Chiefs Cry Foul on Green Hit

The Kansas City Chiefs were breathing a sigh of relief when word came that quarterback Trent Green was OK, but that didn’t make them any less angry about the hit that knocked him unconscious and sent him to the hospital Sunday.

Green lay motionless during an 11-minute stoppage of the Chiefs’ 23-10 loss to Cincinnati, the result of a brutal hit by Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers, but had regained consciousness and had feeling in his arms and legs Sunday night.

Green was sliding after a scramble from the pocket and Geathers appeared to hit Green’s head or chest with his shoulder, slamming Green’s head to the turf.

NFL rules prohibit hitting a quarterback who is sliding, yet no penalty was called on the play. Chiefs Coach Herman Edwards said he expected the NFL to review the play.

“The officials have to look at it on tape,” Edwards said. “We’ve been advised that we don’t comment on officials’ calls. I’m not going to get into it. Obviously, it will get looked at by the guys up in New York. I’ll leave it at that.”

Geathers said he didn’t think the hit was that bad.

“I know I didn’t hit him head to head,” he said, later adding, “we were just playing ball, flying around, and I know he understands that. He’s played a long time.”

Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali wasn’t buying that. He said the hit was a cheap shot and asked officials why they didn’t call a penalty. Hali said referee Larry Nemmers told him no penalty was called because Geathers was airborne and unable to stop himself.

“This league is supposed to protect the quarterback,” said Hali, shaking his head. “The comment from the ref was he was in the air. You can’t have helmet-to-helmet [contact] because you can’t control yourself in the air. But at least a call should have been made.”

Too Late to Retire?

If one of the reasons Brett Favre came back this season was to show that a dismal 2005 was a fluke, he might want to rethink his strategy.

After a career-high 29 interceptions a year ago, Favre started this season with two more in a 26-0 loss to Chicago. He finished 15 of 29 for 170 yards in what was the first shutout in his 16-year career.

“I was optimistic going into this game, I really was,” Favre said. “Maybe I was the only one, but I really felt like we could surprise these guys. Obviously, that was not the case.”

Favre was 21-7 against the Bears coming into the game and he had thrown 51 of his 396 career touchdown passes against Chicago.

Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said he “thought about” but “didn’t consider” replacing Favre with backup Aaron Rodgers.

Better Late than Never

Two years after he was drafted, Kellen Winslow finally made an impact in the NFL.

Winslow, the Browns tight end, led Cleveland with eight receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown in what was an otherwise forgettable 19-14 loss to New Orleans.

The No. 6 draft pick in 2004 and son of a Hall of Fame tight end with the same name, Winslow had his rookie season cut short when he broke his right leg in his second game.

Last year he sat out all season after tearing knee ligaments while doing motorcycle tricks in a parking lot in May.

“It felt great,” Winslow said of Sunday’s breakthrough game. “Just all the hard work I’ve been through these past two years, all the hardships that I had to go through.”

Something to Remember

Across the NFL on Sunday, teams observed moments of silence, rolled out U.S. flags and arranged for jet fighters to fly over stadiums to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officiated at the opening coin toss of the Colts-Giants game at Giants Stadium on Sunday night, and a moment a silence was held.

In St. Louis, the Rams showed a video montage called “Everyday Heroes” at halftime to honor police and firefighters. Dozens of local law enforcement personnel and paramedics unfurled a giant flag.

“It was a sad day, but at the same time it was a day that brought this whole nation together,” Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington said. “Sometimes it takes disasters for that to happen. I was upset, but at the same time, I felt, ‘We’re America and there will be some type of something that will make this right.’ ”

Evened Out

The Patriots may be 59-22 with three Super Bowl titles since 2001, but clearly there were some lean years in the past.

Sunday’s 19-17 victory over the Bills gave New England a .500 record at 356-356-9 over its 47-year history.

Quote of the Day

Seattle defensive end Bryce Fisher was asked whether his team’s 9-6 victory over Detroit was an ugly win. “I’ve never seen one,” Fisher said. “It’s like an ugly baby -- you never see one.”

Record Setter

Jeff Wilkins kicked a franchise-record six field goals for the Rams. His seven attempts tied Bob Waterfield’s franchise record set Dec. 9, 1951, against the Lions. Waterfield set the previous franchise record of five field goals in that game.

*

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

*

Begin text of infobox

Favre TD passes

Brett Favre had no touchdown passes Sunday against the Bears, so he didn’t move closer to these Dan Marino records. (* active):

NFL career leaders in touchdown passes:

*--* Quarterback Career TD Passes Dan Marino 420 Brett Favre* 396 Fran Tarkenton 342 John Elway 300 Warren Moon 291

*--*

Touchdown passes vs. one opponent:

*--* Quarterback TDs Against Dan Marino 72 N.Y. Jets Marino 54 Indianapolis Brett Favre* 51 Chicago Marino 50 Buffalo Favre* 47 Minnesota

*--*

Source: NFLmedia.com