NFL ROUNDUP Miami makes an offer to Saban

Buffalo's two running backs missed practice Wednesday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins offered their coaching job Wednesday to LSU's Nick Saban, the favorite for the position since Dave Wannstedt resigned last month.
Louisiana State athletic director Skip Bertman said Saban told him of the offer late Wednesday afternoon, but did not divulge details of the deal or indicate if he planned to accept.
A Dolphins source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Saban's agent, Jimmy Sexton, and team owner Wayne Huizenga met Wednesday. The source did not know if a deal had been struck.
"They made him an offer. I don't know what it is," Bertman said. "I didn't even ask him. Now he has a decision to make, and it's a tough decision. ... My feeling is it's 50-50."
The offer was reported earlier by ESPN.com, which did not identify its sources.
He was the first of three candidates the Dolphins have interviewed. Former Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell interviewed Monday, and interim Miami coach Jim Bates met with Huizenga on Tuesday.
Bertman said he did not expect a decision from Saban until at least today. Saban has previously said he'd prefer to have the situation resolved by Christmas Day, when LSU travels to Orlando, Fla. for its bowl game against Iowa.
Saban, 53, has NFL experience as an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers in 1988-89 and with the Cleveland Browns in 1991-94. He's 48-15 in five seasons at LSU, winning Southeastern Conference championships in 2001 and 2003 and the 2003 BCS national championship.
49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Defensive end Andre Carter will miss the rest of the season after he was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a new back problem.
Linebacker Jamie Winborn also is expected to miss the final two games with a broken shoulder blade, but wasn't immediately placed on IR.
The 49ers (2-12) signed defensive end Corey Smith from the Buccaneers' practice squad to fill Carter's roster spot. Andrew Williams will take his starting spot Sunday against Buffalo.
Carter, a fourth-year pro, missed six games earlier this season following surgery to remove a cyst from his back. He was ruled inactive before last Saturday's loss to Washington, and an MRI exam revealed another problem at a different spot on his back.
Carter underwent surgery Wednesday. He finished the season with just two sacks after getting 25 1/2 in his first three seasons.
Winborn, who's second on the team with 4 1/2 sacks, was injured in the 49ers' loss to Washington. He ended the previous two seasons on injured reserve, but was impressive this season after linebacker Julian Peterson was lost for the year with a torn Achilles' tendon.
Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Starter Willis McGahee and backup Travis Henry missed practice Wednesday, leaving a battered offensive backfield uncertain for Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Coach Mike Mularkey listed both running backs as questionable, saying they'll be evaluated on a daily basis.
McGahee bruised and hyperextended his right knee in Buffalo's 33-17 win at Cincinnati on Sunday. He was walking around the Bills' training facility without a limp Wednesday, but did not make himself available to reporters.
If McGahee and Henry can't play, Mularkey said he'll go with Shaud Williams or Joe Burns.