Dixon played four games for Detroit last season after signing as a rookie free agent out of Northeastern and was released by the Lions on Aug. 23.

Dolphins sign free-agent linebacker Hamilton

Hamilton, 26, was the Chargers' third-round draft choice in 1997 and played in 33 games for them, starting twice.

Brown, Culpepper among players of the week

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Wide receiver Tim Brown of the Oakland Raiders and quarterback Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings, who led their teams to shootout wins, were named Offensive Players of the Week in the respective conferences.

Brown was honored in the AFC after catching seven receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' 34-28 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers. In the extra session, Brown caught a 31-yard TD pass from Rich Gannon.

Culpepper took the honors in the NFC for completing 15 of 19 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a 30-23 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Culpepper rushed for 35 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown.

Denver Broncos cornerback Terrell Buckley and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle La'Roi Glover were named Defensive Players of the Week in the AFC and NFC, respectively.

The Special Teams Players of the Week were kickers Matt Stover of the Baltimore Ravens (AFC) and Joe Nedney of the Carolina Panthers (NFC).

Matthews watches practice with brace on knee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Bruce Matthews, who holds the NFL's current longest consecutive starts streak, watched the Tennessee Titans run through a light practice Wednesday with a heavy brace on his right knee.

Matthews, 39, sprained a knee ligament last weekend and was listed Wednesday as questionable for Monday night's game against Jacksonville. The left guard has started 202 consecutive games.

But the Titans did get left tackle Brad Hopkins back in practice after he missed a start due to a sprained right ankle. Receiver Yancey Thigpen, deactivated the past two games because of a strained hamstring, caught some passes during a drill and then ran on the side with receiver Carl Pickens (strained hamstring).

"We'll have to see how they both are tomorrow," head coach Jeff Fisher said of Thigpen and Pickens, who missed the Titans' victory against Cincinnati last weekend.

Strong safety Blaine Bishop (hyperextended knee) also sat out the one-hour workout along with linebacker Terry Killens.

Booker rejoins Bengals after fainting spell

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Defensive end Vaughn Booker rejoined the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday and began working out for the first time since he fainted on the field during a game.

Tests in Jacksonville and Cincinnati and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found nothing that would keep him off the field.

Booker, 32, fainted as he headed back to the huddle with 1:54 left during a 13-0 loss in Jacksonville on Sept. 17. He was carted off the field.

"I haven't seen it. I don't want to see it. People tell me it's not a pretty sight," said Booker, who has a Superman tattoo on his left arm. "I just felt lightheaded, like everything was closing in on me. I remember falling, but I don't remember hitting."

Booker never had a similar problem during his four years with Kansas City and two with Green Bay. Doctors wanted to do a full range of tests to make sure there was nothing wrong with his heart or brain.

He was told not to work out until they found out what caused him to faint.

"They didn't want me doing anything because they were thinking it was partly my heart," he said. "I was seeing doctors two or three times a day. That was a stressful three weeks for me. I didn't get any rest. I gained weight."

Doctors concluded his blood pressure had dropped on the field, but it was probably a one-time thing.

"Basically, it was a fluke," Booker said. "If I feel anything similar, I've just got to sit down."

Booker did some light jogging Wednesday and is still slowed by a sprained knee. He was listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.

Doctor in alleged pill scheme didn't know consequences

DENVER (AP) -- The physician who wrote prescriptions for diet pills that were allegedly given to Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski says he had no idea the consequences would be so grave.

"It's not even banned by the NFL," said Dr. Randall Snook, referring to the appetite suppressant phentermine. "If I had written the prescriptions for Bill, none of this would have happened."

Last spring, Snook pleaded guilty to unlawfully dispensing a controlled substance.

He was accused of writing prescriptions for Loretta Johnson, whose husband built Romanowski's house; Bill Romanowski's wife, Julie; and the Romanowskis' nanny, who has never been charged. They allegedly gave the pills to the linebacker.

Johnson pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to illegally obtain a prescription drug. Julie Romanowski pleaded innocent this week to nine felony charges including conspiracy and fraudulently obtaining a prescription drug and will stand trial beginning March 13.

Bill Romanowski, indicted Aug. 9 on four drug charges, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6. His trial will be scheduled after the Broncos' season ends in January.

Snook's medical licensed was placed under probation for five years and he was ordered to take a remedial prescription-writing course. The Drug Enforcement Administration suspended his prescription-writing license until he completed the course.

Snook resigned from his medical practice in September after the federal government cut him off from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, he said. He also said he has been asked to resign from Porter Adventist, Swedish and Littleton Adventist hospitals.

Thomas' mother files suit against General Motors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The mother of Derrick Thomas has sued General Motors Corp. over the traffic accident that resulted in the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker's death.

Edith Morgan's lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court, also accuses ambulance workers and an area hospital for being negligent in his care. Morgan seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages from all defendants.

Morgan wants GM to release statistics that would show Chevrolet Suburban has had many rollover and roof-crush accidents that have injured or killed occupants, said Gary C. Robb, Morgan's lawyer.

"If Derrick Thomas' death means he will save many more lives, then his death will not be in vain," Robb said.

GM officials declined to comment.

He said part of any damage award in the lawsuit would go to the mothers of Thomas' seven children.

Thomas was paralyzed and Michael Tellis was killed when the Suburban Thomas was driving flipped on an icy road Jan. 23. Neither victim was wearing a seat belt, and Thomas, who was thrown from the Suburban, died Feb. 8 in a Florida hospital.

According to the lawsuit, the ambulance service and hospital did not properly treat Thomas and contributed to his death.

"That's not our view of what occurred; we did everything we thought conceivably possible," said Joe Crossett, administrator for Liberty Hospital.

 

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