The Associated Press

PHILADLEPHIA - Donovan McNabb might go from the lowest-rated passer in the NFL to the league MVP.

If Philadelphia coach Andy Reid had a vote, there's only one player he would consider.

"I'm very partial to him because I think he is the MVP of the National Football League," Reid said Thursday. "I don't vote on that, but he's done a heck of a job. If he continues to do that, I'm sure he'll be right there in the bidding for it."

McNabb was the NFL's lowest-rated passer with a rating of 51.1 through six games, but has since bumped that up to 77.2. McNabb has thrown for only 2,508 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, but the Eagles (10-3) have already clinched a playoff berth and have won eight straight games.

McNabb said winning, and not stats, should be the main criteria for an MVP candidate.

"It's the guy that is most valuable to his team," he said. "It's the guy that when he's out there on the field is making as many plays as possible despite being on his back or (critics) talking bad about him, and being able to overcome that."

As McNabb's sore thumb and his numbers have improved, so, too, has the overall health of Philadelphia's offense. The Eagles scored fewer than 15 points in three of their first six games (1-2), including one shutout. Since then, they haven't scored less than 17 points and have gone over 30 twice.

PACKERS: Kicker Ryan Longwell is only six points shy of passing Hall of Famer Don Hutson as the most prolific scorer in the Packers' 84-year history.

"It means a lot to me in regard to longevity in a tough place to kick," Longwell said. "Being the top scorer in any organization is a big deal, but to happen with the Packers - that's pretty special."

Hutson had 105 touchdowns, 172 extra points and seven field goals from 1935-45, for 823 points.

JETS: Defensive end John Abraham went on injured reserve Thursday with a strained right groin.

Coach Herman Edwards said the Jets felt it was best to hold Abraham out for the rest of the year because the injury was not responding to treatments.

Abraham, the team's best pass rusher, played in just seven games, with five starts. He injured his groin against Philadelphia on Oct. 26 and missed three straight games but returned to play against Jacksonville on Nov. 23.

He re-aggravated the injury against the Jaguars and has missed the last two games. Earlier in the year, he missed a start because of a strained hamstring and was deactivated for another after he was arrested for drunken driving.

TITANS: A police officer was suspended Thursday for 12 days after asking that he be allowed to take Steve McNair home after the Tennessee Titans quarterback was arrested on a drunken-driving charge.

Officer Jeb Johnston acknowledged phoning officer Shawn Taylor twice on the morning of May 22 after Taylor arrested McNair.

Johnston denied asking Taylor to release McNair to him so he could take him home, saying his first call was to see if the quarterback had been arrested and the second to learn if reporters were present at Night Court.

But assistant chief Valerie Meece concluded after a disciplinary hearing that Johnston did try to get McNair released in one of his calls to Taylor.

McNair has been fighting the charges, and his case has been turned over to a grand jury.

He also was charged with possessing a handgun while intoxicated. He has a permit for gun, but an intoxicated person cannot legally carry a loaded weapon.

RAMS: St. Louis signed guards Andy King and Scott Tercero from the practice squad Thursday, and released linebackers Courtland Bullard and Scott Shanle.

The Rams also signed linebacker Justin Smith from Tampa Bay's practice squad, released fullback Spencer Nead and then signed him to the practice squad to reach the 53-man roster limit.

SALARY CAP: The NFL's salary cap is going up by a little more than 5 percent next season, a smaller increase than in some other years.

The NFL Management Council told owners this week the cap is expected to be between $78.7 million and $79.2 million per team for 2004. Those figures are subject to adjustment after the league's final gross revenues are determined.

The cap is $74.8 million this season.

It will take effect March 2, when the contract year begins.

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