Patriots accuse Jets of tampering

By: Associated Press - | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 12:19 AM PDT ∞

The New England Patriots have filed a tampering charge against the Jets in connection with New York's talks with wide receiver Deion Branch.

The move was confirmed Tuesday by a person within the league familiar with the situation who asked anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject. On Monday, the Patriots traded Branch to Seattle for a first-round choice in next year's draft.

Branch signed a $39 million, six-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.

The Patriots contend that they gave Branch permission to discuss only terms of a contract and not what a team would offer the Patriots in trade, according to the Boston Globe and Boston Herald. The papers said New England contends the Jets told Branch what they would offer.

Decision for Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher may not decide until this weekend if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start Monday night in Jacksonville, even if Roethlisberger already seems to have decided he is playing. Roethlisberger missed the Steelers' opener after having an appendectomy. He is listed as questionable.

Green out this week

Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said quarterback Trent Green (concussion) will not play against Denver on Sunday. It's uncertain when he will play again, Edwards said. Damon Huard will start in Green's place.

Et cetera

> BENGALS: WR Chris Henry avoided jail time by pleading guilty in Orlando, Fla., to a concealed weapon charge. He will be on probation for two years, serve 100 hours of community service, attend a firearms safety class and forfeit the 9mm gun he pulled during a skirmish in downtown Orlando.

> LIONS: Detroit signed free-agent WR Az-Zahir Hakim, a San Diego State product, to a one-year contract.

> REDSKINS: S Pierson Prioleau, a key special teams player, tore the ACL in his right knee and is out for the year. ... OT Jon Jansen will meet soon with league officials to discuss his allegations that a number of NFL players use human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances.

> PACKERS: Green Bay released FB Vonta Leach to clear a roster spot for new WR Koren Robinson.

> JAGUARS: Jacksonville placed DE Reggie Hayward (ruptured Achilles' tendon) on injured reserve.

> TEXANS: Houston placed CB Roc Alexander (ACL tear) on injured reserve, ending his season.

> TV: ESPN's first regular-season Monday night NFL game under the new contract drew the cable network's biggest audience ever. The game between the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins drew a 9.9 rating, representing an average of between nearly 9.2 million and 12.57 million households, the network said. The previous record was 8.9 million households on Christmas Day 1994 for a game between Detroit and Miami. ESPN's second Monday night game, the Chargers at Oakland, received a rating of 8.5 and was seen in an average of 7.87 million households.

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