Sports

NFL

Texans bolt as Rita nears

Associated Press
Published September 22, 2005

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HOUSTON - The Houston Texans canceled today's practice and asked all players to leave town immediately as Hurricane Rita barreled toward the Texas coast with 165-mph winds.

Coach Dom Capers said the team, which has a bye this week, was looking at alternatives that include practicing next week in Cincinnati before the Texans' game Oct. 2 against the Bengals.

Between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, the hurricane strengthened from a 115-mph Category 2 to a 165-mph Category 5. The storm is expected to reach the Gulf Coast early Saturday.

Texans players were planning to secure their homes and then scatter, from California to Florida.

Andre Johnson has dealt with a hurricane before. In 1992, he watched Hurricane Andrew plow by from his grandmother's screened-in porch.

"It was crazy to see things flying around like that," he said. "I'm not doing that again. I'm getting out this time."

At the Texans' practice facility, workers took down the goal posts on the practice field and moved all other items indoors.

Doctor indicted on steroid charges

A doctor who was accused in a television report of writing illegal steroid prescriptions for three former Carolina Panthers players has been indicted in Columbia, S.C., on federal charges.

James M. Shortt was charged with 29 counts of distributing steroids and human growth hormones as well as a conspiracy charge. The indictment did not specify who received the drugs.

A CBS News report in March identified center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie and punter Todd Sauerbrun as having filled steroid prescriptions written by Shortt. Several other former Panthers have also been named as Shortt's patients in subsequent media reports.

BILLS: Safety Lawyer Milloy had surgery to repair an injured right thumb, leaving his status uncertain for Buffalo's game against Atlanta on Sunday.

BROWNS: Veteran quarterback Doug Johnson, signed in the offseason to give Cleveland protection behind starter Trent Dilfer, was released. The club claimed rookie quarterback Derek Anderson on waivers from Baltimore.

CHARGERS: Left guard Toniu Fonoti had a plate surgically inserted in his broken right hand and it's doubtful he'll play in Sunday night's home game against the New York Giants.

COLTS: Indianapolis shored up a depleted backfield by signing free agent running backs Kory Chapman and Anthony Davis. Backup running back Dominic Rhodes bruised his left shoulder against Jacksonville and is listed as doubtful for this week's game. Third-string back James Mungro sprained a knee ligament and could miss at least two weeks.

EAGLES: Donovan McNabb (groin) and Terrell Owens (abdominal/groin) missed practice, but it's likely both will play in Philadelphia's game against Oakland on Sunday.

FALCONS: Michael Vick was held out of practice with a sore left hamstring, but the Atlanta quarterback said he may play Sunday at Buffalo even if he can't practice the rest of the week.

JAGUARS: Quarterback Byron Leftwich missed practice with a sore groin and was listed as questionable on the injury report. But Leftwich insisted he will play Sunday against the New York Jets.

JETS: Running back Curtis Martin missed practice with a bruised right knee and is listed as questionable for this weekend's game against Jacksonville.

PACKERS: Green Bay placed receiver Javon Walker, who blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the team's opener two weeks ago, on injured reserve. He'll have surgery once the swelling subsides, then embark on a rehabilitation that could take up to a year.

PANTHERS: Safety Mike Minter missed practice with a strained calf that could end his streak of playing in 64 consecutive regular-season games. Minter, in his ninth season with Carolina, has not missed a game since he sat out the first two contests of the 2001 season with a knee injury.

VIKINGS: Minnesota will likely be without wide receiver Nate Burleson (sprained left knee) and linebacker E.J. Henderson (sprained right ankle) for Sunday's game against New Orleans. Both are listed as doubtful.

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 01:04:14]

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