EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper will have arthroscopic surgery today to repair his sprained left knee.

        Culpepper was injured Nov.25 against Chicago and started the following week against Pittsburgh but couldn't finish. His condition worsened the next week in practice, and Todd Bouman played in his place the last two games.

        The average recovery time from the surgery is two or three weeks, but the Vikings haven't ruled out Culpepper for the regular-season finale — Jan.7 at Baltimore.

        Bouman has a sprained ligament in the thumb of his passing hand but is listed as probable on the injury report and is expected to play Sunday against Jacksonville.

        Coach Dennis Green said Bouman would go full speed in practice Thursday today and Friday.

        “The thumb is a lot better,” coach Dennis Green said.

        Spergon Wynn, acquired in September from Cleveland, is next in line at quarterback if Bouman is unable to play.

        • Wide receiver Cris Carter again hedged on his retirement plans going into the Vikings' final home game, Sunday against Jacksonville.

        “I've been part of a great situation for a long, long time,” he said. “That situation has changed. All good things come to an end, be it this Sunday or a year from now.”

        SAINTS:

        Wide receiver Albert Connell was suspended by the team for allegedly stealing money from teammate Deuce McAllister, a football source said. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department said Tuesday it was investigating Connell but did not say why, and the player has not been charged.

        Connell, who has a $14 million contract, was suspended Monday by the Saints for the rest of the season and fined an additional paycheck “for conduct detrimental to the team.” The Saints would not give a reason.

        Connell has not spoken to reporters since he was suspended.

        BRONCOS:

        The team placed quarterback Gus Frerotte (separated shoulder) and defensive end Kavika Pittman (torn calf) on the injured reserved list, ending their seasons.

        CARDINALS:

        Kicker Bill Gramatica is not embarrassed by the nationally televised jump for joy that resulted in a season-ending injury. He might tone down his post-field goal celebrations when he recovers from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he isn't making any promises.

        “It's not for show,” Gramatica said Wednesday of his after-kick celebrations. “I'm not going to change the way I feel about field goals. I may not jump as high, but obviously if I kick a game-winner, my emotions go everywhere. When I stop feeling the way I do, I'm going to retire, because I'm doing it because I love it.”

        His surgery is tentatively scheduled for Jan.2.

        49ERS:

        Jeff Garcia was downgraded to questionable status for Saturday's game with Philadelphia because of a rib injury. Garcia still expects to play, but he was kept out of practice.

        “There's not a question in my mind that I'll play, but it's something that's going to be a day-to-day type of thing,” Garcia said. “It's sore today, but it's not any more sore than it was yesterday.”

        TITANS:

        Safety Blaine Bishop probably will not play again this season because of a sprained ankle.

        “He's currently trying to decide whether or not he's going to have surgery on it or just rest,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “But it's unlikely that he'll play in the remaining three games.”

        FALCONS:

        Offensive tackle Michael Thompson left practice in an ambulance as a precaution after an exercise-induced asthma attack. “The preliminary report is that he's fine,” team spokesman Aaron Salkin said.

        BILLS:

        Rookie Travis Henry, the team's leading rusher with 729 yards, will miss Sunday's game at Atlanta because of a sprained right knee. Shawn Bryson, who has 88 yards rushing on 24 carries, will start.

        BROWNS:

        Four of the 15 fans arrested after the bottle-throwing incident at Sunday's game have pleaded not guilty, but the team says more arrests are to come. Charges ranged from assault on a police officer to disorderly conduct.

        Browns team spokesman Todd Stewart said the team has “leads on probably eight to 10 people that we are pursuing.”

        Browns security is reviewing videotapes of the game, interviewing season-ticket holders and taking tips from callers, Stewart said. “Our plan is anybody who is found throwing things on the field will lose their season-ticket privileges,” he said.

        PACKERS:

        The team signed free safety Scott Frost to fill the roster spot of linebacker Chris Gizzi, who underwent disc surgery and was placed on injured reserve.

Stars' war of words Mitchell added to QB woes Billick says Grbac is his QB Bengals notebook NFL notebook

Reds notebook
Mariners, A's to visit Cinergy
Pokey traded again
Baseball free agents
Bonds to stay in San Francisco
Defense mechanism for UC's success
West won't accept UC loss
Hawaii is a business trip for RedHawks
Herd thunder back to win GMAC
Ducks quacked up to be No. 1?
College basketball roundup
Cyclones lose third straight
NBA: Jordan, Wizards win seventh straight
NHL: Black Hawks snap losing streak
Coming up this week
Preps basketball roundup
Wrestler's eyes on golden goal
Southeast Indiana high school basketball poll

• Return to Bengals front page...