Lemon gets start at QB for Dolphins
MIAMI, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Quarterback Cleo Lemon, who has come off the bench each of the last two weeks, will start for Miami when the Dolphins wrap up their season at Indianapolis.
Dolphins Coach Nick Saban Wednesday listed Lemon as his starter for Sunday, but said he may also still use Joey Harrington, who started the last 11 games at quarterback.
Lemon played well in the second half of last Monday's loss to the New York Jets, completing 11-of-16 passes for 104 yards and his first NFL touchdown pass. Lemon, in the last two games, has connected on 20-of-30 passes for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Lemon has seen limited playing time in his NFL career, mostly as an emergency backup.
"I think organizationally, it's important for us to see where this guy is," Saban told the Miami Herald. "I think he deserves the opportunity. I think he's earned the right. I think the other players respect him. I think we'll hopefully get a team behind him so he has a chance to do the things he can do so we can have some success."
Chris Simms signs new contract
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Quarterback Chris Simms of Tampa Bay Wednesday signed a new multiyear deal with the NFL team.
The 6-foot-4 inch Simms, who was in his third season out of Texas, has not played since suffering a ruptured spleen against Carolina Sept. 24.
The move is considered a surprise since there had been speculation his days with the team were numbered because he is at odds with Coach Jon Gruden.
He was third-round draft pick by the Buccaneers in 2003. He has 3,087 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Before he was placed on injured reserve, he completed 58 of 106 passes for one touchdown and 585 yards with seven interceptions.
The St. Petersburg Times said the deal is for two years, and could be worth as much as $14.5 million.
Redskins put Shawn Springs on IR
ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins Wednesday put cornerback Shawn Springs on the injured reserve list with a fractured shoulder blade.
His latest injury occurred in the first quarter of Sunday's 37-31 overtime loss at St. Louis.
Earlier this season, the 6-foot Springs missed six games because of abdominal surgery.
In making the announcement Wednesday, Coach Joe Gibbs hinted to reporters that Springs likely will play safety next season, a move he has said has piqued his interest.
"Shawn has a future with us," Gibbs told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "We think he can play a number of spots besides cornerback. He is important as a corner, but he can play other spots too."
Springs is in his 10th NFL season. He ends the year with 38 tackles and one interception in nine games.
For his career, the former Ohio State product has 76 tackles and 27 interceptions in 132 career games.
Vikings put Fred Smoot on IR
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Vikings Wednesday placed cornerback Fred Smoot on the injured reserve list because of a broken jaw.
The injury occurred last Saturday in his home state of Mississippi near Hattiesburg.
Vikings Coach Brad Childress told reporters at his weekly news conference Wednesday that the 5-foot-11 inch Smoot has been discharged from the hospital. He said he had received an update from Smoot's agent, Bus Cook.
"(Smoot) broke his jaw in five places (and) obviously, I haven't spoken to him," said Childress. "Bus is still trying to get the details."
Smoot ends his season with 63 tackles and one interception -- on a pass by Bret Favre last Thursday night when Green Bay beat the Vikings, 9-7, eliminating them from the NFC playoff chase.
In his career, Smoot, who was a second-round pick by Washington in 2001, has 318 tackles and 19 interceptions.
Fellow cornerback Cedric Griffin, a rookie from Texas, also landed on IR because of a neck injury.
Thornton tops NHL West All-Star voting
NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton leads all Western Conference players in votes ahead of the NHL All-Star Game.
Thornton, with 614,753 votes, owns a 74,000-vote lead over Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, who has totaled 540,380.
Other leading vote getters among forwards are Colorado's Joe Sakic (431,961) and San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo (407,366). Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom is second among Western Conference defenseman with 522,345 votes while write-in candidate Rory Fitzpatrick of Vancouver is next at 486,842.
The leading goaltender in the West is Vancouver's Roberto Luongo with 438,155 votes.
The top three forwards, two defensemen and leading goaltender in the voting earn starting slots in the NHL All-Star Game, set for Jan. 24 in Dallas.
Voting continues through next Wednesday.
