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Moss now faces drug charge

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings star receiver Randy Moss was charged Tuesday with possession of a small amount of marijuana, adding to charges last week that he pushed a traffic officer with his car.

The new petty misdemeanor count carries a fine of up to $200, but it could also lead to a suspension or fine from the NFL.

Police said they found a marijuana cigarette in Moss' car after he was arrested on Sept. 24. Moss was driving in downtown Minneapolis when the traffic officer stepped in front of his car to stop him from making an illegal turn. She was slightly injured when she fell off the car.

Moss spent the night in jail and was charged the next day with careless driving and with failure to obey a traffic officer, both misdemeanors.

The complaint said the marijuana amounted to just under a gram. Moss has said that the marijuana did not belong to him and that he had allowed other people to use his car recently.

ESPN reported Sunday that Moss was already in the league's substance abuse program for testing positive for marijuana last year, and underwent another test by the NFL after his arrest last week.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would review the case.

Moss could lose his driving privileges in Minnesota for a year because he refused to take a police test for drug or alcohol use when he was arrested, said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Moss, who has only a Florida driver's license, could lose driving privileges in that state, too, Smith said.

Broncos came apart

DENVER -- The Broncos gave up the longest play in history, had one of their best defensive players ejected and allowed 31 points -- and that was just the second quarter.

Denver's best start in four years ended with a resounding thud Monday night -- an embarrassing 34-23 loss to the Ravens.

"We had some guys who got frustrated and lost focus," Denver linebacker Al Wilson said. "We had some guys who didn't keep their heads in the football game. I'm not going to beat around the bush about what happened."

The Broncos' problems started when cornerback Deltha O'Neal was called for pass interference, then was ejected after bumping into the linesman. Denver followed with four more penalties.

The Broncos defense was out of synch all night. It entered leading the league in rushing yards allowed at 47 a game but gave up 78 on 25 carries to Jamal Lewis.

NFL DEFENDS HIRING: Threatened with a lawsuit over its lack of black head coaches, the league defended the steps it has taken in minority hiring, but acknowledged there is room for improvement.

"Progress has been made and we expect that progress to continue," Aiello said. "We take the issue very seriously and have initiated several programs in recent years under commissioner (Paul) Tagliabue to ensure that our hiring practices are fair, and that all coaches have opportunities to advance."

Aiello was responding to a report released Monday by a group headed by attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr., which noted that black head coaches had been more successful than their white counterparts, but that they weren't hired commensurate with that success.

PAYROLLS: The Jets, who spent lavishly in the past six weeks to re-sign three key players, have the highest payroll at $87,343,231. Pittsburgh began the season with the second-highest payroll, according to figures compiled by the players association.

RAIDERS PARTNER DIES: Ed McGah Jr., a limited partner in the Raiders' ownership group for five decades, died Monday on his 81st birthday. Along with his father E.J. McGah, a founder of the Raiders who died in 1983, McGah Jr. was an original partner in the franchise. McGah roomed with Ted Williams when he played professional baseball for the Boston Red Sox in 1946 and 1947.

BEARS: Linebacker Warrick Holdman was placed on injured reserve. ... Defensive tackle Ernest Grant was signed to a two-year contract. ... Wide receiver Edell Shepherd was released from the practice squad. ... Linebacker Kia Johnson was signed.

BENGALS: Left tackle Richmond Webb was put on injured reserve with a torn muscle in his chest. He will miss the rest of the season. ... Tackle Reggie Coleman was signed off the Redskins' practice squad. ... Top draft pick Levi Jones will get his first start Sunday in Indianapolis. ... Right tackle Willie Anderson is questionable with a strained left shoulder and pulled right hamstring. ... Guard Matt O'Dwyer is questionable with a strained right elbow.

CHARGERS: Former running back Freddie Bradley, 32, and his wife, Edith, 30, were arrested Sept. 26 at his home in Oxnard, Calif., after police served a search warrant and found packaged rock cocaine, weapons and money, Detective Mike Young said.

Bradley pleaded innocent Monday to three felony charges of possession for sale of cocaine and sale and transportation of a controlled substance. His wife pleaded innocent to one count of possession for sale of cocaine base.

CHIEFS: Ryan Sims, a training camp holdout called "fat and out of shape" by coach Dick Vermeil when he first reported, will get his first start Sunday against the Jets. Vermeil said he will start over Derrick Ransom at defensive tackle.

DOLPHINS: Linebacker Derrick Rodgers can avoid jail time under a plea agreement released on charges he kicked and punched his wife and hit a man with a chair at a restaurant. He would serve five years of probation if he accepts.

FALCONS: A man who attacked rookie running back T.J. Duckett and taunted him with racial slurs has been sentenced to three months of boot camp and two years' probation.

JETS: Cornerback Aaron Beasley has been charged with a misdemeanor of simple battery during a bar fight in Jacksonville on July 6.

LIONS: Linebacker Richard Jordan was signed. ... Linebacker Josh Thornhill was released. ... Receiver Pierre Brown was signed to the practice squad.

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