Derek Anderson

Go, Giants, go? I know Ohio is not Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia and New York are not Cleveland and Cincinnati, but give me a break, Bengals fans. A Niffle researcher found this nugget on a Bengals blog (http://www.bengalstripes.com) the other day, and I almost fell off my bleacher buddy. "Many fans of [the Bengals and Browns] tend to forget the friendship we shared when the Baltimore Ravens would visit Cincinnati after Cleveland lost its team. Half the stadium was filled with Brownies, and we all cheered for the Bengals.

LeBron James is expected to wow crowds, not opponents. James stunned host Charlotte with three explosive dunks, including a windmill that broke the game open late in the second quarter that led Cleveland to a 106-89 victory last night over the Bobcats. Memories of Julius Erving stirred. "What this game reminded me of was when Doctor J came into the league. He'd make a couple of plays and everyone would stand around and watch," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said of the Sixers Hall of Famer.

And in Arena Football League action, the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 51-45. Oops, check that. The Browns defeated the Bengals in National Football League action. A score like that threw us off a bit. Derek Anderson (20-for-33, 328 yards) threw five touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards and the Browns, so desperate after being embarrassed in their home opener that they traded their starting quarterback 2 days later, outlasted the Bengals and Carson Palmer.

DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has sent a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell expressing concern about radio host Rush Limbaugh's being part of a group that aims to purchase the St. Louis Rams. The letter, obtained by ESPN.com, was sent Saturday. Smith sent a similar letter to members of the NFLPA. "I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages," ESPN quoted Smith as writing. "But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends.

VIKINGS 27, 49ERS 24: At Minneapolis, Brett Favre (24-for-46, 301 yards) threw a 32-yard touchdown to former Eagle Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone with 2 seconds left, lifting Minnesota (3-0) to a victory over San Francisco (2-1). An official review upheld Lewis' unbelievable catch, sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy. Favre, who throw for two scores and his first interception, completed six passes during the winning 80-yard drive. SAINTS 27, BILLS 7:At Orchard Park, N.Y., Will Smith had an interception and a sack to help New Orleans (3-0)

Derek Anderson's season is officially over, yet another slap for the down-on-their-luck Cleveland Browns. Anderson, who lost the starting quarterback job to Brady Quinn several weeks ago, will miss the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee on Sunday against Indianapolis. An MRI taken yesterday revealed Anderson tore the medial collateral ligament when he was sacked in the final minutes of Cleveland's 10-6 loss to the Colts. Anderson, making his first start since Nov. 2 after being benched for Quinn, will not need surgery.

College football seems to be breaking out all over the NFL these days. High-scoring shoot-outs. Dramatic come-from-behind wins. And, in the case of one team, an imaginative offense that confounded a coach, Bill Belichick, known for his meticulous preparation. Then there was the quarterback, Tampa Bay's Brian Griese, who threw 67 passes, which usually happens only in the thin air of the Western Athletic Conference. Let's take a look at Week 4: Getting it down Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell may be getting a handle on coach Jim Zorn's offense, just in time for today's big NFC East Division game at Dallas.

The play broke down and Portland nearly lost the ball, so it was up to Nick Van Exel to bail out the Trail Blazers. That's exactly what he did. Van Exel's 29-foot desperation heave at the buzzer last night gave Portland an 80-77 win over host Charlotte. "I was expecting to get the ball, but with the way they defended, it was taking away a couple of options and we had to improvise," Van Exel said. Van Exel was trapped near midcourt on the final possession before throwing a pass on the left sideline to Derek Anderson.

Tonight at 8:30, at Lincoln Financial Field TV: 6ABC, ESPN Radio: WIP-AM (610), WYSP-FM (94.1) Line: Eagles by 14 THE MATCHUP EAGLES DE TRENT COLE VS. BROWNS LT JOE THOMAS TRENT COLE Bio: A fifth-round pick, No. 146 overall, in the 2005 draft ... 6-3, 270 pounds ... 26 years old ... played for the University of Cincinnati ... moved into the starting lineup in Game 10 of the 2005 season and has started all but two games since...

TODAY Dolphins (11-5 in 2008) at Falcons (11-5) 1 p.m., Georgia Dome (CBS) Line: Falcons by 4. The originators of the Wildcat have a new weapon: former West Virginia quarterback Pat White. How Miami juggles White, Ronnie Brown, and Ted Ginn Jr., and, oh yeah, Chad Pennington, makes for an interesting offense. In Atlanta, can Matt Ryan live up to lofty expectations? It helps that he has the league's second-leading rusher in Michael Turner. Chiefs (2-14) at Ravens (11-5)

DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has sent a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell expressing concern about radio host Rush Limbaugh's being part of a group that aims to purchase the St. Louis Rams. The letter, obtained by ESPN.com, was sent Saturday. Smith sent a similar letter to members of the NFLPA. "I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages," ESPN quoted Smith as writing. "But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends.

VIKINGS 27, 49ERS 24: At Minneapolis, Brett Favre (24-for-46, 301 yards) threw a 32-yard touchdown to former Eagle Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone with 2 seconds left, lifting Minnesota (3-0) to a victory over San Francisco (2-1). An official review upheld Lewis' unbelievable catch, sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy. Favre, who throw for two scores and his first interception, completed six passes during the winning 80-yard drive. SAINTS 27, BILLS 7:At Orchard Park, N.Y., Will Smith had an interception and a sack to help New Orleans (3-0)

TODAY Dolphins (11-5 in 2008) at Falcons (11-5) 1 p.m., Georgia Dome (CBS) Line: Falcons by 4. The originators of the Wildcat have a new weapon: former West Virginia quarterback Pat White. How Miami juggles White, Ronnie Brown, and Ted Ginn Jr., and, oh yeah, Chad Pennington, makes for an interesting offense. In Atlanta, can Matt Ryan live up to lofty expectations? It helps that he has the league's second-leading rusher in Michael Turner. Chiefs (2-14) at Ravens (11-5)

Tonight at 8:30, at Lincoln Financial Field TV: 6ABC, ESPN Radio: WIP-AM (610), WYSP-FM (94.1) Line: Eagles by 14 THE MATCHUP EAGLES DE TRENT COLE VS. BROWNS LT JOE THOMAS TRENT COLE Bio: A fifth-round pick, No. 146 overall, in the 2005 draft ... 6-3, 270 pounds ... 26 years old ... played for the University of Cincinnati ... moved into the starting lineup in Game 10 of the 2005 season and has started all but two games since...

Derek Anderson's season is officially over, yet another slap for the down-on-their-luck Cleveland Browns. Anderson, who lost the starting quarterback job to Brady Quinn several weeks ago, will miss the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee on Sunday against Indianapolis. An MRI taken yesterday revealed Anderson tore the medial collateral ligament when he was sacked in the final minutes of Cleveland's 10-6 loss to the Colts. Anderson, making his first start since Nov. 2 after being benched for Quinn, will not need surgery.

Go, Giants, go? I know Ohio is not Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia and New York are not Cleveland and Cincinnati, but give me a break, Bengals fans. A Niffle researcher found this nugget on a Bengals blog (http://www.bengalstripes.com) the other day, and I almost fell off my bleacher buddy. "Many fans of [the Bengals and Browns] tend to forget the friendship we shared when the Baltimore Ravens would visit Cincinnati after Cleveland lost its team. Half the stadium was filled with Brownies, and we all cheered for the Bengals.

College football seems to be breaking out all over the NFL these days. High-scoring shoot-outs. Dramatic come-from-behind wins. And, in the case of one team, an imaginative offense that confounded a coach, Bill Belichick, known for his meticulous preparation. Then there was the quarterback, Tampa Bay's Brian Griese, who threw 67 passes, which usually happens only in the thin air of the Western Athletic Conference. Let's take a look at Week 4: Getting it down Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell may be getting a handle on coach Jim Zorn's offense, just in time for today's big NFC East Division game at Dallas.

And in Arena Football League action, the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 51-45. Oops, check that. The Browns defeated the Bengals in National Football League action. A score like that threw us off a bit. Derek Anderson (20-for-33, 328 yards) threw five touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards and the Browns, so desperate after being embarrassed in their home opener that they traded their starting quarterback 2 days later, outlasted the Bengals and Carson Palmer.

The play broke down and Portland nearly lost the ball, so it was up to Nick Van Exel to bail out the Trail Blazers. That's exactly what he did. Van Exel's 29-foot desperation heave at the buzzer last night gave Portland an 80-77 win over host Charlotte. "I was expecting to get the ball, but with the way they defended, it was taking away a couple of options and we had to improvise," Van Exel said. Van Exel was trapped near midcourt on the final possession before throwing a pass on the left sideline to Derek Anderson.

LeBron James is expected to wow crowds, not opponents. James stunned host Charlotte with three explosive dunks, including a windmill that broke the game open late in the second quarter that led Cleveland to a 106-89 victory last night over the Bobcats. Memories of Julius Erving stirred. "What this game reminded me of was when Doctor J came into the league. He'd make a couple of plays and everyone would stand around and watch," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said of the Sixers Hall of Famer.