Pro football

BRONCOS HEAD INTO BYE 6-0: Most years, the Denver Broncos couldn't scramble out of the doors fast enough for a little rest and relaxation on their bye week.

That's hardly the case this season.

The NFL's most surprising team at 6-0, the Broncos are hesitant to put football on the back burner for a weekend, lest they lose their edge. They'd prefer to keep their foot on the gas after a convincing 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.

Why would they want to get away from this?

The bye almost comes at an inconvenient time for the Broncos, who are quite mindful of keeping their momentum after building a 3 1/2-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West.

"We're going to stay on our P's and Q's and the time that we have off, we are going to use it correctly and come back ready to play," linebacker D.J. Williams said.

BEARS SIGN CUTLER TO TWO-YEAR EXTENSION: The Bears on Tuesday signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a two-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cutler's new contract runs through the 2013 season.

Cutler has started all five contests for the Bears this season completing 110 of 172 pass attempts for 1,201 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions for an 86.9 passer rating. His 64.0 completion percentage and 240.2 passing yard per game in 2009 are both currently highest in franchise single-season history. Cutler was acquired by the Bears in a trade with the Broncos in April.

Men's basketball

VU PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON HORIZON POLL: The Valparaiso University men's basketball team has been picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League for the 2009-10 season, according to polling of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

Butler, last season's regular-season champion, was picked as the league's preseason favorite, picking up 43 of a possible 46 first place votes. Wright State was selected second, while 2009 tournament champion Cleveland State was picked third. Milwaukee, Green Bay, Detroit and Youngstown State were picked fourth through seventh, while UIC and Loyola rounded out the polling.

The Crusaders return six letterwinners, including a trio of starters, from last year's squad. Valpo's first game will be an exhibition matchup against Indianapolis on Nov. 1, while the regular season commences Nov. 13 at Ball State.

Men's golf

VU MEN PLACE 15TH AT DAYTON: Valparaiso University's men's golf team concluded its fall season by placing 15th at the Dayton Invitational. VU carded a 329 in the second round to finish with a 660. Ball State won the title (596). Michael Hesselman led VU with 160 to place 65th overall.

Women's golf

VU CLOSES SEASON WITH BEST ROUND: Valparaiso's women's golf team closed their inaugural fall season with a team-record round of 377 on Tuesday at the Dayton Fall Invitational held at the NEC North Course in Kettering, Ohio. The Crusaders concluded the 36-hole event with a score of 771, finishing in 10th place.

Jessica O'Brien (Chesterton) led the Crusaders for the tournament shooting 181 for the two rounds over the 6,836-yard, par-70 layout. Annie Nolan (Valparaiso) turned in Valpo's low round of the day, and matched her fall best with an 87 on day two to finish the tournament at 183. Kathleen Cooper (Hobart) shot her second straight 98 to finish the event at 196.

College soccer

DEL GIUDICE EARNS HORIZON HONOR: Valparaiso University's Roby Del Giudice was named the Horizon League's Men's Soccer Player of the Week. Del Giudice had a goal in 3-2 win over league-leading Wisconsin-Green Bay.

College volleyball

VU'S PORCHE WINS LEAGUE HONOR: Valparaiso University outside hitter Angie Porche (T.F. South) was named the Horizon League's Offensive Player of the Week. Porche averaged 5.86 kills per set for the week. She is now averaging a league-best 4.3 kills per set. She is also just 30 digs shy of 1,000 for her career.

VU SWEEPS IUPUI: Katie Layman and Katie Britton each had 12 kills as Valparaiso University swept IUPUI 25-21, 25-23, 26-24.

Tara Diebler and Angie Porche (T.F. South) each added 11 kills for the Crusaders (16-6), who have won eight straight matches.

Prep football

MARIAN'S MATTIO RETURNS: Marian Catholic coach Dave Mattio returned to school Tuesday from the hospital and coached the Times Illinois No. 1 Spartans at practice on Tuesday.

Mattio was released from St. James Hospital and Health Center in Chicago Heights where he was taken Friday for unspecified medical reasons. He missed the Spartans' 28-6 loss to Joliet Catholic. It was the first time in his 34 years as head coach at his alma mater that he missed a game. Mattio said he will coach the team Friday at Marist.

"I am just happy to be back in school," Mattio said Tuesday afternoon. "I missed not being there, but the kids played hard. I am ready to go back to work."

Around the horn

Landon Donovan claimed an unprecedented sixth Honda Player of the Year Award given annually to the U.S. national team's top player in a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. ... The three-time WNBA champion Detroit Shock are moving to Tulsa.