Buccaneers’ Quarles Breaks Left Forearm

Tampa Bay middle linebacker Shelton Quarles will be sidelined for several games after breaking his left forearm Thursday in the Buccaneers’ final practice in pads before the regular season.

Quarles, a Pro Bowl selection for the first time last season, was injured while blocking on a special teams drill. He will be replaced by backup Nate Webster, who will make his second career start in Monday night’s season opener at Philadelphia.

“The reality of it is, he’ll probably miss a few games,” said Coach Jon Gruden, who didn’t estimate when Quarles might return.

“Knowing the kind of kid he is, he’ll be knocking on the door tomorrow morning trying to play. But he has fractured his forearm, he’ll miss this game ... and he’ll probably miss a couple following that.”

Quarles had his best pro season a year ago when he moved from strongside linebacker to the middle. He was second on the team with 159 tackles and had two interceptions.

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Jim Irsay said he wants to keep the Colts in Indianapolis even if it takes years, not months, to work out a deal with the city.

The Colt owner talked with reporters for the first time in more than 10 months Thursday, answering questions after he watched practice.

Irsay acknowledged negotiations with city officials had slowed but suggested that was more the result of timing than an impasse. The Colts are preparing for Sunday’s opener at Cleveland and Indianapolis’ mayoral election will be held in November.

“This is something that’s going to be a journey that takes a few years,” Irsay said. “I don’t think anything should be read into that [pace]. I’m very optimistic about our future here.”

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In a move that has Rose Bowl officials encouraged, the NFL has offered to cover most of the cost of an environmental-impact report on the Pasadena stadium site.

The offer, which was agreed to Thursday and will be voted on by the Pasadena City Council on Monday, calls for the NFL to pay for the first $300,000 of a report and, if necessary, another $200,000. If the cost exceeds $500,000, Pasadena would pay the next $100,000, and the NFL would pay the $100,000 after that, if necessary.

City officials have estimated the yearlong EIR process would cost in the neighborhood of $500,000.

“It’s a positive step, and we’re looking forward to the process,” Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn said.

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Atlanta Falcon outside linebacker Sam Rogers will sit out at least one game because of an injured left knee. He had hoped to return to practice this week, but a chunk of cartilage floating in the knee prevented him from taking the field.

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Rookie linebacker Mario Haggan was released by the Buffalo Bills to make room for safety Lawyer Milloy.

The Bills also reached an injury settlement with third-string quarterback Travis Brown.

The move allows the Bills the chance to re-sign Brown after the 10th week of the season.