On the NFL: It's no day to stand in his way

Beware of the man who's fresh off a Pro Bowl snub, particularly if said man is quick, strong and leads NFC defensive ends with 15 1/2 sacks.

Falcons defensive end John Abraham is that man.

"He could easily have made the Pro Bowl with the number of sacks he has and the way he comes off the edge," said Vikings coach Brad Childress, an admirer and perhaps a man trying to soothe Abraham before he attempts to snap Tarvaris Jackson in two today at the Metrodome.

Each year, good NFL players get left off Pro Bowl rosters. Each year, many use the next game to vent.

The Falcons are 9-5 in the rugged NFC South and got two Pro Bowl selections, running back Michael Turner and receiver Roddy White. The Vikings, 9-5 in the not-as-rugged NFC North, tied the Giants with a conference-high six selections.

Abraham is an alternate behind deserving ends: Carolina's Julius Peppers (12 1/2 sacks), the Giants' Justin Tuck (12) and the Vikings' Jared Allen (14 1/2). Abraham moved past all of them with his third three-sack game of the season last week.

"I'm upset that John Abraham didn't make the Pro Bowl," White told reporters this week. "I thought John Abraham was a lock to make it. ... I was shocked that he didn't."

"I don't know what [voters] are basing that on," Turner said. "We haven't given up too many sacks, and we're leading the league in rushing."

The Falcons have given up only 14 sacks, ranking fifth in fewest sacks per pass play. That's not easy to do with a rookie at quarterback.

So long, River Falls Chiefs training camp will be leaving River Falls, Wis., after next summer for Missouri Western, about 50 miles north of Kansas City. It will end a relationship with Wisconsin-River Falls that began in 1991.

The Missouri Development Finance Board approved $25 million in state tax credits for a project that could cost $50 million to upgrade the Missouri Western facilities. The Chiefs will kick in about $10 million.

Oh, the misery! Those poor San Diego Chargers were forced to spend a day with no warmth or sunshine when they -- gasp! -- had to practice in the rain on Wednesday.

Defensive lineman Ryon Bigham had so much fun in the mud, he picked up a big worm and ate it.

"Kinda gritty," he said.

Stat of the week 0-4: The Packers' record since beating the Bears 37-3 on Nov. 16. The Packers, Bears and Vikings all were 5-5 at the end of that day. The Vikings have gone 4-0, the Bears 3-1. The Packers not only are 0-4 but now are a four-point underdog for Monday's game against the same Bears team they beat by 34 a month ago.

Brees watch Saints quarterback Drew Brees needs 753 yards passing to overtake Dan Marino's NFL single-season record of 5,084 yards passing set in 1984. He faces the Lions today and Carolina next week.

Banged-up Pats The Patriots have put 14 players on injured reserved this season, including a pretty good QB after Week 1.

Despite the outstanding jobs by Tony Sparano in Miami and Mike Smith in Atlanta, the feeling here is New England's Bill Belichick is still in the running for Coach of the Year.