NFL: Colts' Brackett awaits punishment

Gary Brackett will almost certainly get fined after making helmet-to-helmet contact with a Tennessee player Sunday, but the Indianapolis Colts hope their defensive captain doesn't get suspended.

Brackett, a linebacker who played for Glassboro High in Gloucester County, has been fined twice this season for illegal hits, and some believe a third such penalty could include a suspension.

No player has yet been suspended for illegal hits since the league instituted a crackdown early in the season.

Favre again. Two massage therapists sued Brett Favre on Monday, saying they lost part-time jobs with the New York Jets after complaining about sexually suggestive text messages from the quarterback.

Claiming they were subjected to sexual harassment and job discrimination, Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole are seeking unspecified damages from Favre, the Jets and a Jets massage coordinator.

The suit also includes a message Favre allegedly sent to a third, unidenitified massage therapist. "Kinda lonely tonight," it says. "I guess I have bad intentions."

The team declined to comment and Favre's agent didn't return a telephone message.

The lawsuit comes five days after the NFL fined Favre $50,000 for not being forthright in an investigation into allegations that he sent lewd text messages and photos to former Jets game hostess Jenn Sterger when they both worked for the team in 2008.

Dear fans. A day after the NFL regular season ended, commissioner Roger Goodell sent an e-mail to about five million fans, telling them that "if both sides give a little," the league and its players' union "can and will reach an agreement" on a new labor deal.

As expected, Goodell wrote that the two keys to a new deal were an 18-game schedule and a rookie salary cap.

The players association declined comment.

For the record. Chicago's Devin Hester set a league record for the highest punt return average in a season. The return specialist averaged 17.1 yards, the highest in league history among players with at least 30 returns.

Injury report.

New England placed defensive lineman Ron Brace on injured reserve with an elbow injury. . . . New York Giants offensive lineman Rich Seubert will have surgery to repair a disclosed right kneecap on Tuesday. . . . Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will have arthroscopic surgery this week to repair partially torn meniscus in his right knee.

Moves.

One-time bust Mike Williams has found a home in Seattle, signing a three-year extension. The former first-round pick finished the regular season with a career-best 65 catches for 751 yards and two touchdowns.

Houston retained Gary Kubiak as head man but made wholesale changes on the staff, dismissing defensive coordinator Frank Bush, secondary coach David Gibbs, linebackers coach Johnny Holland and assistant linebackers coach Robert Saleh. The Texans (6-10) lost eight of their last 10 games, mostly due to a defense that gave up a league-high 4,280 yards passing along with 33 touchdown passes, tied with Dallas for the league's worst.