NFC West preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

NFC South preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

NFC North preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

NFC East preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

AFC South preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

AFC West preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

AFC East preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

AFC North preview

By JASON BROWN

Rising team

Colts' Saturday opts against surgery

By Sports Network

Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday has decided to pass on surgery and will continue to rehab the torn ligament in his right knee.

Broncos release Sapp

By Sports Network

The Denver Broncos released fullback Cecil Sapp on Thursday.

NFL Inactives (Thursday, September 4, 2008)

By Sports Network

The following is a list of inactive players for tonight's NFL game.

NFL Preview - Cincinnati (0-0) at Baltimore (0-0)

By Shawn Clarke, Sports Network

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome labeled him as the quarterback of the future, and even traded up in April's NFL Draft for his services. Injuries, however, may be the only reason why Joe Flacco is getting the starting nod for Sunday's season opener versus the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.

NFL Preview - Houston (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)

By Michael Rushton, Sports Network

One thing that didn't change last year in Pittsburgh's transition at head coach from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin was its ability to win on opening weekend. The Steelers will try to win their first game of the season for a sixth straight year this weekend, when they open the 2008 season against the Houston Texans at Heinz Field.

NFL Preview - Chicago (0-0) at Indianapolis (0-0)

By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network

Quarterback concerns have been nothing new for the Chicago Bears in recent years. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Indianapolis Colts may have some worries of their own at the all-important position.

Bills LB Crowell placed on IR

By Sports Network

Buffalo Bills linebacker Angelo Crowell will miss Sunday's season-opener and might be out for up to four weeks after revealing to the team on Thursday that he will undergo knee surgery.

NFL Preview - Carolina (0-0) at San Diego (0-0)

By Lyle Fitzsimmons, Sports Network

Paper champions.

NFL Preview - Arizona (0-0) at San Francisco (0-0)

By Michael Rushton, Sports Network

When the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals opened the 2007 season against each other by the bay, both teams had their respective quarterbacks of the future under center. Yet, those two former first-round picks will both be on the bench this weekend when the two clubs again open their season against one another at Candlestick Park.

NFL Preview - Dallas (0-0) at Cleveland (0-0)

By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network

The Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns will be entering the 2008 NFL season with very high expectations, but only one of those playoff hopefuls will be getting off to a desired start at the conclusion of Sunday's intriguing interconference battle from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Giants sign Burress to extension

By Sports Network

New York and wide receiver Plaxico Burress agreed on a two-year contract extension Thursday, hours before the Giants begin defense of their title against the Washington Redskins.

NFL Preview - Jacksonville (0-0) at Tennessee (0-0)

By Shawn Clarke, Sports Network

As if trying to compete in the AFC South was hard enough for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who not only have high expectations for the 2008 season but are also dealing with a critically-injured member of the team.

NFL Preview - N.Y. Jets (0-0) at Miami (0-0)

By Lyle Fitzsimmons, Sports Network

Pity the poor Jets-Dolphins football writer this week.

NFL Preview - Seattle (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)

By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network

The final year of the Mike Holmgren era begins this Sunday at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the longtime head coach brings his Seattle Seahawks in for a season-opening interconference matchup with the Bills.

NFL Preview - Tampa Bay (0-0) at New Orleans (0-0)

By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network

It's all systems go for both the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will open their respective 2008 seasons with a key NFC South clash Sunday at the Superdome.

Bengals' WR Chad Johnson now Ocho Cinco

By JOE KAY

Call him Ocho Cinco on the field, too.

NFL Preview - St. Louis (0-0) at Philadelphia (0-0)

By Tony Moss, Sports Network

If the Philadelphia Eagles want to prove the folks at Sports Illustrated right, Sunday afternoon's home matchup against the St. Louis Rams is the place to start.

NFL Preview - Kansas City (0-0) at New England (0-0)

By Tony Moss, Sports Network

The New England Patriots enter their regular season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday as something of a strange paradox unto themselves.

Daunte Culpepper retires

By Sports Network

Daunte Culpepper has announced his retirement from the NFL, bringing an end to a nine-year career for the quarterback that started with promise and finished with injury-filled disappointment.

Giants kick off Super Bowl defense with win

By TOM CANAVAN

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl with defense and they kicked off defense of that title with more of the same.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper retires from NFL

By TIM REYNOLDS

Daunte Culpepper summed up his thoughts Thursday in two words, which ushered in the start of a new era for the former Pro Bowl quarterback. "Farewell NFL," he wrote.

NFL Preview - Detroit (0-0) at Atlanta (0-0)

By Tony Moss, Sports Network

Matt Ryan will take his first tentative steps as a pro on Saturday, when the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 Draft leads the Atlanta Falcons into battle against the visiting Detroit Lions at the Georgia Dome.

Browns LB Peek done for season after knee surgery

By Sports Network

Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Antwan Peek will miss the entire 2008 season after undergoing surgery on Thursday to repair a torn patella tendon in his knee.

Jags sign T Spencer, put Collier on reserve list

By Sports Network

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed offensive tackle Charles Spencer on Thursday, and placed tackle Richard Collier on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Ravens sign DB Oglesby

By Sports Network

The Baltimore Ravens have signed cornerback Evan Oglesby and waived cornerback Anwar Phillips.

Rudi takes Bell's job; Bell takes Rudi's bags

EX-BENGAL MISSING $200, CREDIT CARDS

Herald-Leader Wire Reports

Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller will miss season

By DAVID GINSBURG

Kyle Boller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday by the Baltimore Ravens, ending his season and raising the question of whether the quarterback will throw another pass for the team. Boller has been sidelined since hurting his shoulder in Baltimore's second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 16.

Jags try to cope with teammate Collier's shooting

By MARK LONG

Jaguars linebacker Clint Ingram spent about 14 hours at the hospital Tuesday, waiting with teammates, coaches and Richard Collier's family and friends. He didn't get any of the answers he wanted.

Giants-Redskins issue final injury report for season opener

By Sports Network

The New York Giants will be without linebacker Jonathan Goff (back), cornerback Terrell Thomas (hamstring) and kicker Lawrence Tynes (left knee) as the team opens its 2008 regular season against the Redskins on Thursday night.

Panthers' Moore breaks leg

By Sports Network

Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore suffered a broken left leg in practice Wednesday.

Ryan to start right away, but at what cost?

By PAUL NEWBERRY

With Michael Vick out of the picture, the Atlanta Falcons wasted little time anointing Matt Ryan as the new face of the franchise.

Panthers QB Matt Moore has broken bone in left leg

After Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Matt Moore injured his left leg in the final preseason game last week, he had two X-rays and an MRI that revealed no broken bones.

Eagles CB Brown upset over agent Rosenhaus' video

By DAN GELSTON

Sheldon Brown didn't need a YouTube video to get his message out to agent Drew Rosenhaus: Keep my name out of your mouth.

Texans sign S Wilson

By Sports Network

The Houston Texans signed safety Eugene Wilson on Wednesday.

Line of Scrimmage: Week 1 - Brett Favre and 1,439 Other Guys

By Tony Moss, Sports Network

What were you doing on January 4th, 1992?

Boller placed on injured reserve; Bouman signed

By Sports Network

The Baltimore Ravens have placed quarterback Kyle Boller on injured reserve because of a shoulder problem and filled the roster spot by signing quarterback Todd Bouman.

Cowboys sign Davis

By Sports Network

The Dallas Cowboys signed free agent safety Keith Davis on Wednesday.

Steelers bring in TE McHugh

By Sports Network

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed tight end Sean McHugh to a one-year deal on Wednesday.

Jags' Collier shot, has life-threatening injuries

By MARK LONG

Richard Collier has faced some adversity in recent years.

Indianapolis gets brief taste of being 2-team town

By MICHAEL MAROT

Indianapolis will never be mistaken for New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. This week, however, the city is enjoying a rare taste of what life is like when playing host to two teams in the same major, pro sport - the hometown Colts and, temporarily, the displaced New Orleans Saints.

Saints to open NFL season at home in Superdome

By BRETT MARTEL

The Louisiana Superdome will be ready for some football Sunday, and the Saints say they're looking forward to celebrating the end of a stressful week with their storm-weary fans.

NFL will honor Gene Upshaw at all 16 opening games

The NFL will honor the late Gene Upshaw with his initials and his uniform number stenciled on the field for all 16 games this opening weekend.