Others’ success keeps Ivory off active roster
Although the Saints’ leading rusher from last season is healthy again, there does not appear to be any room for him on New Orleans’ active roster right now.
After lengthy rehabilitation from a broken left foot and sports hernia surgery, Chris Ivory is eligible to come off of the physically-unable-to- perform list, but as of Wednesday the Saints had not yet placed him back on the active roster.
The difficulty in activating Ivory stems from the Saints being healthy at running back and already trying to manage a productive balance between rookie Mark Ingram and veterans Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas.
“Right now we’ve made the decision that we’re not making a decision right now,” assistant head coach Joe Vitt said of Ivory after practice on Wednesday.
“We’re just holding on that and we’re seeing where he is physically and we’ll evaluate him as the week goes on.”
Ivory was one of the pleasant surprises of 2010 after making the squad as an undrafted rookie out of Division II Tiffin after having played previously at Washington State University.
Harrison deal voided
Philadelphia’s trade of Ronnie Brown to Detroit for Jerome Harrison was voided.
Harrison, who played at Washington State, could not pass a physical given by the Eagles on Wednesday, according to an NFL source, so the deal was negated. The Eagles confirmed the voidance but would not provide any further details.
Brown reverts back to the Eagles and Harrison stays in Detroit.
Around the league
Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier officially announced that rookie Christian Ponder will take over at quarterback for veteran Donovan McNabb for the remainder of the season. … Quarterback Carson Palmer took part in his first scrimmage since being traded to the Oakland Raiders and Raiders said it is possible he could start on Sunday. … St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford did not practice while getting treatment for a high left ankle sprain, increasing the likelihood journeyman A.J. Feeley will get the call on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. … John Beck was anointed as the No. 1 quarterback for the Washington Redskins, chosen by coach Mike Shanahan to start Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Grossman gets the demotion after throwing four interceptions in a 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. … Terrell Owens is ready to return to the NFL. The veteran wide receiver has been rehabilitating a left knee injury that required surgery. He is a free agent and agent Drew Rosenhaus says he will begin contacting teams immediately to let them know Owens is healthy. … The Carolina Panthers placed former first-round draft pick and starting right tackle Jeff Otah on injured reserve for the third time in four seasons. He has been struggling with back and knee issues stemming from two prior knee surgeries. … The players’ union has told the NFL to hold off collecting blood for HGH testing. The NFL and the players agreed to begin blood testing for HGH as part of their new collective bargaining agreement reached in late July – but only if the union agreed to the methods. The union has delayed implementing the test, asking for more scientific data to prove it is reliable.