Tampa’s Simms will get start against Saints
Chris Simms will make his first pro start at quarterback for the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, replacing Brad Johnson.
“I hope I can give us the spark we need,” Simms said Wednesday, when the Bucs (0-4) began preparation for their game against the New Orleans Saints (2-2).
The second-year pro is the son of former New York Giants star Phil Simms. The Bucs selected him in the third round of the 2003 draft, and the strong-armed left-hander saw his first regular-season action in relief of Johnson three weeks ago.
Simms learned of coach Jon Gruden’s decision on Tuesday.
“I was ear to ear, smiling all day. I’m excited. … It’s a long way from being the last pick of the third round,” the 24-year-old quarterback said.
Smith apologizes for arrest
Defensive end Justin Smith apologized to Cincinnati Bengals teammates and fans for his drunken driving arrest.
With a Bengals cap on his head and coach Marvin Lewis at his side, Smith sat at a table and read from a folded sheet of paper on his lap. He declined to take questions.
“I just want to apologize today to my teammates, my coaches and our fans for the situation I put myself in and the Bengals’ organization,” Smith said. “I cast us in an unfavorable light and it’s a disruption to our team, and the fans don’t deserve it.”
Davis acts like he’s ready to go
The injury report lists Stephen Davis as questionable to play against Denver. His behavior made him look more like a probable.
The first sign came in the morning meetings.
“He’s ready to go,” center Jeff Mitchell said. “He’s been awake in all the meetings.”
The next sign came halfway through practice, when Davis surprised Carolina’s offensive linemen by pulling them together to talk about Sunday’s game in Denver.
Davis hasn’t played since the season-opening loss to Green Bay because he had arthroscopic surgery Sept. 17 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Favre sits out, Pederson could be done
Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre skipped practice, still feeling the effects of a concussion to go along with a softball-sized bruise on his left leg and a loose left shoulder.
Backup quarterback Doug Pederson has a cracked bone in his back, a broken rib and a torn muscle in his side, all the result of Keith Washington’s wicked sideline hit Sunday in Green Bay’s loss to the Giants. He could be heading to the IR.
Also, Favre’s brother-in-law, Casey Tynes, died after crashing an all-terrain vehicle on the player’s property.
Tynes, 24, the brother of Favre’s wife Deanna, was riding the ATV without a helmet when it flipped, Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel said.
Around the league
With kicker Mike Vanderjagt listed as questionable with a strained right hamstring, the Indianapolis Colts worked out kicker Matt Bryant. … Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley expects to miss 2-4 weeks with a shoulder injury. … San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson didn’t practice because of a groin injury, but expects to play Sunday against Jacksonville. … Former Raiders kicker Cole Ford is being sought in a drive-by shooting last month at the home of entertainers Siegfried & Roy, police said. Ford, 31, was named in a felony warrant stemming from the Sept. 21 shooting, Sgt. Chris Jones said. … The Arizona Cardinals activated defensive tackle Wendell Bryant off the suspended list. … Saints running back Deuce McAllister was back in pads, but it’s unlikely he’ll see any playing time Sunday against Tampa Bay. … New England left tackle Matt Light signed a six-year contract extension with the Patriots that will keep him in New England through 2010. The Patriots also signed defensive back Je’Rod Cherry and wide receiver Kevin Kasper. … Former Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram was charged this week with stealing cars and transporting them across state lines and laundering what he thought was drug money.