Dungy stays with Colts

Tony Dungy is sticking with the Colts, with the team saying Monday that Dungy will remain with Indianapolis through at least the 2008 season before turning over the coaching to handpicked successor Jim Caldwell.

Dungy spent a week meeting with his family, close friends and trusted colleagues while deciding whether to return for a seventh season with the Colts.

“It was a family decision,” Dungy said. “We’re on board, and we look forward to ‘08, look forward to putting together a winner.”

Team owner Jim Irsay said Dungy would stay at least one year and could stay longer.

“This isn’t a victory lap for Tony,” Irsay said.

The debate focused on Dungy’s desire to balance family and football, especially after his family moved back to Tampa, Fla., this month.

His 16-year-old son Eric now attends high school there, and Irsay’s willingness to let Dungy spend more time in Florida was a factor in the decision.

Team President Bill Polian said the 53-year-old Caldwell would be named associate head coach.

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San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers needed surgery to get his right knee through the AFC title game, and now needs a more extensive operation for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee. His rehabilitation could last six months.

Rivers revealed for the first time that he had arthroscopic surgery to clean out the joint a week earlier to play in the AFC championship game.

LaDainian Tomlinson has a sprained ligament in his left knee but won’t need surgery. Tomlinson said after Sunday’s game that he has a sprained medial collateral ligament.

He said he reinjured the knee when he was hit on the first play from scrimmage against the New England Patriots. He carried only twice, both on the opening drive.

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Buffalo Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove was suspended without pay for all of next season by the NFL after violating the league’s substance abuse policy a third time. The violation was Hargrove’s second since August, when he was suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season.

A third violation triggers a one-year suspension, and Hargrove must apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement. The NFL did not disclose how Hargrove violated the policy.

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The New York Giants’ 23-20 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers got a 31.7 overnight rating on Fox, the highest for an NFL conference championship game since 1996. The Giants’ win got a 46 share, Fox said.

The rating was up 21% from the 26.2/46 for the Chicago Bears’ 39-14 win over the New Orleans Saints in last year’s NFC championship, which was in the early time slot.

New England’s 21-12 victory over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship received a 27.4/48, down 2% from the 28.1/40 for the Patriots’ 38-34 loss to Indianapolis in the late time slot last year.