Mark Schlereth

MIAMI -- You can second-guess his judgment and ponder his long-term health, but you can't question Mark Schlereth's heart.After 22 surgeries on six different body parts, he will line up at left guard for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII without regret."

Chicago (3-3) at Tampa Bay (2-3) Time: 1 p.m.Line: Buccaneers by 8.Vs. spread: Bears 5-1; Buccaneers 2-1.Last week: Bears lost to Eagles, 20-16. Buccaneers had a bye.Series: Bears lead 30-12.Last meeting: Buccaneers won, 31-17, on Oct. 29, 1998, at Chicago.Outlook: The Buccaneers have won the past three games against the Bears, averaging 172.3 rushing yards during that streak. Trent Dilfer bashers beware: the Bears are one team he has owned. In his past five starts against the Bears, he is 4-1 with a passer rating of 107.8.

Jacksonville (10-7) at Denver (13-3)Time: 4 p.m. todayTV: Chs. 11, 4Line: Broncos by 14Vs. spread: Jaguars 8-9; Broncos 9-6.Last week: Jaguars beat Bills on the road, 30-27, in wild-card game. Broncos were idle.Last meeting: Broncos beat Jaguars in Denver, 31-23, in December 1995.Playoff record: Jaguars 1-0; Broncos 9-10.Jaguars rankings: Offense: rush No. 17; pass No. 1; overall No. 2. Defense: rush No. 19; pass No. 16; overall No. 16.Broncos rankings: Offense: rush No. 1; pass No. 13; overall No. 1. Defense: rush No. 1, pass No. 10, overall No. 4.Outlook: Jaguars RB Natrone Means punished the Bills' defense last week, rushing for 175 yards.

Mark Schlereth made the shortest trip and took the longest road to tonight's 17th annual Ed Block Courage Award Dinner.Schlereth had a short drive from his home in Reston, Va., to the dinner that honors former Colts trainer Ed Block and provides funds to support abused children in Courage Houses around the country.Each team selects one player to be honored and his now-former Washington Redskins teammates picked Schlereth, a six-year veteran guard, to represent them this year.He's a symbol of the courage that the Block award is all about.

TodayMiami at Cincinnati -- Dolphins: QB Dan McGwire (ankle), QB Dan Marino (shoulder), T Ron Heller (knee) are probable. Bengals: CB Mike Brim (back), QB David Klingler (jaw), TE Troy Sadowski (shoulder), CB Corey Sawyer (shoulder) are all out; LB Brett Wallerstedt (neck) is questionable; G Scott Brumfield (groin), WR Carl Pickens (ankle) are probable.Jacksonville at Houston -- Jaguars: G Shane Bouwens (knee), TE Derek Brown (ribs), S Mont Grow (knee), CB Chris Hudson are all out. LB Bryan Schwartz (ankle)

The House that Joe Gibbs Built is being dismantled by the Washington Redskins.Just 27 months after he was named the Super Bowl MVP, quarterback Mark Rypien became the latest victim of the salary cap and new coach Norv Turner's rebuilding program when he was released by the Redskins yesterday after he refused to take a $2 million pay cut.Rypien, 31, who had one year at $3 million left on his contract, is now free to make a deal with another team while the...

The Washington Redskins are looking for a few cheap men.Even after shipping out 15 veterans who made almost $19 million last season, the Redskins are having problems squeezing their roster under the new $34.6 million salary cap.They still must cut about $1.6 million from their payroll to have enough to sign their rookies, including their top draft choice, quarterback Heath Shuler.General manager Charley Casserly called the Redskins the "first victim of the salary cap," but that was before commissioner Paul BTC Tagliabue issued a gag order forbidding team executives from criticizing the cap.Meanwhile, the head of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw, has been defending the cap. He notes that while the Redskins -- who spent $52 million on their player payroll last year -- can't spend as much as they used to, several teams, including the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are spending more this year than they spent in the past.

Site: Metrodome, Minneapolis. Time: 12:30 p.m.TV: Channels 13, 7Radio: WBAL (1090), WTEM (570 AM)Line: Vikings by 3 1/2Last week: The Redskins lost to the Los Angeles Raiders, 21-20, to end the regular season 9-7. The Vikings (11-5) beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-7.The series: The Redskins lead the regular-season series 6-3, although the teams are 2-2 in playoff games. The Redskins have won the last six meetings, including playoff games in 1982 and 1987. Both times the Redskins went on to win the Super Bowl.

ASHBURN, Va. -- Don't tell Richie Petitbon that Sean Salisbury is a "young" quarterback.His most immediate problem is stopping Salisbury tomorrow.NOTES: The Redskins added another player to their injury list of 10 players when backup DL Jim Wahler injured his knee in practice . His status is uncertain. WR Art Monk (back) joined six other players who missed practice Wednesday. Of the ailing players, only CB Darrell Green (heel) may not play. They hope the other five -- DE Charles Mann (knee)

The Redskins have been hit hard by injuries on the offensive line this season. A look at the injuries and status of each player:* T Jim Lachey (knee) is out for the season.* C Matt Elliott (knee) is out for the season.* T Moe Elewonibi (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.* G Mark Schlereth (knee) is probable for Sunday.* T Joe Jacoby (knee) is scheduled to start Sunday.

It will be tough for anyone to get out of the shadow of Jonathan Ogden. But if anyone can, it would be 6-foot-9, 350-pound Jared Gaither. At his farewell news conference Thursday, Ogden offered some advice to Gaither, who is expected to replace him at left tackle. "I will tell him, `Don't try to be me; be Jared,' " Ogden said. "And hopefully Jared will be as good, if not better, one day. And doing the best you can will generally be enough. You don't need that extra pressure." This could be the biggest adjustment for the Ravens this season.

Chicago (3-3) at Tampa Bay (2-3) Time: 1 p.m.Line: Buccaneers by 8.Vs. spread: Bears 5-1; Buccaneers 2-1.Last week: Bears lost to Eagles, 20-16. Buccaneers had a bye.Series: Bears lead 30-12.Last meeting: Buccaneers won, 31-17, on Oct. 29, 1998, at Chicago.Outlook: The Buccaneers have won the past three games against the Bears, averaging 172.3 rushing yards during that streak. Trent Dilfer bashers beware: the Bears are one team he has owned. In his past five starts against the Bears, he is 4-1 with a passer rating of 107.8.

MIAMI -- You can second-guess his judgment and ponder his long-term health, but you can't question Mark Schlereth's heart.After 22 surgeries on six different body parts, he will line up at left guard for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII without regret."

Jacksonville (10-7) at Denver (13-3)Time: 4 p.m. todayTV: Chs. 11, 4Line: Broncos by 14Vs. spread: Jaguars 8-9; Broncos 9-6.Last week: Jaguars beat Bills on the road, 30-27, in wild-card game. Broncos were idle.Last meeting: Broncos beat Jaguars in Denver, 31-23, in December 1995.Playoff record: Jaguars 1-0; Broncos 9-10.Jaguars rankings: Offense: rush No. 17; pass No. 1; overall No. 2. Defense: rush No. 19; pass No. 16; overall No. 16.Broncos rankings: Offense: rush No. 1; pass No. 13; overall No. 1. Defense: rush No. 1, pass No. 10, overall No. 4.Outlook: Jaguars RB Natrone Means punished the Bills' defense last week, rushing for 175 yards.

TodayMiami at Cincinnati -- Dolphins: QB Dan McGwire (ankle), QB Dan Marino (shoulder), T Ron Heller (knee) are probable. Bengals: CB Mike Brim (back), QB David Klingler (jaw), TE Troy Sadowski (shoulder), CB Corey Sawyer (shoulder) are all out; LB Brett Wallerstedt (neck) is questionable; G Scott Brumfield (groin), WR Carl Pickens (ankle) are probable.Jacksonville at Houston -- Jaguars: G Shane Bouwens (knee), TE Derek Brown (ribs), S Mont Grow (knee), CB Chris Hudson are all out. LB Bryan Schwartz (ankle)

Mark Schlereth made the shortest trip and took the longest road to tonight's 17th annual Ed Block Courage Award Dinner.Schlereth had a short drive from his home in Reston, Va., to the dinner that honors former Colts trainer Ed Block and provides funds to support abused children in Courage Houses around the country.Each team selects one player to be honored and his now-former Washington Redskins teammates picked Schlereth, a six-year veteran guard, to represent them this year.He's a symbol of the courage that the Block award is all about.

The Washington Redskins are looking for a few cheap men.Even after shipping out 15 veterans who made almost $19 million last season, the Redskins are having problems squeezing their roster under the new $34.6 million salary cap.They still must cut about $1.6 million from their payroll to have enough to sign their rookies, including their top draft choice, quarterback Heath Shuler.General manager Charley Casserly called the Redskins the "first victim of the salary cap," but that was before commissioner Paul BTC Tagliabue issued a gag order forbidding team executives from criticizing the cap.Meanwhile, the head of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw, has been defending the cap. He notes that while the Redskins -- who spent $52 million on their player payroll last year -- can't spend as much as they used to, several teams, including the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are spending more this year than they spent in the past.

The House that Joe Gibbs Built is being dismantled by the Washington Redskins.Just 27 months after he was named the Super Bowl MVP, quarterback Mark Rypien became the latest victim of the salary cap and new coach Norv Turner's rebuilding program when he was released by the Redskins yesterday after he refused to take a $2 million pay cut.Rypien, 31, who had one year at $3 million left on his contract, is now free to make a deal with another team while the...

The Redskins have been hit hard by injuries on the offensive line this season. A look at the injuries and status of each player:* T Jim Lachey (knee) is out for the season.* C Matt Elliott (knee) is out for the season.* T Moe Elewonibi (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.* G Mark Schlereth (knee) is probable for Sunday.* T Joe Jacoby (knee) is scheduled to start Sunday.

Site: Metrodome, Minneapolis. Time: 12:30 p.m.TV: Channels 13, 7Radio: WBAL (1090), WTEM (570 AM)Line: Vikings by 3 1/2Last week: The Redskins lost to the Los Angeles Raiders, 21-20, to end the regular season 9-7. The Vikings (11-5) beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-7.The series: The Redskins lead the regular-season series 6-3, although the teams are 2-2 in playoff games. The Redskins have won the last six meetings, including playoff games in 1982 and 1987. Both times the Redskins went on to win the Super Bowl.