NFL ROUNDUP | News and notes

Dolphins: Miami defensive end Jason Taylor says the candidacy of his likely chief rival for NFL defensive player of the year, Shawne Merriman, was tainted by a four-game steroid suspension in November. "You really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with," Taylor said Wednesday. "To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message." Merriman, who plays outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, has denied he's a steroid cheat and blamed his positive test on a tainted supplement. "A performance-enhancing drug is, obviously, what it is," Taylor said. "You enhance your performance by doing that. You fail that test, I think it's not right, it's against the rules and ultimately I think it's sending the wrong message to the youth in America and the people who look at this game not only as entertainment but also to learn lessons from it." Taylor has been one of the few bright spots this season for Miami (6-9). In 15 games, he has 13 1/2 sacks, 10 fumbles forced and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns. Merriman leads the NFL with 16 sacks in 11 games for the AFC West champion Chargers (13-2). He has four forced fumbles and has one interception. "He's always making plays," Taylor said. "He's one of the best young talents we have in this game right now as far as defensively, and he has had an unbelievable year. With that being said, there are certain rules and guidelines we have to abide by to play in this game."Ravens: Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden did not practice Wednesday and will almost certainly sit out the Baltimore Ravens' game Sunday against Buffalo with a hyperextended left big toe. Ogden missed his first game of the season last weekend in Pittsburgh and was listed as doubtful on Wednesday's injury report. "It's getting a lot better," he said. "I have no idea about this week, but one thing is for sure: I'll be back for the playoffs. That's the plan." Ogden was replaced last week by second-year player Adam Terry, who practiced with the first-team offense Wednesday and anticipates starting again Sunday. "It's what I'm here for," Terry said. "I expect that all the time. I'm one play away. It's the reality of the situation. You go in when they need you." The Ravens (12-3) need a victory Sunday to guarantee the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. It's an important game, but Baltimore is even more interested in making sure Ogden is healthy for the playoffs. By giving him another week off, that would mean Ogden would have at least two weeks -- plus a possible bye week -- to heal. "It's always really huge to have a bye," Ogden said. "If we didn't have one, I'd still foresee me being able to go, but a bye would really make things a whole lot easier on me." Linebacker Adalius Thomas missed part of practice Wednesday with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable.Panthers: Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme practiced Wednesday for the first time in more than three weeks and could play in the Panthers' regular-season finale against New Orleans. Delhomme, sidelined since suffering ligament damage in his right thumb in Carolina's loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 4, had been unable to grip a football. But he was able to throw Wednesday and worked with the first team. He's listed as questionable for Sunday's must-win for the Panthers' to have a chance to reach the playoffs. Chris Weinke has struggled filling in for Delhomme in the past three games. Carolina ended its four-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over Atlanta by running the ball a team-record 52 times. Weinke threw only seven passes, completing four for 32 yards and a touchdown. The win allowed Carolina (7-8) to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Panthers would qualify with a win against the Saints, combined with losses by the New York Giants against Washington on Saturday and Green Bay against Chicago on Sunday night. Redskins: Washington placed cornerback Shawn Springs on injured reserve and released cornerback Mike Rumph. Springs broke the scapula in his right shoulder in the first series of Sunday's loss to St. Louis, ending a frustrating season for the 10-year veteran. Springs missed the first five games following abdominal surgery and missed another game with a hamstring injury. Rumph was acquired in the trade that sent receiver Taylor Jacobs to San Francisco in August. He played as a reserve early in the season, but has been inactive for seven of the last eight games. Jacobs, meanwhile, has caught only two passes this season for the 49ers. Springs and Rumph were replaced on the active roster by defensive backs John Eubanks and Leigh Torrence. Eubanks, an undrafted free agent from Southern Mississippi, has spent the season on the practice squad. Torrence, from Stanford, played 10 games with Atlanta last year, but was waived following this year's training camp. The Redskins also signed tackle Calvin Armstrong and receiver Ryan Hoag to the practice squad.Bengals: Center Rich Braham will retire after the final regular-season game Sunday, ending a career that spanned 13 seasons and had him snapping to six starting quarterbacks. Braham, 36, has the longest tenure of any current Bengals player. He hasn't played since injuring a knee during the second game of the season. He is not expected to play Sunday when the Bengals (8-7) finish their regular season against Pittsburgh. Coach Marvin Lewis said Braham will be honored on the field before the game. Braham is one of only six players with at least 13 seasons in Cincinnati. He was a walk-on at West Virginia, where he developed into a starting left tackle, and was taken in the third round by Arizona in 1994.Jaguars: Safety Deon Grant missed practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury and was listed as doubtful for the season finale at Kansas City. Running back Fred Taylor returned to practice after missing last week's game against New England and could be back in the starting lineup. "I feel good. I feel pretty good actually," Taylor said. Taylor, who has 1,120 yards rushing and five touchdowns, hurt his right hamstring against Indianapolis on Dec. 10 and aggravated the injury on his second carry the following week at Tennessee. The Jaguars also ruled out reserve offensive lineman Stockar McDougle for Sunday's game with a sternum injury.
Dolphins: Miami defensive end Jason Taylor says the candidacy of his likely chief rival for NFL defensive player of the year, Shawne Merriman, was tainted by a four-game steroid suspension in November. "You really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with," Taylor said Wednesday. "To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message." Merriman, who plays outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, has denied he's a steroid cheat and blamed his positive test on a tainted supplement. "A performance-enhancing drug is, obviously, what it is," Taylor said. "You enhance your performance by doing that. You fail that test, I think it's not right, it's against the rules and ultimately I think it's sending the wrong message to the youth in America and the people who look at this game not only as entertainment but also to learn lessons from it." Taylor has been one of the few bright spots this season for Miami (6-9). In 15 games, he has 13 1/2 sacks, 10 fumbles forced and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns. Merriman leads the NFL with 16 sacks in 11 games for the AFC West champion Chargers (13-2). He has four forced fumbles and has one interception. "He's always making plays," Taylor said. "He's one of the best young talents we have in this game right now as far as defensively, and he has had an unbelievable year. With that being said, there are certain rules and guidelines we have to abide by to play in this game."Ravens: Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden did not practice Wednesday and will almost certainly sit out the Baltimore Ravens' game Sunday against Buffalo with a hyperextended left big toe. Ogden missed his first game of the season last weekend in Pittsburgh and was listed as doubtful on Wednesday's injury report. "It's getting a lot better," he said. "I have no idea about this week, but one thing is for sure: I'll be back for the playoffs. That's the plan." Ogden was replaced last week by second-year player Adam Terry, who practiced with the first-team offense Wednesday and anticipates starting again Sunday. "It's what I'm here for," Terry said. "I expect that all the time. I'm one play away. It's the reality of the situation. You go in when they need you." The Ravens (12-3) need a victory Sunday to guarantee the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. It's an important game, but Baltimore is even more interested in making sure Ogden is healthy for the playoffs. By giving him another week off, that would mean Ogden would have at least two weeks -- plus a possible bye week -- to heal. "It's always really huge to have a bye," Ogden said. "If we didn't have one, I'd still foresee me being able to go, but a bye would really make things a whole lot easier on me." Linebacker Adalius Thomas missed part of practice Wednesday with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable.Panthers: Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme practiced Wednesday for the first time in more than three weeks and could play in the Panthers' regular-season finale against New Orleans. Delhomme, sidelined since suffering ligament damage in his right thumb in Carolina's loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 4, had been unable to grip a football. But he was able to throw Wednesday and worked with the first team. He's listed as questionable for Sunday's must-win for the Panthers' to have a chance to reach the playoffs. Chris Weinke has struggled filling in for Delhomme in the past three games. Carolina ended its four-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over Atlanta by running the ball a team-record 52 times. Weinke threw only seven passes, completing four for 32 yards and a touchdown. The win allowed Carolina (7-8) to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Panthers would qualify with a win against the Saints, combined with losses by the New York Giants against Washington on Saturday and Green Bay against Chicago on Sunday night. Redskins: Washington placed cornerback Shawn Springs on injured reserve and released cornerback Mike Rumph. Springs broke the scapula in his right shoulder in the first series of Sunday's loss to St. Louis, ending a frustrating season for the 10-year veteran. Springs missed the first five games following abdominal surgery and missed another game with a hamstring injury. Rumph was acquired in the trade that sent receiver Taylor Jacobs to San Francisco in August. He played as a reserve early in the season, but has been inactive for seven of the last eight games. Jacobs, meanwhile, has caught only two passes this season for the 49ers. Springs and Rumph were replaced on the active roster by defensive backs John Eubanks and Leigh Torrence. Eubanks, an undrafted free agent from Southern Mississippi, has spent the season on the practice squad. Torrence, from Stanford, played 10 games with Atlanta last year, but was waived following this year's training camp. The Redskins also signed tackle Calvin Armstrong and receiver Ryan Hoag to the practice squad.Bengals: Center Rich Braham will retire after the final regular-season game Sunday, ending a career that spanned 13 seasons and had him snapping to six starting quarterbacks. Braham, 36, has the longest tenure of any current Bengals player. He hasn't played since injuring a knee during the second game of the season. He is not expected to play Sunday when the Bengals (8-7) finish their regular season against Pittsburgh. Coach Marvin Lewis said Braham will be honored on the field before the game. Braham is one of only six players with at least 13 seasons in Cincinnati. He was a walk-on at West Virginia, where he developed into a starting left tackle, and was taken in the third round by Arizona in 1994.Jaguars: Safety Deon Grant missed practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury and was listed as doubtful for the season finale at Kansas City. Running back Fred Taylor returned to practice after missing last week's game against New England and could be back in the starting lineup. "I feel good. I feel pretty good actually," Taylor said. Taylor, who has 1,120 yards rushing and five touchdowns, hurt his right hamstring against Indianapolis on Dec. 10 and aggravated the injury on his second carry the following week at Tennessee. The Jaguars also ruled out reserve offensive lineman Stockar McDougle for Sunday's game with a sternum injury.
Associated Press