COWBOYS: Wade Phillips will be back as coach of the Dallas Cowboys next season, and Jason Garrett will remain in charge of the offense, regardless of whether the team makes the playoffs, club owner Jerry Jones said Friday. And he said it vehemently. “The coaches are in place. I’ve said that. How can I be any clearer?” Jones said. “Look, I’ve said that our coaching staff, as far as I’m concerned, is in place. I just want to make the statement rather than answer questions, because your questions imply certain things that I don’t want to imply. I’m saying that when I look at where we are coaching staff-wise and when I look at where we are personnelwise, I see a team that is in place to compete for several years.” Still, the questions continued because this team that went 13-3 last season and owned the No. 1 seed in the NFC is now 9-6 and trying to grab the last available wild-card into this season’s playoffs. The Cowboys will get it with a win Sunday in Philadelphia. If they lose, there’s been speculation that Jones would fire Phillips. There’s long been speculation that Phillips might be pushed aside, and Garrett promoted from offensive coordinator, next season anyway as Dallas moves into a new $1.1 billion, 100,000-seat stadium.
Meanwhile, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo seems to be over the midweek illness that caused him to miss a day of practice. Romo was sent home with medicine to treat flulike symptoms Wednesday. He returned to practice Thursday, and worked out again Friday.
BILLS: Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is doubtful for the Buffalo Bills’ game against New England after missing his third straight practice on Friday because of a knee injury. Peters will likely miss his second straight game Sunday after not playing in Buffalo’s win at Denver last week. The Patriots (10-5) need to win to preserve their postseason chances, while the Bills (7-8) can finish at .500 for the first time since 2004.
DOLPHINS: Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder expects to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, despite a knee injury that limited his practice time this week. Crowder sat out Sunday’s 38-31 win at Kansas City. He and cornerback Will Allen, who hurt his groin against the Chiefs, were limited in practice Friday. They participated in individual drills Thursday, after missing practice the previous day.
GIANTS: Cornerback Aaron Ross is going to miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings due to a concussion and the New York Giants have listed at least four other starters as 50-50 at best for what is a meaningless regular-season finale for the Super Bowl champions. The Giants (12-3) have clinched the NFC’s top seed for the playoffs, so they have nothing to gain against the Vikings (9-6), who are fighting for the NFC North title.
PANTHERS: The Carolina Panthers could be without both starting defensive tackles for Sunday’s game at New Orleans, perhaps enticing the pass-happy Saints to run the ball. Damione Lewis missed practice for a third straight day Friday with a shoulder injury and was listed as doubtful. Maake Kemoeatu practiced on a limited basis and is questionable with a sprained right ankle that kept him out of last week’s loss to the New York Giants.
PATRIOTS: New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is expected to sit out again Sunday against Buffalo because of a knee injury and defensive end Richard Seymour is questionable with a sore back. Bruschi was listed as out on the injury report Friday, putting him on the sideline for the third straight game. Seymour, who has played every game this season, hasn’t practiced all week.
TITANS: The Tennessee Titans could be without as many as seven players for the season finale against Indianapolis on Sunday. Linebacker David Thornton (hip), cornerback Nick Harper (groin) and defensive end Dave Ball (back) will all be doubtful after not practicing Wednesday or Friday. Titans players had Christmas Day off. Additionally, running back LenDale White did not practice all week because of illness and will be questionable for the game.
VIKINGS: Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin missed practice Friday due to flulike symptoms. Coach Brad Childress said he wasn’t sure how Griffin’s health would affect his status for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New York Giants.
Associated Press
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