The Associated Press

Some good came out of the XFL, after all. Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers, who found their quarterback and The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Tommy Maddox.

Maddox easily beat Miami running back Robert Edwards to win Thursday.

A flop as a first-round draft pick who became an insurance salesman before resurrecting his career in Arena Football and the one-season XFL, Maddox earned 24 votes from a panel of 48 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

Maddox completed a team-record 62.1 percent of his passes, with 20 touchdowns and an 85.2 rating. He was 7-3-1 as a starter, including winning the final three games to capture the AFC North.

Edwards, returning from three seasons out of the NFL after tearing up his left knee in a beach football game at the February 1999 Pro Bowl, was a backup to Ricky Williams with the Dolphins. Edwards rushed only 20 times for 107 yards, but he had 18 receptions and scored two touchdowns.

Pittsburgh might be without defensive starters Kendrell Bell and Chad Scott for Sunday's wild-card playoff game against Cleveland.

Bell, a linebacker who had four sacks in the Steelers' final six games, was held out of practice for a second straight day Thursday with a sprained left ankle. He sprained the same ankle twice previously this season, causing him to miss most of five games.

Scott, a cornerback, has been out since breaking his right thumb Dec. 23 against Tampa Bay.

Bell would be replaced by rookie Larry Foote, who started when Bell was hurt earlier in the season. Scott would be replaced by Deshea Townsend, who made an interception Sunday against Baltimore.

EAGLES: Quarterback Donovan McNabb plans to play in Philadelphia's playoff game. Coach Andy Reid isn't ready to make it official.

McNabb practiced Thursday for the first time since breaking his right ankle 1 1/2 months ago. Reid said McNabb took all the reps with the first-team offense in a short practice closed to reporters, but he hasn't announced the starter.

49ERS: Kick returner Vinny Sutherland re-signed with the team, and linebacker Jamie Winborn was placed on injured reserve.

Sutherland set a franchise rookie record in 2001 with 1,121 return yards on kickoffs, but was cut last Aug.27, three months after he was arrested when he drove his car into two light posts in Saratoga, Calif. He pleaded no contest to hit-and-run and drunken driving charges on Oct.7, and he spent time in a substance-abuse treatment clinic.

COWBOYS: The Dallas Cowboys won't owe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers any compensation for hiring Bill Parcells.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled Thursday, however, that the Bucs could seek compensation from Parcells himself. The team said it wasn't interested in that option.

It's official. Parcells was introduced officially Thursday as the Cowboys head coach. He replaces the fired Dave Campo.

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