The new contract will allow Kuper to focus on recovery from multiple ankle surgeries by guaranteeing him $1.05 million this season. He was scheduled to make $4.5 million this season, none of which was guaranteed. An additional $1.7 million is available for Kuper to earn through playing incentives, if he is able to return from the injured reserve list this season.Only 10 Alaskans have played in the NFL, an elite group that also includes Mao Tosi, Reggie Tongue, Travis Hall, Shane Bonham, Mark Schlereth, Tom Neville and Rocky Klever..Today's Birthdays: Former House Speaker Jim Wright is 90. Actor Hector Elizondo is 76. Country singer Red Steagall is 74.

Gifford, 79, recently taped historical MNF vignettes that ESPN will sprinkle in this season's, uh, shows. Watching those old games reminded Gifford, retired in Connecticut, of the concurrent chapters in his own life. Which, he suggests, left him amused: "In 27 (MNF) years I never missed a game even though, God almighty,