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• Roethlisberger ban likely to be reduced (AP)

  Ben Roethlisberger's first big gain of the season may occur weeks before he returns to the field. His six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy likely will be shortened to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the two meet in New York on Friday. The meeting will take place about 12 hours after the quarterback played two series in the Steelers'...

• Steelers' Leftwich seriously hurts knee (AP)

  All of a sudden, losing Ben Roethlisberger for at least a month isn't the Steelers' only quarterback worry. Byron Leftwich, expected to be the fill-in starter, is injured and looks to be out indefinitely. Leftwich, tuning up for his anticipated Sept. 12 start against Atlanta, sprained his left knee in the second quarter as Pittsburgh beat the starter-less Carolina Panthers 19-3 on Thursday...

• Davis stands by criticism of Crabtree (AP)

  Vernon Davis' frustrations with Michael Crabtree finally came to a boiling point, and the San Francisco 49ers' Pro Bowl tight end let his teammate have it -- and for everyone to see. Davis angrily confronted Crabtree during Wednesday's practice and coach Mike Singletary had to step between them.

• Eli, Brady solid in final tuneups (AP)

  Eli Manning and Tom Brady are ready for the season, and so is Rhett Bomar. Haven't heard of him? Well, he just might be the New York Giants' backup quarterback. Bomar probably nailed down the job, throwing a 60-yard scoring pass to Duke Calhoun with 1:49 to play as the Giants rallied for a 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday night.

• Rams' Bradford makes final case to start (AP)

  One perfect series and done for Sam Bradford. No doubt, facing the Baltimore Ravens' second-string defense made it easier for the No. 1 pick. Bradford made another favorable impression in his second preseason start, going 6 for 6 for 68 yards and a touchdown to open the St. Louis Rams' 27-21 victory over Baltimore on Thursday night.

• Jones-Drew says he'll practice next week (AP)

  Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew expects to be back at practice next week. Jones-Drew has missed five consecutive practices, didn't travel to Tampa Bay last week and didn't dress for Thursday night's preseason finale against Atlanta. He denied an Internet report he had arthroscopic knee surgery, but acknowledged that he has been "taking care of all the nicks and...

• Vick starts, plays only 2 series (AP)

  Michael Vick has reached the point in his comeback where he doesn't have to prove himself anymore. The New York Jets beat Philadelphia 21-17 in their preseason finale Thursday night, while Vick led the Eagles to a field goal in two series and Kurt Coleman scored on two fumble returns. Making his first start in four years, Vick played just one quarter before heading to the bench.

• Broncos' Tebow outplays Vikings' Jackson (AP)

  Tim Tebow's first two series had rookie written all over them. Then he started playing with the veteran-like poise that helped him get drafted in the first round by Denver in the first place. Tebow outplayed Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson in the backup quarterback comparison, but the Vikings forced four first-half turnovers and beat the Broncos 31-24 on Thursday night in the preseason finale...

• Browns RB Hardesty injures knee in win (AP)

  On crutches again, Montario Hardesty hobbled toward the stadium's exit after his first NFL game for a doctor's appointment. He can't outrun his knee problems. Cleveland's highly touted rookie running back, whose career at Tennessee was slowed by knee injuries, hurt his left one in the second quarter Thursday night in a 13-10 win over the Chicago Bears, a potentially major blow to...

• Gradkowski has 2 TD passes for Raiders (AP)

  The end of the exhibition season brought encouraging signs for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks when it comes to their backup quarterbacks. Bruce Gradkowski threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and the Raiders mostly used backups to end the preseason with a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Thursday night.