Vick, McCoy ruled out for Eagles’ game
Vick, McCoy ruled out for Eagles’ game
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy have been ruled out for the Eagles’ game against Carolina on Monday night because of concussions.
Coach Andy Reid announced the decisions Saturday.
Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder said Vick is symptom-free, but McCoy has headaches and dizziness.
Vick was injured against Dallas on Nov. 11 and didn’t play last week in the Eagles’ 31-6 loss to Washington, their sixth straight loss. McCoy was hurt in the fourth quarter against the Redskins.
Rookies Nick Foles and Bryce Brown will start in place of Vick and McCoy. Foles will make his second career start at quarterback, and Brown his first NFL at tailback.
Chiefs waive Ranglin, promote Newsome
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs waived offensive lineman Rich Ranglin on Saturday and elevated wide receiver Jamar Newsome from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Newsome originally joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in December 2011 after playing two games with Jacksonville that season. The former Central Florida player also spent time on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
Ranglin joined the Chiefs as a free agent this year after three seasons in the Arena Football League. He played at Central Connecticut State.
The Chiefs (1-9) face Denver at home today.
Raiders promote LB Burnett from practice squad
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders have promoted linebacker Kaelin Burnett from the practice squad to fill the spot vacated by Aaron Curry’s release.
The team announced the move Saturday, a day before Oakland visited Cincinnati.
Burnett was signed by Oakland as an undrafted free agent from Nevada. He is the 27th player on the 53-man roster acquired by first-year general manager Reggie McKenzie in 2012.
Burnett joins receiver Rod Streater and running back Jeremy Stewart as undrafted rookies on Oakland’s roster.
Browns wave off white-flag giveaway
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have waved off their white-flag giveaway.
Following days of criticism, the Browns have decided to cancel a promotion to hand out white flags to fans before Sunday’s game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Because white flags symbolize surrender, the giveaway seemed to imply the Browns were giving up against the Steelers, who have won 16 of the past 17 games between the AFC North foes.
Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said in a statement on Saturday that the team scrapped the idea “in the best interests of everyone. It is something that was intended to be fun for our fans and that they could rally around, and we regret that some didn’t perceive it that way.”
Vikings’ Harvin ruled out for today’s game
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have declared wide receiver Percy Harvin out of today’s game at Chicago because of his sprained left ankle.
Harvin was listed as doubtful on Friday after missing another week of practice, and the team downgraded him to out on the injury report Saturday while deciding not to take him on the trip so he can continue to rest. Harvin was hurt Nov. 4 at Seattle and missed the Nov. 11 game against Detroit. The Vikings had a bye last week.
Harvin is tied for 10th in the NFL with 62 receptions. He entered the week second in the league behind Green Bay’s Randall Cobb in total yards, including receiving, rushing and returning.
Minnesota coach
Kill has seizure, misses 2nd half
MINNEAPOLIS — Another seizure for Jerry Kill kept the Minnesota coach off the sideline for the second half of the game against Michigan State on Saturday.
Kill’s latest episode occurred in the locker room at halftime as the team was returning to the field, the third such game-day occurrence in his second season at the school. This time, he didn’t need to be hospitalized, however.
Kill had a seizure near the end of a loss to New Mexico State last season and was away from the team for several days that month while doctors tried to bring his condition under better control, though he didn’t miss any games. This year, he was sent to the hospital for observation after the Gophers were beaten by Northwestern on Oct. 13.
After Minnesota fell 26-10 to Michigan State, athletic director Norwood Teague said Kill was comfortable and all of his vital signs were fine. Kill was cleared to go home after resting for a few hours.
Arkansas AD:
John L. Smith won’t return as coach
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long says interim football coach John L. Smith will not return next season.
Long said in a statement released by the university he met with Smith on Saturday, a day after the Razorbacks’ season-ending 20-13 loss to LSU, and told him the school “would be making a change in leadership within our program.”
“I have great respect for coach Smith, and I thank him for the sincere commitment he has shown our program,” Long said. “He made a difficult decision in uncertain times to return from his alma mater to guide the young men in our football program, and I will always be grateful for his efforts.”
Smith was hired in April to replace the fired Bobby Petrino and signed to a 10-month contract. Long says that once a new coach is hired Smith will be reassigned as a consultant through the end of his contract on Feb. 23, 2013.
Arkansas (4-8, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) began the season ranked in the top 10 but quickly fell out of the polls after a stunning loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 8.
Hamilton wins
pole position
for Brazilian GP
SAO PAULO — Lewis Hamilton won the pole position for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday, while Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel will start fourth and title challenger Fernando Alonso seventh.
Hamilton set a lap of 1 minute, 12.458 seconds with his McLaren at Interlagos, just .055 in front of teammate Jenson Button. Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber will start third after a lap of 1:12.581, with Vettel behind him following a run of 1:12.760.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was fifth after clocking 1:12.987, while teammate Alonso only managed a lap of 1:13.253, hurting his chances of overtaking Vettel for the championship.
Bjoergen, Sundby
win cross-country World Cup races
GALLIVARE, Sweden — Marit Bjoergen earned her 56th individual victory in the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle event, and Martin Johnsrud Sundby won the men’s 15K race as Norway dominated the opening cross-country World Cup meet of the season on Saturday.
Bjoergen led the interval-start race from the first intermediate time and crossed the finish line in 22 minutes, 31.8 seconds.
In the men’s race, Johnsrud Sundby stunned the field by earning his first World Cup victory in a freestyle event — and just second individual win overall — by finishing in 30 minutes, 37.0 seconds.
By wire sources