Shula backs off his asterisk comment

Don Shula used softer language Thursday but stuck by his belief the New England Patriots’ success this season is diminished by the spying scandal that prompted stiff punishment from the NFL in September.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Shula laughed when asked whether the Patriots deserve an asterisk if they finish 19-0.

“That’s not for me to say,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach said. “They were penalized, after the first game, wasn’t it? They had a No. 1 draft choice taken away, and [Coach Bill] Belichick was fined, and the team was fined. . . . Since then they’ve been playing within the rules, and their accomplishments should be recognized. But if there was something that happened to diminish what they’ve accomplished, then that has been noted.”

Reggie Bush has fired Mike Ornstein, the Santa Monica marketing agent who helped him attract millions of dollars in endorsements from corporations including Adidas, Visa, Subway and PepsiCo, according to a report in SportsBusiness Daily.

Ornstein’s agency has also been the target of allegations that it provided improper benefits to Bush’s family while the former USC tailback was in college.

When The Times asked Ornstein about rumors of a split earlier this week, he said only: “Yeah, no comment.”

But on Thursday he provided SportsBusiness Daily with a statement that read, in part: “Reggie Bush is a phenomenal athlete and a wonderful person. . . . It’s time for both of us to move on and I wish him all the best.”

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Running back Larry Johnson’s injured right foot “has made significant improvement,” the Kansas City Chiefs said, but he is not expected to play Sunday against Denver. . . . Vinny Testaverde is the leading candidate to start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers after he practiced for a second straight day.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, bothered by the lingering effects of a concussion and subsequent car accident, returned to full contact at practice and expects to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. . . . Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth sat out a second straight practice because of a sore hamstring.

New Orleans Saints sacks leader Brian Young had arthroscopic surgery for left knee swelling and will miss Sunday’s home game against the St. Louis Rams. . . . The Chicago Bears have lost nine-time Pro Bowl left guard Ruben Brown for the season because of a right shoulder injury that will require surgery.

Minnesota rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice didn’t practice because of a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Troy Williamson is on track to play against the Green Bay Packers after missing the last game while he was in South Carolina after the death of his grandmother. The Vikings withheld Williamson’s last paycheck for what Coach Brad Childress called business principles.

Cleveland Browns starting guards Eric Steinbach and Seth McKinney missed practice and their status is uncertain for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.