The Washington Redskins won the fan Pro Bowl voting in nine of 19 positions for the NFC, the result of an aggressive marketing campaign. Tallies released by the NFL show the Redskins on top where serious Pro Bowl consideration is deserved (middle linebacker London Fletcher) and where it's not (kicker Shaun Suisham, who leads the NFL in missed field-goal tries). Other Redskins who finished first at their position were running back Clinton Portis, fullback Mike Sellers, offensive tackle Chris Samuels, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, strong safety Chris Horton, free safety LaRon Landry and special teams player Khary Campbell. Fan balloting counts for one-third of the total Pro Bowl voting. Coaches and players, who have yet to be polled, each count for one-third.
Bears 27, Saints 24, OT: : Robbie Gould kicked the tying field goal at the end of regulation and booted a 35-yarder in overtime to lift host Chicago (8-6) to victory in a game both NFC teams needed to boost their playoff hopes. Drew Brees hit Marques Colston for an 11-yard touchdown pass with just more than three minutes left in regulation to give New Orleans (7-7) its first lead at 24-21.
Et cetera: : A federal judge in Minneapolis has extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL's suspension of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy, allowing Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the Saints to play at least for the next two weeks. ... Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel returned to practice after missing Wednesday's workouts because of his father's death. He is likely to start Sunday against the Raiders. ... Jaguars running back Fred Taylor will miss the rest of the season because of a thumb injury. ... Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel was placed on injured reserve because of a nagging left foot injury.
Russell, Dorin-Ballard PBA qualifying leaders
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Ronnie Russell and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard each bowled well in the second block of qualifying to finish atop the field in the PBA Tour's Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship at Country Club Lanes. Russell, of Indianapolis, was 11th after the first seven-game block with 1,578 pins, and he compiled 1,681 pins in the second block for a total score of 3,259, edging Wes Malott of Argyle, Texas, by 27 pins. Dorin-Ballard, of North Richland Hills, Texas, expanded a 31-pin lead after the first block to 98 ahead of Clara Guerrero after the second. Dorin-Ballard finished with 3,045 pins.
