THURSDAY UPDATES

Quarterbacks

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pit) wore gloves and
struggled against the Jets last week.  He says he will not wear them
this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** QB Jeff Smoker (StL) says he wants a chance to
compete for the team's #2 QB job in 2005.



Running Backs

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** RB Patrick Pass (NE) did not practice fully on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** RB Verron Haynes (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Wide Receivers

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Brian Finneran (Atl) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Randy Moss (Min) is quickly becoming the
subject of trade rumors with several teams (including Oakland and
Washington) as possible destinations.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Antwaan Randle-El (Pit) practiced on
Thursday and is expected to play this weekend.



Tight Ends

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE Bubba Franks (GB) is set to become an
unrestricted free agent in the off-season and says "there haven't been
any talks really" concerning him re-signing with the team.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE Chad Lewis (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE L.J. Smith (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.



Offensive Linemen

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** T Todd Weiner (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** G Jermane Mayberry (Phi) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** T Jon Runyan (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.



Defensive Linemen

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** DE Travis Hall (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** DE Richard Seymour (NE) did not practice fully
on Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.  Teammate Keith
Traylor had this to say regarding Seymour: "of course we're gonna miss
Richard, but we gotta go on."  Traylor made similar comments last
week, and Seymour did not play.



Linebackers

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Ted Johnson (NE) did not practice on
Thursday due to this flu, but he is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Dhani Jones (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Ike Reese (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
will play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Mark Simoneau (Phi) practiced on Thursday
but remains questionable for this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Kendrell Bell (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Clark Haggans (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Defensive Backs

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** CB Kevin Mathis (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** CB Deshea Townsend (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Other

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** OC Steve Loney (Min) has been named the team's OC.



ALL OF THE NEWS

Quarterbacks

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pit) wore gloves and
struggled against the Jets last week.  He says he will not wear them
this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** QB Jeff Smoker (StL) says he wants a chance to
compete for the team's #2 QB job in 2005.



Running Backs

RB Travis Henry (Buf) says he wants to play for Miami next season.  He
also says there are several other teams that have shown interest in
him.

RB Reuben Droughns (Den) has been given permission to seek a trade.
His agent has identified the Dolphins as a preferred destination.

RB Patrick Pass (NE) did not practice fully on Wednesday and is listed
as questionable for this weekend due to his injured ankle.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** RB Patrick Pass (NE) did not practice fully on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

RB Verron Haynes (Pit) did not practice on Wednesday but is expected
to play this weekend despite his injured knee.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** RB Verron Haynes (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Wide Receivers

WR Brian Finneran (Atl) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured wrist.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Brian Finneran (Atl) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Randy Moss (Min) is quickly becoming the
subject of trade rumors with several teams (including Oakland and
Washington) as possible destinations.

WR Terrell Owens (Phi) will not play this weekend due to his injured ankle.

WR Antwaan Randle-El (Pit) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to
play this weekend despite his injured toe.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** WR Antwaan Randle-El (Pit) practiced on
Thursday and is expected to play this weekend.



Tight Ends

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE Bubba Franks (GB) is set to become an
unrestricted free agent in the off-season and says "there haven't been
any talks really" concerning him re-signing with the team.

TE Chad Lewis (Phi) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured triceps.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE Chad Lewis (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.

TE L.J. Smith (Phi) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured back.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** TE L.J. Smith (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.



Offensive Linemen

T Todd Weiner (Atl) did not practice on Wednesday and is listed as
questionable for this weekend due to his injured ankle.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** T Todd Weiner (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

G Jermane Mayberry (Phi) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to
play this weekend despite his injured triceps.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** G Jermane Mayberry (Phi) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

T Jon Runyan (Phi) did not practice on Wednesday but is expected to
play this weekend despite his injured knee.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** T Jon Runyan (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.



Defensive Linemen

DE Travis Hall (Atl) did not practice on Wednesday and is listed as
questionable for this weekend due to his injured chest.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** DE Travis Hall (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

DE Richard Seymour (NE) did not practice fully on Wednesday and is
listed as questionable for this weekend due to his injured knee.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** DE Richard Seymour (NE) did not practice fully
on Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.  Teammate Keith
Traylor had this to say regarding Seymour: "of course we're gonna miss
Richard, but we gotta go on."  Traylor made similar comments last
week, and Seymour did not play.



Linebackers

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Ted Johnson (NE) did not practice on
Thursday due to this flu, but he is expected to play this weekend.

LB Dhani Jones (Phi) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured shoulder.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Dhani Jones (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
is expected to play this weekend.

LB Ike Reese (Phi) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play this
weekend despite his injured knee.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Ike Reese (Phi) practiced on Thursday and
will play this weekend.

LB Mark Simoneau (Phi) practiced on Wednesday but is listed as
questionable for this weekend due to his injured ankle.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Mark Simoneau (Phi) practiced on Thursday
but remains questionable for this weekend.

LB Kendrell Bell (Pit) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured groin.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Kendrell Bell (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.

LB Clark Haggans (Pit) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play
this weekend despite his injured groin.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** LB Clark Haggans (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Defensive Backs

CB Kevin Mathis (Atl) did not practice on Wednesday and is listed as
questionable for this weekend due to his injured ankle.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** CB Kevin Mathis (Atl) did not practice on
Thursday and remains questionable for this weekend.

CB Deshea Townsend (Pit) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to
play this weekend despite his injured hand.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** CB Deshea Townsend (Pit) practiced on Thursday
and is expected to play this weekend.



Other

OC Jim Fassel (Bal) has been named the team's OC.

DC Rex Ryan (Bal) has been named the team's DC.

DC Chuck Bresnahan (Cin) has been named the team's DC.

OC Scott Linehan (Mia) has become the team's OC after leaving the same
position with Minnesota.

The Minnesota Vikings franchise is reportedly "as close as ever" to being sold.

*** THURSDAY UPDATE *** OC Steve Loney (Min) has been named the team's OC.

OC Mike Heimerdinger (NYJ) has been named the team's OC.

HC Mike Nolan (SF) has left his DC job with the Ravens to become the
new HC of the 49ers.