Jets on the lookout for Titans' Johnson

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Bucs change quarterbacks

The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers benched starting quarterback Byron Leftwich and replaced him with second-year pro Josh Johnson, who takes over after one of the worst offensive showings in team history.

The Bucs fell to 0-3 while gaining just 86 yards in a 24-0 loss to the New York Giants. Leftwich completed seven of 16 passes for 22 yards and one interception.

Pretty in pink: Brett Favre will be in purple to face his old team, the Green Bay Packers, next week. He'll also be wearing pink.

Giants will wait on Manning

With 79 career starts, David Carr knows how much Eli Manning wants to be on the field calling the plays when the New York Giants meet the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Manning's teammates say he's a competitor who will play if he's able. Carr wants to be out there just as much, and his chances of playing this weekend seemingly improved when Manning missed his second straight practice Thursday with an injured right heel.

After practice, coach Tom Coughlin declined to predict whether Manning would be able to start his 83rd straight game, saying only that that inflammation in Manning's heel was feeling better.

Colts' Vinatieri out 4 to 6 weeks following knee surgery

The Colts want Adam Vinatieri at full strength later this season, one to two months from now. Until then, they're content using another veteran kicker, Matt Stover.

Indianapolis signed Stover on Wednesday, one day after Vinatieri had arthroscopic surgery to remove a piece of cartilage in his right knee. To clear a roster spot, the Colts made a surprise move by waiving starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson.

"Last week, Adam felt his knee was giving him a little bit of a problem, so he had an MRI," coach Jim Caldwell said. "They saw some loose cartilage in there, and we felt we wanted to get that done now with the bye week. In doing that, we had to look for someone to take his spot and we found Matt Stover."

Titans' Johnson wins award

That blur speeding away from opposing defenses and running off with The Associated Press 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award is Chris Johnson.

Considered the fastest man in pro football, Johnson was uncatchable in setting a league mark for yards from scrimmage (2,509) and becoming the sixth player with a 2,000-yard rushing season.

He is the first NFL player to finish with at least 2,000 yards rushing and 500 receiving (503).

Patriots' Brady, Moss team up

Tom Brady and Randy Moss connected on two highlight-reel plays as host New England defeated Miami 27-17 on Sunday.

Moss set up the Patriots' first touchdown with a one-handed, 36-yard grab at the Dolphins 1-yard line, then scored on a 71-yard play after catching the ball about 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.

Miami's two touchdowns came on possessions on which it used the wildcat most extensively - after gaining just 36 yards on 21 wildcat plays in its previous two games. But New England's quick-strike ability took back the momentum.