Former Miami receiver McDuffie retires

Miami Former Miami Dolphins receiver O.J. McDuffie officially announced his retirement, ending a nine-year NFL career marred in recent years by a recurring toe injury.

“I have had a blessed and rewarding career, surrounded by great people, beginning with the legendary coach Don Shula,” McDuffie said in a statement released Friday.

McDuffie, a first-round draft pick in 1993 from Penn State, set the Dolphins’ single-season receptions record with 90 in 1998. He finished his career with 415 catches, fourth on the team’s all-time rankings behind Mark Clayton, Mark Duper and Nat Moore.

McDuffie also totaled 5,074 yards and 29 touchdowns.

McDuffie became one of the NFL’s elite possession receivers and a favorite of Dan Marino, who referred to McDuffie as “the toughest football player I ever played with.”

McDuffie had two surgeries on his left big toe in 1999. He played hurt in 1999 and 2000. He was inactive for the 2001 season because of the injury, which he said in February still caused him pain.

Hall of Famer Jim Otto treated for cancer

Oakland, Calif. Hall of Famer Jim Otto has received treatment for prostate cancer for the last six weeks.

“The treatments make me a little tired in the afternoon. I have three more weeks of radiation and 2-to-5 years of hormones,” Otto, 64, said Friday. “A couple of years ago when you got this type of cancer they didn’t give you a whole lot of time to live. That was then. I plan on being around for a while.”

An Oakland Raiders center for 15 years and a member of the original Raiders of 1960, Otto played in nine AFL All-Star games and the first three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls.

Texans owner relishes team’s first home game

Houston Five years and more than $1 billion in private and public money later, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair basked in the glow of his team competing on its new home turf for the first time Saturday night.

“The stadium is fantastic and the fans love it,” McNair said during halftime of the Texans’ preseason home opener against the Miami Dolphins at Reliant Stadium. “Everybody who comes up to me can’t say enough good things about it.

“It’s a great moment for us.”

McNair, who spent $700 million to win the expansion franchise in 1999 and helped oversee construction of the $449 million stadium, backed largely by hotel and car rental taxes, called the 69,500-seat stadium “a good asset for the community” that will pay for itself some day.

Panther rookie to miss first month of season

Charlotte, N.C. Carolina Panthers rookie running back DeShaun Foster will miss the first month of the regular season with a knee injury.

Foster damaged cartilage and suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during a 23-3 preseason loss to the New England Patriots on Friday. He is expected to miss four to five weeks.

Vick plays just two series against Dallas

Irving, Texas Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Vick bruised his right elbow Saturday night against Dallas.

Vick was expected to play the entire first half, but got sandwiched between defenders Ebenezer Ekuban and La’Roi Glover with about 13 minutes left in the second quarter.