NFL notes: Raides’ Cable won’t face charges

NAPA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable won't face charges after being investigated over allegations that he assaulted one of his assistants, ending a two-month saga that was a cloud over the team's season.

Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein said yesterday that the investigation concluded no charges were warranted.

The alleged attack occurred at the team's training camp hotel on Aug. 5 in Napa, after Cable called Randy Hanson into a meeting with defensive coordinator John Marshall and defensive backs coaches Lionel Washington and Willie Brown.

Hanson told Yahoo! Sports earlier this month that Cable came up from behind him and knocked him out of his chair. Hanson said he broke his jaw and cracked two teeth after hitting a table.

Winfield's status concern for Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings' smallest player could leave a pretty big hole in the defense if cornerback Antoine Winfield cannot play against the Steelers on Sunday.

Winfield sprained his right foot against the Ravens last weekend. He missed practice Wednesday and was not on the field yesterday during the portion open to reporters.

The Vikings defense fell apart against Baltimore when their Pro Bowler left in the second quarter. After forcing punts on the first five possessions of the game, the Vikings allowed the Ravens to score 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Parrish unhappy over benching

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - First, Roscoe Parrish couldn't persuade the Bills to trade him. Now, the NFL's leading punt returner can't even get on the field.

Parrish was careful in saying he didn't want to "bad-mouth" anyone, including coach Dick Jauron, after practice. Noting that his "résumé speaks for itself," the fifth-year receiver still questioned the team's decision to strip him of his punt-returning duties by leaving him inactive against the Jets last weekend.

Parrish tops the NFL career list by averaging 13.1 yards on returns. He was benched a week after his muffed punt led to the Browns scoring a field goal in the final minute of a 6-3 victory.

Two sick players are back for Browns

BEREA, Ohio - Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley returned to the team after being among 12 players - six of them starters - who were sent home Wednesday with flulike symptoms. The other 10 players remain isolated from the team.

Browns coach Eric Mangini said two of the unidentified players have been diagnosed with Influenza A, which is related to the H1N1 virus. Mangini reported that there have been no new cases of the flu, and that the other ill players have not gotten any worse.

Eagles LB Gaither done for the season

PHILADELPHIA - Linebacker Omar Gaither will have surgery on left foot and will miss the rest of the season, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

He is the second Eagles middle linebacker to be lost for the season - Stewart Bradley tore an ACL in a preseason scrimmage.

On Tuesday, the Eagles acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams. Witherspoon will start against Washington on Monday night.

Elsewhere

• New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has a "real shot" to play against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, coach Rex Ryan said. Cotchery has been bothered by his left hamstring and Brad Smith by his quadriceps.

Neither participated in team drills for the second straight day yesterday, but they both did individual drills. Right tackle Damien Woody (lower leg), a former Patrick Henry High standout, is expected to play.

• Miami Dolphins linebacker Matt Roth was back on the sideline again, this time with a left ankle injury. Roth hurt himself practicing for the first time this season Wednesday. He said the latest injury is not serious, but it rules out his chances of playing Sunday against unbeaten New Orleans.