Who will take a chance on Tiki Barber after the season starts?

This post has been corrected. See the note at the bottom for details.

Writers from around the Tribune Co. share their thoughts on Tiki Barber's comeback attempt and the possibility of whether a team might still sign him this season.

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times

I don’t think any team will be desperate enough to sign Tiki Barber, especially now that he’s strongly indicating -– through his agent –- that he’s moving on with his life.

Running backs commonly hit the wall around 30 and their statistics nosedive in the years that follow. Barber is 36 and hasn’t played since 2006, when he retired as the Giants’ all-time rushing and receptions leader.

He’s a talented guy, and I suppose there would be a nice, sentimental story were he to join his twin brother, Ronde, with the Buccaneers. But that move wouldn’t make much football sense.

There are plenty of young backs who are good enough to merit a chance in the league. There is life after “Today” for Barber, but it’s not back in the NFL. Good night, Tiki.

Teemu Selanne still waiting for knee to get stronger

Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said Tuesday that winger Teemu Selanne “wants to come back and play from a mental perspective,” but the 41-year-old Finn wants to fortify his surgically repaired knee before deciding whether to return for another season.

“He is working out on and off the ice and trying to strengthen his knee. It’s not quite where he wants it yet,” Murray said Tuesday via email. “He wants to make a decision prior to training camp.”

Camp will open next week for teams across the NHL. The Ducks are due to report for medical tests on Sept. 16 and take to the ice on Sept. 17.

UFC: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem set for Dec. 30

Brock Lesnar will return to the UFC octagon in a five-round main event Dec. 30 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, facing newly signed former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

"Brock is a big name, a dangerous guy, and this is a dream matchup," Overeem told The Times on Tuesday, just after signing a standard UFC fight contract in the office of Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta. "Brock's a big guy, an exciting wrestler with his takedowns.

"I want to see this fight myself. Overall, I'm a different fighter. A striker, athletic, big. These are going to be two big trucks going at it on a collision course."

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Overeem, 31, is a former K-1 kickboxing champion too, He most recently defended his Strikeforce belt in June with a unanimous decision over takedown specialist Fabrio Werdum, who had previously defeated Fedor Emelianenko.

USC football: Tailback Marc Tyler will play against Utah

USC tailback Marc Tyler, who was suspended for the season opener because of a series of offseason incidents, has been reinstated and will play against Utah, Coach Lane Kiffin said Tuesday.

Tyler, the Trojans' leading rusher in 2010, practiced with the regular offense for the first time Tuesday after spending last week mainly with the scout team.

Kiffin said Tyler was reinstated because he met unspecified requirements set by the coach and Athletic Director Pat Haden.

"[He] completed all those things and hopefully he'll continue that way," Kiffin said.

Tyler left practice early and was not made available to the media.

U.S. Open: Tuesday sessions, day and night, canceled

A steady rain, which began falling moments after Roger Federer finished his fourth-round match at 1:13 a.m. Tuesday, was still falling Tuesday afternoon when the United States Tennis Assn. made the decision to cancel both the day and night sessions of the U.S. Open.

Among the matches canceled were fourth-round matches for three Americans -- 21st-seeded Andy Roddick against fifth-seeded David Ferrer; 28th-seeded John Isner against 12th-seeded Gilles Simon; and wild-card entry Donald Young against fourth-seeded Andy Murray.

The weather forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday isn't a lot better, with predictions of Hurricane Katia remnants hitting the area on Friday.

For those who had tickets for Tuesday's session, here is the policy on ticket exchanges and returns.

RELATED:

Serena Williams advances to U.S. Open quarterfinals

Donald Young feels good, humidity gets to others at U.S. Open

Serena Williams beats Victoria Azarenka at U.S. Open

-- Diane Pucin in New York

Photo: Fans sit in the upper deck of Arthur Ashe Stadium during a rain delay at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Credit: Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images

College football rankings: USC falls out of AP top 25

USC beat Minnesota on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to keep the Trojans in the top 25 of the Associated Press college football poll.

The Trojans, who were ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll, fell out of Tuesday's Week 1 poll following their 19-17 victory over the Golden Gophers. USC, which is considered among the best teams in the Pac-12, received 69 votes, placing it behind Arizona State and Auburn among teams that failed to crack the top 25.

LSU, which defeated Oregon, 40-27, in the biggest first-week matchup of the season, jumped from No. 4 to No. 2 as the Ducks fell 10 spots to No. 13. Oklahoma stayed in the top spot while Alabama, previously ranked No. 2, fell to No. 3.

Defending national champion Auburn fell out of the top 25 on the heels of its 42-38 victory over Utah State.

Click on the thread to see this week's rankings:

Fontana track sets date for IndyCar return in 2012

Auto Club Speedway in Fontana set Saturday Sept. 15, 2012, as the date that IndyCar racing will return to Southern California for a 400-mile night race.

The two-mile speedway had said in July that the Izod IndyCar Series, whose drivers include Dario Franchitti, Marco Andretti and Helio Castroneves, would return to the track next year after a seven-year absence but had not immediately set a date.

Tickets for the 200-lap race go on sale next Monday, and prices range from $30 for general admission to $60 for reserved club seats. Kids 12 and under are free in the general admission area, and camping packages also are available.

Auto Club Speedway also hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock-car race, which next year is scheduled for March 25.

ALSO:

Pau Gasol optimistic there will be an NFL season

USC falls out of AP top 25 rankings

Will Rod Barajas be back with the Dodgers next season?

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Driver Will Power speeds toward winning the Izod IndyCar Series race Sunday on a street course in Baltimore. Credit: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press