Associated Press
The NFL roundup …
HOUSTON ó The injury-riddled Houston Texans added to their quarterback depth Tuesday, reaching a deal with Jake Delhomme.
Delhomme worked out with the Texans on Tuesday, along with another retired quarterback, Jeff Garcia. The 36-year-old Delhomme will back up rookie T.J. Yates, a fifth-round pick slated to start Sundayís game against Atlanta.
Rick Smith, Delhommeís agent, said in a phone interview Tuesday that his client has been staying in shape and raising racehorses in Louisiana since he was cut by Cleveland in July.
ěHe relishes that role, and heís looking forward to contributing to the team,î Smith said in a phone interview. ěHe keeps himself in shape, heís been throwing a bunch.î
The Texans are dangerously thin at the position in the wake of season-ending injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart.
Houston signed Kellen Clemens last week after learning that Schaub will need season-ending surgery on his right foot. Leinart broke his left collarbone in Sundayís 20-13 win over Jacksonville.
Yates replaced Leinart late in the first half, and went 8 for 15 for 70 yards in his first NFL action. Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Monday that Leinart was out for the year and said Yates would start against the Falcons.
Smith didnít know if Delhomme would be No. 2 or No. 3 on the depth chart this week. But Smith said Delhomme would only consider playing for a handful of teams if he ever came back, and Houston was one of them.
SUH SUSPENDED
ALLEN PARK, Mich.ó Ndamukong Suh is going back to the NFL, this time hoping for some leniency.
The league suspended Detroit’s All-Pro defensive tackle without pay for two games on Tuesday, punishing the second-year player for roughing up a Green Bay Packers offensive lineman after the whistle last week. Suh promptly appealed his suspension, hoping his stomp doesn’t keep him away from his playoff-hopeful teammates when they need him most.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Suh’s hearing will be with Art Shell, an appointed appeal officer who is paid by the league and NFLPA. As of late Tuesday afternoon, the hearing hadn’t been scheduled, but the league has said it will expedite the procedure to give Suh and Lions an answer before Sunday’s game at New Orleans.
If Suh doesn’t win the appeal, he won’t play against the Saints or in the Dec. 11 home game against Minnesota. He would return Dec. 12 ahead of a road game against Oakland.
Suh is barred from practice and the team’s facility while suspended.
EAGLES
PHILADELPHIA ó Coaches on the Philadelphia Eagles are showing more fight than the players.
Defensive line coach Jim Washburn and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had a heated exchange during Sunday’s loss to New England that required a follow-up talk with head coach Andy Reid.
“Things happen. It’s an emotional game,” Reid said Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter if you’re coaches or players, things happen. So you take care of business like grown men. They’ve talked. I’ve talked. They’ve worked it out and we’re fine here.”
The Eagles (4-7) have to rebound quickly from a 38-20 loss to the Patriots and get ready for Thursday night’s game at Seattle (4-7). With Philadelphia close to elimination from playoff contention in a season that began with enormous expectations, most of the attention before practice centered on the coaches’ fight.
“A couple tempers, you know,” defensive tackle Trevor Laws said. “Jim Washburn’s a fiery guy, no doubt about that. Anybody that’s been following the team all year has probably seen him get in multiple fights, so I don’t know why this thing is such a big deal, to tell you the truth.î