Saints owner meets with Tagliabue
The NFL remains focused on returning the New Orleans Saints to Louisiana next season, the league said after a Tuesday meeting between team owner Tom Benson and commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
A committee of eight owners also met for about an hour to discuss the future of the team, displaced by Hurricane Katrina just before the season began. The Saints have been based in San Antonio since leaving New Orleans.
“Both meetings were positive and continued to focus on the Saints’ operations in Louisiana,” league spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement.
Tagliabue has repeatedly said he would like the Saints to play as many games as possible in Louisiana in 2006 and New Orleans officials say they believe the Superdome, badly damaged by the hurricane, could be ready by Nov. 1.
Simms will play with sprained thumb
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms practiced and said the sprained thumb on his throwing hand will not keep him from playing this week against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I’m young and I’m resilient,” the third-year pro said. “It’s a physical sport. You expect to get hit and be ready to go the next week.”
Simms was sacked seven times in last Saturday’s 28-0 loss to the New England Patriots, absorbing the worst physical pounding of his brief career. He injured his thumb during the second quarter, but continued to play and finished 21 of 34 for 155 yards.
“Tampa Bay signed tight end Will Heller and released backup kicker Todd France.
Warner placed on IR with sprained knee
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was placed on season-ending injured reserve, even though his knee injury apparently isn’t as severe as feared.
Mark Bartelstein, Warner’s agent, said the Cardinals quarterback had a “garden-variety” sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee that will not require surgery. “He’ll be out three to four weeks, max,” Bartelstein said. “Of course, they’re not going to be playing then, but if the season were ongoing, he’d be able to come back and play.”
“The Cardinals placed guard Adam Haayer on injured reserve.
Around the league
Journeyman backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb will likely make his second start in place of limping J.P. Losman when the Buffalo Bills play at Cincinnati on Saturday. … Dallas offensive lineman Marco Rivera hopes to play this week despite a sprained neck suffered near the end of Sunday’s loss to Washington. The Cowboys placed linebacker Micheal Barrow on injured reserve because of a partially torn quadriceps muscle. … Oakland running back LaMont Jordan is listed as doubtful to play in Saturday’s game at Denver because of turf toe. … San Diego left tackle Roman Oben was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. … Washington guard Randy Thomas was placed on injured reserve after he broke his leg in a victory over Dallas. Offensive lineman Ikechuku Ndukwe was promoted from the practice squad to take Thomas’ spot on the active roster.