Two regular season-games will be abroad
The NFL will play as many as two regular-season games per year outside the United States starting in 2007, with Mexico, Canada, England and Germany as possible sites for starters.
The plan, first announced last month, was approved Tuesday at the recommendation of new commissioner Roger Goodell, who said the benefits of reaching an international audience outweighed the loss of some teams’ home games.
“We are talking about a limited number of games that we think will have a tremendous impact,” Goodell said. “It’s in response to the growing fan interest in our game overseas. There are more and more fans on a global basis.”
Roethlisberger questionable
Ben Roethlisberger’s second concussion in slightly more than four months may not keep him out of the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup Sunday or prevent him from practicing this week.
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback is questionable for Sunday’s game in Oakland, but Bill Cowher sounded much like a coach who expects to have his starting quarterback ready to go this week.
“He had an MRI done on his brain and neck, and both of those came back normal,” Cowher said.
Bears-Giants game moved
Chicago’s game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on Nov. 12 was switched by the NFL from an afternoon game to a night game (5:15 PST), the first under the flexible scheduling format implemented in the new television contract.
Browns’ Carthon quits
Maurice Carthon resigned as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, two days after the Browns’ NFL-worst offense managed only one touchdown and seven points in a loss to Denver.
Carthon, whose head-scratching play calls and personnel moves angered fans and puzzled players, was in his second year running the offense.
Jeff Davidson, the club’s offensive line coach the past two seasons, will replace Carthon as the club’s offensive coordinator.
Record night for ESPN
ESPN’s telecast of the New York Giants’ 36-22 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night was viewed by the largest audience in cable history.
The previous record for cable television was the debate over NAFTA in November 1993, between then-vice president Al Gore and Ross Perot.
Around the league
Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham will miss three to four weeks following surgery to repair a torn lower abdominal muscle. … Tennessee Titans linebacker Robert Reynolds was charged with shoving his estranged wife into a wall at her home, and Ohio police issued a warrant for his arrest. Jennifer Reynolds was not hurt, but her husband was sought on charges of domestic violence and assault. … Miami Dolphins guard Jeno James underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is listed a week to week. … Linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers, who made room on the roster by waiving linebacker Nick Speegle. … Bob Mann, one of the Detroit Lions’ first black players and a star receiver during the 1940s and ‘50s, has died in Detroit. He was 82.