Partnerforen » Art Rooney II said Wednesday he expects

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - C.J. Spiller is keeping his spirits high even though the Bills running backs short- and long-term future in Buffalo is up in the air.Speaking on Monday for the first time since breaking his collarbone two weeks earlier, Spiller said it was too early to determine whether he can be cleared to play before the end of the season.I dont want to put a percentage on it, Spiller said. Im just taking it one day at a time. If the doctors clear me and everythings well, obviously, I want to play.As for what happens once his contract expires after this season, the Bills 2010 first-round draft pick said hes not considered the possibility of having played his final game in Buffalo.Im not really worried about all that stuff, Spiller said. Thats going to take care of itself. My biggest thing is just getting back healthy.Spiller was hurt in a 17-16 win over Minnesota on Oct. 19, when he was tripped up from behind and landed heavily on his left shoulder following a 53-yard run.Spiller had surgery the following day and was placed on the reserve injured/designated to return list. That means hes eligible to begin practicing in four more weeks, and available to resume playing in Week 16, when Buffalo travels to play Oakland on Dec. 21.He called it one of those freak accidents, and is disappointed he cant contribute to the Bills bid to make a second-half playoff push.At 5-3, the Bills returned to practice following a five-day bye weekend off, and prepare to host Kansas City (5-3) on Sunday.Spillers rehab is currently limited to lower-body work to keep his legs fresh and cardio-therapy. He declined to provide a timetable as to when he can begin lifting weights.I havent really gotten down about the whole situation, he said. Ive just kept them blinders on.The 53-yard run was Spillers longest of the season and came in a game the Bills lost co-starting running back Fred Jackson to a groin injury. Jackson is expected to miss two more weeks.The injuries have forced the Bills to go with backups Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown, who combined for 59 yards on 29 carries in a 43-23 win over the New York Jets on Oct. 26.The Bills running attack was struggling even when Spiller and Jackson were healthy.Buffalo is averaging just under 100 yards rushing per game. Thats a considerable drop off from last year when the Bills finished second in the NFL by averaging 144 yards rushing.One issue is an unsettled offensive line that featured two rookie starters before sixth-year player Kraig Urbik replaced rookie Cyril Richardson at left guard against the Jets. Another issue has been adapting to the change at quarterback since veteran journeyman Kyle Orton took over for EJ Manuel in Week 5.Orton is less mobile and more of a pocket passer, unlike Manuel who posed a threat to take off and run.By comparison, Orton has improved the Bills passing attack. In going 3-1 since taking over, Orton has gone a combined 95 of 141 for 1,128 yards passing with nine years passing and three interceptions. Hes also engineered two game-winning drives in the final minute.Last week, offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett said he remains committed to running the ball even if its getting stopped. He said the ground attack keeps defences honest, opens up the Bills play-action passing game and becomes integral with the cold weather settling in Buffalo.NOTES: DT Marcell Dareus was a late arrival for practice because of travel delays. ... Richardson and WR Mike Williams were excused from practice because of personal matters. Coach Doug Marrone said Williams should be back for practice Wednesday while Richardson could miss a few more days. ... WR Marquise Goodwin, who missed two games with a hamstring injury, and LB Ty Powell, who missed a game with an ankle injury, returned to practice.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap LeBron James Lakers Jersey . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. Jamaal Wilkes Jersey . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Robert-Horry-Jersey/. - This is just the warm-up act for 18-year-old William Nylander. Derek Fisher Jersey . Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. Brooks has made one relief appearance for the Royals this season, allowing six runs in two innings in a May 3 loss to Detroit. Nick Van Exel Lakers Jersey . The team announced the defensive coordinator will not be offered a contract extension.The NFL is very precise about its game and equipment — including the number of footballs prepared for games, how much each must weigh, and who monitors them until kickoff.One rule is very clear: Dont tamper with a football once it has been inspected for use in a game.The NFL is investigating a report that the New England Patriots used underinflated footballs in the AFC championship game while beating the Indianapolis Colts 45-7. ESPN cited anonymous sources Tuesday night in reporting the league found that 11 of 12 balls were underinflated by 2 pounds per square inch of air.Here are some things to know about the issue:CHAIN OF CUSTODY: Footballs are delivered to the officials dressing room 2 hours, 15 minutes before kickoff. The referee inspects each one, with a pump provided by the home team to adjust air pressure as needed. Footballs are required to have at least 12.5 psi and no more than 13.5 psi. Releasing air can make the football easier to grip, especially when wet. Some quarterbacks prefer a softer ball to control the spin more, while others like more air. A drop in temperature — from the officials dressing room to an outdoor field — also can cause a football to lose pressure.THE REF RULES: The referee is the sole judge of whether a ball is fit for play and marks each one approved for the game. The rule says the footballs shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game. The referee for the game was Walt Anderson. A key question in the investigation is whether the balls improperly passed inspection or were either switched or tampered with after Andersons inspection. As the home team, the Patriots were responsible for having someone handle the footballs on each sideline.BALL CONTROL: Footballs are sent directly to teams. Equipment managers can brush them and evenn use a damp towel to rub off the oil used to preserve the leather to the preferences of each quarterback.dddddddddddd The quarterbacks can even practice with the footballs during a game week as long as the footballs remain in good enough condition to pass the referees inspection as a new ball. Each team brings at least 12 balls each, so Tom Brady threw footballs provided by the Patriots while Andrew Luck handled footballs brought by the Colts.POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT: If the NFL finds anyone with the Patriots underinflated the footballs, Commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude for punishment. This includes a fine that can be as low as $25,000 for anyone deemed responsible for tampering with a football, even if its the head coach. Goodell could strip the team of draft picks, suspend people for unfair acts, and reverse a games result or reschedule a game.PREVIOUS OFFENSE: Goodell fined New England coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the Patriots $250,000 along with stripping the team of a first-round draft pick in 2007 for having an assistant spy on the New York Jets defensive signals by using a sideline camera.FURTHER REVIEW: Steelers president Art Rooney II said Wednesday he expects the competition committee to study whether the rule should change, but he thinks everyone should use the same balls. It would seem to be simpler to have one set of balls, which was the case for many years, Rooney said. The officials brought the balls out and everybody used the same ball, and it seems like that would be an easy answer to this.ODDS FOR PUNISHMENT: One bookmaker — Bovada.lv — posted odds of 3-2 that Belichick could be suspended at least one game, and 15-2 that he could be suspended for the Super Bowl.___AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Stitched Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China ' ' '