Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CHARLOTTE ó Jordan Gross has started every game for the Carolina Panthers since he was drafted. Now the streak is in jeopardy as he recovers from a concussion.
Gross and Jeff Otah were held out of Thursday’s workout, increasing the likelihood that the Panthers will have a patchwork offensive line this weekend when they play host to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Gross’ streak covers 84 games over eight seasons.
In his first interview since he was knocked unconscious during last week’s win against Atlanta, Gross acknowledged the streak matters to him because “it’s something you’re proud of.”
Since he was injured, he hasn’t done much except watch practice.
“Since I’ve been here the offensive line, or me in general, has been a saint or whipping boy, depending on how the game’s gone,” Gross said. “And the one thing that’s been consistent is I’ve always been out there playing. So, I’ve got my fingers crossed. We’ll see what happens.”
PATRIOTSFOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó Patriots coach Bill Belichick denied Wednesday the claim by Raiders owner Al Davis that New England had a workout with Randy Moss before obtaining him in a trade with Oakland.
Davis said Tuesday that the Patriots had tampered with Moss before the deal in April 2007 that brought the wide receiver to the Patriots for a fourth-round choice that year on the weekend of the NFL draft.
“I’ve told the story about Randy many, many times,” Belichick said in a conference call with members of the media covering the 49ers, “and the first time I ever talked to Randy was the Sunday morning of the second day of the draft last year.
“So that’s the first time I met him. That’s the first time I talked to him. There was no workout. There was no other contact with him.”
Davis made the tampering accusation after ending a news conference in which he announced the firing of coach Lane Kiffin.
REDSKINSASHBURN, Va. ó So many good things ó too many to count, actually ó happen when a team doesn’t turn over the ball. For the Washington Redskins, it starts with field position.
The Redskins’ offense has yet to commit a turnover this season, and no one is happier than the defense. For 28 straight drives ó and 42 of 43 on the season ó the defense has run onto the field to start a series on the other team’s side of the 50.
“It’s a lot easier to call a game,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said, “when a guy’s got to go 80 yards.”
– Chris Horton has been named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month and is the first Redskins player to win the award since Fred Smoot in 2001.
BEARSCHICAGO ó The Chicago Bears suspended defensive tackle Tommie Harris for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Coach Lovie Smith said Thursday that Harris broke a team rule.
BILLSORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ó Receiver Lee Evans signed a four-year contract extension worth $37.25 million on Thursday.