Report: Griese to replace Grossman as Bears’ QB (Chicago Tribune)

The Rex Grossman era is over in Chicago — for now.

The Chicago Tribune’s Vaughn McClure is reporting that Brian Griese, not Rex Grossman, will be the signal caller at quarterback this coming Sunday against the Lions.

Bears coach Lovie Smith had been coy about the quarterback situation Monday, saying “Will Rex Grossman start Sunday? Well, our evaluation process is going on right now. And if you come out to practice Wednesday, you’ll have a better idea of who will be starting at all positions.”

Apparently, it will be Griese.

No more “Sex Cannon” makes us sad.

Tim Russert to host Red Sox Nation presidential debate (BizofBaseball)

We’ve seen some weird things in sports: a manager hitting the pitcher eighth in the batting order, a manager walking Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and an NFL coach letting another team score so they could get the ball back quicker.

Now comes word that sports network NESN will be hosting a special titled Red Sox Nation:  The Presidential Debate on its airwaves September 28th that will be “moderated” by NBC’s Tim Russert, host of Meet the Press.

Yep, a “debate” to see who gets the privilege of being the cermeonial leader of Red Sox Fans.

After the jump, a list of candidates!

More after the jump »

McAllister says MRI shows torn knee ligaments (AP/ESPN)

Late Monday, we alerted you of an ESPN report by Ed Werder that New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister had a torn ligament in his right knee, pending an MRI.

The MRI has confirmed his sources worst fears: the running back has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the remainder of the 2007 NFL season.

“I didn’t want to believe, but just taking that walk to the locker room you could feel it just kind of giving way a little but, and that was just kind of reminiscent of how the other one felt,” McAllister said, referring to a 2005 injury.

Adjust thy fantasy rosters accordingly.

Top myths about postseason in wild-card era (SI.com)

Tom Verducci of SI.com writes up an interesting look at the myths associated with baseball’s postseason in the wild-card era.

But buried within the piece is an interesting passage related to Sen. George Mitchell’s investigation on steroids.  According to Verducci, the panel has quite the laundry list of names on it.
More after the jump »

News and notes while Kiefer sleeps one off…

Vick officially indicted on state charges (AP/SI.com) Vick, three co-conspirators indicted by Surry County (Va.) prosecutor on state charges related to the dogfighting ring he operated on his Virginia property.

Bud Shootout up in air with Coors’ NASCAR deal (ESPN.com) David Newton writes that Budweiser’s sponsorship of the Bud Shootout may be in jeopardy due to Coors being named the entities new official beer.

MSG intern had backseat sex with Marbury (NY Daily News) Good: Intern has sex with Knicks star, gets hired shortly thereafter; Better? She gets promotion six weeks before sexual harassment case against New York Knicks vice-president/GM Isiah Thomas began; Best: She was in control the whole time.

Forde: Dashing through September (ESPN.com) ESPN.com’s Pat Forde runs down the first month of the college football season.

NFL power rankings (The Big Lead) How’d your team fare? The Big Lead ranks ‘em all.

Pirates announce hiring of Huntington as new GM (AP/ESPN)

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced the hiring of Neal Huntington as the club’s new general manager on Tuesday, replacing the immortal Dave Littlefield. Huntington comes from the Cleveland Indians where he was the special assistant and focused on a scouting role the last two years.

The Pirates are finishing up a 15th consecutive losing season, one short of the major league record, and their fifth with 90 or more losses since 2000.

We’ll never forgive the former GM Littlefield for dealing Kenny Lofton and Aramis Ramirez to the Cubs for Jose Hernandez, Matt Bruback and Bobby Hill in the summer of 2003.

Bank sues Mike Vick for $2.5 million (The FanHouse)

Just over a year ago, Atlanta Falcons quarterback was seemingly on top o’the world: he was making money hand-over-fist with endorsement deals and playing football in Atlanta.

365 days later…

• He loses all his endorsement deals (Nike, Upper Deck, et. al.)
• The NFL stops selling his jersey
• He’s indicted on several charges stemming to his involvement in illegal dogfighting by the Feds
• He’s suspended by the NFL for an undetermined amount of time pending said legal proceedings
• Surry County (Va.) prosecutors decide that they’ll pursue charges related to the case just yesterday

And now this: The Royal Bank of Canada has reportedly sued the ex-NFL star for violating the terms of a $2.5 million loan he received from the institution.  You see, it seems that the player needs to be drawing a pay check and he’s currently not doing so.  The complaint filed by the bank says that Vick owes $2.3 million, plus $499 of interest a day, and the bank wants Vick to pay its legal fees.

What could be in store for Vick now? Bankruptcy.

This and other financial issues facing Vick raise the question of whether he will be forced into bankruptcy. Although he’s already made tens of millions of dollars, the Falcons are seeking to force Vick to repay more than $20 million that they had previously given him in bonus money, money he almost certainly doesn’t have anymore. Remember: Mike Tyson declared bankruptcy after an athletic career in which he earned much more money than Vick has made.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Tip o’the cap to The FanHouse for the link.

Sex in Camp Randall stall nets disorderly conduct charges (Madison.com)

Ah, college game day life — we wouldn’t know because our “football team” played soccer:

A young couple at a University of Wisconsin football game were busted in the women’s restroom at Camp Randall Stadium on charges of disorderly conduct.

They were initially cited by University Police for lewd and lascivious conduct, but those charges were later changed to disorderly conduct when the case went to the District Attorney’s office.

The two were pulling up their pants when the officer arrived. “I asked them quite loudly to get out of the stall,” Pehler says in his report of the incident. the woman still had her pants down and was struggling to pull them up, the officer said. “It should be noted that she was unsuccessful in the attempt because her pants were inside out,” the officer said.

Because the UW has a policy in place to revoke season tickets of people who cause disturbances, the officer asked couple to produce their tickets and the man was able to find his — the seats were in section KK — but the woman couldn’t find hers, what with her pants being inside out.

The pair were taken to the police office in the stadium and told they would be arrested for lewd and lascivious conduct when the man said they were “only peeing together.”

Note to all five of our readers: if you’re caught in the act at a sporting event, make sure your clothes are on right.

The morning after Saints fans need to be called off the ledge…

Titans 31, Saints 14

A night that Drew Brees would rather forget as the Purdue alum tossed four interceptions into the hands of Titans’ defenders and fumbled once as the Saints stumbled to yet another defeat in the young season, 31-14.  Reggie Bush garnered a meager 15 yards on seven carries, but managed two rushing touchdowns in the losing effort.  As if things couldn’t get worse for the Saints, running mate Deuce McAllister was lost to a knee injury in the first half and did not return. Preliminary diagnosis? Torn ACL and finished for the season, pending an MRI Tuesday.

On the flip side, Tennessee’s Vince Young made his MNF debut one that was solid but not spectacular: 14-for-22 for 164 yards and two touchdowns to one interception in the win. On defense, linebacker Keith Bulluck picked off three of Brees’ four interceptions — Vince Fuller had the other — and became the first linebacker in MNF history with three picks in one game.

Box score provided by NFL. com.  Additional information provided by outside sources.

The morning after the Milwaukee Brewers upward in the NL Central race…

The Brewers hang in while the Cubs enjoy an evening off; the BlueJays continue to play the part of obstacle; the Metropolitans drop another game and hold onto a perilous lead in the NL East and the Angels suffer a bit of a hangover after winning the AL West.

BlueJays 4, Yanks 1 — Rookie starter Jess Litsch stepped in for scheduled pitcher A.J. Burnett, who had to tend to “personal business,” and pitched five-hit ball for 7 2/3 innings without a walk in the BlueJays’ 4-1 win over the Yankees.

Angels 7, Rangers 8 — Marlon Byrd’s two-run base knock in the fifth inning catapulted the Rangers into the lead to stay and starter Armando Gallaraga, in his first career start, struck out four and walked four pitching in the spot of Vicente Padilla while Padilla serves an MLB-mandated suspension.

More after the jump »

News and notes while Michael Vick faces more legal woes from the Commonwealth of Virginia…

Auriemma asks Summitt to be honest (Courant.com) Lady Huskies hoops coach Geno Auriemma ain’t too happy with longtime rival Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt after she failed to agree to continuing the two schools’ hoops series.

Niners lose Davis for up to two weeks (AP/SI.com) Tight-end Vernon Davis sprains knee on same leg he broke last season.

Brawl mars Rangers, Isles pre-season tilt (AP/Y! Sports) That’s right folks — we’re less than a week from NHL hockey!

NFL’s got the right stuff for advertisers (USA Today) Teresa Howard of USA Today writes that the National Football League appears to have the right formula for its advertisers despite an offseason mired by legal turbulence.

Scottie Pippen to play for…Finland! (SPORTSbyBROOKS) No word if Phil and Michael will be joining him for this two-game excursion.

Two New Orleans Saints sources tell ESPN’s Ed Werder that Deuce McAllister suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the first half of Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans on a screen pass from quarterback Drew Brees in the game’s first half.

An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday to confirm the club’s initial diagnosis.

More information as it becomes available later Tuesday on The Buried Lead…