Pats put kicker Gostkowski on IR

Shayne Graham kept his bags in his car in case an NFL team wanted him. He can unpack now.

Graham has joined the New England Patriots, whose kickers had shown exceptional durability - until last Sunday.

He replaces Stephen Gostkowski, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a thigh injury, shelving him for the rest of the season. But the former Cincinnati Bengals kicker knows he has to produce to keep from packing up again.

"I'll still treat it as a game-by-game basis," Graham said. "I've got to perform well each week and give them a reason to want to keep me around here."

New England hasn't worried much about its kicking game over the last 14 seasons. Adam Vinatieri played every game from 1996 to 2005 and made two Super Bowl-winning field goals. Gostkowski played every game the past four seasons and the first half of this season.

Pennington becomes Miami's starting QB

A text message Chad Pennington received at home provided the first hint of a promotion.

"Can you stop by please," read the message from Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano.

"That 'please' kind of threw me," Pennington said later.

Starting quarterbacks enjoy deferential treatment, and Pennington is again No. 1. Sparano announced the change Wednesday, pulling the plug on the Chad Henne experiment in favor of a 34-year-old coming off the latest operation on his right shoulder.

"They both have strengths, and certainly weaknesses," Sparano said. "At this particular time, my decision is Chad Pennington's strengths might be suited a little bit more for where we need to be."

The Dolphins (4-4) play host to Tennessee on Sunday, when Pennington will make his first start since his season-ending shoulder injury in Week 3 last year. He contemplated retirement but re-signed with Miami, where he has won praise as Henne's mentor.

Steelers LT Starks out for season

This isn't the news that a suddenly more secure Ben Roethlisberger wanted to hear.

Left tackle Max Starks needs surgery to repair a disc injury in his neck and will miss the rest of the season, leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers without both of their starting offensive tackles. Right tackle Willie Colon, unsigned past this season, was lost for the season when he ruptured his right Achilles' tendon in June.

"It's a huge blow, to have him (Starks) out for the rest of the year is devastating," right guard Trai Essex said Wednesday. "At the same time, this is life in the NFL. Injuries happen and you're only as good as your backups."

The 28-year-old Starks, a starter on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl-winning teams during the 2005 and 2008 seasons, was placed on the injured reserve list and can't return this season. He will be replaced by Jonathan Scott beginning Sunday against New England (6-2).

League: No fines in alleged spitting incident

The NFL has decided against imposing any fines after investigating complaints by the Miami Dolphins that Baltimore fullback Le'Ron McClain spit in the face of linebacker Channing Crowder.

Merton Hanks, the NFL director of football operations, found no conclusive evidence to support discipline, the league said in a statement Wednesday.

Crowder said McClain spit in his face during a timeout in Sunday's game at Baltimore, which the Ravens won. Miami coach Tony Sparano asked the league to investigate.

McClain said he spit only accidentally, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh said his player was innocent.

Bills LB Merriman injured in first practice

Linebacker Shawne Merriman's first practice with his new team in Buffalo didn't last very long.

Merriman limped off the field Wednesday with a lower right leg injury about 30 minutes into practice, his first with the winless Bills since they claimed him off waivers a week ago.

Taking part in an individual drill in the middle of the field, the former San Diego Chargers star pass-rusher took a few steps back and then hopped in the air in pain after he took a pivot step to his left. Merriman pulled down his right sock and limped to the sideline where a trainer spent a few minutes checking the player's ankle.

Merriman then consulted with head trainer Bud Carpenter at midfield before being escorted into the Bills' fieldhouse, where the team's training room is located. The team had no immediate update on Merriman's injury.

McMahon to raise money for brain research

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon frequently walks into a room and forgets why he's there. His memory is "pretty much gone," he says.

It stems from his 15 seasons in the NFL during a time when quarterbacks did not receive as much protection as they do in the league today.

McMahon, who helped the Bears win the Super Bowl in 1986, has decided to help raise awareness of brain trauma by hosting a fundraiser in Chicago, with the proceeds going to educational programs and clinics for area youth coaches.

Ex-player Meggett gets 30 years

Former NFL player David Meggett was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday after his conviction in a South Carolina court on charges of criminal sexual conduct and burglary, authorities said.

Meggett was convicted in a case involving an encounter with a college student at her house in North Charleston in January 2009, according to authorities.

Meggett, who attended high school in North Charleston, was a running back and punt returner in the National Football League between 1989 and 1998.