NFL trying to discourage faking injuries

NFL notes • League says it wants to talk to Pittsburgh's Sanders.

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When Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders suddenly dropped to the turf late in the fourth quarter, was helped to the sideline, returned after missing one play, then managed to be the first player down the field on punt coverage, announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth let NBC's audience know their feelings.

"Man," Michaels said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm sure glad Sanders is OK."

In a similar tone, Collinsworth chimed in: "It's a miracle."

Both chuckled. More guffaws and hearty mocking of Sanders came from ESPN's talking heads on a "C'mon Man!" segment a couple of days later.

Safe to say the NFL doesn't consider this a laughing matter: The league told Sanders it wants to chat about what happened in that Sunday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals. When a reporter asked Sanders this week whether he really had a cramp against the Bengals, he didn't answer directly, saying: "We're going to speak on it when we get to New York."

NFL donating $1M to help with Sandy relief

The NFL and the players' union are combining to donate $1 million to the American Red Cross to help in the recovery efforts in the Northeast after Hurricane Sandy.

Also, the league and its network broadcasters will run TV pregame and in-game messages to promote donations during this weekend's games.

Around the league

Dolphins • Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill remains limited in practice, and his availability for Sunday's game at Indianapolis is uncertain.

Nursing a leg injury, Tannehill took snaps with the first team Thursday and threw on the run. But for the second consecutive day he practiced wearing a brace and thigh-to-ankle sleeve on his left leg.

Falcons • Outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, one of the leaders of Atlanta's defense, will miss Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys with a right ankle injury.

Weatherspoon is second on the team in tackles and sacks. —

Week 9 schedule

Thursday

• San Diego 31, Kansas City 13

Sunday

• Arizona at Green Bay, 11 a.m., Ch. 13

• Chicago at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

• Buffalo at Houston, 11 a.m.

• Carolina at Washington, 11 a.m.

• Detroit at Jacksonville, 11 a.m.

• Denver at Cincinnati, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

• Baltimore at Cleveland, 11 a.m.

• Miami at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.

• Minnesota at Seattle, 2 p.m.

• Tampa Bay at Oakland, 2 p.m.

• Pittsburgh at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 2

• Dallas at Atlanta, 6:20 p.m., Ch. 5

Open • N.Y. Jets, New England, San Francisco, St. Louis

Monday

• Philadelphia at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m., ESPN