LITTLE ROCK — League, officials hold talks
NEW YORK - Two people familiar with the talks said that the NFL and the locked out officials’ union met on Sunday.
It was uncertain whether progress was made in an attempt to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, or when further negotiations would take place.
The two people spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the talks are not being made public.
The NFL locked out the officials in June after their contract expired. The league has been using replacement officials, and through three weeks of the regular season there has been much criticism over the way some games are being handled.
Earlier Sunday, the NFL players’ union sent an open letter to team owners calling for an end to the lockout.
Milestones
Peyton Manning completed 26 for 52 passes for 330 yards and 2 touchdowns for his 64th career 300-yard passing game, breaking a tie for the record with Dan Marino, but Denver lost to Houston 31-25.
San Francisco’s Randy Moss moved past Tim Brown into fourth place on the NFL’s all-time receiving list with 14,946 yards.
The 49ers’ Frank Gore passed Roger Craig for the most career rushing attempts in team history.
Tennessee’s Rob Bironas kicked a 38-yard field goal at the end of the first half of the Titans’ 44-41 overtime victory over Detroit to tie the franchise record with his 20th consecutive made kick. He missed a chance to have the record alone when a 41-yarder was wide left in the third quarter. Bironas missed another field goal in the third, the first time he’s missed two in a game since Sept. 10, 2009.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has touchdown passes in 46 consecutive regular-season games, one behind Johnny Unitas’ record of 47.
Starts
Arizona’s defense harassed Michael Vick all day, sacking him five times to help the Cardinals run over the Philadelphia Eagles 27-6 for their best start in 38 years. Backing up a big road victory against the New England Patriots with a dominating victory over the Eagles, the Cardinals (3-0) are off to their best start since 1974, more than a dozen years before the team moved to the desert. They’ve also won seven consecutive home games, the second longest streak in franchise history, and have won 10 of 12 dating to the end of last season. Arizona also won seven consecutive home games in 2007-2008 and set the franchise record with nine consecutive in 1925.
Atlanta improved to 6-0 in San Diego all time with a 27-3 victory, and the Falcons are 6-0 on the West Coast in Coach Mike Smith’s five seasons.
Sidelined
Buffalo running back C.J.
Spiller left the game against Cleveland because of an injured left shoulder. Bills Coach Chan Gailey does not expect Spiller to be back for next week’s home game against New England.
Miami running back Reggie Bush and New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis were both lost with apparent left knee injuries.
Bush departed just before halftime, while Revis left in the third quarter, falling awkwardly and grabbing at his knee even before he hit the grass, a non-contact injury where he wound up covering his face with gloved hands in obvious pain.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford was replaced by Shaun Hill late in the fourth quarter after coming up limping trying to chase down a Tennessee defender on a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Sports, Pages 16 on 09/24/2012