Injury report: New England defensive lineman Richard Seymour will not start in Sunday's AFC title game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a left knee injury, though might play as a substitute.

Injury report: New England defensive lineman Richard Seymour will not start in Sunday's AFC title game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a left knee injury, though might play as a substitute. "We'll see where he is," coach Bill Belichick said Friday before the team's flight to Pittsburgh. "Maybe he can give us some situational play during the game." Seymour, one of two Patriots on the All-Pro team, remained on the injury report as questionable, meaning there was a 50 percent chance he would not play. The only other Patriots reported as injured were linebacker Ted Johnson, who was probable with the flu, and fullback Patrick Pass, who was questionable with a sore ankle. Starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole finished the season on injured reserve.
Game-day beer sales: Vendors will not sell beer in the stands during the second half of the AFC Championship game, but the decision has nothing to do with a multimillion dollar jury award earlier this week related to beer sales at Giants Stadium, field managers said. "We do adjustments periodically, like for Monday night games, just to keep control," said Jimmy Sacco, executive director of stadium management at Heinz Field. "It's something we're doing this week ... just to keep a safe environment." Those attending the game can still buy beer until the end of the third quarter, but they must do so at concession stands away from the seating areas and carry it back. League rules require that beer sales stop by the end of the third quarter at every NFL stadium. The announcement comes just days after a jury in New Jersey ruled that Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp., should pay more than $100 million to the family of a girl paralyzed from the neck down in a 1999 accident involving an intoxicated fan leaving a game at Giants Stadium. Aramark, which is also the vendor at Heinz Field, said it would appeal the jury ruling. Aramark and NFL officials also said shortened hours for beer sales in the stands at Heinz Field had nothing to do with the jury award. The parking lots outside of Heinz Field open five hours before game time and tailgating is allowed. Security will be monitoring the lots before the game for excess drinking, Sacco said.
Singletary joins 49ers: Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary was hired to be the San Francisco 49ers' assistant head coach and linebackers coach on Friday. Singletary, who spent 12 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, spent the past two seasons as a linebackers coach with the Baltimore Ravens in his first coaching job. He worked closely with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who was chosen the 49ers' coach on Wednesday. Singletary, 46, played for the Bears from 1981-92 and was selected the NFL's top defensive player in 1985 and 1988. After finishing his career with 1,488 tackles, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jaguars sign Sorsensen: The Jacksonville Jaguars signed safety Nick Sorensen to a multiyear contract extension Friday and added free-agent wide receiver Chris Cole. Sorensen, a fifth-year player from Virginia Tech, was the team's special teams captain last season and finished with 12 tackles. He had 19 special teams tackles in 2003. Cole, a third-round pick in 2000 from Texas A & amp;M, played 35 games in three seasons with the Denver Broncos as a returner and receiver.
Associated Press