Brees sitting
Drew Brees is getting a rest for the Saints' regular-season finale at Carolina Sunday. Coach Sean Payton has decided to start Mark Brunell in place of the star quarterback.
If Brees doesn't play, as expected, he will set an NFL record with his season-long completion percentage of 70.6. Ken Anderson has held the record since 1982, when he completed 70.55 percent of his passes for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brees has thrown for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. He will be listed as the team's third quarterback Sunday.
Elite 8
Eight quarterbacks — Matt Schaub (4,467), Peyton Manning (4,405), Drew Brees (4,388), Tom Brady (4,212), Aaron Rodgers (4,199), Tony Romo (4,172), Philip Rivers (4,155) and Ben Roethlisberger (4,108) — have each passed for at least 4,000 yards this year, already the most 4,000-yard passers in a single season in NFL history (seven in 2007).
With one regular season game left to play, three other quarterbacks are within 300 yards of 4,000 — Brett Favre (3,886), Eli Manning (3,880) and Kurt Warner (3,722).
Volek to play
Chargers coach Norv Turner says backup quarterback Billy Volek will get some playing time in Sunday's meaningless regular-season finale against the Washington Redskins.
The AFC West champion Chargers (12-3) have nothing to gain except to avoid any more injuries. They've already clinched the AFC's No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye.
Volek hasn't had significant playing time since leading the winning drive at Indianapolis in January 2008 to put the Chargers in the AFC championship game.
Turner says Rivers will start.
Broncos benched
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is benching Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler for disciplinary reasons for Sunday's game against Kansas City with a playoff berth at stake.
If a neck injury keeps Eddie Royal out for the second straight game, the Broncos would be left with a receiving corps of Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Stokley, Brandon Lloyd and Willis. The four have combined for 58 catches and five TDs this year.
The Broncos promoted wide receiver Matt Willis from their practice squad.