MIAMI - Hurricane Jeanne forced the Dolphins and Steelers to move their game to prime time tonight.
The teams and the league agreed to move the starting time from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. because the hurricane was expected to bring significant wind and rain to South Florida early today. But the Dolphins said the game time could change again.
"We all intend to reassess the situation following the aftermath of the storm in the morning and make a final decision at that point," team president Eddie Jones said Saturday. "Our first consideration will be public safety issues resulting from the storm, and that concern will be the priority in determining whether the game can be played ."
The Steelers flew to South Florida on Friday, a day early, because of the hurricane.
Jeanne is the fourth hurricane to affect major sporting events in Florida in the last six weeks, joining Charley, Frances and Ivan.
The Dolphins have been affected by the last three. Their season opener against Tennessee was moved up one day and played on a Saturday because of Ivan. One week earlier, the NFL forced the Dolphins to travel to New Orleans for an exhibition game after players balked at leaving their families while in the path of Hurricane Frances.
"We're getting used to this," kicker Olindo Mare said.
GIANTS: Safety Shaun Williams will have surgery on his left knee Monday to repair damaged cartilage.
Williams hurt the knee making an interception at practice on Friday and underwent an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. It was not immediately known how long Williams will be out of the lineup.
Rookie Gibril Wilson, who had an interception against Washington last week, will start in Williams' place today against the Browns.
Williams, a seven-year veteran out of UCLA, missed the final six games of last season with an injured tendon in his right knee.
REDSKINS: Quarterback Mark Brunell will start Monday night against the Cowboys, having recovered sufficiently from a strained hamstring.
Brunell was injured in the third quarter of the Redskins' 20-14 loss to the Giants last week and had been doubtful. The hamstring improved faster than expected, however, and Brunell was back in pads on Friday.
He took most of the snaps in practice Saturday, and coach Joe Gibbs announced his decision after the practice. Brunell said the hamstring had improved every day.
The decision means that Patrick Ramsey will miss the chance for his first start of this season.
