Green’s Contract Extended

The Minnesota Vikings, off to a 3-0 start, added three years to coach Dennis Green’s contract Wednesday, extending it through 2004.

Green has taken the Vikings to the playoffs seven times, but the team has won just three of 10 postseason games.

Green’s job has been in jeopardy in the past, and was thought this season to be tied to the success of second-year quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper has struggled as a passer, but has been a surprising weapon as a runner.

Wide receiver Randy Moss had said recently he’d be more inclined to re-sign if the team kept Green. Moss repeated that after learning of the extension.

“If they had gotten rid of Denny, that would mean they want to turn this whole team around. How much turning can you do?” Moss said.

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Denver Bronco quarterback Brian Griese reported no problems after taking about 40% of the snaps and throwing passes as long as 35 yards in practice. Griese suffered a shoulder injury against Oakland Sept. 17 and missed last Sunday’s 23-22 loss to Kansas City.

The Broncos have worked out 38-year-old quarterback Steve Bono, who played for Carolina last season. Denver won’t sign Bono unless Griese is ruled out of Sunday’s home game against New England. Gus Frerotte again would start if Griese can’t go.

Running back Terrell Davis is still bothered by a left ankle sprain and Mike Anderson will start if Davis is not ready.

Bronco defensive backs coach Ron Milus will miss his second consecutive game because of a mysterious medical condition that has been causing him to black out.

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The career of Kansas City Pro Bowl guard Dave Szott could be over after his second serious arm injury. Szott tore biceps in his right arm in the season opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 3. The injury at first was thought to be relatively minor, but now is said to be identical to the injury to his left arm last year that kept him out for the entire season.

The Chiefs signed defensive end Tyrone Williams and placed defensive tackle Ty Parten on injured reserve.

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Chicago tackle Blake Brockermeyer is expected to practice today, two days after he was released from a hospital following treatment for a skin infection on his right arm. Brockermeyer, who missed last Sunday’s game against Detroit, was hospitalized for six days. His status for Sunday’s game against Green Bay is uncertain.

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New York Jet Coach Al Groh and quarterback Vinny Testaverde say they have cleared up any differences stemming from Groh’s decision to lift Testaverde for one series in the fourth quarter against Tampa Bay.

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Washington center Cory Raymer will undergo reconstructive knee surgery and is out for the season. Raymer first damaged ligaments in his knee during training camp and was ruled out for at least four weeks of the season. He was close to playing again but reinjured the anterior cruciate ligament doing agility drills in practice last week. The decision to perform surgery was made after an MRI. . . . Defensive end Chuck Smith of the Carolina Panthers will be sidelined at least three weeks because of an aching right knee. . . . The Green Bay Packers signed free-agent defensive tackle Chuck Osborne to add depth to their injury-plagued defensive line. . . . Jacksonville Jaguars center John Wade will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right foot Monday night against Indianapolis. . . . Troy Kopp, 29, a former Mission Viejo High and Pacific quarterback who was recently released by the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, is in critical condition after a car accident on the Trans-Canada Highway.