NFL News and Notes

Two NFL regular-season games will be played each year outside the United States in Mexico, Canada and Europe, starting in 2007.

The plan, first announced last month, was approved Tuesday at the recommendation of new commissioner Roger Goodell.

No specific sites were given for the games. But when the proposal originally was disclosed, the league suggested that Britain and Germany likely would host the European games.

The plan would be set up so that teams would rotate over a 16-year period, with each team playing outside the country twice over that span, once as a visitor, the other as a home team. That means a team would lose one home team during that span.

****
Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham will miss three to four weeks following surgery Tuesday to repair a torn lower abdominal muscle.

The Falcons did not release details on the procedure, but coach Jim Mora said the torn muscle "is related to but not solely linked to" the groin injury that has limited the oft-injured three-time Pro Bowler to only two games this season.

The announcement came as a surprise because Mora said on Monday that Abraham may be able to play against Cincinnati Sunday. The torn muscle was discovered when Abraham was having his groin examined Monday.

****
Maurice Carthon resigned as Cleveland's offensive coordinator Tuesday, two days after the Browns' NFL-worst offense scored seven points in a loss to Denver.

Carthon, whose head-scratching play calls and personnel moves angered fans and puzzled players, was in his second year running the offense.

Despite having two weeks to devise a game plan, the Browns (1-5) picked up only 165 total yards in losing 17-7 to the Broncos and are ranked at or near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.

****
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will miss at least three weeks with a strained ligament in his right knee.

An MRI taken Monday showed the Pro Bowl quarterback strained his right medial collateral ligament. Coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck has a Grade 2 sprain on a three-grade scale and will miss "around" three games. He will return no sooner than the Nov. 19 game at San Francisco.

****
New York Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington is out for the season after tearing his left Achilles' tendon in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

The Giants also lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a strained hip in their 36-22 victory. He went down late in the second quarter, returned for the start of the third but lasted only one play. He was helped back to the locker room, and the team said he's questionable for next week.

Arrington was hurt chasing down Dallas' Julius Jones on a running play. Arrington ended up on the turf in obvious pain, with doctors calling for a motorized cart to get him to the locker room.

NFL pro football news


Check out the most complete guide to coaching youth football ever created!

Do you love football? Then tune it to the Football Fanatics Show!