AFC

Lesson learned?

Albert Haynesworth returned to the Titans this week after serving a five-game suspension for stomping the face of Dallas offensive lineman Andre Gurode.

Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher allowed the shamed defensive lineman to return after a “thorough review process” that took into account that Haynesworth still deeply regrets his transgression.

“Because I’m a father, and for a father to do something like that and for your kids to look up to you, I think that is very serious,” Haynesworth told reporters. “I’m not going to forgive myself.”

Not so well-heeled

Texans defensive end Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick in last spring’s draft, has come on strong in the past six games with 4 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles. In the first three games, he had only eight tackles and no sacks.

But he’s playing through pain to do what he’s doing. He’s suffering from plantar fasciitis, a foot injury that causes pain in the base of the heel that radiates across the arch of the foot.

“He’s giving it up for his teammates,” Houston Coach Gary Kubiak said of Williams. “He’s getting a lot of respect because we know his foot’s bothering him, and I’m sure it’s very frustrating for him because he wants to be at his best.”

Snappy Jack

Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio tore into a reporter this week who asked him about talk-radio chatter that the team is out of control. This was in the wake of tackle Khalif Barnes being arrested last weekend and charged with driving under the influence, and receiver Reggie Williams screaming obscenities at a fan during last Sunday’s loss to Houston.

“Those are the kind of questions that lead me to question what your motive is in asking that type of question,” Del Rio told the reporter during the coach’s regular Monday news conference.

“I’m saying that leaves me to ask why you would ask such a question.”

Question the questioner? Interesting strategy.

Vinny Vidi Vici

Among the first questions reporters asked 43-year-old quarterback Vinny Testaverde this week when he signed with New England: Why are you here?

“I have no idea,” he said with a laugh. “I was playing some good golf.”

Out in the cold

Even though they’re once again a competitive team, the Bengals are still cheap. They practiced this week in rainy conditions with temperatures in the low 40s.

Among the players renewing the call for an indoor practice facility was quarterback Carson Palmer.

“We don’t have the ability to prepare for a dome game, so it makes it tough,” he told reporters.

“It’s a definite disadvantage practicing all week in the rain, especially if you’re not going to be playing in the rain.”

The Bengals play at New Orleans today in the climate-controlled Superdome.

A yule-log clubbing

The Steelers went into Cleveland last Christmas Eve and delivered a 41-0 pounding, one that won’t soon be forgotten by the Browns.

They play host to Pittsburgh today.

Safety Brian Russell told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that loss was “the most embarrassing thing football-wise I’ve ever been a part of.”

Russell told the newspaper: “It ruined the holiday, that’s for sure. It wasn’t just the loss. I was humiliated. We were humiliated. So this is a chance to prove that was kind of an aberration and we’re a better team than that.”

All that hair didn’t help

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice Wednesday after suffering a serious concussion in the New Orleans game three days earlier. It was at least his fifth concussion since high school, and he shrugged off the injury.

“Whenever boxers or ultimate fighters come back from getting knocked out, they have a 50-fight career, you know?” he told reporters. “So it’s really no big deal.”

Actually, Troy, that’s a 25-fight career. They just see double everything.

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-- Sam Farmer