Dominic Rhodes

Indianapolis All-Pro running back Edgerrin James' sprained left knee will cause him to miss his second consecutive game when the Colts host Miami tomorrow. James did not practice at all this week, although it was hoped that he would be back on the field yesterday. But he wasn't. "He's not made a lot of progress lately," coach Jim Mora said. "He's just not ready to play. " Mora downgraded the two-time NFL rushing champion's status for the game from questionable to doubtful.

Peyton Manning has agreed to restructure his contract with the Indianapolis Colts to save the team nearly $8 million in salary-cap space. The Super Bowl MVP was to receive a $10 million roster bonus during the offseason but by converting the money into a regular signing bonus, the Colts can prorate that over the remaining 4 years of his deal. That saves Indianapolis space under the cap, which is $109 million. The restructuring was disclosed to the Associated Press yesterday by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been signed.

Two running backs found new homes yesterday. Dominic Rhodes, who ran for 113 yards in Indianapolis' Super Bowl victory, signed with the Oakland Raiders, and Reuben Droughns, who had back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons with Denver and Cleveland, was traded by Cleveland to the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said he doesn't expect troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones to report with the rest of the Titans players on March 19. The NFL is examining 10 separate incidents in which Jones has been questioned by police since being drafted, including a Feb. 19 triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club.

Tony Romo apparently is willing to cowboy up. The Dallas Cowboys medical staff has said the Cowboys quarterback will miss a month after breaking the pinkie finger on his throwing hand Sunday. But a team source said Romo told the coaches yesterday that he is ready to play Sunday against St. Louis, according to a report on ESPN.com. Throwing on the side yesterday at practice, Romo had good velocity and seemed confident, witnesses said. The practice was closed to the media.

After combining for 34 yards in a miserable first quarter, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James proved again it's not how you start, it's how you finish that counts. Manning, 3-for-9 in a scoreless, punchless first quarter, regained his touch to go 19-for-30 for 201 yards and two touchdowns as the visiting Indianapolis Colts snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last night. James had just 21 yards to show for his first 10 carries, then exploded for 81 in his next 17. He went to the sideline with a strained knee with 4 minutes, 24 seconds left after getting up and walking off the field under his own power.

All-Pro running back Edgerrin James' sprained left knee will cause him to miss his second straight game when the Indianapolis Colts play the Miami Dolphins tomorrow. James did not practice at all this week, although it was hoped that he would be back on the field yesterday. He wasn't. "He's not made a lot of progress lately," coach Jim Mora said. "He's just not ready to play. We've just got to keep treating him. " Mora downgraded the two-time NFL rushing champion's status for the game from questionable to doubtful.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and holdout wide receiver Jimmy Smith have agreed to terms on a new contract, the team's Web site reported. Smith, 33, is under contract through the 2006 season, but said he wants to be among the NFL's 10 highest-paid receivers. ESPN.com reported that Smith had been seeking $12 million over the next two years, while the Jaguars have been offering less than $10 million. Financial terms were not disclosed. Smith has been the NFL's most prolific receiver over the last six years, averaging 94 receptions, 1,329 yards and 6 touchdowns per season.

SEEING THE CARDINALS turn to Kurt Warner this week as their new starting quarterback makes it only natural to harken back to 1999. That was the year of Napster, Wayne Gretzky's last skate and all the bluster of Y2K. In the NFL, 1999 was Kurt Warner's year. When Rams quarterback Trent Green ripped up his knee in the preseason that year, St. Louis turned to Warner, a guy most people never heard of and who people around here kept confusing with a former Penn State running back.

The Miami Dolphins might be forced to give second-year quarterback Sage Rosenfels his first NFL start because Ray Lucas is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets with a bruised throwing shoulder. Lucas was injured during the second quarter of Monday night's 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Immediately after throwing a pass, Lucas was hit by defensive end Vonnie Holliday, and his right elbow was driven into the ground. Lucas returned to the game in the second half.

COLTS OFFENSE VS. BEARS DEFENSE The Colts were second in scoring during the regular season, averaging 26.7 points per game, but slumped in their first two playoff games before exploding in their 38-34 AFC title-game win over New England. It's hard to believe that Chicago's maligned Rex Grossman has a better playoff passer rating this season (75.4) than the Colts' Peyton Manning (66.8). Manning has thrown two TDs and six interceptions, but he showed his leadership in helping the Colts overcome a 21-3 deficit in the AFC title-game win over New England.

KINGSTON, R.I. - Regardless of the sport, chemistry can be an elusive element. But that isn't the case with Temple's basketball team - specifically guards Ramone Moore, Khalif Wyatt, and Juan Fernandez. The trio combined to torch Rhode Island for 47 points Saturday as the Owls cruised to a 73-56 Atlantic Ten Conference victory. Temple's win, combined with La Salle's loss to St. Joseph's, vaulted the Owls (17-5, 6-2 A-10) into first place ahead of the Explorers (17-7, 6-3)

THIS TIME, the Indianapolis Colts completed the comeback against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Peyton Manning took advantage of Ben Roethlisberger's second costly interception to find Dominic Rhodes out of the backfield on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:04 remaining for Indianapolis' only lead, and the Colts came back in a virtual must-win game to beat the Steelers yesterday, 24-20. "It was important for us to capitalize [on the interceptions]," Manning said after the Colts followed up on an 18-15 victory over New England.

Tony Romo apparently is willing to cowboy up. The Dallas Cowboys medical staff has said the Cowboys quarterback will miss a month after breaking the pinkie finger on his throwing hand Sunday. But a team source said Romo told the coaches yesterday that he is ready to play Sunday against St. Louis, according to a report on ESPN.com. Throwing on the side yesterday at practice, Romo had good velocity and seemed confident, witnesses said. The practice was closed to the media.

SEEING THE CARDINALS turn to Kurt Warner this week as their new starting quarterback makes it only natural to harken back to 1999. That was the year of Napster, Wayne Gretzky's last skate and all the bluster of Y2K. In the NFL, 1999 was Kurt Warner's year. When Rams quarterback Trent Green ripped up his knee in the preseason that year, St. Louis turned to Warner, a guy most people never heard of and who people around here kept confusing with a former Penn State running back.

Two running backs found new homes yesterday. Dominic Rhodes, who ran for 113 yards in Indianapolis' Super Bowl victory, signed with the Oakland Raiders, and Reuben Droughns, who had back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons with Denver and Cleveland, was traded by Cleveland to the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said he doesn't expect troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones to report with the rest of the Titans players on March 19. The NFL is examining 10 separate incidents in which Jones has been questioned by police since being drafted, including a Feb. 19 triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club.

Peyton Manning has agreed to restructure his contract with the Indianapolis Colts to save the team nearly $8 million in salary-cap space. The Super Bowl MVP was to receive a $10 million roster bonus during the offseason but by converting the money into a regular signing bonus, the Colts can prorate that over the remaining 4 years of his deal. That saves Indianapolis space under the cap, which is $109 million. The restructuring was disclosed to the Associated Press yesterday by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been signed.

COLTS OFFENSE VS. BEARS DEFENSE The Colts were second in scoring during the regular season, averaging 26.7 points per game, but slumped in their first two playoff games before exploding in their 38-34 AFC title-game win over New England. It's hard to believe that Chicago's maligned Rex Grossman has a better playoff passer rating this season (75.4) than the Colts' Peyton Manning (66.8). Manning has thrown two TDs and six interceptions, but he showed his leadership in helping the Colts overcome a 21-3 deficit in the AFC title-game win over New England.

The Eagles didn't really miss Donovan McNabb last night. There's nothing the quarterback could have done to fix a defense that would reveal irreparable cracks if inserted into the same MRI machine that informed the Eagles of McNabb's season-ending knee injury. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts served as an X-ray machine of sorts for the Eagles' defense. They operated as if they were going against their own scout team during a 45-21 rout at the RCA Dome. "This loss falls on us," safety Brian Dawkins said, referring to the defense.

The Miami Dolphins might be forced to give second-year quarterback Sage Rosenfels his first NFL start because Ray Lucas is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets with a bruised throwing shoulder. Lucas was injured during the second quarter of Monday night's 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Immediately after throwing a pass, Lucas was hit by defensive end Vonnie Holliday, and his right elbow was driven into the ground. Lucas returned to the game in the second half.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and holdout wide receiver Jimmy Smith have agreed to terms on a new contract, the team's Web site reported. Smith, 33, is under contract through the 2006 season, but said he wants to be among the NFL's 10 highest-paid receivers. ESPN.com reported that Smith had been seeking $12 million over the next two years, while the Jaguars have been offering less than $10 million. Financial terms were not disclosed. Smith has been the NFL's most prolific receiver over the last six years, averaging 94 receptions, 1,329 yards and 6 touchdowns per season.