Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Pat White was carted off the field with a head injury yesterday after a chilling helmet-to-helmet collision with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor.

White moved his arms and legs and was talking before leaving the field to go to a hospital for examination.

"The information that we have is that he's doing OK," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said following the 30-24 loss.

White landed on his stomach after the collision in the third quarter, and Steelers players immediately began waving for help.

"It didn't look good," Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne said. "It was just good to see he was moving."

The collision came at the end of a 7-yard gain on a keeper by White. Taylor was unhurt.

White took over to begin the third quarter after blurred vision sidelined Henne, the Dolphins' starter. Henne said he had a bruise under his left eye when he was sacked late in the first half, and his vision became worse at halftime.

ELSEWHERE

Playing all out: Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will consider offering incentives to teams playing late-season games to discourage them from resting their starters for the playoffs.

Goodell said the league was sensitive to criticism of the Indianapolis Colts' decision to use backups a week ago in a game they lost, ending their bid for a perfect season.

"It is something we'll look at," Goodell said yesterday. "We heard the fans loud and clear. It's something our competition committee has looked at in the past, but we're going to ask our competition committee to look at it again in the future. We want every game to be competitive."

Such incentives could include awarding draft choices.

Cardinals: Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left with a bruised left kneecap against Green Bay. Rodgers-Cromartie was taken off the field on a cart with 13:23 left in the first quarter while tackling tight end Jermichael Finley.

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin injured his left ankle in the third quarter. Although the injury did not appear serious, he limped off the field and did not return.

Cowboys: Dallas running back Tashard Choice was knocked out of a win over Philadelphia with a concussion. Choice didn't play again after taking a hit to the head in the first quarter.

Based on stricter NFL guidelines instituted late this season, a concussion likely would keep Choice out of the Cowboys' opening playoff game.

Packers: Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson left a win over Arizona late in the first half with a shoulder injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said it wasn't serious.

Woodson had been bothered by shoulder problems recently but was in the starting lineup.

Texans: Houston will exercise an option in Matt Schaub's contract that will give the quarterback a $10 million bonus and extend his contract for the next three years.

Schaub signed a six-year contract when he was traded from the Atlanta Falcons three seasons ago, and the Texans had until March to decide if they wanted to exercise the option to keep him.

HAWAI'I PLAYERS IN THE NFL

• Miami receiver Davone Bess (University of Hawai'i) caught a team-high 5 passes for 85 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown from Tyler Thigpen, in a loss to Pittsburgh. He also had 1 punt return for 3 yards.

• Indianapolis safety Aaron Francisco (Kahuku High) had 3 solo tackles in a loss to Buffalo.

• Cleveland linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin High) had 4 total tackles, including 2 solo and 1.5 sacks, in a victory over Jacksonville.

• Dallas' Mat McBriar had 3 punts for an average of 50.7 yards, including 1 downed inside the 20, in a victory over Philadelphia.

• San Francisco defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga had 2 solo tackles in a victory over St. Louis.

• Seattle offensive guard Max Unger (Hawai'i Prep) had a fumble recovery in a loss to Tennessee.