The Minnesota Vikings signed Brad Childress to a contract extension that will keep the coach with the team through the 2013 season, a source told ESPN.com Thursday.

Financial terms weren’t immediately available but the deal is believed to be between $4 million and $5 million a year, the source said. In 2006, Childress signed a five-year, $10 million contract, which was scheduled to expire after the 2010 season.

“Brad has done a tremendous job leading this football team and we value the positive environment he has created for the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement. “He has continued to positively impact this team and create a strong foundation for future success.”

Click here to read the full article – By John Clayton of ESPN.com

Minnesota Vikings Sports Memorabilia
and other Minnesota Vikings Gifts and Collectibles

Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out because of a knee injury, meaning the NFL’s worst run defense could be without both starting defensive tackles against Jacksonville this weekend.


Kyle Williams has missed three games because of a knee injury, and was listed as questionable by interim head coach Perry Fewell on Friday. Williams has practiced sparingly this weekend.

The Bills (3-6) have only two other defensive tackles on their roster — reserves Spencer Johnson and John McCargo.

Their defense is allowing an NFL-worst 173 yards rushing this season. Buffalo prepares to face the run-happy Jaguars led by Maurice Jones-Drew, who’s tied for fourth in the league with 860 yards rushing and has scored seven of his 12 touchdowns in the past four games.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Buffalo Bills Sports Memorabilia
and other Buffalo Bills Gifts and Collectibles

New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard is questionable for the team’s game at New England after being limited in practice with a broken right thumb.

Leonhard, injured in last Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville, returned to practice Friday and participated in individual drills as well as some team activities while wearing a cast on his hand.

Coach Rex Ryan said he’d consult with Leonhard and the team’s trainers to see how he feels leading up to the game Sunday. Eric Smith would get the start opposite Kerry Rhodes if Leonhard can’t play.

Ryan also ruled out linebacker Vernon Gholston for the second straight week with a hamstring injury. Gholston was injured in practice last Monday in the team’s first workout off the bye-week break.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

New York Jets Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Jets Gifts and Collectibles

A lacerated kidney will force Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe to miss the remainder of the season, the team confirmed Friday.


The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the story.

Wolfe suffered the injury on Nov. 8 versus Arizona, and he was hospitalized for the next few days. Still, the Bears were optimistic Wolfe would be able to return in 2009.

The Bears said Wolfe will be placed on injured reserve.

Practice squad running back Kahlil Bell is a strong candidate to be promoted to the 53-man roster.

Click here to read the full article – By Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Bears Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Bears Gifts and Collectibles

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday with a sprained left ankle.

Coach Josh McDaniels said Orton’s availability for Sunday’s pivotal contest with San Diego will come down to a game-time decision.

Backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions, as he has all week in the absence of Orton, who was injured during last week’s 27-17 loss at Washington.

Simms is in line to make his first start since September 2006, when he suffered a life-threatening spleen injury while with Tampa Bay.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Denver Broncos Sports Memorabilia
and other Denver Broncos Gifts and Collectibles

Eric Mangini expects Josh Cribbs to play when the Cleveland Browns go against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Cribbs was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field after the last play of the Browns’ 16-0 loss to Baltimore on Monday night. He was briefly hospitalized with a possible neck injury and concussion.

Mangini says all of the measures taken with Cribbs were precautionary and that all the tests came back negative.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Cleveland Browns Sports Memorabilia
and other Cleveland Browns Gifts and Collectibles

With Ronnie Brown lost for the season, the Miami Dolphins turned to their aging running back. Ricky Williams showed he’s still got it.

The 32-year-old Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night for their fourth win in six games to get into the AFC playoff picture.

A day after learning Brown is lost for the season to a foot injury, the Dolphins (5-5) continued their surge after an 0-3 start behind Williams. The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that included a couple of lost seasons.

“Coach always talks about finishing,” Williams said. “Sometimes in this league, in a physical game, it’s difficult to finish. I think in the past we’ve prided ourselves on finishing games and we did a good job tonight.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Miami Dolphins Sports Memorabilia
and other Miami Dolphins Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Ricky Williams.

The Washington Redskins are shuffling their lineup again after losing their strong safety and right tackle to multiweek injuries.

In addition, Clinton Portis is recovering from a concussion and is doubtful to play in next week’s game against Denver.

Safety Chris Horton damaged a ligament in his left big toe during Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Atlanta. He’s out a minimum of four to six weeks — and it will be four to six months if a specialist decides the toe needs surgery.

Offensive lineman Mike Williams, who has started the last four games, is out two to four weeks after tearing a ligament in his ankle. He will also see a specialist but doesn’t expect to require surgery.

Portis took a helmet-to-helmet blow as he was tackled at the end of a running play during the first quarter on Sunday. He will undergo a test Tuesday to help determine his availability for the Broncos game.


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Washington Redskins Sports Memorabilia
and other Washington Redskins Gifts and Collectibles

The future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was unveiled Sunday when rookie quarterback Josh Freeman got his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers.

And while it is too early to know exactly what the Bucs have invested long-term, the early returns have provided instant dividends.

Freeman generated his first fourth-quarter comeback victory and helped Tampa Bay win its first game of the season Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Now it is too soon to start molding his bust and making reservations to Canton, or calling him the greatest thing since John Elway.

Still, there was something about the kid’s play that has to make Buc fans hopeful.


Click here to read the full article – By Rick Brown of theledger.com

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sports Memorabilia
and other Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gifts and Collectibles

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Monday that the team used Joey Porter’s trash talk as a spark leading up to Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s really motivating for our team throughout the course of the week and into the game when you hear that kind of stuff,” Brady said on his weekly appearance on the “Dennis & Callahan” show on Boston radio station WEEI. “I think the guys take it to heart and the coaches take it to heart.”

Last week, Porter said there was “no question” that Brady is getting favorable calls from officials this season. Brady missed most of the 2008 season with a knee injury suffered when he was hit by a player on the ground. In March, the NFL clarified a rule, making it a personal foul for a player on the ground to lunge and hit a quarterback below the knee unless he’s blocked or fouled. Some have referred to it as the “Brady Rule.”

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

New England Patriots Sports Memorabilia
and other New England Patriots Gifts and Collectibles