Taylor next running back to test Titans’ defense

Nashville, Tenn. — Stephen Davis. Edgerrin James. Ricky Williams.

They’re among the league’s best running backs and have something else in common — they’ve all failed to crack 100 yards against the Tennessee Titans in Music City.

Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor was the last running back to top that mark in Nashville. Sunday, he will be the latest to try to snap the Titans’ streak, now the NFL’s best mark at 25 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

The Titans have allowed a 100-yard rusher only 13 times since 1996, the lowest mark in the NFL. They are the NFL’s best defense against the run this season, allowing an average 73.6 yards.

NFL players testify about supplements

San Francisco — Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley hit a photographer outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hours prior to testifying before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab.

Wheatley was one of five NFL players — including four Raiders — to appear Thursday before the panel. Others included former NFL defensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield, a Kansas University product, and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Also appearing before the grand jury Thursday was Marion Jones, who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TV cameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist and slapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Berger took a photo of him Thursday.

Stubblefield and Morton each declined to comment after their morning appearances.

League suspends Browns RB Green

Berea, Ohio — William Green can’t seem to outrun his troubled past.

Green, the Cleveland Browns’ leading rusher, was suspended for four games by the NFL Thursday for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Browns president Carmen Policy said Green already was enrolled in the league’s treatment program, and the suspension indicated the second-year back had twice violated his personal program.

Because of confidentiality, Policy does not know if Green’s involvement in the program stemmed from him twice being suspended for marijuana use while at Boston College.

Raiders’ Gannon has shoulder surgery

Alameda, Calif. — Rich Gannon had surgery on his injured throwing shoulder Thursday and is expected to rejoin the Oakland Raiders in the next few days.

Last season’s NFL MVP was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

The Raiders hope to have the 16-year veteran back for spring minicamps. Backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo (knee) also is out for the season, leaving third-stringer Rick Mirer as the starter for the final seven games.