The NFL will offer support instead of disdain to Eagles coach Andy Reid, who's fighting a family crisis with two sons battling addiction problems. Eagle players may have talked about a double standard within the league for having drugs found in a home, but here's the difference. Players don't have sons in their 20s that can bring drugs into the home. The NFL isn't going to think the Eagles coach supported and endorsed the drugs found in his home after a search. The NFL will offer a helping hand, not try to give Reid a hand slap.

Return engagement? The Patriots' decision to place backup halfback Sammy Morris on the injured reserve list could open the door for cornerback Eddie Jackson to come off the physically unable to perform list Saturday. Bill Belichick has the option of taking Jackson or wide receiver Chad Jackson off the physically unable to perform list, but the Patriots obviously don't need additions at wide receiver. The Pats are overloaded at wide receiver. With special teamers Eric Alexander and Mel Mitchell likely not to be available, the special team is the natural choice for Eddie unless the team goes outside the organization, which is unlikely.

Not so fast! When the Raiders opened up a roster spot by placing defensive end Tommy Kelly on the injured reserve list, there was some hope the Raiders would take running back Michael Bush off the physically unable to perform list. Those hopes are stalled because defensive tackle Josh Shaw appears to be the choice. Bush only returned to the practice field Wednesday. Having missed so much time because of the broken leg dating back to his days at Louisville, there is no need to rush. The Raiders have the second half of the season to give him a few tests to see if he can be a featured back of the future.

Musical quarterbacks: JaMarcus Russell will be the third quarterback for a second straight week when the Raiders line up against the Eagles Sunday, but it's pretty apparent that Andrew Walter is on the way out of Oakland. He's the fourth quarterback and isn't getting any snaps in practice. If the Raiders get short on a roster spot because of injuries, they may be forced to release him, but that's not in the cards now.

TV blackout looms: The Raiders decision to go to Josh McCown over Daunte Culpepper could have a big impact in Minnesota of all places. The Vikings had to scramble to have a local television station to buy out enough tickets in order to avert a blackout of Sunday's game against the Broncos. They aren't sold out for the Raiders game in two weeks, but the Vikings hoped Culpepper would be a great gate attraction. With Culpepper on the bench, the Vikings might have to accept they are destined for their first blackout of the season.