From News Services and Staff Reports
Friday, September 28, 2007

A request to amend a class action lawsuit filed by former NFL players Bernie Parrish, Herb Adderley and Walter Roberts against Players Inc. was made yesterday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. This means the suit, thrown out of court earlier this month, could be refiled if Judge William Alsup agrees.

The suit alleges that Players Inc., the marketing arm of the NFL Players Association, deprived many retired players of income for use of their names and images.

At the time, Alsup called the players' complaints "smoke and mirrors," and said they had not provided enough evidence to support their claims. Still, he left open the possibility that they could refile. The players' attorney, Ron Katz, said he has delivered the documents the court asked to see. A final decision on whether to let the case go on will be made later in the fall.

¿ BENGALS: Running back Rudi Johnson is expected to miss Cincinnati's game against the undefeated New England Patriots on Monday night because of a strained hamstring.

The Bengals' injury report listed Johnson as "out" for the game. Johnson didn't practice yesterday and wasn't available for interviews.

Johnson has been one of the NFL's most durable running backs since he became the full-time starter in 2004, replacing Corey Dillon. He has more carries over the last three seasons than any other running back.

If Johnson is sidelined, sixth-year running back Kenny Watson will make his first start since 2002, when he was with the Washington Redskins.

¿ DOLPHINS: Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas says he kept playing even though he felt the concussion he suffered early in the team's second game of the season.

Tests several days after the game revealed the injury, and Thomas sat out last week's loss to the New York Jets. He practiced on a limited basis for the second day in a row yesterday, and Coach Cam Cameron hasn't said whether Thomas will play Sunday against Oakland.

¿ TITANS: Tennessee quarterback Vince Young thanked Reggie Bush for helping him get tickets to Monday night's game in New Orleans. That doesn't mean Young has forgotten losing the Heisman Trophy to the running back.

Young tells "60 Minutes" in an interview performed in June but airing Sunday night that he was angry about not taking the Heisman Trophy back with him to Texas in December 2005. He finished second in voting behind the Southern California running back.

"And I wanted to show the world that I was the real Heisman Trophy winner. But on paper, Reggie Bush is the Heisman Trophy winner. [I am] not taking nothing from him, he knows he's a phenomenal athlete," Young said in the interview.

¿ BILLS: Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee worked out fully for a second straight practice and is expected to play Sunday, when the Bills host the New York Jets.

McGee missed last week's 38-7 loss at New England because of sore ribs, and his return is the first positive news for a banged-up defense that has lost several players to injury, including three starters on season-ending injured reserve.

¿ PANTHERS: Jake Delhomme missed practice again with a strained right elbow, making it more likely backup David Carr will start at quarterback for Carolina on Sunday against Tampa Bay.