In Brief

PRO FOOTBALL

Jets lose right tackle Woody
to left Achilles' tendon injury

Damien Woody won't get a chance to face his former team in the playoffs, and his absence could put a huge crimp in the New York Jets' championship hopes.

The Jets placed their starting right tackle on injured reserve with a left Achilles' tendon injury Wednesday. Woody returned from a right knee problem to play all but the final three plays of last weekend's wild-card win at Indianapolis. He hurt the Achilles' tendon on the final drive and was replaced by Wayne Hunter, who will start Sunday at New England in the divisional round.

In other Jets news, quarterback Mark Sanchez said his right shoulder was feeling the best it has in "three, four weeks," and he was a full participant in practice for the first time in nearly a month.

Also: John Fox finally arrived in Denver to meet with the Broncos about their head coaching vacancy after his flight out of North Carolina was delayed three times this week by winter weather.

Fox met with John Elway, who is leading the team's search, to see if he was a good fit with the Broncos. Denver is coming off a franchise-worst 4-12 season.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he would like to bring quarterback Matt Hasselbeck back for the 2011 season.

Asked about Hasselbeck's future with the franchise, Carroll said the team would like to do "everything we can" to have Hasselbeck return for an 11th season with the franchise. Seattle plays at Chicago on Sunday in the NFC divisional playoff round.

Though Minnesota state lawmakers appear likely to insist that a roof be part of any public deal for a new Vikings stadium, the team is sticking with its offer to pay about a third of the bill -- minus whatever a roof would cost.

Vikings vice president and stadium point man Lester Bagley said in an interview with The Associated Press that the Vikings would prefer an outdoor stadium, but understood that might not win legislative approval when lawmakers in February take up the team's request for a stadium funded in part by taxpayers.

State Sen. Julie Rosen, likely lead sponsor of the stadium bill at the Capitol, confirmed that hunch. She said most lawmakers want a facility like the Metrodome that can host not just NFL football, but also dozens of high school and college tournaments and other events.

Police said the 34-year-old sister of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre faces drug charges after she was arrested in a raid on a Mississippi condo where people were making crystal methamphetamine.

Maj. Matt Karl of the Hancock County Sheriff's Office said Brandi Favre was among five people arrested in Diamondhead, Miss. He said she will be charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and generating hazardous waste.

Despite making it to the United Football League championship game in each of their first two years, the Florida Tuskers ceased operations in Orlando and have moved to Norfolk, Va., where the Virginia Destroyers originally were scheduled to compete as an expansion team in 2011.

Jay Gruden will remain the team's coach, with Joe Moglia -- who was expected to coach Virginia -- moving to Omaha to coach the Nighthawks. The loss of Orlando leaves the UFL with five franchises (Las Vegas, Virginia, Sacramento, Omaha and Hartford) for the 2011 season.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wranglers' late-game rally
fuels victory over Victoria

The Wranglers scored three goals in the final nine minutes, beating the Victoria Salmon Kings 5-3 in an ECHL game at Victoria, British Columbia.

Las Vegas (20-9-3), which beat Victoria 6-4 on Tuesday, trailed 3-2 entering the third period. Blair Riley scored the equalizer with 8:30 remaining for his second goal of the game, Greg Collins scored with 2:52 left, and Chris Higgins had an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon gave up three goals in the first two periods, but shut out Victoria in the third and finished with 19 saves.

Also: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley is listed as doubtful for tonight's game against Washington because of a sprained left ankle.

Former NBA star Allen Iverson plans to have a lesion removed from his right leg in the United States, and he then intends to rejoin his Turkish league team in time for the playoffs.

American League Most Valuable Player Josh Hamilton remains hospitalized in Arlington, Texas, while showing signs of getting better in a bout with pneumonia. The Texas Rangers said Hamilton remained at the hospital for treatment "in order to accelerate his full recovery."

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alfredo Marte was suspended for 50 games for a positive test under baseball's minor league drug program.

Outfielder Ryan Raburn and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $3.4 million, two-year contract. The 29-year-old hit .280 last season for Detroit, with 15 homers and 62 RBIs.