11 DAYS TILL KICKOFF

2006 NFL calendar


Aug. 29 -- Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

Sept. 2 -- Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

Sept. 3 -- Clubs may establish practice squad of eight players.

Sept. 7-11 -- Kickoff 2006.

Oct. 17 -- Trading deadline.

Oct. 23-25 -- NFL Fall Meeting (New Orleans).

Dec. 30-31 -- Regular season ends.

2007
Jan. 6-7 -- Wild Card Playoffs.

Jan. 13-14 -- Divisional Playoffs.

Jan. 21 -- Conference Championships.

Feb. 4 -- Super Bowl XLI, South Florida (CBS).

Feb. 10 -- AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, Honolulu (CBS).

Feb. 21-27 -- NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis.

March 25-28 -- NFL Annual Meeting, Phoenix.

April 28-29 -- NFL Draft, New York City.

Late May -- NFL Spring Meeting (Site TBD).



Reaction among Patriots players to the news that Deion Branch has been granted permission to seek a trade was predictably muted... According to various published reports, the Bears, Vikings, Seahawks, Eagles and Broncos should be among those interested.....


Jags lose Peterson, Jones to knee injuries
NFL.com wire reports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2006) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars might have to start the season without leading tackler Mike Peterson and fullback Greg Jones.

Peterson, the team's middle linebacker and emotional leader, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the 29-18 win against Tampa Bay and may not be ready for the season opener Sept. 10 against Dallas.

Jones, a starting fullback who also splits carries with running back Fred Taylor, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. It was the opposite knee Jones injured during his final season at Florida State.

"Really good news considering what it could have been," coach Jack Del Rio said. "The thought is that they should be back sometime during the Dallas week, ready for the opener."

Peterson hurt his knee on Tampa Bay's opening drive. He left the game, went to the locker room for tests and did not return. He walked out of the stadium on crutches and was clearly disappointed.

"I don't know, man," Peterson said when asked about his return. "I don't know."

Peterson led the team in tackles during each of his first three seasons in Jacksonville. He had a career-high 190 tackles and six sacks last year. He also had three interceptions, including one for a touchdown.


Norwood, Falcons run past Titans 20-6
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060826_ATL@TEN


Chiefs hold on to beat Rams 16-12http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060826_STL@KC


CFB NEWS AND NOTES

The Bowl Championship Series agreed to a four-year contract extension with Harris Interactive, the company that coordinated the polls used last year to replace The Associated Press Top 25 in the BCS standings.

The Harris Interactive College Football Poll debuted last season after The Associated Press asked the BCS to no longer include its media poll in the formula used to determine which teams play for the national championship.

The Harris poll is voted on by a panel of former college football players, coaches and administrators, plus some media members.

The rest of the components of the BCS formula will be the USA Today coaches' poll and six computer standings - Jeff Sagarin, Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey and Dr. Peter Wolfe.

"The BCS was pleased with how the Harris Interactive College Football Poll was structured and delivered last season," BCS coordinator and Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive said. "Harris Interactive's approach to the coordination of the poll and desire for integrity in the process warranted this extension.....


Miami WR Ryan Moore has been suspended indefinitely for violation of an unspecified team policy. Moore, a second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft, was suspended from the Hurricanes’ Peach Bowl appearance last season and then was suspended again for the first two games of this year because of previous violations of team rules.