QB-thin Vikings hope Favre can return this season

Brett Favre's career isn't quite over yet.

The Minnesota Vikings have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they still need someone to play quarterback for their final three games. Interim coach Leslie Frazier said the 41-year-old Favre is his choice - and he may be back in time for Monday night's game against Chicago.

Favre was feeling better Tuesday, according to Frazier, after his NFL-record streak of starting 297 straight regular-season games ended Monday with him on the sideline at Ford Field in Detroit during Minnesota's loss to the Giants.

He is nursing a sprained throwing shoulder and a numb hand, but an ultrasound on Favre's neck and shoulder revealed no nerve damage, Frazier said.

For now, the Vikings won't end Favre's season, and perhaps his storied career, by putting him on injured reserve.

"I don't see that as being part of the equation at this point," Frazier said.

Vikes change venues as Metrodome roof gets fixed

The Minnesota Vikings are getting ready for a frigid night of football after officials said Tuesday that the Metrodome's torn roof won't be ready for Monday night's matchup against the Chicago Bears, forcing the game to move to University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.

Inspectors found that damage from the weekend snowstorm that dumped more than 17 inches in Minneapolis and busted through the Metrodome's Teflon roof was worse than initially thought, according to the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

Officials decided the roof couldn't be repaired in six days, but could not immediately estimate how long the process would take. Commission president Roy Terwilliger said they hoped to know more in two to three days.

Owens blames Bengals coaches for disastrous 2-11 season

Receiver Terrell Owens says the Cincinnati Bengals' lousy season is the result of underachieving "from the top down," and he particularly points a finger at the coaches.

Teammate Chad Ochocinco asked Owens during "The T.Ocho Show" on Versus cable network Tuesday night why he thinks the team is 2-11.

"I think there's underachieving from the top down," Owens said. "You start with the owner, you start with the coaches. And obviously we as players, we are a product of what the coaches are coaching us throughout the course of the week.

"Of course, we have to go out there and play the game. But in order for us to do what we're allowed to do at the best of our abilities, the coaches have to put the players in the best position."

Bills WR Evans out for season with ankle injury

Buffalo Bills receiver Lee Evans was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday, two days after sustaining a sprained ankle in Buffalo's win over Cleveland.

Evans was hurt at the end of Jonathan Stupar's 35-yard reception in the second quarter. Evans was attempting to hold off a defender from catching Stupar from behind when he fell awkwardly while appearing to trip over his teammate's leg.

Broncos' Cox sex charges carry life sentence

Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Perrish Cox could face up to life in prison if convicted of sexual assault charges filed by prosecutors last week.

A portion of the case unsealed by a Douglas County judge Tuesday shows the sexual assault charges are Class 3 and Class 4 felonies, which carry a sentence of between two years to life in prison. They involve a helpless victim.

Other details of the case remain sealed.

Cox, who played in the Broncos' loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, is free on $50,000 bail.