NEW ORLEANS (AP) Running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are not traveling with the New Orleans Saints for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

A team spokesman said Saturday that both players had been downgraded on the official injury report from questionable to out with knee injuries.

Both players are expected to be back at practice next week.

Read More...

CLEVELAND (AP) Former Seattle and Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren is interested in working for the struggling Cleveland Browns.

Holmgren said on his weekly radio show on Seattle's KJR that he has not yet spoken to Browns owner Randy Lerner, who is looking for a "serious, credible leader" football authority to run his struggling team. However, Holmgren did indicate he would welcome the chance to take on a rebuilding project like the 1-8 Browns. Read More...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam on Friday surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck.

The Giants said their defensive captain underwent the test in New York and was examined by team physician Dr. Russell Warren and Dr. Frank Camissa, chief of the spinal surgical services at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Read More...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday because of a sprained left ankle and has only an outside chance of playing Sunday when the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers meet with first place in the AFC West on the line.

Broncos backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions, as he has all week in the absence of Orton, who was injured during last week's 27-17 loss at Washington. Read More...

PITTSBURGH (AP) Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He may miss the Nov. 29 game at Baltimore as well.

Polamalu sat out the Steelers' second through fifth games with a ligament tear, only to injure the same knee during an 18-12 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Read More...

BEREA, Ohio (AP) Josh Cribbs' neck is still a little sore, but he doesn't mind sticking it out for Baltimore's Dwan Edwards.

Cribbs said Friday he expects to play in the Cleveland Browns' game at Detroit on Sunday, which will be six days after he was strapped to a backboard and wheeled into an ambulance following a loss to the Ravens on Monday night. Browns coach Eric Mangini said he also expects Cribbs to play. Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee receiver Justin Gage is out for the Titans' game against the Texans with broken bones in his lower back.

Gage has not practiced since breaking the transverse process bones in his back at San Francisco on Nov. 8. Rookie Kenny Britt will make a second consecutive start at Houston on Monday night. Read More...

GRANBY, Colo. (AP) The death of the mother of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been ruled a suicide.

Mina Brees, an attorney from Austin, Texas, died Aug. 7 while visiting Colorado. Grand County coroner Brenda Bock concluded this week that the 59-year-old Brees died of a prescription drug overdose and ruled the death a suicide. Read More...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night.

Edwards struck Cribbs with a forearm to the facemask on the final play of Baltimore's 16-0 win. Read More...

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated.

Portis saw the same doctors who examined Eagles back Brian Westbrook, who has sustained two concussions in the last month. Portis was hurt two weeks ago against Atlanta. He did not play last week against Denver and has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Dallas. Read More...