NFL ROUNDUP | News and notes

Browns: Center Jeff Faine was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of a torn right biceps muscle sustained during the first half of Cleveland's 9-7 win in Oakland. Faine started the first 14 games for the Browns, but the former first-round draft pick will end his third straight season in the NFL on the injured list. Coach Romeo Crennel said Faine may need surgery but is expected to make a full recovery. The Browns also signed offensive lineman Dwayne Ledford to the active roster and signed running back Jason Wright to their practice squad. Ledford has made one career start in the pros and played nine games for San Francisco in 2003. He spent the summer with New Orleans before being waived at the end of training camp. Wright played in three games for the Browns this season. He had 11 carries for 27 yards and scored one touchdown.
Buccaneers: Tight end Will Heller, who appeared in seven games this season with the Dolphins, was signed. The Bucs also released backup kicker Todd France. Heller has appeared in 26 career games, including 19 for Tampa Bay, since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2003.
Jets-Patriots: Alcohol won't be sold during Monday night's game between the Jets and Patriots at the Meadowlands in an attempt to quell rowdy fan behavior. The ban comes after nine fans were arrested during the Jets-Saints game Nov. 27. One man was charged with stabbing two fans in a restroom, and a state trooper broke his leg while trying to eject a fan who reportedly threw a beer bottle.
Redskins: Guard Randy Thomas was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, two days after he broke his leg in a victory over the Cowboys. Thomas had surgery Monday night and is expected to be in a cast for six weeks, followed by six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. He should be ready to return in time for the Redskins' spring minicamp.
Bills: Journeyman backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb will likely make his second start in place of limping J.P. Losman at Cincinnati. Coach Mike Mularkey said after practice Tuesday that he's leaning toward starting Holcomb even though Losman practiced on a limited basis. Losman sat out Buffalo's 28-17 loss to Denver last weekend after hurting his throwing shoulder and left leg in a loss to New England on Dec. 11.
Cowboys: Offensive lineman Marco Rivera hopes to play this week even though his neck was so stiff and sore Tuesday that he couldn't turn his head without rotating his whole upper body. Rivera strained his neck after being flipped and landing on his head near the end of Dallas' 35-7 loss to the Redskins. He spent Sunday night in a Washington-area hospital, but returned home the next day after tests and scans were negative.
Cardinals: Kurt Warner was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, even though his knee injury apparently isn't as severe as feared. Mark Bartelstein, Warner's agent, said the quarterback had a "garden-variety" sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee that will not require surgery. The Cardinals also placed guard Adam Haayer on injured reserve.
Raiders: Running back LaMont Jordan is listed as doubtful to play in Saturday's game at Denver because of turf toe. Jordan, in his first season with Oakland, injured the big toe on his right foot on a pass play in Oakland's third snap of last Sunday's 9-7 home loss to the Cleveland Browns. He continued to play, then re-aggravated the injury on a long run in the third quarter. An MRI exam revealed a jam in the toe and Jordan is unlikely to use an orthotic or steel plate in his shoe to help him deal with the pain. He didn't practice Tuesday for the Raiders (4-10), who have lost four straight games and six of seven. Jordan is the Raiders leading rusher with 1,025 yards on 272 carries for nine touchdowns. He also lead's the team in catches with 70 for 563 yards and two more TDs. With Jordan probably sidelined, fullback Zack Crockett will move into the tailback spot this week.
Saints: The NFL remains focused on returning the Saints to Louisiana next season, the league said after a meeting between team owner Tom Benson and commissioner Paul Tagliabue. A committee of eight owners also met for about an hour to discuss the future of the team, displaced by Hurricane Katrina just before the season began. The Saints have been based in San Antonio since leaving New Orleans. "Both meetings were positive and continued to focus on the Saints' operations in Louisiana," league spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. Tagliabue has repeatedly said he would like the Saints to play as many games as possible in Louisiana in 2006 and officials in New Orleans say they believe the Superdome, badly damaged by the hurricane, could be ready by next Nov. 1. The team has been home at three different venues this season, playing its "home" opener against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. New Orleans has played the rest of its home games either in San Antonio or Baton Rouge, La. The moves have been one reason for the team's 3-11 record, the worst by far in coach Jim Haslett's six-year tenure. Haslett, who has one year left on his contract, said Monday he has no plans to resign. He added that he believes Benson is "stressed out" with other issues facing the team. "It's been a hard couple of months for him," Haslett said. "He's got tough decisions ahead of him. He's got other things on his mind."
Chargers: Left tackle Roman Oben was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Oben hasn't played since spraining a foot on Oct. 30 against Kansas City. The Chargers also signed wide receiver Drew Haddad and safety Jerrell Pippens to the active roster, and waived safety Scott McGarrahan.
Associated Press
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