McFadden Named Starter

"Raiders coach Tom Cable isn't playing secrets with his starting lineup. He did everything but stutter when asked to name a starting running back after practice Thursday.

"Our starting running back will be Darren McFadden," Cable said. "I just think for everything he is in terms of being multiple, running the football and catching the football.

"He certainly brings some explosiveness like we're trying to build with this offense."

With that, the Raiders continue to get younger at the skill positions.

McFadden will start Monday night's opener against the visiting Chargers along with third-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell, third-year tight end Zach Miller, and rookie wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy.

As for running backs Michael Bush and Justin Fargas, don't feel too bad for them. The way the Raiders run the ball, they'll get their shots, too. Just not as many as McFadden.

"It doesn't matter who starts the game or anything like that," said Fargas, who remains out with a strained hamstring. "The key for us, the strength of our backfield is our depth and the fact that we all complement each other and keep each other fresh."

The past two seasons, attrition forced the run-heavy Raiders to start three different running backs."

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Madden 2010 Curse 1/2 Way There. MCL Sprain Sidelines Polamalu

"Safety Troy Polamalu is expected to miss anywhere from three to six weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, which forced him from last night's game just before halftime and sent him, in street clothes, to a hospital for further tests.

"They are reading the scans and so forth," coach Mike Tomlin said early this morning. "Those things have a [recuperation] range of three to six [weeks]. It is speculation at this point. I'm sure there is a possibility, but I don't have any concrete evidence that there is anything more than that."

Polamalu ended an up-and-down first half -- a one-handed interception sandwiched between two 15-yard penalties -- by slowly coming off the field of a tie score that the Steelers ultimately won without him in overtime, 13-10. He apparently hurt the knee in a scrum while chasing a blocked Tennessee field goal. Soon after, he walked off the field, without assistance and without a detectable limp, and went into the Steelers' locker room with 1:15 left in the first half. Tyrone Carter replaced him at strong safety.

"Nobody on this team is Troy," safety Ryan Clark said. "For a guy of his caliber, more of his character, to go down is unfortunate. You just pray he's better soon."

While Polamalu finished with six first-half tackles -- enough to rank him third on the Steelers' final stats on the game -- Carter had an assist in relief."

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Vikings Kevin Williams, Pat Williams to play in season opener while team, NFL await federal court ruling

"The NFL said Tuesday that Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams could play Sunday in Cleveland while a federal appeals court decides whether the Pro Bowlers can sue the league in Minnesota to overturn their suspensions.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals this week is expected to issue a pivotal ruling that either affirms the NFL's authority to discipline players under the collective bargaining agreement or allows the Williamses to use state law to challenge its drug-testing protocol.

However, with teams already preparing for opening weekend, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the league postponed disciplining the Williamses and New Orleans Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, who face the same four-game suspensions.

The Williamses claim the NFL, which suspended them last year after they tested positive for a banned substance, violated Minnesota statutes regulating how and when employers can test workers for alcohol and drugs. They aim to prove their case at trial next spring in Hennepin County. "

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Brady Quinn Wins Cleveland Browns QB Competition

"Brady Quinn has won the quarterback competition and will start Sunday's game against the Vikings, a league source told The Plain Dealer today.

Browns coach Eric Mangini told the quarterbacks Tuesday night and Quinn took the first-team reps in practice Wednesday afternoon.

Quinn acted Wednesday as though he didn't know. "We're just out there continuing to battle with one another to get everything better for our team,'' he said."

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Shawne Merriman Arrested

"A week before the Chargers are set to open what they hope is a Super Bowl season, the team faces an off-the-field distraction as one of its star players stands accused of domestic violence.

Sheriff's deputies arrested linebacker Shawne Merriman early Sunday morning for allegedly choking, restraining and throwing MTV star Tila Tequila to the ground as she tried to leave his Poway home.

The Sheriff's Department said Tila Nguyen, who is known professionally as Tila Tequila, signed a citizen's arrest complaint charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. Both are felonies.

Merriman and his lawyer said the player was trying to keep Nguyen from driving while intoxicated. Merriman said in an interview Sunday night that he is confident he will cleared of any wrongdoing.

"I was trying to help her, not hurt her," Merriman said. "I'm still glad I did what I did." "

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Sorry Bout the Long Delay Nfl Followers.

My Lovely Pitbull ate up my laptop charger cord, so it took me awhile to get another one. I'm back in action before the regular season so come back more often things will be good now!

Vikings sign quarterback John David Booty to practice squad

"John David Booty cleared waivers Sunday and was signed to the Vikings' practice squad, providing some clarity to a muddled quarterback mess.

Booty, a fifth-round draft pick last year, was complicating the team's decisions at quarterback, with Brett Favre, Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels on the roster. But Booty struggled this preseason, completing just 17 of 28 passes for 169 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception that was returned for a touchdown in Friday night's exhibition finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

His preseason passer rating was 62.9.

All the other NFL teams had a chance to take over his contract but ultimately passed.

Booty headlines the Vikings' practice squad, which also includes rookie running back Ian Johnson.

"It's not the ideal way of going about it, but it's the next step," Johnson said. "I took care of all the business I had to take care of, and if this is how it has to happen, I'm a fighter, I'll keep fighting until I get my spot. When I do get that spot, I'm going to make the most of it."

After not being claimed on waivers, Johnson said he received offers to sign with practice squads of other teams, including the Washington Redskins, which seemed like a good fit for him. But he decided to remain in Minnesota.

"I felt I had done all my work here; I made relationships here," Johnson said. "I've got myself in a good position. If I just keep working hard, I know something good will happen. Hopefully, sometime soon I'll be on that field at the Metrodome." "

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