Taylor Will Miss Game After Arrest

Washington Redskin rookie safety Sean Taylor was arrested by the Virginia State Police early Thursday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and declined to take an alcohol blood or breath test, according to law enforcement officials.

Taylor, the No. 5 pick in the draft, from Miami, was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and faces a Dec. 1 hearing.

Taylor missed Thursday’s practice, an absence the club considered unexcused after it was initially unable to contact him. Later in the afternoon, Taylor arrived at the training facility for a meeting with team officials.

Thursday night, the team announced that Taylor would be inactive for Sunday’s game against Green Bay.

Taylor, whose father is chief of police in Florida City, Fla., did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

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San Diego received a 24-hour extension from the NFL in an attempt to sell enough tickets to lift the local TV blackout of Sunday’s game against Oakland. The Chargers have until 1:15 this afternoon to sell 3,100 general admission tickets. Otherwise, their fourth consecutive home game this year will be blacked out.

Fans buying tickets to the Raider game must also buy an equal number of tickets to another home game this year.

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Carolina waived special teams standout Jarrod Cooper after police issued an arrest warrant alleging he gave false information to an officer. Cooper has also been charged twice in the last three years with driving while impaired. Cooper turned himself in later in the day.... Dorsey Levens will replace Brian Westbrook (cracked rib) at running back for Philadelphia in Sunday’s game against Baltimore.... New York Giant center Shaun O’Hara (leg infection) is questionable for Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Viking receiver Randy Moss (injured hamstring) should be able to take a greater role in the offense against the Giants.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre (sprained right hand), running back Ahman Green (sore Achilles’ tendon) and lineman Marco Rivera (sprained ankle) were unable to fully participate in practice. Favre and Green are expected to play Sunday against Washington, but Rivera’s status remains questionable....

San Francisco quarterback Tim Rattay continues to have pain in his throwing forearm and didn’t practice. His status is in doubt for Sunday night’s game at Chicago. If he can’t play, Ken Dorsey will get the call.... Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair (bruised sternum) was unable to practice. If McNair sits out Sunday against Cincinnati, backup Billy Volek will start.... Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor (strained quadriceps) returned to practice and expects to play Sunday against Houston.

Jonathan Ogden signed a seven-year contract with Baltimore, which should allow the left tackle to finish his career with the Ravens.... Former NFL player Justin Strzelczyk did not have alcohol or drugs in his system when he died after leading police on a highway chase, authorities in Herkimer, N.Y., said.