Goodell asks Congress

for help on anti-doping

Arguing that sports leagues` drug programs could be "gutted" if not protected from individual states` laws, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked Congress on Tuesday to intervene with legislation and found at least one powerful ally.

Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said during a hearing Tuesday that recent court decisions essentially blocking doping-related suspensions of two Vikings players "could render the NFL and Major League Baseball drug testing programs unenforceable, loophole-ridden, and unacceptably weak and ineffective."

Yet Goodell also heard this, less-supportive, message from another lawmaker: Be careful what you wish for.

"You don`t want to have 435 members of Congress writing a law that would have in any way some immediate conduct and effect on your players," Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., told Goodell at the end of the subcommittee session he chaired Tuesday.

Waving his hands as if to ward off the effort, Rush said, "You don`t want us to get involved in this. You can`t tell what members of Congress will ultimately do once you open up this Pandora`s Box."

Rush urged the league and its players union to try to work out a solution.

Broncos sign 2

The Broncos signed running back Lance Ball and defensive lineman Carlton Powell to the practice squad.

They replace running back Darius Walker, who was released, and defensive lineman Everette Pedescleaux, who was placed on the practice squad injured list Tuesday.

Ball was released from Tennessee`s practice squad Oct. 27. Powell was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2008 draft.

Notable

The Chiefs announced they were awarded wide receiver Chris Chambers, who was waived by San Diego, via a waiver claim. The Chargers waived Chambers on Monday. Originally a second-round pick by Miami in 2001, Chambers has made 111 starts with the Dolphins and Chargers and caught 482 passes for 6,827 yards and 53 touchdowns.

Rams returner Danny Amendola sat out Rams practice due to a concussion while guard Jacob Bell was cleared after tests showed he had only a mild one.

The Chargers signed rookie linebacker James Holt from the practice squad to fill the roster spot created when wide receiver Chris Chambers was released.

The Bengals released offensive guard Scott Kooistra ending his seven-year career in Cincinnati.

The struggling Seahawks released running back Edgerrin James. In seven games as the backup to Julius Jones, James had just 46 carries for 125 yards and no scores. He averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.

The 49ers signed cornerback Keith Smith to a one-year contract, boosting their secondary a day after learning Nate Clements would be sidelined up to eight weeks with a broken shoulder blade.

The Rams signed cornerback Danny Gorrer and waived wide receiver Tim Carter.

The Buccaneers signed kicker Connor Barth and released kicker Shane Andrus.

The Cardinals placed defensive tackle Keilen Dykes on the practice squad injured reserve list with a biceps injury.

Bills starting cornerback Terrence McGee had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair minor damage and expects to be out for about two weeks.