Williams Sparks Dolphins to Victory

Ricky Williams rushed for 59 yards, all in the opening half, and scored the first touchdown of the exhibition season for Miami’s first-team offense, helping the Dolphins defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 17-14, Saturday night at Miami.

Williams was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos when introduced in his first game in Miami since his abrupt retirement a year ago started the franchise toward its worst season since the 1960s.

“I was surprised,” Williams said. “I thought there would be more boos.”

But it was all applause from the small crowd when he scored on a four-yard run to cap the opening series, an eight-play, 77-yard drive.

Miami’s quarterback job remained unclaimed. Gus Frerotte played the first 2 1/2 quarters and completed only nine of 25 attempts for 103 yards. A.J. Feeley came off the bench to lead the Dolphins to 10 points.

“It’s something that we need to continue to evaluate,” Coach Nick Saban said. “It has seemed the entire preseason, whichever quarterback played second has played best.”

Feeley completed eight of 14 for 90 yards.

After defensive end Matt Roth, a rookie from Iowa, intercepted a deflected pass from Luke McCown, Feeley passed to former UCLA standout Danny Farmer for the go-ahead touchdown, a 36-yard score with 10 minutes left.

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In other exhibition games:

Dallas won the battle of Texas at Irving, defeating Houston, 21-9. The Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe completed 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards with no turnovers. The Texans’ David Carr was only seven of 19 for 52 yards and two interceptions.

Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns over his 2 1/2 quarters, but Denver defeated the Colts, 37-24, at Denver. Jake Plummer completed 10 of 16 passes for 150 yards and one score in his two-plus quarters, and Mike Anderson scored on a 93-yard touchdown, part of his 159-yard, two-score game.

Seattle overcame a 97-yard touchdown run by Kansas City’s Larry Johnson to defeat the Chiefs, 23-17, at Kansas City, Mo. Seahawk guard Floyd Womack sustained a triceps injury.

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About 1,000 people gathered in Fort Worth to say farewell to Thomas Herrion, the San Francisco offensive lineman who died last week after collapsing in Denver following an exhibition game.

About 30 players, coaches and personnel from the 49ers attended the service. Among them were rookie quarterback Alex Smith -- who played with Herrion at Utah -- Coach Mike Nolan and most of the offensive line.

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Rookie Kyle Orton is pushing Chad Hutchinson to become Chicago’s starting quarterback.

Hutchinson was three of 11 in the first half Friday against Buffalo and Orton played two series in the third quarter, both with Chicago’s first-team offense.

In the first series, Orton threw two incompletions in a quick three-and-out. But in his next series, he completed seven of nine passes for 74 yards in an 81-yard drive he capped with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Desmond Clark.

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Dallas’ trade with Jacksonville for Seth Marler was nullified when the kicker failed a physical. The team did not give a reason for failing Marler.... New Orleans tight end Boo Williams, a five-year veteran, tore ligaments in his right knee Friday against Baltimore and his season is over. The team may opt to cut Williams, who was struggling to keep a spot on the team.

New York Jet defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson fractured his right hand Friday night against the New York Giants and will be fitted with a cast. Robertson told the Newark Star-Ledger that he plans to be ready for the season opener at Kansas City. The Jets also cut veteran punter Micah Knorr, giving the job to Australian Ben Graham.