Friday’s preseason game

Houston 27, Tampa Bay 20: Former Bears starter Rex Grossman threw two TD passes and may have earned a backup job behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky.

Dallas 35, Minnesota 31: Brett Favre sat out the final preseason game for the Vikings, but he was fined $10,000 by the NFL on Friday for his crack-back block on Houston defensive back Eugene Wilson in Monday’s preseason game.

Around the league

Arizona Cardinals: Former starting tight end Leonard Pope and four-year safety Aaron Francisco were among 21 players cut. Also getting the ax from the Cardinals was former Bills center Melvin Fowler.

Denver Broncos: The trial for a man accused of killing cornerback Darrent Williams will be held after the NFL season to give defense attorneys more time to interview NFL players who are witnesses. Willie Clark faces first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Williams on New Year’s Day 2007. New England Patriots: Trimmed their quarterbacks to two on the depth chart by releasing Andrew Walter, leaving undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer as the lone backup to starter Tom Brady. Hoyer played the entire game in Thursday’s win over the Giants.

New Orleans Saints: Tight end Billy Miller said Friday that he tore his right Achilles tendon during the final preseason game Thursday against Miami, likely ending his 10th season before it started.

New York Giants: Backup defensive tackle Jay Alford is going to miss the season with a knee injury. Alford had surgery Friday to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He injured the knee in a preseason game against the Bears.

On the web

Follow the National Football League and the Bills on the “BillBoard” blog at buffalonews.com

Compiled from News and wire service reports.