Brandon Marshall

8:30, Invesco Field. TV: ESPN. Steelers by 3. The skinny: Pittsburgh (5-2) had a bye after its big win over Minnesota in Week 7. Denver (6-1) is coming off a 30-7 stomping by Baltimore. It's the first adversity Josh McDaniels has faced since the Brandon Marshall saga in the off-season. That worked out well; Marshall has had a decent season. Mike Tomlin's team has won four in a row after a two-game losing streak.

Major transactions involving star wide receivers highlighted the first day of NFL free agency Tuesday, as Marques Colston decided to stay in New Orleans, Brandon Marshall was traded to Chicago and Vincent Jackson signed a five-year, $55.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colston, who said he had never been seeking to move, agreed to a five-year contract to remain in the Big Easy. Shortly afterward, Miami sent its top wideout to the Bears for two third-round draft picks.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: Ran an offseason camp in his hometown near Minneapolis that attracted a number of current players, plus retired guys Jerry Rice and Cris Carter. Fitzgerald takes being football's best wide receiver seriously. Andre Johnson, Texans: Love the chemistry he's developed with Matt Schaub. In fact, because Houston has a more reliable quarterback, bump Andre Johnson ahead of Calvin Johnson. Randy Moss, Patriots: If you start your team with a high pick at running back, getting Moss late in the second round isn't so bad; early third round is even better.

Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams injured his left shoulder on a goal-line collision with cornerback Orlando Scandrick during an open practice at the team's new stadium last night. Williams was down for longer than normal, then was examined by athletic trainers. He shouted in anger as he headed into the locker room. Immediately after the workout - which was conducted wearing helmets, but not pads - coach Wade Phillips said he didn't know the extent of the injury. The practice drew 26,460 fans, all let in free but charged $10 to park.

The story of Oakland receiver Javon Walker is disturbing enough by itself: beaten, robbed and left unconscious in the street. But it may hold echoes of an earlier - deadlier - attack on an NFL player. Walker was discovered early Monday morning, unconscious and beaten on a back street near the Las Vegas Strip following a night of partying. He since has been released from a Vegas hospital after treatment for a concussion and facial injuries. A Las Vegas police spokesman said a large amount of cash and expensive jewelry were taken from Walker, who was photographed earlier in the fateful evening spraying a nightclub crowd with champagne.

HONOLULU - Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 176 yards and a Pro Bowl-record four touchdowns, and the AFC used a second-half surge to beat the NFC, 59-41, on Sunday. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver had a touchdown catch in each quarter, including an early 74-yarder and a 3-yarder in the fourth, in a game filled with highlight-reel catches. He was selected the game's MVP. His four TD catches set a Pro Bowl record. The 59 points by the AFC set a Pro Bowl mark, and the 100 points scored by the two teams combined was the second highest, a touchdown shy of the 107 scored in 2004.

A major storm hit the Arizona training camp one day before practice begins, when standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin lashed out at the Cardinals organization for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new contract. He said he had told his agent Drew Rosenhaus to end negotiations and that he would not re-sign with the team. "Right now I don't want a deal," he said yesterday after the players went through a running drill. "You may think I'm funny or saying that just to say it, but for me, I'm tired of it. I washed my hands of the whole situation.

The Tennessee Titans called police for help searching for Vince Young because his therapist told coach Jeff Fisher the quarterback mentioned suicide several times before driving away from his home with a gun. Both Fisher and Young have said what happened Monday night was overblown by the media. But the supplemental report filed Tuesday by Nashville police showed that Fisher was worried what his quarterback might be doing after the call from Young's therapist. "I asked him, 'What made her worry about him?

Judging from the success of the Denver Broncos through the first three weeks of the season, it seemed as if the Kansas City Chiefs were in danger of extending their lengthy regular-season losing streak. But thanks to a long run by Larry Johnson early in the game, the Chiefs built some confidence and wound up winning for the first time in more than 11 months. Johnson, the former Penn State star who had complained two weeks ago that he was being phased out of the offense, rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns yesterday to lead the Chiefs to a 33-19 upset of the Broncos.

With all the turmoil surrounding the Tennessee Titans, one familiar figure - with an unfamiliar gray beard - stood tall yesterday during Week 2 of the NFL season. To the rescue. Kerry Collins entered the season second among active passers in total yards (34,717). And the 35-year-old Penn State product showed a steady hand filling in for Vince Young, who was injured last week and later embroiled in controversy amid concerns over his emotional state. "I knew the old gunslinger was going to go out there and do his thing," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said after a 24-7 win over Cincinnati.

WIDE RECEIVERS grabbed the big money as NFL free agency began yesterday. Vincent Jackson is headed to Tampa Bay, Pierre Garcon to Washington and Marques Colston will stay in New Orleans, all getting huge deals. Josh Morgan also caught a hefty contract from the Redskins, while Miami dealt its top receiver, Brandon Marshall, to Chicago for two third-round draft choices. Jackson got a 5-year, $55.55 million contract with the Buccaneers. He will be paid $13 million in each of his first 2 years, then $10 million for the third year.

Major transactions involving star wide receivers highlighted the first day of NFL free agency Tuesday, as Marques Colston decided to stay in New Orleans, Brandon Marshall was traded to Chicago and Vincent Jackson signed a five-year, $55.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colston, who said he had never been seeking to move, agreed to a five-year contract to remain in the Big Easy. Shortly afterward, Miami sent its top wideout to the Bears for two third-round draft picks.

HONOLULU - Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 176 yards and a Pro Bowl-record four touchdowns, and the AFC used a second-half surge to beat the NFC, 59-41, on Sunday. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver had a touchdown catch in each quarter, including an early 74-yarder and a 3-yarder in the fourth, in a game filled with highlight-reel catches. He was selected the game's MVP. His four TD catches set a Pro Bowl record. The 59 points by the AFC set a Pro Bowl mark, and the 100 points scored by the two teams combined was the second highest, a touchdown shy of the 107 scored in 2004.

A QUICK review of the Eagles' 26-10 win over the Dolphins while wondering what to get Andy and Tammy for Christmas:   The defense When Juan Castillo has deserved criticism, which has been often in his first season as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, I have criticized him. And when he's done a good job, I haven't hesitated to point that out either. On Sunday, Juan did a very good job. He had an aggressive and creative game plan against the Dolphins. Mixed up his coverages, attacked the Dolphins with a variety of blitzes, moved his front four around, occasionally lined up with just two players with their hands on the ground.

Here are some observations and ruminations about the Eagles' victory over the Dolphins on Sunday:   MIAMI - Sometimes, it really does come down to players. Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had Nnamdi Asomugha in the right position on the Dolphins' first drive - lined up one-on-one with Miami's top receiver, Brandon Marshall on a third and 11. The Eagles' 6-foot-2 cornerback ran with the Dolphins' 6-foot-4 receiver to the back corner only to get beat over the top by a beautiful throw from Matt Moore.

Here is a look at some of the best and worst in Sunday's Eagles-Dolphins game that deserve special mention and our award: the Inky. Inky for player of the game. Trent Cole roared back to life Sunday, notching three sacks for his first multi-sack game of the year. He added three hits on the quarterback and two tackles for a loss along with seven solo tackles. He had been quiet for a few weeks, but Cole provided a reminder of how important he is to the Eagles defense.

MIAMI - From the Commando Crawl to the Florida Flip, the Eagles' defense repeatedly sold out to stop the Dolphins when it counted. Six times, the defense stiffened its backbone and stymied the Dolphins' short-yardage efforts. Each time, it contributed to the Eagles' 26-10 upset win. Plays came from the likely - tackle Cullen Jenkins and end Trent Cole - and the unlikely: reserve tackle Derek Landri, who channeled his inner Marine; cornerback Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie, a Bradenton, Fla., native with heretofore undiscovered acrobatic skills; and Asante Samuel.

MIAMI - Well, at least for one week the pitchforks and torches can be stowed away in the garages, and the talk-radio spoofs can be left off-air, and the calls for the end of Juan Castillo's tenure as defensive coordinator can tone down the volume. Castillo's defense put forth its best effort of the season and finally won a game - mostly on its own - as the Eagles smacked the just-as-down-on-their-luck Miami Dolphins, 26-10, Sunday at Sun Life Stadium. A cynic might say, "You owe us four more," in light of the five fourth-quarter leads the Eagles defense has choked up this season.