Vikings' Peterson not ready to return
The Minnesota Vikings will probably be without star running back Adrian Peterson for at least another week.
Peterson was sent to work out in a swimming pool Monday for continued rehab on his injured right knee. Coach Brad Childress said he didn't expect his rookie star to be ready for the next game against the New York Giants.
"It's hard to say right now. He hasn't been on hard land yet," Childress said.
Chester Taylor resumed his role as the featured back and rushed for 164 yards on Sunday in a victory over Oakland, with Peterson watching from the sideline.
Peterson, who still leads the NFL by a wide margin with 1,081 yards rushing, was hurt in the third quarter of the Nov. 11 game against Green Bay on a tackle by Packers cornerback Al Harris that caused his lateral collateral ligament to tear. The LCL is the least critical of the four knee ligaments.
Peterson has spent "literally, six to eight hours a day" in the training room since then, Childress said. He'll have to practice before being cleared for action in a game, so it's likely he won't return until some time in December.
Smith seeks second opinion: San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith plans to get a second opinion on his injured throwing arm from Dr. James Andrews, coach Mike Nolan said.
Smith was scheduled to travel to Alabama on Monday to consult with the noted orthopedist, who has reviewed the results of Smith's MRI exams ever since the former No. 1 draft pick separated his right shoulder against Seattle on Sept. 30. Smith then developed soreness in his forearm after returning to workouts.
Smith struggled through three games before clashing publicly with Nolan last week. Smith revealed his injuries were more serious than the quarterback or his coach let on, while Nolan said Smith hadn't communicated well with him.
"Right now he's questionable, and I'm hopeful," Nolan said of Smith's status for Sunday's game at Arizona.
Harrington wants job back: Joey Harrington was sixth in the NFC in completion percentage and had led the Falcons to two straight wins when he was benched by coach Bobby Petrino for the start of Sunday's 31-7 loss to Tampa Bay.
It's little wonder Harrington bristled, especially after he completed 16 of 20 passes with the Falcons' only touchdown throw in relief of Byron Leftwich.
"I'm not trying to make a case to start," Harrington said. "I'm trying to do a job for this team. Coach has made his decision. My job is to be ready for this team whenever I'm needed. If that means to start, then I'll start. If it means to back up and be ready to play, that's what I'll do as well. I want to play for this team."
Leftwich threw 2 interceptions and lost one of his 2 fumbles. A combination of too little protection by the line and holding the ball too long doomed Leftwich, who was 15 of 28 for 106 yards and was sacked three times before he was pulled in the third quarter.
Ravens try to regroup: Provided they don't have to deal with any more controversial field goals that warrant bringing both teams back onto the field, the Baltimore Ravens intend to affix a normal finish to their extraordinarily unusual season.
Any shot Baltimore had of reaching the playoffs probably dissipated with its 33-30 overtime loss to Cleveland. The Ravens sprinted into the locker room thinking they had won, only to be called back after the officials ruled -- correctly -- that a tying 51-yard field goal by the Browns' Phil Dawson was good.
The strange defeat was merely an extension of a year in which very little has gone right for Baltimore (4-6). Coming off a 13-3 season, the Ravens expected to be a Super Bowl contender.
"We're certainly not where we want to be," coach Brian Billick acknowledged.
"You hold onto whatever competitive perspective you choose to, individually and collectively. You've got to take the mentality of, 'OK, we'll run the table with six wins,' " he said. "Unrealistic? Sure. But you have to take that attitude."