NFL: Peterson avoids jail in plea deal

Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson avoided jail time on Tuesday in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child-abuse case.

Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault under the deal that Montgomery County State District Judge Kelly Case approved during a court hearing in Texas. A no-contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.

The all-pro running back was indicted in September on a felony charge of injury to a child for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son earlier this year in suburban Houston. The case revived a debate about corporal punishment, which is on the decline in the United States but still widely practiced in homes and schools.

"I truly regret this incident. I take full responsibility for my actions," Peterson told reporters after accepting the plea deal. "I'm just glad this is over and I can put this behind me."

There was a sense of frustration in Tom Coughlin's voice speaking about the New York Giants' third straight loss.

The 68-year-old coach had asked his team to step up with the season approaching crisis level, and it didn't.

The offense had another no-show effort until the game was out of reach. The defense played well for a half, before being riddled by Andrew Luck in a 40-24 loss on Monday night.

The great effort that was needed to beat a very good team never emerged.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will miss Sunday's game at the New York Jets with a sprained right knee.

Polamalu injured the knee in the second quarter of a 43-23 victory over Baltimore on Sunday night. Polamalu was caught underneath Baltimore's Justin Forsett after Forsett was being tackled by teammate Stephon Tuitt.

The 33-year-old Polamalu walked off the field and returned briefly before heading to the locker room. Polamalu has 51 tackles this season. He will be replaced by Will Allen when the Steelers (6-3) face the reeling Jets (1-8).

Robert Griffin III doesn't see the final seven games of the season as a chance to prove he's definitively the Washington Redskins' franchise quarterback. In his mind, he already is.

One day after coach Jay Gruden said "the jury is still out" on the Redskins' quarterback position, Griffin tried to put any doubts to rest, saying: "When it comes to being the franchise guy, that is what it is. I believe that I am. I believe that this organization knows that I am, and I know those guys in the locker room believe that I am."

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo went through the walk-through practice with the first-team offense Tuesday, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Romo said his back feels better after the long flight to London, but he doesn't know if he will practice Wednesday as the team prepares for Week 10 against the Jaguars.

Early indications are the Cowboys are expecting Romo to be back in the lineup Week 10 after sitting out Week 9. If he is sidelined again, Brandon Weeden will be back under center for Dallas.