Pro Football Daily Report / NFC : Falcons’ Anderson Lost for Season

Atlanta Falcon running back Jamal Anderson is out for the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Monday’s loss to Dallas.

“It happens and you hate it, but you can’t dwell on it,” Coach Dan Reeves said in Suwanee, Ga.

The injury was a devastating blow to the Falcons (0-2), who signed the all-pro Anderson to a five-year, $32-million contract after a preseason holdout.

Anderson, 26, was injured without being touched on his third carry of Monday night’s game. He took a handoff, attempted to cut to the left while still in the backfield and went down in obvious pain.

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The Minnesota Vikings re-signed defensive end Chris Doleman, who had 15 sacks last season with the San Francisco 49ers.

Coach Dennis Green said the eight-time Pro Bowl selection will initially be used as a pass-rushing right end in the team’s nickel defense. But Doleman, who turns 38 next month, acknowledged he wasn’t in shape. The Vikings also signed linebacker Corey Miller, whom they cut during training camp. Miller was brought back after Kailee Wong pulled a hamstring Sunday, and his replacement, Rob Holmberg, sprained an ankle. Miller is expected to start at strong side linebacker. To make room, the Vikings released fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo, who got into a fight with teammates Chris Walsh and Kevin Devine at a Twins Cities restaurant.

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Wide receiver Rob Moore signed a four-year, $17.5-million contract with Arizona, meaning the Cardinals can remove his designation as a franchise player. Moore, 31, will receive a $5-million signing bonus.

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The father of retired Detroit Lion running back Barry Sanders says he plans to talk with his son this weekend about rejoining the team in time for its fourth game, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News reported. No situation is so bad you can’t go back,” William Sanders told the Detroit News.

The father declined comment when reached Tuesday night by the Associated Press.

Barry Sanders, 31, was 1,458 yards short of breaking Walter Payton’s NFL career rushing record when he retired July 28. Since then, the Lions have demanded that he repay $5.6 million of the $11-million signing bonus he got when he signed 1997. Sanders’ agents say their client must be traded or granted free agency before any money is returned.

The dispute has gone to arbitration. But William Sanders said Arthur McAfee, an attorney with the NFL Players Assn., told him that his son could not win the case.

William Sanders said he will advise his son to return to the Lions on the condition that he be traded after breaking Payton’s record.

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With Mark Chmura’s football future uncertain, the Green Bay Packers re-signed free agent tight end Lamont Hall and waived offensive tackle Barry Stokes. Backup linebacker Jude Waddy will return Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after serving a four-game suspension for steroid use.

AFC / Dolphins, Broncos Make a Deal

The Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos swapped their 1998 first-round draft choices, with receiver Marcus Nash going to Miami in exchange for running back John Avery. Nash started in Denver’s loss Sunday but had no catches. He caught four passes as a rookie for 76 yards. Avery rushed for 503 yards last year.