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From The Associated Press

Referees' association supports Hochuli after blown call

WYLIE, Texas—Ed Hochuli received the support of the NFL Referees Association on Tuesday, two days after he botched a call at the end of the San Diego-Denver game that allowed the Broncos to keep possession and go on to score the winning points.

“No one feels worse about this than Ed, but like the coaches and players in our high-speed game, mistakes will occur,” NFLRA executive director Tim Millis said in a statement.

“The NFLRA stands by Ed Hochuli as a 19-year veteran with multiple Super Bowl and countless playoff game experience who has the integrity and character to admit a mistake and accept the criticism that comes with it.”

The crucial call occurred with the Broncos at the Chargers 1-yard-line in the final minute. Denver quarterback Jay Cutler dropped back to pass, the ball slipped out of his hands, bounced off the grass and into the arms of San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins.

Hochuli, a former NFLRA president, ruled it an incomplete pass. Replay ruled it a fumble, but it was spotted at the 10, where the ball hit the ground, and given to Denver because the rules did not permit possession to be awarded to San Diego because the whistle had blown.

Denver went on to score a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to win 39-38.

Jeter breaks hits mark at Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK—Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig’s record for hits at Yankee Stadium, singling in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

The hit off Gavin Floyd was Jeter’s 1,270th in the 85-year-old ballpark, scheduled to close Sunday. It came in Jeter’s 8,002nd major league at-bat, passing Gehrig for second on the Yankees’ career list behind Mickey Mantle (8,102).

White Sox third baseman Juan Uribe, playing on the edge of the infield grass, tried to backhand the sharp grounder, which went under his glove.

There were camera flashes with every pitch thrown to Jeter in recent days. Jeter acknowledged the long ovation by taking off his helmet and raising it to the sellout crowd.

Gehrig played with New York from 1923 — Yankee Stadium’s opening season — until 1939, when he retired due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He died of ALS two years later.

Yost says he has no regrets managing Brewers

MILWAUKEE—Once he finished packing, Ned Yost figured he’d begin the long drive back home to Georgia. He might even tune in a ballgame.

“I’ve got XM Radio, so I’ll be able to listen to the Brewers pitch-by-pitch and be rooting Dale on in his first win,” Yost said.

A day after being abruptly fired as Milwaukee’s manager and replaced by third-base coach Dale Sveum, Yost insisted Tuesday he had no hard feelings toward the team that let him go with 12 games left while tied for the NL wild-card spot.

“If anybody thinks that I’ve got sour grapes or I don’t want this club to succeed, they’re crazy. I’ll be rooting them on every inch of the way and I hope they can win that wild card and go deep, deep into the playoffs and win the World Series,” he said.

Sveum starts out Tuesday night with the opener of a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Yost intended to be in charge when he flew into Chicago on Monday. Instead, he’s got a new plan: taking wife Debbie out to dinner for their 31st wedding anniversary Wednesday night.

Texans considering Rice Stadium for next home game

HOUSTON—Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has discussed the possibility of his team playing at Rice Stadium if repairs to Reliant Stadium from Hurricane Ike can’t be made in time for its first home game on Oct. 5.

The stadium’s retractable roof lost five pieces in the storm and officials said large pieces of debris had fallen into the stadium.

Though he has discussed playing at Rice, which is four miles from Reliant, McNair is “optimistic” that repairs can be made in time for Houston to play at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 5.

“We would have to talk to them at Rice, but certainly it’s a large enough stadium that it is a possibility,” McNair said Tuesday.

Rice Stadium holds 47,000 in its current configuration, but the tarps could be moved off the end zone seating to expand the capacity to 70,000. It was opened in 1950 and hosted the Super Bowl in 1974.

Seahawks acquire Robinson, trade for WR Colbert

SEATTLE—The Seattle Seahawks took two steps to bolster their injured-depleted wide receivers by trading for Keary Colbert and reacquiring Koren Robinson on Tuesday.

Seattle agreed to a one-year contract with Robinson, its former No. 1 draft choice. Agent Alvin Keels confirmed the agreement and its length in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Robinson worked out for the Seahawks on Tuesday and convinced team president Tim Ruskell he has changed since Ruskell released him in the 2005 season because of repeated problems with alcohol.

The Seahawks have lost six wide receivers to injury this season. Robinson already is listed as No. 1 on Seattle’s depth chart at wide receiver for Sunday’s game against St. Louis, a matchup of winless teams.

“Just because of the terms and circumstances I left Seattle on, I never thought I’d be back,” Robinson said on a conference call. “I’m grateful for this chance. I think it can be a good story — for me and the team.”

The 28-year-old Robinson said he has been sober for 25 months thanks to a new marriage, two young sons, a baby girl due next month and religion.

Tomlin: Roethlisberger’s shoulder not separated

PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin clarified the status of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s shoulder: Sprained but not separated.

The injury will likely keep Roethlisberger from fully participating in practice Wednesday, but not from playing on Sunday against Philadelphia.

The Steelers said last week that their quarterback was nursing a sore shoulder, but a TV commentator on Sunday night termed the injury a shoulder separation.

During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Tomlin appeared agitated by the latter description.

“I have no idea where that report came from,” Tomlin said. “It didn’t come from me or my medical staff. If anybody in here has got any information about where that report came from, send them to me.”

Tomlin said Roethlisberger sprained his AC joint, an injury to the ligaments that attach the collarbone to the shoulder blade.