Football briefs

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - For the second consecutive day, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn't in the locker room or at practice when reporters and cameramen were allowed inside Friday.During the 45-minute period in the locker room, several cameramen lingered near his locker, but he didn't show up. Nor was he there for the first 12 minutes of practice that the media were allowed to watch.New England coach Bill Belichick said reporters would be informed after practice if Brady participated. There was no word after it ended, and calls to the Patriots were not immediately returned.Brady was photographed in New York on Monday wearing a protective boot on his right foot. He took it off later in the day and hasn't been photographed wearing it since. He reportedly has a minor high ankle sprain that isn't expected to keep him out of the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Feb. 3.- Young, Griffin going back to Texas for degree NASHVILLE - Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young and the team's top draft pick, Michael Griffin, are going back to school.The former University of Texas players are enrolled full-time for the spring semester, an official in the registrar's office confirmed.Young, who left the Longhorns in January 2006 to enter the NFL shortly after winning a national championship, has enrolled as a full-time student again. Safety Michael Griffin also has enrolled.Young's agent, Major Adams, told The Tennessean that Young is approximately two semesters shy of his degree in liberal arts and hopes to finish by spring 2009.That could keep Young busy in an offseason when the Titans have a new offensive coordinator. Coach Jeff Fisher fired Norm Chow on Jan. 15 and hired former coordinator Mike Heimerdinger to juice up an offense that managed only nine touchdowns passing in 2007.The Titans start their offseason program March 24 with their on-field sessions tentatively scheduled between April and June. The spring semester at Texas wraps up May 13.Griffin is majoring in youth and community studies.- Extra points ... n Undecided on a head coach, the Washington Redskins at least have someone to run the offense. The Redskins signed Jim Zorn to a three-year contract Friday to be their offensive coordinator, according to a person familiar with the situation. Zorn has been Seattle's quarterbacks coach for the past seven years. The Washington Post reported that Zorn took the job with the expectation that former Giants coach Jim Fassel, Washington assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams or Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would become head coach. Regardless of who the new coach will be, Zorn's hiring essentially assured the departure of Al Saunders, who ran the offense to mixed reviews for the last two seasons.n Atlanta hired former Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey as their offensive coordinator. Mularkey was Miami's tight ends coach this past season. New coach Mike Smith also announced that Emmitt Thomas will remain on staff as an assistant head coach and again work with the secondary.n The Oakland Raiders denied a report that owner Al Davis asked coach Lane Kiffin to resign. ESPN, citing unidentified sources, reported that Davis drew up a resignation letter for Kiffin two weeks ago, but he refused to sign it. Kiffin has two years left on the contract he signed last January. n Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia is headed to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time, replacing Green Bay's Brett Favre on the NFC roster. Favre, who was chosen as the starter, had said he was unsure whether he would play.n Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu (knee sprain) will not play in the Pro Bowl and will be replaced on AFC roster by Antoine Bethea of Indianapolis. n A man who sold a female pit bull to suspended Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick's dogfighting operation and attended some of the fights avoided prison time because he cooperated with investigators and did not physically harm any of the dogs. Oscar Allen was sentenced to three years probation and fined $500 for his involvement in the dogfighting ring.