Roethlisberger Broke Toes

Pittsburgh rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger broke two toes on his right foot during the Steelers’ AFC title game loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, but he doesn’t blame the injury for his error-filled play.

Roethlisberger didn’t specify Tuesday which toes were broken, and he wasn’t walking with an apparent limp. He says he was injured while stumbling on a 13-yard run late in the first half, amid a drive that later stalled in a 41-27 loss.

Roethlisberger’s statistics actually improved after the injury. He completed five of 10 passes for 77 yards but threw two pivotal interceptions as New England opened a 24-3 lead by halftime, but was nine for 14 for 149 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the second half.

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Quarterback Chad Pennington of the New York Jets has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the team announced.

Pennington was hurt Nov. 7 against Buffalo. An MRI exam showed the tear, but the team said Pennington had a strain. He sat out three weeks and then returned to play. He will have surgery after the Super Bowl.

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Patriot quarterback Tom Brady on Monday filed a suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against General Motors Corp., claiming the world’s largest automaker wrongfully continued to use his name and photograph after his endorsement contract ended.

Brady is seeking at least $2 million in damages and unspecified punitive damages.

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Sports Illustrated reported in this week’s issue that Brady had a 103-degree fever Saturday night and had an intravenous line in his left -- non-throwing -- arm while fighting off chills in his Pittsburgh hotel room.

In 11-degree weather, Brady threw for two touchdowns with no interceptions to lead the Patriots to their third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons.

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Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Eric Crouch signed with Kansas City in another attempt to play in the NFL as a defensive back.