Andersen will kick for Vikings
Morten Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, two days after being cut by Kansas City.
The Vikings released Brett Conway, who lasted just a week as the replacement for Aaron Elling. The Vikings cut Elling, a second-year player, after he struggled in the preseason.
Andersen, 44, is in his 23rd season. His 2,259 career points trail only Gary Anderson, another former Vikings kicker (2,346).
Steelers to start Staley
Coach Bill Cowher finally confirmed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ worst-kept secret: Duce Staley is in at running back and Jerome Bettis is out again.
The move has been considered a formality since Staley was given a $4 million signing bonus in March, but the Steelers had never made the change official and Cowher diplomatically split time between the two in exhibition games.
Dolphins’ opener waits on Ivan
With Hurricane Ivan lurking in the Caribbean, the Miami Dolphins and the NFL could be forced to come up with a contingency plan for Sunday’s season opener against Tennessee at Pro Player Stadium.
The possibility of Ivan making landfall sometime late this weekend could force the league to look at its options. Because the teams have different bye weeks, the most likely scenario would be moving the game to either Saturday or Monday.
•Jay Fiedler was named Miami’s starter for the fifth consecutive season following a six-month competition with A.J. Feeley. But coach Dave Wannstedt stressed that the decision was effective only for Sunday’s game against Tennessee.
•Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad had surgery to remove damaged tissue from his infected right thigh. Konrad likely won’t play Sunday against the Titans.
NFL ticker prices soar
The average ticket price for an NFL game this season will be more than $54, a 4.9 percent increase from 2003.
According to Team Marketing Report’s annual survey, the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers had the biggest increases. The Falcons’ average ticket price is up 26.2 percent to $43.71, while the NFC champion Panthers raised theirs 18 percent to $50.23.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, all 2003 division winners, did not raise prices. But the Patriots have the most expensive average price, $75.33.
Only the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks decreased ticket prices.
Around the league
The New York Giants cut place kick Todd France and signed veteran kicker Steve Christie. … The NFL has renewed its television agreements with three Japanese networks on the eve of the 2004 season.