Latest highlight for Colts' Sanders

Safety AP's top defensive player

Bob Sanders's impact on the vastly improved Indianapolis defense, not to mention his impact on opposing ball carriers, earned the Colts safety the Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award yesterday.

Sanders makes highlight films with his smash-mouth style and knack for always being near the ball. His value as a leader - the Peyton Manning of the Colts' defense, if you will - was just as much a factor in Indianapolis having the third-ranked unit in the NFL and allowing just 262 points, a league low.

Yes, these Colts can play dominating defense, and Sanders is the main reason.

"One of the things we talked about when he first got here was how critical this position is in this defense," said coach Tony Dungy, who has nicknamed Sanders "The Eraser."

"You get asked to do a lot of things in this defense, and it's rare to find someone who can do those things."

Sanders did enough to earn 31 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. That was particularly impressive because it was a strong season for individual defensive performances.

Yet next closest in the balloting were Seattle end Patrick Kerney and Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth with four votes each.

Owens game-time call

Terrell Owens still is limping on his sprained left ankle and his status for the Dallas Cowboys' playoff game Sunday is uncertain. "It looks to me that it's going to be a game-time decision on him," coach Wade Phillips said. "He probably couldn't have played [yesterday]." Owens has a high ankle sprain and was limited in a light workout yesterday, the first for the top-seeded Cowboys (13-3) since learning they will play the New York Giants in the NFC divisional playoffs. "Absolutely, we're all counting on him playing," Dallas tight end Jason Witten said. "He's a tough guy. Nobody wants it more than he wants it himself to get out there and play. He's a quick healer, and he looked good out there, I thought." . . . Giants coach Tom Coughlin said the status of center Shaun O'Hara and cornerback Sam Madison is uncertain. O'Hara sprained his left knee in the regular-season finale against New England, while Madison aggravated a pulled muscle in his stomach. Starting weak-side linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who also was hurt against New England, did not aggravate his sprained left knee playing on a limited basis in the Giants' 24-14 win over the Buccaneers Sunday . . . Chargers Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates had an MRI on his injured left big toe. Gates said Sunday the toe was dislocated, but the Chargers are saying it's sprained. Gates was taken off the field on a cart during the second quarter of Sunday's 17-6 wild-card victory over Tennessee. Coach Norv Turner said Gates is day-to-day. Fullback Lorenzo Neal, who broke his leg in an overtime win at Tennessee Dec. 9, will be able to practice tomorrow, Turner said.

Browns ink Chudzinski

Fearing they might lose him to a division rival, the Cleveland Browns signed offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to a two-year contract extension through 2011. Chudzinski, who transformed the Browns' offense into one of the NFL's top units in his first season, had been scheduled to interview for Baltimore's coaching vacancy. However, Browns general manager Phil Savage stepped in before Chudzinski had a chance to meet with the Ravens and awarded the 39-year-old the extension . . . The St. Louis Rams fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau following a 3-13 season. Boudreau coached the offensive line for the Patriots from 1997-98. A Rams spokesman confirmed the firings, said Olson could be reassigned to another position with the team, then declined comment on reports that Cam Cameron, recently canned as coach of the Miami Dolphins, was among the candidates being considered as Olson's replacement. The Rams ranked 24th in total offense (297.5 yards per game), 28th in points (16.4 per game), and 27th in touchdowns (27) . . . The Green Bay Packers said on their website that GM Ted Thompson signed a five-year contract to remain with the team through the 2012 season. Thompson, 54, helped build the Packers into the team that finished 13-3 and reached the playoffs this season . . . Philadelphia Eagles GM Tom Heckert interviewed in the Atlanta Falcons' search to restructure their front office. Falcons owner Arthur Blank would like to hire a replacement for Rich McKay, his GM since December 2003, before deciding on his next coach.

Life of Brian

New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer became the fifth candidate to interview for the Ravens' coaching vacancy. Schottenheimer met for several hours with team officials. Schottenheimer's father, longtime coach Marty Schottenheimer, also has been contacted by the Ravens' search committee. However, he prefers not to be interviewed until the later phases of the search to find a replacement for fired coach Brian Billick . . . Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier arrived in South Florida to be the second candidate to interview for the Dolphins' coaching job. The bulk of Frazier's interview will take place today. Last weekend the Dolphins interviewed front-running candidate Tony Sparano, the Cowboys' assistant coach. Frazier, 48, was a defensive backs coach and special assistant in Indianapolis for two seasons before joining the Vikings a year ago . . . Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson held a two-day retreat with coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney last week to discuss next season, the strongest signal yet that Richardson plans to retain both . . . Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs declined to say whether he would return for the final year of his contract - or even if he wanted to return - and said the matter would hinge on talks with owner Dan Snyder. The 67-year-old Gibbs dropped a clue or two that indicated he would be back, but he clearly left the door open that this might be the end.

Vick transferred

Michael Vick left Virginia to enter a drug treatment program at a Kansas prison, a move that could reduce the former NFL star's 23-month sentence on a federal dogfighting conviction. The suspended Falcons quarterback is now at the US Bureau of Prisons minimum security facility in Leavenworth, his attorney, Billy Martin, said. Vick tested positive for marijuana in September while he was on supervised release following his guilty plea. The residential drug treatment programs at Bureau of Prisons institutions take place in units set apart from the general prison population, lasting at least 500 hours over 6-12 months. Upon successful completion of the program, nonviolent offenders may be granted up to one year of early release . . . Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks Chad Pennington will remain with the team next season and compete for the starting quarterback job. Pennington, benched in favor of Kellen Clemens midway through the season, has expressed his desire to be a starter - whether it's in New York or elsewhere. "He's under contract," Tannenbaum said. "I expect him to be back. I expect him to compete with Kellen, and certainly, if opportunities come along, we'll look at them and try to get Chad's reaction."