Titans trade Volek
After watching two division rivals lose their starting quarterbacks to injuries, the San Diego Chargers obtained Billy Volek from Tennessee on Tuesday to give them a veteran behind first-year starter Philip Rivers.
Volek wanted out of Tennessee since being demoted to third-stringer behind rookie Vince Young after the Titans signed Kerry Collins. He got his wish, but the deal was delayed because the Titans played the Chargers on Sunday. San Diego won 40-7 to improve to 2-0 atop the AFC West. Volek was the inactive third QB.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus was involved in the deal because Volek, who played at Fresno State and once lived in Walla Walla, had to waive his no-trade clause to return to his home state.
The Chargers, who opened the season with the untested Rivers and rookie Charlie Whitehurst as their only quarterbacks, gave up a sixth-round draft pick that could become a fifth-rounder if Volek participates in 50 percent of San Diego’s offensive plays.
Saints sell out season tickets
The New Orleans Saints officially sold out the entire regular-season home schedule in the Louisiana Superdome.
It is the first time in the history of the franchise, founded in 1967, that every available seat is owned by a season ticket holder.
One year after Hurricane Katrina displaced the Saints for the entire regular season and placed the NFL’s future in New Orleans in doubt, Saints officials now are making plans for a waiting list.
“We’re now competing on that basis with places like New York, San Francisco … Chicago and other major cities,” owner Tom Benson said. “This is just tremendous.”
Falcons bring back Andersen
Morten Andersen, 46, is returning to the Atlanta Falcons after Michael Koenen flopped badly in his attempt to do all the kicking.
Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, returns to the league after last kicking with Minnesota in 2004.
He will handle extra points and all field-goal attempts – except those well beyond 50 yards.
Koenen, who made just 2 of 8 field-goal attempts in Atlanta’s first two games, will continue to handle the kickoff and punting duties.
ESPN scores big in MNF
ESPN’s Monday night NFL game was watched by more viewers than any show in cable TV history except a 1993 debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot.
Jacksonville’s 9-0 victory over Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh posted a rating of 10.6 and was seen in 9.81 million homes, topping the network’s “Monday Night Football” debut a week earlier that had been the most-watched program in the network’s history, ESPN said.
Around the league
Cleveland cornerback Daylon McCutcheon will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. … Philadelphia promoted cornerback Dustin Fox from the practice squad and placed defensive end Jevon Kearse on injured reserve. … Miami guard Bennie Anderson had surgery to repair a torn left triceps tendon and is expected to miss the rest of the season. … Dallas signed veteran linebacker Bradie James to a five-year, $20 million extension.