| First-place Steelers handle Ocho Cinco-less Bengals The Steelers limited the depleted Bengals to six first downs following and early Cincinnati touchdown drive and found just enough offense themselves amid the snow flurries for a 27-10 win Thursday. |
| Breakout players: Feisty Titan heads impressive list Small in size only, Titans corner Cortland Finnegan has willed himself to elite level. That leap forward should be confirmed come Pro Bowl time, Pete Prisco says in naming his top breakout players. |
| Pack-Bears matchup in December to decide NFC North Chicago has the schedule, Green Bay has Ryan Grant. No matter the differences, when these two rivals meet again on Dec. 22, the NFC North title will be decided, Clark Judge says. |
| Rookie season ends early for Dallas RB Jones The mystery surrounding injured Dallas Cowboys rookie Felix Jones has been solved, and the running back will not play again this season. |
| J. Jones takes partial blame for Pacman's troubles Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday that one of the reasons he is willing to take another chance on Adam 'Pacman' Jones is because he feels partly to blame for the cornerback's latest trouble. |
| Browns' Quinn aims to play with broken finger Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn broke his right index finger in Monday night's win over Buffalo but will try to play Sunday against the Houston Texans. |
| Crennel: Browns GM sent e-mail with expletive to fan Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage has apologized to a fan whom he sent a profane e-mail to following Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills. |
| Former Packers cornerback Jeter dead at 71 Former Packers cornerback Bob Jeter, the father of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball coach Rob Jeter, has died. |
| NFLPA narrows search for next executive director The search committee seeking a replacement for the late Gene Upshaw to run the NFL Players Association has narrowed the field to a little more than a dozen candidates, some with no previous ties to the union or the NFL, a person with knowledge of the search told the AP. |
| Hasselbeck returns to practice, could start Sunday Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned practice after sitting out a day and appears to be on track to start against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. |
| Burress doesn't practice, but Jacobs, Ross do New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress missed practice Thursday because of a hamstring injury. |
| Haslett: Long holdout led to Jackson's injury Steven Jackson's persistent thigh injury is no surprise to Rams coach Jim Haslett, who factored in down time after the running back's 27-day training camp holdout. |
| Vikings RB Peterson, DE Allen get one-day break The Minnesota Vikings are giving Adrian Peterson's body a break. |
| Williamses Minnesota Vikings star defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams have gone before the NFL to discuss their positive tests for a banned diuretic. |
| Get the vote out: 'Skins fans stuff Pro Bowl ballot box In 1957, the 'Cincinnati Enquire'r distributed pre-marked ballots with its Sunday editions, making it easy for Reds fans to vote early and often in choosing the National League team for baseball's All-Star Game. |
| Bulluck practices, Vanden Bosch nears return Linebacker Keith Bulluck practiced Thursday for the first time since hurting a rib on Nov. 2, and Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch also practiced as he tries to return after missing three of the past four games. |