Griese Will Replace Grossman as Starter

The Chicago Bears are poised to bench Rex Grossman, the wildly inconsistent quarterback who helped them reach the Super Bowl last season.

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Bears Coach Lovie Smith has decided to bench Grossman and elevate backup Brian Griese to be the starter, two people familiar with the situation said. Several news outlets in Chicago also reported that Griese would get the starting job this week against the Detroit Lions.

Grossman threw three interceptions during Sunday night's lopsided loss at home to the Dallas Cowboys, and fans at Soldier Field chanted for Griese late in the game. Grossman has thrown six interceptions and has only one touchdown pass in three games this season, and the defending NFC champions have a record of 1-2. They also have a long list of injuries on defense, and in recent days Smith showed public signs of wavering in his longstanding support of his erratic quarterback.

Smith said in the immediate aftermath of the defeat to the Cowboys that Grossman remained the club's starter. But he softened that stance Monday, saying the Bears coaches were in the middle of their evaluation process and reporters would have to see at today's practice whether Grossman remained the starter.

MCALLISTER DONE: The winless New Orleans Saints will be without tailback Deuce McAllister, who hurt his knee in Monday night's loss to Tennessee, for the remainder of the season.

An MRI exam taken yesterday confirmed that McAllister had torn his left anterior cruciate ligament. He also had damage to his medial collateral ligament. It's the second time in three years that McAllister suffered a season-ending knee injury. He missed most of the 2005 season because of a torn ACL in his right knee.

McAllister was hurt in the first half and didn't return to the game. He had only 92 rushing yards this season after running for 1,057 yards last season, when the Saints advanced to the NFC title game. The magic has worn off this season, and their record dropped to 0-3 with Monday's defeat.

FOUR OF A KIND: The Oakland Raiders have four quarterbacks on their roster now that they've added rookie JaMarcus Russell, whose roster exemption following his contract dispute and late arrival to the team has expired.

Russell joins Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper and Andrew Walter on the roster. Walter is likely to be traded or released. But first, the Raiders want to make certain that McCown, who is plagued by a foot injury, is going to be all right.

WARD AILING: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has a sprained right knee and is doubtful for Sunday's game at Arizona.

Ward, injured during a 37-16 victory over San Francisco on Sunday, walked without a limp while reporting to a team meeting Monday, but was on crutches later in the day.

Ward was hurt while being the intended receiver on consecutive plays during a Steelers drive early in the third quarter. He had one reception before leaving the game, extending the four-time Pro Bowl receiver's streak to 136 consecutive games with at least one catch.

BUTLER TO BILLS: Cornerback Jerametrius Butler signed with the Buffalo Bills in the team's latest attempt to plug a leaky and banged-up defense.

Butler is a six-year NFL veteran who was cut by Washington in August. He spent six seasons with St. Louis, but played sparingly last year after missing 2005 with a knee injury.

Butler's best season came in 2004, when he had five interceptions and 79 tackles.

To make room for Butler, Buffalo released running back, special-teamer Josh Scobey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.