OAKLAND'S RUSSELL LOOKING AT SUSPENSION

Defensive tackle Darrell Russell of the Oakland Raiders faces a one-year
suspension by the NFL after testing positive for the drug Ecstasy, a league
source said Sunday.

Russell, who sat out the first four games this season for violating the
league's substance-abuse policy, has appealed the suspension. He will be
allowed to play until the appeal is decided.

The case was first reported Sunday by CBS Sports and confirmed by a league
source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Raiders and the NFL declined comment on the case. Russell returned to
action Oct. 14 after being suspended in August when the NFL determined he
failed to comply with its drug-testing policy.

After Sunday's game, Russell referred all questions to his agent and said
he was set to play next Sunday against Kansas City "until somebody tells me
I'm not."

Raiders coach Jon Gruden also refused to comment specifically about
Russell's situation.

"This is a very private matter, the league is securing the information," he
said. "Obviously, I'm concerned for Darrell. I'm not going to say he's
guilty or not guilty."

JAGUARS: Jacksonville placed wide receiver R. Jay Soward on their active
roster in his first week after returning from a 10-game suspension for
violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

The NFL granted the Jaguars a one-week grace period to decide whether to
put Soward on the 53-man active roster. But coach Tom Coughlin waived that
Sunday and activated the second-year player for tonight's game against
Green Bay.

BRONCOS: Denver receiver Rod Smith, who led the league in catches and was
second in receiving yards entering the weekend, was inactive for Sunday's
game against Miami.

Smith practiced lightly Friday on two sprained ankles but was unable to go
after pregame warm-ups. He has 82 catches for 1,029 yards and nine
touchdowns this season.