Griese to start for Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden said Wednesday that Brian Griese will start at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and it’s not just because of the injury Jeff Garcia suffered during the fourth quarter of a 24-20 loss to New Orleans.

Garcia was not sharp against the Saints after missing most of training camp and the preseason with a strained right calf. His preparation for the Saints also was affected by a jammed pinkie finger on his throwing hand.

“Jeff right now is not himself,” Gruden said. “We’re going to give him a week off and try to get him ready to go.”

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Alex Smith’s season is over with another shoulder injury and the quarterback’s career with the San Francisco 49ers is probably finished as well. The 49ers put Smith on injured reserve with a broken bone in his right shoulder. Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, probably will require more surgery and is unlikely to be re-signed by the team because of the salary cap.

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The mother of Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young said he indicated he doesn’t want to play football and is “hurting inside and out.”

Felicia Young said in the Tennessean that her son is tired of all the negativity he has faced after being booed during a 17-10 win Sunday over Jacksonville.

Young watched part of practice Wednesday with a wrap around his sprained left knee and avoided reporters wanting to talk about his mother’s comments

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Marques Colston, the Saints’ top receiver during the last two seasons, had surgery on his left thumb and will be out four to six weeks. . . . Indiana- polis Colts starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson was arrested early Wednesday on a drug possession charge and the team said it would waive him. . . . Cleveland Browns starting safety Sean Jones will have arthroscopic knee surgery and probably be sidelined for at least a month.