Redskins bench Donovan McNabb for rest of season

Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan has demoted Donovan McNabb and says Rex Grossman is his starting quarterback for the rest of the season, beginning with Sunday’s game at Dallas.

McNabb will be the No. 2 quarterback against the Cowboys, and then drop to No. 3 behind Grossman and John Beck for the final two games of the season.

And after that?

“I also told him,” Shanahan said, “that I cannot guarantee him that he will be back next year.”

That’s how far the 34-year-old, six-time Pro Bowl quarterback has fallen. The player acquired with such fanfare in an April trade is benched in a season in which he has been woefully inconsistent, throwing a career-high 15 interceptions and ranking 25th in the NFL with a 77.1 rating.

Asked if getting McNabb was a mistake, Shanahan said: “I think there’s a lot of mistakes that you make. You really don’t know if you made a mistake, but if you do make one, you make it and you go on. What I want to do is evaluate where we are at the end of the season, then I will tell you if we erred or not.”

Vikings concerned about long-term safety of Metrodome

A Minnesota Vikings executive said Friday that the team is concerned about the safety of the Metrodome after a winter storm caused the building’s roof to collapse, but he didn’t rule out the team’s playing there next season.

The Vikings have long pursued a new stadium paid for mostly by taxpayers, and next year is the final year of their lease on the dome. Vice President Lester Bagley didn’t directly address that issue in discussing the outlook for next season.

“We’re going to have to dig into that and get an honest assessment of that,” Bagley said. “Some people would say, ‘Well, a couple of shingles come off the roof, you don’t build a new barn.’ Well, the roof collapsed. We have concerns about the safety of the facility going forward.”

Minnesota is dealing with a state budget deficit of more than $6.2 billion that has to be handled first, but Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders have said they’re open to a good stadium plan. A state lawmaker plans to introduce a proposal by late January.

Bagley said the Vikings are focused on Monday night’s game with the Chicago Bears at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. The game will mark a return to outdoor football in Minnesota after the Vikings spent the last 29 seasons in the dome.

Brees is honored as top male athlete by Associated Press

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is the 2010 Male Athlete of the Year, chosen by members of the Associated Press.

Brees is only the fourth NFL quarterback in four decades to win the annual AP award, which dates to 1931. The Super Bowl most valuable player received 48 of 176 votes submitted by news organizations that make up the AP’s membership. The award was announced Friday.

NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, the 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year, finished second with 31 votes. Boxer Manny Pacquiao was third with 21 votes.

Rodgers might be back at quarterback for Packers on Sunday

Aaron Rodgers was noticeably alert and upbeat as he walked across the locker room after the Green Bay Packers’ practice Friday.

The Packers listed Rodgers as doubtful to play against the Patriots a week after he suffered his second concussion of the season. Coach Mike McCarthy isn’t ruling him out, however.

Although McCarthy said the team has been preparing since Monday to have Matt Flynn make his first NFL start, the coach stopped short of naming a starter for the game against the Patriots. McCarthy is hoping to make that decision by Saturday, after he waits to see how Rodgers checks out with further mandatory post-concussion evaluations.

Harvin says he’ll play

Vikings receiver Percy Harvin says he’ll “definitely” play in Monday night’s game against Chicago. The receiver and kickoff returner has missed the last two games because of another episode with migraine headaches, but Harvin was back at practice Thursday and said Friday that he’s feeling better.

Rex Ryan says he didn’t know about Alosi’s wall

Rex Ryan insists he’s telling the truth, and people can believe him or not.

The New York Jets coach reiterated Friday that he knew nothing about the wall of players that was formed on the sideline last Sunday against Miami, during which an assistant coach tripped a Dolphins player.

“The facts are the facts,” Ryan said. “I never knew, so it’s easy to stand up here and tell you that. I’m not a guy that lies about anything. I’m just speaking the truth. If that amazes people, it amazes people.”

Some media and fans have speculated Ryan and other coaches must have known five inactive players were ordered by strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi to stand together nearly shoulder to shoulder on the sideline in New York’s 10-6 loss to Miami. Tight end Jeff Cumberland, one of the inactive players, said Alosi has told them to do that all season.

Alosi was first suspended without pay for the season and fined $25,000 for tripping Miami’s Nolan Carroll, before being suspended indefinitely by the team after acknowledging that he ordered the players to form a human wall during a punt return in which he tripped Carroll.

Players union files grievance on behalf of Haynesworth

The NFL Players Assn. filed a grievance on behalf of Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who was suspended without pay on Dec. 7 for what the team called detrimental conduct.

The grievance, which contends that Haynesworth’s suspension was unjust, was filed Thursday, NFLPA director of communications Carl Francis said in an e-mail. Haynesworth, 29, stands to lose more than $847,000 in salary as he sits out the final four games of the season, the Washington Post reported.

The association will now seek to prove to an arbitrator that the Redskins treated Haynesworth unfairly.

Harrison does a fine thing

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison will use money given him by fans to help pay his NFL fines to throw a Christmas party for needy children and their families.

As Harrison accumulated $125,000 in fines for four infractions, fans began sending him money to help pay them. Many were sent anonymously, so Harrison could not return them.

Harrison used the money to start the James Harrison Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that will assist children in emergency situations. The foundation’s first event will be a brunch with Santa Claus at Heinz Field on Saturday, with other Steelers expected to attend.

The foundation is designed to aid children with illnesses or disabilities and families in crisis situations.

Giants’ O’Hara looks likely to play

New York Giants center Shaun O’Hara appears as though he’ll be back Sunday for the Giants (9-4) in their NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles (9-4).

O’Hara practiced on a limited basis Thursday and Friday and sounded confident that he would play for the first time since being sidelined with a sprained right foot six games ago.

ETC.: Umenyiora fined by NFL

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora was fined $12,500 by the NFL for hitting Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the head and neck in their game Monday night. … The Vikings’ Asher Allen was fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness when he hit the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw late. … Denver’s Kevin Vickerson was fined $7,500 for a horse-collar tackle, and teammate Syd’Quan Thompson was docked $5,000 for unnecessary roughness for hitting an opponent late at Arizona. ... St. Louis’ Oshiomogho Atogwe drew a $5,000 fine grabbing New Orleans’ Reggie Bush by the helmet on a tackle. …

Defensive lineman Trevor Pryce will not play in the New York Jets’ game at Pittsburgh on Sunday because of an injured hip. Pryce did not practice all week after suffering the injury in the Jets’ 10-6 loss to Miami last Sunday. Coach Ryan said Friday he thinks Pryce could return next week, when the Jets play at Chicago. Cornerback Darrelle Revis was limited in practice but is listed as probable with a sore right hamstring. … The Eagles listed Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel (knee) and Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson (toe) as questionable for Sunday’s NFC East showdown at the New York Giants, but both are expected to play. … A doctor will be at Matt Cassel’s side in St. Louis on Sunday to provide final advice on whether Kansas City’s quarterback should play 11 days after an emergency appendectomy. Coach Todd Haley said Cassel’s availability for the Rams game remained uncertain Friday. Haley said a decision between Cassel and backup Brodie Croyle would probably not be made until just before the game. Cassel sat out last week against the Chargers while the Chiefs, behind Croyle, had one of their worst offensive showings ever and lost 31-0. … Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap (hamstring) and safety Tom Zbikowski (back) have been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints because of injuries. … Steelers safety Troy Polamalu missed practice for a third consecutive day because of a strained right Achilles’ tendon and a sore calf and is likely to miss Sunday’s game against the Jets. … Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard’s hamstring injury might be worse than many believed. The Jaguars re-signed veteran Todd Bouman on Friday, the same day they listed Garrard as questionable for Sunday’s game at Indianapolis. Garrard tweaked his hamstring in practice Thursday and was limited in practice Friday. … The Jaguars will be without two defensive starters on Sunday. Coach Jack Del Rio ruled out linebacker Justin Durant and safety Courtney Greene on Friday.