Judge Says Bears Lineman Johnson Can Accompany the Team to Miami

A judge ruled yesterday that Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson can travel to Miami next week to play in the Super Bowl.

Johnson is awaiting trial on gun-related charges after being arrested last month. Police found six weapons and ammunition in Johnson's home, according to prosecutors, and he's been charged with 10 counts of possession of firearms without a proper state identification card. He has pleaded not guilty.

Cook County (Ill.) prosecutors had argued that the arrest violated Johnson's probation from a previous gun charge and a judge ordered Johnson to stay at home except to travel to work. He needed court permission to leave the state but was granted it by Cook County Judge John Moran, who warned Johnson to obey the law or face "dire consequences."

Johnson was suspended for one game by the Bears near the end of the regular season after being at a nightclub where his bodyguard was shot and killed soon after Johnson's arrest.

· COLTS: X-rays showed no broken bones in the injured right thumb of Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and the injury is being called merely a bruise.

Manning injured the thumb during Sunday's AFC title game when he hit his hand on the helmet of an offensive lineman on his follow-through on a fourth-quarter throw. He finished the game and said he would be fine to play in the Super Bowl but nevertheless underwent X-rays Monday.

The Colts do have some concerns, however, about the availability of cornerback Nick Harper, who sprained his ankle Sunday. . . .

The Colts' 38-34 win over the New England Patriots Sunday drew 46.7 million viewers on CBS, the most-watched AFC championship game in 21 years. It was the biggest television audience for a non-Super Bowl program since the series finale of "Friends" drew 52.5 million viewers in 2004, CBS said in a statement.

· COWBOYS: The departure of Coach Bill Parcells virtually ensures that wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is one season into a three-year, $25 million contract, will return. Owner Jerry Jones pushed for him to be signed and Parcells lived with his presence for one season. It's unclear if Parcells would have been willing to try to coexist with Owens for a second season. But now, with Parcells gone, it's likely that Jones will tell any incoming coach that Owens is part of the deal.

The Tennessee Titans said they would not grant permission for Coach Jeff Fisher -- under contract through next season -- to interview, if the Cowboys ask.

· RAIDERS: Owner Al Davis couldn't get one of the University of Southern California's co-offensive coordinators as his head coach. So he got the other. Davis hired Lane Kiffin as the Raiders' coach late Monday. Kiffin, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL's modern era, at 31.

Kiffin has one season of NFL coaching experience. He was a defensive quality control assistant with Jacksonville in 2000.

· CARDINALS: Russ Grimm, passed over for the head coaching job in Pittsburgh, was hired by Arizona as offensive line coach. He joins former Steelers assistant Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals' new head coach.

· REDSKINS: Washington designated five players for NFL Europe -- wide receivers Cedric Bonner and Ryan Hoag, quarterback Casey Bramlet, offensive lineman Kili Lefotu and defensive end Bryant Shaw.