Chiefs Opt to Release Andersen

Morten Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, was told Friday he has lost his job to a kicker 18 years younger.

“A tough decision. A risky decision,” Kansas City Chief Coach Dick Vermeil said.

The 44-year-old Andersen has scored 2,259 points since breaking into the NFL with New Orleans in 1982. Only Gary Anderson has scored more.

“Morten Andersen I think will kick in the league,” Vermeil said. “If he’s not kicking in the league and our decision ends up not being a good decision, we’ll bring him back.”

Vermeil said the Chiefs would contact other teams to help Andersen get another opportunity.

Kicking for the Chiefs will be 26-year-old Lawrence Tynes, who is coming off two successful seasons with the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.

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Green Bay traded strong safety Marques Anderson to the Oakland Raiders for two 2005 draft picks.

Anderson said that Raider senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi told him he’d get a chance to start because of an injury to strong safety Derrick Gibson.

Gibson dislocated his right shoulder in the Raiders’ 28-24 exhibition victory over the St. Louis Rams on Thursday night in Oakland.

Anderson, a third-round draft pick out of UCLA, started 11 games in 2002 and seven last season, plus two playoff games. He became the starting strong safety after injuries sidelined Antuan Edwards.

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The Dallas Cowboys put safety Darren Woodson on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he’ll be sidelined at least the first five games of the season. Woodson had a herniated disk removed from his back in late July. He’s still unable to lift heavy weights and isn’t ready to practice.

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Safety Brock Marion of the Detroit Lions has a bruised right knee but is expected to play in the Sept. 12 opener at Chicago. He was hurt on the opening drive of the Lions’ 20-17 exhibition victory over Buffalo on Thursday night.

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The New York Jets rallied from a 27-7 deficit, scoring three touchdowns in the final 5:14 to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-27, at East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets capped the comeback with Brooks Bollinger’s one-yard touchdown pass to Matt Dominguez with eight seconds left.... Mark Brunell and the Washington Redskins tuned up for the regular season with a 27-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Landover, Md. Brunell completed four of six passes for 51 yards on a 78-yard opening touchdown drive.... Carson Palmer completed 10 of 14 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 16-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati.

The Miami Dolphins beat the New Orleans Saints, 20-19, at New Orleans. The Saints scored a touchdown with 1:59 left, but they missed the two-point conversion. With Hurricane Frances headed toward Florida, the Miami players asked the NFL to cancel the game, but the league refused. Its only concession was to move the starting time up 30 minutes.... Cornerback Samari Rolle tipped a pass to linebacker Keith Bulluck, who returned the interception 70 yards for a touchdown to help the Tennessee Titans beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-7, at Nashville.... Rookie Luke McCown threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help the Cleveland Browns beat the Chicago Bears, 24-10, at Cleveland.