Notes

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — BILLS

QB Edwards released

Chan Gailey needed to see Ryan Fitzpatrick put some life into Buffalo’s anemic offense just once before deciding Trent Edwards was expendable.

“After the way that Fitz played yesterday, I feel very confident about the direction we’re going,” Buffalo’s first-year coach said Monday, a day after the Bills (0-3) were beaten 38-30 by the New England Patriots. “Trent did the best he could, and he’s a great young man and I wish him the best.”

The Bills waived Edwards in a surprising move Monday, a few weeks after Gailey said he saw “light at the end of the tunnel” with Edwards as his starter.

With Fitzpatrick the starter, Brian Brohm moves into the backup role.

Edwards was in his fourth season after being selected by the team in the third round of the 2007 draft and eventually replaced J.P. Losman midway through his rookie season. He went 14-18 as a starter.

49ERS

Offensive coordinator fired

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Their offense in a funk, the winless San Francisco 49ers fired coordinator Jimmy Raye on Monday.

Raye was dismissed one day after San Francisco lost 31-10 at Kansas City to fall to 0-3. The 49ers have scored 38 points, second fewest in the NFL behind Carolina.

Mike Johnson will move from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Offensive assistant Jason Michael will take over as quarterbacks coach.

Coach Mike Singletary said he made the decision after spending the night looking at game film.

“One thing I want you to understand is if I make a decision, it’s my decision,” he said. “The thing that I have control over is the 53-man roster and the staff, who is on my coaching staff. That is my decision.”

The 49ers were considered a favorite in the NFC West this year, but their offense has stalled, plagued by turnovers and a weak running game.

Raye was in his second season with the 49ers. He has spent more than 30 years in coaching, including a previous stint with San Francisco as wide receivers coach in 1977.

RAVENS

Rice has knee bruise

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has a bruised knee, an injury that has left his status in doubt for this week’s AFC North showdown against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rice left Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns with just under 10 minutes left after catching a short pass for a 4-yard gain. A magnetic resonance imaging Monday revealed “a significant contusion,” according to Ravens Coach John Harbaugh.

The team would not reveal whether Rice hurt his left or right knee.

Rice leads the Ravens this season with 210 yards rushing, including 80 on 15 carries in Baltimore’s 24-17 win over the Browns.

RAMS

Jackson: Injury a strain

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams running back Stephen Jackson tweeted Monday that his groin injury is a strain, not a tear.

Jackson broke the news on his Twitter feed after undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging. He also tweeted that he’d already had two hours of rehab treatment a day after he was injured in the Rams’ 30-16 victory over Washington.

Spagnuolo said Jackson would be day to day and that he’d leave it up to the player and trainers whether he would try to bounce back and play this week at home against Seattle.

“Let’s face it, we want Steven out there all the time, as much as possible,” Spagnuolo said.

Jackson showed he could deal with pain last season when he played the final six games with a herniated disc in his back that required offseason surgery. The bruising back led the NFC with 1,416 yards rushing.

Despite missing the second half Sunday, Jackson is fourth in the NFC with 214 yards and a 4.2-yard average.

NFL

Polian: Season expanding

INDIANAPOLIS - Bill Polian says the 18-game NFL season is a done deal.

During Monday night’s weekly radio show, the Indianapolis Colts team president called it a “fait accompli” and said the debate is over. Polian is a member of the league’s competition committee and has worked in the league office.

League owners and the commissioner have expressed support for an expanded regular-season schedule, but have not said a decision has been made.

LIONS

Best’s status unclear

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - It’s unclear how much time injured Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best will miss, but the team appears ready to get Kevin Smith back in the backfield.

Best left Sunday’s loss at Minnesota with pain in a right toe, but Coach Jim Schwartz wouldn’t elaborate on the injury during Monday’s news conference. The rookie has 307 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns this season.

Smith spent the offseason rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament and didn’t play in the first three weeks.

CHIEFS

Agent: Weis has surgery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis had emergency gall bladder surgery Monday morning, according to a newspaper report.

Weis’ agent, Bob LaMonte, told The Kansas City Star that Weis chose to delay surgery until after the Sunday’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

LaMonte told the newspaper that Weis, 54, had a painful infection but put off the surgery so he could coach in the game, a 31-10 Chiefs victory over the 49ers.

Weis, the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl teams, was hired by the Chiefs after he was fired last year as head coach at Notre Dame.