In brief

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Victor Cruz hopes meeting with the family of a 6-year-old boy killed in the Connecticut school shootings has helped them cope with the tragedy.

The New York Giants receiver on Wednesday somberly recounted his hour-long visit with Jack Pinto's family a day earlier, and says he was most affected when asked about their decision to bury their son in his No. 80 jersey.

Cruz stopped for a moment, his eyes becoming watery: You never go through some circumstances like this. This was definitely the toughest by far.

Pinto's family said Cruz was their son's favorite player. Jack Pinto was one of 20 first-graders and six adults killed in the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

BEREA, Ohio — Trent Richardson doesn't think Nick Saban will follow him from Alabama to the Cleveland Browns.

Saban, who will lead the Crimson Tide against Notre Dame in the BCS national championship game in Miami on Jan. 7, has been mentioned as a possible replacement in Cleveland if the Browns fire second-year coach Pat Shurmur at season's end.

Richardson, a running back who ran for 1,679 yards with Alabama last season, dismissed the talk as mere rumors and said after practice Wednesday that from what he knows of Saban, he would be shocked if he went to any NFL team.

PITTSBURGH — Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall says he's focused on doing his job, not his future with the team.

Mendenhall returned to practice on Wednesday after serving a one-game suspension for deciding not to show up at Heinz Field for Pittsburgh's game with the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 9. Mendenhall, who was inactive during the game, declined to talk about his decision to stay away but later added there's a lot of thought that goes into anything he does. Mendenhall has struggled this season after returning from a torn ACL in October. He accounted for 101 yards and a touchdown in his first game back but injured his Achilles four days later against Tennessee and was dropped to the third-string after fumbling against Cleveland last month.

ASHBURN, Va. — Robert Griffin III has taken part in his first full practice since spraining his right knee.

The Washington Redskins quarterback said he did all of his usual work Wednesday as the team held its first workout ahead of this week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Coach Mike Shanahan said doctors will examine Griffin's knee today to see if there's any swelling. He could then be cleared to play against the Eagles.

Griffin was limited in practice last week and was held out of Sunday's 38-21 win over the Cleveland Browns. He wanted to play, but Shanahan said doctors did not give their OK.

-- The Associated Press