PACKERS
Chest pains strike
assistant coach
Packers offensive coordinator Tom Rossley was taken to a hospital after experiencing chest pains before Green Bay’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Rossley, 59, who underwent an angioplasty last season, returned to the sideline in the second quarter after being cleared by doctors.
Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said after the game Rossley looked “a little bit flushed” just before the pregame.
“Finally, he told me he was having some pains in his upper chest, shoulder area, pains very similar to the ones I was aware of the last time,” Sherman said. “They ran tests, and they’re going to run some more tests on him (today). I believe he’ll be OK.”
Sherman said he was surprised to hear Rossley on the headphones at the end of the first half.
“I said, ‘What are you doing back here?’ He said, ‘I’m fine.”‘
Rossley has coached 30 years, including six seasons as head coach at Southern Methodist in the 1990s.
CARDINALS
Green talking about
changing at 0-3
Arizona’s Dennis Green is taking a hard look at his coaching style after a 37-12 loss to Seattle dropped the Cardinals to 0-3.
“When I say it’s not working, I am talking about the strategy I put forth,” Green said. “The job I felt I could do, I have not been able to do right now. I’m not very happy about it.”
His frustration boiled over a few minutes later when Green was asked why fans should believe this season can be saved.
“I don’t think there is anybody more angry or disappointed than me,” Green said, his voice rising. “(That’s) absolutely impossible.”
RAMS
Lineman makes most
of his NFL debut
St. Louis first-round pick Alex Barron made his debut, and now he has the right tackle job.
Barron, who missed the first two weeks of training camp in a contract dispute after being the 19th pick overall, relieved former Colorado State standout Blaine Saipaia in the third quarter against Tennessee. Barron more than held his own against Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and did not give up a sack and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.
“It’s his to lose now,” Rams coach Mike Martz said.
Martz absolved Saipaia for his performance, saying he has been used out of position.
“Blaine is really a guard and we know that,” Martz said. “He’s a good football player. He struggled out there today. We just couldn’t help him. Thank goodness Alex came to the rescue.”
INJURIES
Buffalo may lose
Spikes for season
Takeo Spikes hurt his right Achilles in Buffalo’s loss to Atlanta, an injury that could end the Pro Bowl linebacker’s season if the tendon is torn.
Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey wouldn’t speculate on the extent of the injury, saying he will know more today.
“He’s the pulse,” safety Troy Vincent said of the eight-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl selection. “I don’t know how bad it is, but it could be devastating.”
Spikes was hurt in the second quarter while pressuring Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick deep in the Falcons’ end.
New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, the NFL’s career leader for sacks by a defensive back, injured his left leg in the win over Pittsburgh and was taken off the field on a stretcher.
With the Steelers driving midway through the first quarter, Pittsburgh wide receiver Ced- rick Wilson was taken down from behind, causing him to roll into Harrison’s path and take out the safety’s left leg.
In Seattle, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner injured his right groin while scrambling during the second quarter.
Facing a third-and-9 at the Seattle 32 with 3:56 left in the first half, Warner was pressured and ran to his left. After throwing across his body, Warner began limping back toward the center of the field before going down and grabbing his right leg.
In St. Louis, Rams running back Steven Jackson missed the start of the second half with a rib injury; X-rays indicated no breaks. Jackson was back on the sideline and in uniform midway through the third quarter, but he didn’t return.
The Rams also were without wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who suffered a turf toe injury near the end of the first half.
The Bears lost tight end Desmond Clark to a neck strain in the first half against Cincinnati.
In Miami, linebacker Junior Seau hurt his calf in the second half. Safety Tebucky Jones hurt his hamstring in the first half.
FOOTNOTES
Seahawks salute
Knox at halftime
Former Seattle coach Chuck Knox was inducted into the Seahawks’ “Ring of Honor” at halftime Sunday. Knox, 73, was 80-63 with the Seahawks and 186-147 in his 22-year career overall. … Thumbing their noses at superstition, the Falcons wore black pants on the road for the first time since Nov. 30, 2003. Atlanta lost to Houston 17-13 that time and had not worn the pants on the road since.
