part of the reasoning as to why we made this switch."

Anderson wasn't in the locker room after practice, but Whisenhunt said the quarterback handled the demotion "like a professional and with a lot of class."

While Cardinals players praised Hall's enthusiasm and ability to lead the team, running back Tim Hightower offered a reality check.

"He has his hands full. He's got a plate full in front of him, I'm not going to lie," Hightower said. "They kind of threw him in there, but it comes back to us making his transition a lot easier. We've got to establish the running game. We've got to be physical. We've got to make plays, and we've got to take the pressure off him."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Flacco, Ravens prevent 4-0 start by Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- Joe Flacco withstood the Pittsburgh Steelers' goal-line stand and go-ahead touchdown in the closing minutes to throw an 18-yard scoring pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds remaining, and the Baltimore Ravens made certain their rivals wouldn't go unbeaten without Ben Roethlisberger by winning 17-14 Sunday.

The Steelers (3-1) took a 14-10 lead on Rashard Mendenhall's 7-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter and appeared ready to win after turning away the Ravens on third- and fourth-down plays from the 2 with over 2 minutes remaining.

But a holding call on a punt gave Baltimore (3-1) the ball at Pittsburgh's 40 with 55 seconds remaining, and Flacco found Anquan Boldin on two passes for 12 yards and Houshmandzadeh for 10 to set up the winning score.

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