Sports Desk

Football

Rams will start Green on Sunday against Bills

Marc Bulger is out as the St. Louis Rams starting quarterback after throwing only two touchdown passes in three games and will be replaced by 38-year-old Trent Green for Sunday's game against Buffalo.

The benching of the Rams' highest-paid player, announced by coach Scott Linehan in a terse, two-paragraph release on Tuesday, signals just how desperate times have become for the sagging franchise. Linehan is 11-24 in his third season, including 0-3 this year with none of the games competitive.

Steelers' Parker out for Ravens game

The Pittsburgh Steelers' running game struggled last season when Willie Parker was injured. They're convinced that won't happen now that they have Rashard Mendenhall.

The Steelers' main injury worry following their 15-6 loss Sunday in Philadelphia was the punishment quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took while being sacked eight times. He played with a slight shoulder separation, and a right hand injury sidelined him late in the fourth quarter.

Both the offense and defense will be missing key players. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Casey Hampton (groin sprain) also won't play and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) will miss a second successive game. Chris Hoke, who made 10 starts in 2004, replaces Hampton.

McNair expects Texans to play at Reliant

The Houston Texans plan to play their home opener at hurricane damaged Reliant Stadium on October 5.

"I can't say with absolute certainty," Texans owner Bob McNair told the Associated Press yesterday. "But let's put it this way, I'd be shocked if we did not play there."

The stadium's retractable roof lost five pieces in the storm and officials said large pieces of debris had fallen into the stadium during Hurricane Ike. The roof probably won't be fixed in time for the game against Indianapolis, but McNair said that game and the remaining home games could be played with the roof open.

Basketball

Former NBA referee reports to federal prison camp

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has reported to a federal prison camp to begin his 15-month sentence in a gambling scandal.

Donaghy's attorney, John Lauro, says his client arrived at the Saufley Field minimum-security prison about 1 p.m. yesterday.

A New York judge sentenced Donaghy in July after the 41-year-old referee said he took thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games--including games he worked. Donaghy said he was a gambling addict who needs treatment, not incarceration.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce in the tips-for-payoffs scheme.

College Football

Ohio State RB Wells probable for Minnesota

Tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is likely to return to no. 14 Ohio State against Minnesota on Saturday.

"It adds to our arsenal," coach Jim Tressel said yesterday, shortly after announcing that Wells was probable for Saturday's game.

Wells has been out of action since injuring his right foot early in the second half of the opening victory over Youngstown State. Dan Herron has been the tailback in victories over Ohio and Troy and a lopsided defeat at top-ranked Southern California.