ENGLEWOOD, Colo. | More than a few offensive players probably breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the news about safety John Lynch.</p><p>Lynch has decided to retire and will officially end his career with a news conference Monday in Tampa, Fla.</p><p>Lynch, 37, was a nine-time Pro Bowler for Denver and Tampa Bay, finishing with 1,277 tackles, 100 pass breakups and 26 interceptions in 224 regular-season games.</p><p>He departed Denver on good terms in July after being bumped from his starting role and signed with the Patriots. He was cut two weeks later and has been out of the game since.</p><p>Lynch made it known that there was a price to pay for coming over the middle &#8212; a painful pounding.</p><p>Lynch played 11 years in Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers during the 2002 season. But he struggled because of neck injuries in his final season there and eventually needed surgery to remove bone spurs.</p><p>The Bucs said goodbye, partly thinking his career was complete.</p><p>Lynch landed in Denver before the &#8217;04 season. He made four more Pro Bowl squads and guided the Broncos into the AFC championship game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.</p><p>Lynch set the tone for the defense with his jarring hits.</p><p>Lynch&#8217;s decline in playing time began last season as he started to come off the field on passing downs. Still, he played every snap over the last three games, and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talked him into signing a cut-rate deal in the offseason.</p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">OTHER NFL NEWS </span></strong><br /> &#8226;<strong>JACKSON OUT OF ACTION: </strong>Rams running back Steven Jackson will not play Sunday against the 49ers because of his injured right thigh, and coach Jim Haslett said he won&#8217;t even make the trip. Antonio Pittman and Travis Minor will be the running backs. Pittman has 40 yards on 23 carries in the last two games.</p><p>&#8226;<strong>PORTIS WILL BE LIMITED: </strong>Washington running back Clinton Portis did not practice again Friday and will be used only &#8220;in a limited fashion&#8221; if he is able to play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Portis, the NFL&#8217;s second-leading rusher, was able to watch practice &#8212; unlike Wednesday and Thursday, when his sprained left knee kept him away from the field &#8212; and was &#8220;getting some mental reps in case he has a chance to go,&#8221; according to coach Jim Zorn.</p><p>&#8226;<strong>HASSELBECK WILL START: </strong>Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is finally ready to start again. Wide receiver Deion Branch will try to play his first full game since January.</p><p> They&#8217;re back for what Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says is a must-win game to save Seattle&#8217;s season, on Sunday against first-place Arizona. Hasselbeck took all the first-team snaps in Friday&#8217;s practice.</p><p>&#8226;<strong>HENSON BACK WITH LIONS: </strong>Former Michigan quarterback Drew Henson was re-signed to Detroit&#8217;s practice squad. The Lions cut Henson on Wednesday, replacing him on the roster with Adam Jennings to bolster their special teams. Henson had been signed a month ago to be Detroit&#8217;s No. 3 quarterback. Henson, who became expendable with the signing of Daunte Culpepper, played seven games for the Cowboys in 2004.</p><p></div>