Vick claims he’ll be healthy for Patriots
Michael Vick felt better as he tested his sprained right knee in practice drills Thursday.
The Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback believes he will start when the New England Patriots visit Sunday. Vick indicated he and the team might wait until that morning to make a final decision.
“Yeah, it’s getting better, and the only way I can tell that is when I go out there and try to do some things on it,” Vick said. “I’m trying to cut and plant a little bit, and I can feel if I’ve progressed or digressed. I feel like today I progressed a little bit.”
Coach Jim Mora still listed the two-time Pro Bowl selection as probable on the Atlanta injury report.
Vick left last week’s win over Minnesota after rookie Erasmus James fell on him in the second quarter. Worried initially that his knee was badly damaged, Vick lay with his back on the Georgia Dome turf as he held his leg.
Miami locks up 2010 Super Bowl
South Florida heat prevailed over a city whose last Super Bowl was an icy one.
Miami was awarded the 2010 Super Bowl, a record 10th time the city will host the title game and record 15th time it will be in Florida.
Miami, Atlanta and Houston made final pitches for the marquee event at an NFL owners meeting at Romulus, Mich., about 25 miles from Detroit’s Ford Field, where the next Super Bowl will be played.
An ice storm and frigid temperatures struck Atlanta in 2000, the last time the game was played at the Georgia Dome.
Sputtering Bills turn to Holcomb
Coach Mike Mularkey’s secret is out – wide receivers Eric Moulds and Lee Evans acknowledged that backup Kelly Holcomb is replacing J.P. Losman as the starting quarterback for Buffalo’s game against Miami on Sunday.
Moulds backed the decision, crediting Mularkey for attempting to provide a spark to a sputtering offense that has managed 29 points – two touchdowns and five field goals – in the last 14 quarters.
Mularkey declined to say who his starter was on Wednesday, raising speculation that he was ready to bench Losman after four shaky starts. The Bills (1-3) have lost three straight, and Losman has struggled in each game.
Around the league
New England might be without three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour for Sunday’s game in Atlanta. He was listed as questionable on the injury report, which said he missed part of practice. … Arizona middle linebacker Gerald Hayes, who had been listed as a starter in training camp, will miss the rest of the season because his left knee failed to respond to rehab as well as hoped. … Buffalo reserve cornerback Kevin Thomas had surgery on his injured right knee for the second time this year and could miss the rest of the season. … Green Bay signed running back ReShard Lee and placed rookie wide receiver Terrence Murphy on injured reserve with a neck injury. … Minnesota defensive end Kenechi Udeze, a starter in his second NFL season, will miss the remainder of the year with an injury to his left knee. … NFL owners voted to extend their commitment to NFL Europe for five more years.