Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore missed the San Francisco 49ers' practice Thursday after the death of his mother.

Former New England Patriots guard Joe Andruzzi battled some of the toughest, meanest and nastiest defensive lineman in a 10-year NFL career. None came close to the aggressive but treatable form of cancer he is fighting now.

Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for the second time in six weeks Thursday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited injured Bills tight end Kevin Everett on Thursday morning, spending 90 minutes with the tight end who sustained a severe spinal cord injury.

The Buffalo Bills placed starting cornerback Jason Webster on injured reserve Thursday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't even bother requesting a deadline extension for this one.

You lambasted, ridiculed and mocked Charley Casserly when he took Mario Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. But, guess what? He's playing like an MVP, and golden boys Bush and Young have slipped. Good job, Charley, Pete Prisco says.

In a popularity competition the NFL whoops up on baseball. Larry Dobrow wonders how we got here, particularly when Sundays are nothing but Peyton ads, tired pregame shticks and hypocrisy the size of Shawne Merriman's biceps.

According to a few published reports, citing unnamed sources, the Jets have already decided that Kellen Clemens will start against the Ravens. While it would seem unlikely the Jets would play an injured Chad Pennington against one of the league's toughest defenses, the team hasn't made any official decision public.

It took the Indianapolis Colts one half to shake off their post-Super Bowl hangover. Then Peyton Manning and friends came alive to beat New Orleans 41-10 Thursday night in the NFL's opener, running away in the final 30 minutes.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missed a portion of practice Thursday because of his chronic right shoulder injury.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams will sign a three-year contract extension with the team, he said after Thursday's practice.

Atlanta's Rod Coleman and Chris Crocker are unlikely to play in the season opener this weekend at Minnesota. Four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler might miss his first game since December 2004.

The Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle Thursday to a one-year extension with quarterback Kyle Boller, who started 34 games during his first three seasons before settling into a backup role last year.

Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden, possibly facing discipline from the NFL following his arrest at a Cleveland airport, will play in Sunday's season opener against the Steelers.

Although 'USA Today' quoted JaMarcus Russell's uncle as saying a contract was almost done, the Raiders say nothing is close at this point.

This season, the NFL -- not the home team -- will control putting footballs into play. It isn't officially the Romo rule, Clark Judge says, but it might as well be, considering how Dallas' wild-card loss ended.

Thomas Jones looks and sounds ready to play in the New York Jets' season opener against the New England Patriots.

The New York Giants and New York Jets broke ground Wednesday on the first stadium to be jointly owned by two NFL teams and unveiled how architects plan to make two competing teams feel at home in a $1.3 billion stadium.

Tuesday's NFL news briefs: Ryan Pontbriand, regarded as one of the NFL's premier long snappers, signed a four-year contract extension Tuesday with the Cleveland Browns, a deal that will keep the specialist with the club through 2011.