NFL
Notebook: Warren cautions Steelers' rookie QB

By Seattle Times news services

Gerard Warren might go head-hunting Sunday.

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BEREA, Ohio — Gerard Warren, aka "Big Money," is ready to give up some of it to hand rookie Ben Roethlisberger his first loss.

Warren, the Cleveland Browns' four-year veteran defensive tackle, threatened the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, vowing to "go across his head" and saying he didn't care if it cost him a $50,000 fine from the NFL.

"Hey, it'll be well worth it," Warren said. "They're protected in this league.

"Yeah, we're going across his head, regardless of cost. That's what we get paychecks for. You have to pay the cost to be the boss. You want to be the boss man on the field Sunday."

Asked to demonstrate what he was talking about, Warren cocked his elbow and raised and pointed to his forearm.

"One of these right here," he said.

"A forearm in the noggin?" he was asked. "Right in the throat, how about that?" Warren said.

Going into Sunday's game, Roethlisberger is 6-0 as a starter. He has tied the NFL record for consecutive wins by a rookie quarterback to start his career set by ex-Steeler Mike Kruczek in 1976.

It was hard to tell how serious Warren was about doing Roethlisberger harm because he injected comments like: "It's more of a mental than a physical. Rattling his head."

"We want to be on his head, too, not just in it. If we can't be on it, we'd rather be in it," Warren said. Another example of his mixed message was: "Not necessarily knock him out of the game, I said go across his head a time or two. There's a difference."
 
Warren was given opportunities to back down. Told his remarks sounded malicious he said, "This game is all about being malicious and violent."

When it was suggested that he was talking about Roethlisberger's head, he said: "One rule they used to tell me, 'Kill the head and the body's dead.' "

When reporters were asked to leave the locker room, Warren was shouting that phrase.

More Miami shakeup could still happen

DAVIE, Fla. — The future of Rick Spielman, Miami Dolphins general manager, might be less secure than he has suggested.

Team president Eddie Jones said yesterday the makeup of the front office will depend on who's hired by owner Wayne Huizenga in the wake of coach Dave Wannstedt's resignation Tuesday.

Jones' comments came after Spielman said he received assurances from Huizenga that he'll remain general manager next season.

Asked about Spielman's claim, Jones said, "Everybody in this business is evaluated on a day-to-day basis. What's true today may not be true tomorrow. I choose to really leave it there."

The Dolphins have begun their search for a coach. They'll also hire a new president because Jones plans to retire next spring.

Jones said the makeup of the front office, which includes the job of general manager, will hinge in part on who becomes coach.

Notes

• The Minnesota Vikings officially downgraded WR Randy Moss (hamstring) from doubtful to out for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

• Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair only took part in a seven-on-seven drill, but coach Jeff Fisher is hoping the quarterback can do some more work today. McNair still has soreness after bruising his chest twice in five games, the latest in a hit on Oct. 24 in a loss to Minnesota.

RB Chris Brown (toe) also didn't practice, but Fisher said he hopes he might work today.