NFL notes

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Wednesday that rookie Mike Glennon (above) will take over as starting quarterback in Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, replacing Josh Freeman.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Wednesday that rookie Mike Glennon (above) will take over as starting quarterback in Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, replacing Josh Freeman.

BUCCANEERS Tampa turns to rookie QB

TAMPA, Fla. - Less than five days after declaring Josh Freeman was the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the struggling franchise is tying its hopes to another rookie quarterback.

Coach Greg Schiano benched Freeman in favor of untested Mike Glennon, two days after insisting the former first-round draft pick remained the starter because he gave the Bucs the best chance to win.

On Wednesday, Schiano said several times Glennon now gives the Bucs the best chance to win.

The coach said he changed his mind after meeting Tuesday with General Manager Mark Dominik, and later discussing the situation with ownership - which signed off on the move.

“This is a performance-based decision,” Schiano said after practice Wednesday. “We’re not getting the job done on the field.”

The Bucs have lost their first three games, two on field goals in the closing seconds. Freeman has completed just 45.7 percent of his passes for 571 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Dating to last season, they’ve dropped 8 of 9 games, and the offense hasn’t played well throughout the stretch.

“There are a lot of reasons for it. It’s not just one guy,” Schiano said of Freeman, the franchise career completions leader who is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie. “But’s that’s a critical piece of it. … The quarterback touches the ball every play.”

The Bucs did not make Freeman, who’s 24-35 as a starter, available for interviews.

Glennon was drafted in the third round out of North Carolina State, where he spent part of his college career as a backup to Russell Wilson. He will make his first pro start Sunday at home against Arizona.

COWBOYS Bryant fined for gesture

IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has been fined $7,875 by the NFL for a throat-slashing gesture that resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty last week against St. Louis.

Bryant made the gesture while celebrating a 2-yard touchdown catch from Tony Romo for the first Dallas score in a 31-7 victory against the Rams on Sunday.

The receiver ran to the middle of the end zone after the catch and raised his arms to make an “X” before the slashing gesture.

Coach Jason Garrett said Bryant ran directly to him after the penalty was called and apologized.

TEXANS Mercilus fined $15,000

HOUSTON - Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says he’s been fined $15,000 for a hit on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Mercilus was fined for a play where his helmet hit the chin of Flacco. Mercilus was given a penalty for roughing the passer on the play.

Baltimore won the game 30-9 to give Houston its first loss of the season.

Mercilus spoke after practice Wednesday, and said he plans to appeal the fine.

The second-year player has 13 tackles and a sack this season.

JETS Milliner hurts hamstring

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - New York Jets rookie cornerback Dee Milliner injured a hamstring at practice and his status for the team’s game at Tennessee on Sunday was uncertain.

Milliner, the team’s top draft pick in April, was limited at practice Wednesday after the injury.

He has had a rough start to his NFL career. After missing most of the off season while recovering from shoulder surgery in March, Milliner was sidelined for two preseason games with an Achilles injury. He started the first two games of the regular season, but was benched at New England and played only sparingly against Buffalo last Sunday.

Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, the team’s other first-rounder, sat out practice with a bruised shoulder. Running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) and tackle Oday Aboushi (knee) were also out.

This week’s games All times Central

TODAY San Francisco at St. Louis, 7:25 p.m.

SUNDAY NY Giants at Kansas City, noon Seattle at Houston, noon Baltimore at Buffalo, noon Arizona at Tampa Bay, noon Indianapolis at Jacksonville, noon Cincinnati at Cleveland, noon Chicago at Detroit, noon Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota at London, noon NY Jets at Tennessee, 3:05 p.m.

Washington at Oakland, 3:25 p.m.

Dallas at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Denver, 3:25 p.m.

New England at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Open: Carolina, Green Bay

MONDAY Miami at New Orleans, 7:40 p.m.

Sports, Pages 21 on 09/26/2013

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