After a loss to then-winless Kansas City on Sunday, the Redskins' front office relieved Zorn of his play-calling duty and installed former consultant Sherm Lewis as the play-caller.

Largent, a Hall of Fame receiver and former U.S. congressman, yesterday called the switch to Lewis a "joke" in an interview on KJR radio in Seattle.

"They went to the point of pulling out his contract and said, 'You have to do whatever the owner tells you to do,' " Largent told the station. "His choice was either to resign or to continue on under the current scenario.

"Jim isn't going to do that [resign]. Jim isn't a quitter."

Contacted by the Washington Post later yesterday, Largent said it was his opinion - not Zorn's - that the Redskins were trying to force him to step down.

At his news conference yesterday, Zorn tried to laugh off Largent's comments.

"Friends, they kind of get fired up for friends," he said. "I'm going to have to go bust him."

Zorn said Lewis would sit in the coaches' box calling plays, but it will be offensive coordinator Sherman Smith - not Zorn - who relays the play to quarterback Jason Campbell.

Vikings. Adrian Peterson's 624 yards rushing lead the NFL, and his average of 5.16 yards per carry through 36 career games is the highest in NFL history at that stage of a career.

Barry Sanders had a 5.12-yard average and Jim Brown had a 5.07 average, according to Stats LLC.

Browns. A total of 12 players, including Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers and five other starters, missed practice with flu symptoms.

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson had surgery in New York to repair his injured shoulder.

Jets. Safety James Ihedigbo and linebacker Marques Murrell were each fined $5,000 by the NFL for their roles in a scuffle with Buffalo's Derek Fine. A Jets spokesman said coach Rex Ryan plans to make both players inactive and they will not travel to Oakland on Sunday.

Cornerback Lito Sheppard aggravated his right quadriceps against Buffalo. Ryan said he did not think the former Eagle would play against the Raiders.

Steelers. Kicker Jeff Reed apologized to the team for a run-in with Pittsburgh police. He was charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness several hours after kicking two field goals in a 27-14 victory against Cleveland on Sunday.

Noteworthy. Ahman Green, out of football since the Houston Texans cut him in February, signed with Green Bay. . . . Bon Jovi will play the kickoff concert next spring at the new $1.6 billion stadium that will serve as the home for the Giants and Jets, a stadium official told the AP. . . . Carolina signed safety Keith Lewis and placed cornerback Dante Wesley on the reserve-suspended list. The NFL suspended Wesley for one game after his hit on Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith. . . . With starting QB Trent Edwards unable to practice or attend Buffalo team meetings after suffering a concussion, Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to make his first start of the season at Carolina on Sunday. . . .Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Miles Austin would start against Atlanta on Sunday after his franchise-record 250 yards receiving on 10 catches against Kansas City. . . . Chicago Bears linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa needs season-ending surgery to repair ligament damage in his right knee, coach Lovie Smith said.