Brady Will Start Ahead of Bledsoe

Tom Brady will start again at quarterback for New England on Sunday even though doctors cleared Drew Bledsoe to play.

Brady is 5-2 as a starter since taking over after Bledsoe was sidelined by a hit from New York Jet linebacker Mo Lewis on Sept. 23 that ruptured a blood vessel in Bledsoe’s chest. The Patriots were 0-2 with Bledsoe starting.

“Any time you lose your starting quarterback, that’s not anything that’s a positive,” Coach Bill Belichick said. “But Tom has taken advantage of the opportunity and has done a good job.”

Brady has completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,426 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Patriots are averaging more than 26 points under Brady, compared to 10 points a game with Bledsoe.

Belichick said he will settle on a starter after Sunday.

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After four days of controversy and conflicting statements, the Denver Broncos released receiver Eddie Kennison.

Saying it was in the best interest of the team, Coach Mike Shanahan reached the decision after meeting with Bronco players and coaches.

On Saturday night, about 16 hours before kickoff against San Diego, Kennison told Shanahan he lost his passion for the game and was retiring.

The timing of the announcement, after Kennison took all of the snaps in practice as a starting receiver during the week, angered the Broncos and forced coaches and backup receivers to make frantic adjustments for the game.

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A day after Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher apologized for cursing at Cleveland cornerback Corey Fuller after the Steelers’ 15-12 overtime victory Sunday, Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said he shouldn’t have taunted safety Earl Little after leveling him with a hit.

But Ward said he isn’t sorry for hitting Little so hard that it caused a concussion because Little had threatened earlier in the game to come after Ward.

“My emotions got to me as far as when the guy was down and standing over him and I’m sorry for that--that’s not me,” Ward said. “But in the heat of battle, when somebody is talking trash to you, your emotions take over when you get a good hit like that.”

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Oakland running back Tyrone Wheatley, who sat out the last three games because of a sprained knee but was expected to return this week against San Diego, skipped practice because of illness....Quarterback Chris Chandler practiced without severe pain in his ribs and expects to start when Atlanta plays at Green Bay on Sunday....Carolina quarterback Chris Weinke returned to practice after sitting out a week because of a sore throwing shoulder....St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner will take fewer snaps in practice the rest of the season to spare him fatigue from excessive throwing, Coach Mike Martz said. Warner has not complained of arm problems.

The Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers will open the 2002 exhibition season in the American Bowl on Aug. 3 at Osaka, Japan.