Indianapolis Colts 12/04/2008 8:44 AMThe Indianapolis Star reports DB Keiwan Ratliff joked about a shutout Sunday. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh called his bluff. "He's lying. He doesn't even believe that," Houshmandzadeh said. "Rat's my guy." Ratliff, a Colts cornerback, and Houshmandzadeh, a Cincinnati wide receiver, are buddies. They were Bengals teammates from 2004 into last season. When the Colts briefly released Ratliff last month, he went back to Cincinnati to hang out with Houshmandzadeh and Bengals running back Chris Perry. Ratliff and Houshmandzadeh will face off Sunday. "Me and him have had a lot of battles, me being the nickel and him being the slot receiver in practice," said Ratliff, who kidded about Houshmandzadeh not getting a reception Sunday. "I think I'm better than him. He thinks he's better than me. "I'll be on him most of the game. I'm looking forward to that." Houshmandzadeh has caught 81 passes for 810 yards and four touchdowns. Ratliff is the Colts' nickel back.Read more
San Diego Chargers 12/04/2008 8:42 AMThe San Diego Union-Tribune reports super agent Tom Condon represents RB LaDainian Tomlinson and DE Shawne Merriman, and the future of both is being assessed. Tomlinson already has made it clear he is not playing beyond his contract, which expires after 2011. The Chargers are not redoing his contract. Tomlinson is not pleased with the direction of the offense. April is not too early for General Manger A.J. Smith to draft Tomlinson's heir. The thinking is that Tomlinson will be the Chargers' running back in 2009, but his trade value is only going to decline as he gets older.Read more
Cleveland Browns 12/02/2008 5:37 PMThe Cleveland Browns have placed QB Derek Anderson on the Reserve-Injured list and have signed QB Bruce Gradkowski as a free agent, the club announced today. The Browns also release OL Travis Leffew from the practice squad and have signed WR Steve Sanders to the practice squad.Read more
New York Giants 12/02/2008 1:09 PMESPN.com reports New York Giants second-year receiver Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint in the early hours of Nov. 25 after arriving home, according to Clifton, N.J., police. Smith had just returned to his townhouse in a chauffer-driven car when he was approached from behind by man who held a gun to Smith's head, Clifton police Capt. Robert Rowan said. "He said to him, 'Give me everything you got,' and Mr. Smith turned over his jewelry and money and cell phone," Rowan said Tuesday. The man left the scene and is still being sought, Rowan said. It was unclear if Smith's driver was at the townhouse during the hold-up.Read more
