Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon, Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper, running back Robert Smith and wide receiver Cris Carter are among the leading contenders, according to an informal poll of voters.

The MVP award is decided by an Associated Press poll of writers and television analysts. Voting starts at the end of the regular season and the winner is named in January.

The number of Vikings contending could prevent any from winning because voters might be split over who is most responsible for Minnesota's success.

"This is the toughest year for this vote since the Brett Favre-Barry Sanders tie in 1997," Sports Illustrated's Peter King said. "I've wavered almost weekly since the second half began."

CARRUTH TRIAL: Former Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth always was smiling but did not mingle with people he did not know well, a teammate testified at Carruth's murder trial in Charlotte, N.C.

"When I think about Rae, if I could just summon up one word, (he's a) fun-loving guy, he loved to tell jokes and crack on somebody, a guy who enjoys life," Panthers fullback William Floyd testified.

But though Carruth was not a loner, "he wasn't the most outgoing guy," said Floyd, who is sidelined with broken ribs.

Floyd's testimony came as the defense presented its second day of testimony. Carruth is charged with first-degree murder, accused of arranging the shooting of his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

ROMANOWSKI CASE: Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski pleaded innocent at his arraignment in Castle Rock, Colo., in a prescription-drug fraud case. A judge set his trial for May 1.

MERCHANDISING DEAL: The NFL is negotiating with several manufacturers, including Reebok, adidas and Champion, to enhance merchandising of league apparel. The NFL takes in about $150-million from nearly $3-billion in licensed merchandise sales, but the market has been slumping.

CHARGERS: Punt returner Nate Jacquet was released.

COWBOYS: Troy Aikman will not play Sunday. Beyond that, no one is saying. Coach Dave Campo confirmed that Aikman will be sidelined for the game against the Giants. Campo refused to speculate about the quarterback's future. Aikman suffered the second concussion of the season and 10th of his career Sunday when tackled in the first quarter by Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington.

GIANTS: Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius will miss 3-4 weeks after spraining his left knee Sunday. ... New York signed former Dolphins wide receiver Quinton Spotwood to the practice squad and waived wide receiver Anthony Tucker to make room.

LIONS: Detroit signed free-agent safety Ryan Stewart and released tight end Alfred Pupunu.

PACKERS: Green Bay signed defensive tackle Austin Robbins and waived defensive lineman David Richie.

REDSKINS: Offensive lineman Keith Sims was placed on injured reserve after surgery on his ruptured left Achilles' tendon.

STEELERS: Dermontti Dawson has played his last game at Three Rivers Stadium. What he doesn't know is if he has played his final game for Pittsburgh. Dawson, a six-time All-Pro center and the team's most-honored player since its Super Bowl years in the 1970s, will miss his sixth game in a row Saturday with a hamstring injury. He probably won't play again this season, which would make this the second straight year he has missed at least half the season because of his hamstring. He missed nine games and most of a 10th in 1999.

XFL: The startup football league of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. and General Electric Co.'s NBC is expected to generate $80-million in revenue in its first season, WWF said. ... Each game the Orlando Rage plays at the Florida Citrus Bowl next year could turn a $50,000 profit for the city. If that comes to pass, the two-year lease the Rage signed with Orlando could be one of the most lucrative per game negotiated by the city for one its sporting venues. "This is a very good deal for the city," said Bill Becker, who runs the 70,000-seat Citrus Bowl and the TD Waterhouse Centre.

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