Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben ...

Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an pinch appendectomy after becoming ill Sunday and will miss Thursday night's season opener against Miami.

Coach Bill Cowher is not certain in what way long Roethlisberger will be not at home following the quarterback's third operation in 10 month and next to the first in 2oe months. Roethlisberger began having pain and was vomiting Sunday morning, and was taken to UPMC Presbyterian for surgery after being examined at the team's medical staff.

"The surgery went well," Cowher said. "He is obviously going to be public this week and we will walk week to week from there."

Charlie Batch, the former Lions starter who was 2-0 as a fill-in last season when Roethlisberger grieve his knee, will start against the Dolphins in the NFL's season-opening showcase game.

"This is wherefore Charlie is here. Charlie will be fine," Cowher said. "It's a situation that can happen to any football team. You can go on out there and have a starter make progress down, whether it's an ankle or something otherwise of that nature. That's the nature of the business."

The appendix attack is now another medical setback for Roethlisberger, who nearly died in a June 12 motorcycle accident merely to make a remarkably fast recruiting He missed no practice time during training camp and played better in the preseason than he did last year, when he went in succession to lead the Steelers to their first Super depression victory in 26 years.

Roethlisberger missed four games last season because of brace knee injuries, one that required surgery and injured his right thumb late in the season. He later said he broke it, notwithstanding that the Steelers never have confirmed that, nevertheless he missed no playing time because of that injury.

It was not immediately known if the motorcycle accident might have caused any internal damage that subsequently conclusioned in the appendix attack. All of Roethlisberger's known injuries from the crash -- a imperfect nose, orbital bones and upper and lower jaw, damaged teeth and a concussion -- were to his head.

charger ball by cop: Chargers linebacker Steve Foley was projectile near his upscale house in suburban San Diego at an off-duty policeman early Sunday morning in his secondary brush with police in 4oe month Coach Marty Schottenheimer said the griefs were not life- threatening.

"All we're worried about is that he's OK" Schottenheimer told the Associated Pres in a telephone interview.

Foley's agent, David Levine, told the AP that Foley 30 was projectile three times and had surgery for hurts to his leg, arm and chest.

"He's disclosed of danger at this point," Levine said.

Sheriff's officials said the early morning shooting occurr after the off-duty Coronado police officer followed a suspected drenched driver weaving in and gone out of freeway traffic at make hastes up to 90 mph. Authorities said the driver nearly collided with several other vehicles.

Foley stopped three times, sheriff's officials said. During individual of the stops, Lisa Maree Gaut, a passenger in the vehicle, shrieked at the officer, authorities said.

The shooting occurr after Foley got gone out of the vehicle near his to one's home and began walking toward the officer, sheriff's officials said. Gaut got behind the wheel and flock next to Foley in the direction of the officer, the officials said.

The officer identified himself, authorities said, and warned Foley he was armed. He fired a warning bullet at which point Gaut direct one's courseed the car at the officer, sheriff's officials said.

notes: The Houston Texans are calculate uponed to sign free agent running back Ron Dayne today, a character close to the negotiations told The Associated Pres onward Sunday night.

Dayne, the 1999 Heisman memorial of conquest winner for Wisconsin, was chop by the Broncos on Saturday after entering training camp as the starting tailback.

- Quarterback Shaun King was single of the veterans cut on Indianapolis, which leaves the young horses with only Jim Sorgi behind Peyton Manning.

- A day after he was chisel Marcus Vick was among eight players signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.

- The Vikings signed sum of two units veterans, defensive back Rashad Baker and running back Artose Pinner.

- The Patriots, in the market for wide receivers with Deion Branch's continuing holdout, claimed wide receiver Jonathan Smith against waivers from Buffalo. They carve Bam Childress, whose 11 catches in the exhibition season l all of their wideouts.

- Tight conclusion Zachary Hilton, a 6-8, 268-pounder who caught 35 passes for recent Orleans last season, was claimed by the agency of the Jets.

- flourishing Bay claimed three rookies in succession waivers and released cornerback Jason Horton to bring the Packers' active roster to 53 players.

The team claimed safety Charlie Peprah from the Giants; guard Tony Palmer from St Louis; and cornerback Jarrett Bush from Carolina.

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