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Bob Stein wants the league to own up, and pay up, for its role.

Despite an expanding body of evidence linking brain damage to violent collisions on the football field, Bob Stein can still indulge in a little gallows humor. "The good news," he said, "is that I can't remember how many concussions I had."

Capsule previews for Week 9 around the NFL. All times Eastern.

SUNDAY:

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-2), 1 p.m.

The Bengals already surprised the Ravens once this season, beating them, 17-14, last month on a last-minute TD pass. If it happens again, it would be wise not to dismiss the Bengals as playoff contenders.

Prediction: Ravens, 30-20

No matter what happens between here and the awarding of the Lombardi Trophy in the moonlight of some distant South Florida February, nothing will match for compelling NFL video the 15 stunning seconds of New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sideline the week before last.

From a highlights standpoint, I'm telling you, the season is over.

The 2008 football season began with Arian Foster closing in on Tennessee's career-rushing record. But the team struggled, and so did Foster.

He finished his career with 2,964 yards -- 114 yards short of Travis Henry's school record.

Capsule previews for Saturday's college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

NORTHWESTERN (5-4) at No. 8 IOWA (9-0), Noon, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Iowa by 16.

COACHES: Pat Fitzgerald (24-22 in fourth year at Northwestern) and Kirk Ferentz (79-53 in 11th year at Iowa).

This dragon roars.

Nearing the quarter poll of the BCS title chase, college football handicappers must be poring over their preseason power ratings trying to figure out what they missed.

Sure the three favorites -- Florida, Texas and Alabama -- are leading the pack. But four teams making a move on the outside -- Iowa, Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State -- weren't even supposed to be contenders.

Capsule previews of Thursday and Friday's top college games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

THURSDAY:

No. 23 VIRGINIA TECH (5-3) at EAST CAROLINA (5-3), 7:30, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Va. Tech by 12.

COACHES: Frank Beamer (182-91-2 in 23td year at Va. Tech) and Skip Holtz (34-25 in fifth year at East Carolina).

In a little more than a month, the 75th Heisman Trophy will be awarded in New York City. And right now, the race could not be more wide open.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has listed five possibilities to play free safety when they take the Mile High plunge Monday night in Denver, and if one of them is not named Ryan Clark the correct answer will be Tyrone Carter.