Vikings lead Saints 20-10 at halftime (AP) The Minnesota Vikings forced three turnovers and used two big plays by cornerback Antoine Winfield to take a 20-10 halftime lead over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. On the first play of the second quarter, Winfield, who already had returned a blocked field goal 59 yards for a touchdown, stripped Drew Brees of the ball on a sack and returned the fumble 9 yards to the Saints 5. Broken ribs leave Westbrook in question (AP) All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook broke two ribs in the Eagles' 23-17 loss to Washington on Sunday, though he kept playing and finished the game. Westbrook missed one game this season with an ankle injury, but it's too early to know if his latest injury will keep him out of Sunday's game at San Francisco. Jets S Smith appeals 1-game suspension (AP) New York Jets safety Eric Smith appealed his one-game suspension and $50,000 fine by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit last week on Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin. Coach Eric Mangini said Smith was going through the appeal process Monday, and a ruling was expected Tuesday. "Nothing has been finalized with that yet," Mangini said. Cardinals' Warner considers retirement (AP) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner says that after this season he will take his closest look yet at retiring from the NFL. The scary injury to teammate Anquan Boldin, combined with other factors, has led him to give more serious consideration to leaving the game. "I'm definitely considering retirement more than I ever have before," the 37-year-old quarterback said Monday, "but that doesn't... Status of Bills QB Edwards uncertain (AP) Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was described as alert but still experiencing post-concussion symptoms Monday, leaving his status uncertain as the team enters its bye week. Coach Dick Jauron sidestepped questions regarding the quarterback's health, except to say that Edwards showed up at the Bills' headquarters a day after being slammed to the ground on the third play from scrimmage during... Burress unapologetic in return to Giants (AP) An unapologetic Plaxico Burress rejoined the New York Giants on Monday, noting he didn't lose any sleep after the Super Bowl champions suspended him for a game. Burress missed a team meeting two weeks ago without bothering to telephone the Giants. The receiver who caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl attributed his absence on Sept. Colts expect Freeney, Gonzalez to be OK (AP) Colts coach Tony Dungy does not appear overly concerned with the injury to three-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney. "He strained something in his leg on the first fumble, but he went back in for about five or six plays," Dungy said of the defensive end, who was hurt during Indianapolis' win over Houston on Sunday. Vikings place LB Henderson on IR (AP) Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson will miss the rest of the season after being placed on injured reserve because of dislocated toes on his left foot. Team officials confirmed the move Monday before the Vikings' game against the New Orleans Saints. They said Henderson traveled to Baltimore, where Dr. Chargers' LT: 'critical' games coming up (AP) LaDainian Tomlinson returned to practice in a limited role Friday and is listed as questionable for the San Diego Chargers' game against the New York Jets on Monday night. Tomlinson, who jammed his right big toe in the season-opening loss to Carolina, missed practice the previous two days. "It went OK," Tomlinson said. Packers' Rodgers expected to play Sunday (AP) Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss some practice again this week, but is expected to play at Seattle next Sunday. "We're going to go into the week planning on Aaron to play," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. Rodgers played against Atlanta on Sunday despite spraining his right shoulder in the previous week's game at Tampa Bay. add RSS feeds to any website