NFL notes

— PANTHERS Delhomme on IR

The Carolina Panthers placed quarterback Jake Delhomme on injured reserve Thursday with a broken finger on his throwing hand, ending his worst season as a pro and raising questions about his future with the franchise.

Delhomme said he broke the knuckle on his middle finger in a loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 29. He hasn’t played or practiced since.

Matt Moore has started the past three games and threw for a career-high 299 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday’s upset victory over Minnesota.

The Panthers (6-8) promoted quarterback Hunter Cantwell from the practice squad to take Delhomme’s roster spot. A.J. Feeley is No. 2 on the depth chart.

“We thought he might be further along as far as his finger,” Coach John Fox said. “We kind of looked at it this week as far as gripping the ball, throwing the ball and it wasn’t up to speed. We felt we needed to get another quarterback up. Hunter has been with us all year.”

Delhomme, 34, received a lucrative contract extension in the off-season despite committing six turnovers in Carolina’s playoff loss to Arizona in January. It is a fiveyear deal, but it’s structured to be a three-year contract worth more than $25 million, with nearly $13 million guaranteed.

Delhomme then committed five more turnovers in a blowout loss to Philadelphia in the season opener, and had 18 interceptions and only 8 touchdown passes in 11 games before the injury. Struggling with his accuracy, Delhomme completed only 55.5 percent of his passes.

COLTSGonzalez done

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts have put receiver Anthony Gonzalez on injured reserve, ending his season.

Gonzalez sprained ligaments in his right knee in the season opener and later had arthroscopic surgery on the knee, delaying his return.

On Monday, team President Bill Polian said on his radio show that Indianapolis hoped to have Gonzalez practice this week so he could play in the final two games of the season in preparation for the playoffs. Gonzalez practiced Monday but sat out Wednesday, prompting Thursday’s announcement.

LIONS Stafford finished

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The season is over for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been placed on injured reserve ahead of what the team calls minor right knee surgery.

Coach Jim Schwartz said the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft was to have undergone the surgery after the season. But Stafford was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after a physical exam indicated he wouldn’t be ready to play in the Jan. 3 season finale against Chicago.

“We anticipate a minor surgery just to clean out some irritants and debris,” Schwartz said. “Since he’s had [the injury], he’s had on and off swelling. It’s been stuff he’s been able to play through, but it’s also something we knew we needed to address after the season.

Third-year quarterback Drew Stanton will make his first NFL start Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco.

Stafford injured his nonthrowing left shoulder while leading a fourth quarter comeback that lifted Detroit to a 38-37 victory over Cleveland on Nov. 22. He aggravated the injury in a Dec. 6 loss at Cincinnati, but Schwartz said Stafford’s recovery is “on course” and he won’t undergo surgery on the shoulder.

Stafford completed 201 of 377 passes (53.3 percent) for 2,267 yards and 13 touchdowns, a record for a Lions rookie. He threw five touchdown passes against Cleveland, tying a team record and the 72-year-old NFL record. He also set an NFL rookie record with 422 yards passing in that game.

Stafford either threw or ran for a touchdown in all 10 of his starts, including one in Detroit’s 19-14 victory over Washington in Week 3. That victory ended the Lions’ 19-game losing streak, the NFL’s second longest.

NFL Fines handed out

NEW YORK - Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has been fined $10,000 by the NFL and New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been hit for $7,500.

The players were fined Thursday for an altercation late in New York’s 45-12 victory at Washington. Haynesworth struck Jacobs after a play ended and Jacobs struck back.

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall also was involved, but was not fined.

“I guess they did it, but that was expected,” Jacobs said of the fines.

The league also fined Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams $5,000 on Thursday for a tackle at the knees on Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore.

SAINTS Carney consultant

METAIRIE, La. - Two days after waiving veteran kicker John Carney, the Saints have brought him back as a kicking consultant.

Saints Coach Sean Payton announced the move after Thursday’s practice. Payton said the 45-yearold Carney’s knowledge of the game from his 21 years of playing experience will be invaluable to secondyear place-kicker Garrett Hartley.

By accepting the job, Carney may not under NFL rules kick for the Saints or any other team for the rest of this season.

Carney played in 11 games this season, making 13 of 17 field goals and 50 of 52 extra-point tries.

Carney was waived Tuesday along with cornerback Marcus McCauley when the Saints re-signed fullback Kyle Eckel and added safety Herana-Daze Jones.

BILLS

QB misses practice

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills interim coach Perry Fewell is taking a wait-and-see approach with his quarterbacks after starter Ryan Fitzpatrick missed his second consecutive practice because of an ankle injury.

Fewell said Fitzpatrick is feeling better and did “a little throwing” before practice Thursday as the Bills (5-9) prepare to play at Atlanta (7-7) this weekend. With backup Trent Edwards out with an ankle injury, third-stringer Brian Brohm would make his NFL debut if Fitzpatrick can’t play.

Hurt against New England last weekend, Fitzpatrick walked stiffly around the locker room and, with a smile, said “Merry Christmas,” when asked how he felt.

Starting cornerback Drayton Florence missed practice due to an illness, but is expected to play.

RAIDERS

FB suspended by NFL

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders fullback Luke Lawton has been suspended four games without pay by the NFL for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Lawton, 29, who has played in 13 games with three starts this season, will miss the Raiders’ final two games this season and lose nearly $63,000 in pay. A free agent next year, he would also have to sit out his first two games of the 2010 regular season.

Lawton has seven catches for 31 yards this season.

The NFL sent out a two-paragraph statement Thursday announcing the suspension. Raiders Coach Tom Cable was not available for comment.x-clinched division y-clinched playoff spot FRIDAY’S GAMES All times Central San Diego at Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY’S GAMES Buffalo at Atlanta, noon Houston at Miami, noon Seattle at Green Bay, noon Carolina at NY Giants, noon Baltimore at Pittsburgh, noonTampa Bay at New Orleans, noon Oakland at Cleveland, noon Kansas City at Cincinnati, noon Jacksonville at New England, noon Detroit at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m. St. Louis at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

NY Jets at Indianapolis, 3:15 p.m.

Denver at Philadelphia, 3:15 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 7:20 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAME Minnesota at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 21 on 12/25/2009

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