Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
IRVING, Texas ó The already slumping Dallas Cowboys now must survive a few games without two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who has a broken finger on his throwing hand.
There was indeed something wrong when Romo badly missed on his last two pass attempts to Terrell Owens in a 30-24 overtime loss at Arizona on Sunday, the Cowboys’ second defeat in three games. Coach Wade Phillips said Monday that Romo broke his right pinkie on the first play of OT.
Brad Johnson, the 40-year-old backup whose last start was in 2006 for Minnesota, takes over Sunday when Dallas plays at St. Louis.
“Obviously, it’s unfortunate for Tony to have to go through something like this. He’ll recover quick; he has a great attitude about it,” Johnson said. “At this time, it’s really just important for the offense especially to just kind of catch on to my snap count and the way we manage the huddle. … I’m excited about the opportunity, worked hard to get here.”
BILLS
Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was back at work a week after being knocked out in Buffalo’s Week 5 loss to Arizona and said he expects to play Sunday when the Bills (4-1) host San Diego (3-3).
“I’m getting better each day,” he said of the concussion.
LIONS
Quarterback Jon Kitna says he expects to play eventually this year, but doesn’t know if he will this week against the Houston Texans.
REDSKINS
Fed up with rookie Durant Brooks’ inconsistency, executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said definitively on his radio show Monday that “somebody else will be punting” when the Redskins host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Cerrato said the Redskins will audition punters Tuesday to replace sixth-round draft pick Brooks, who ranks last by far in the NFL in gross average (39.6) and net average (32.1).
BRONCOS
Brandon Marshall suggested the cure to his fumblitis was to quit fighting for extra yards. Coach Mike Shanahan has a better prescription: hold onto the ball.
Marshall, the league’s leading receiver, said his costly fumble as he was fighting his way toward the end zone in Denver’s 24-17 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday forced him to reconsider his trademark style.
PACKERS
Cornerback Al Harris’ spleen injury showed “significant improvement” in medical tests, and he could return later this month, coach Mike McCarthy said.
DOLPHINS
Coach Tony Sparano nearly needed both hands to count missed chances. And that was just on the game’s final drive.
By Sparano’s tabulation, a Dolphins defender had a hand on the ball five times in the last 11 plays. But Miami literally let victory slip away at Houston.
RAMS
The Rams re-signed cornerback Fakhir Brown on Monday after a long and bizarre parting of ways.
Brown was unexpectedly released on Sept. 24 by previous head coach Scott Linehan. The Rams fired Linehan five days later and replaced him with Jim Haslett.
Haslett has been trying ever since to get Brown back in the fold and finally got his man.
“It’s good to have him back,” Haslett said. “I thought he was one of our better defensive backs and when he’s healthy he’s a pretty good corner. I know he’s excited about coming back.”
RAIDERS
JaMarcus Russell had one of the worst games of his career against New Orleans, but Oakland coach Tom Cable doesn’t see it as a setback for the Raiders’ young quarterback.
“It’s a setback for our team, we got our tails kicked, but for that guy in his development and where we all want him to be as an organization, I think it was a tremendous lesson,” Cable said less than 24 hours after Russell threw one interception and nearly had four other passes picked off in a 34-3 loss. “He’s going to take this thing and grow a mile and a half from what happened yesterday. And maybe that sounds funny, but you’ve got to remember before you can ever learn anything, before you can succeed at anything, you’ve got to fail.”
Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, completed 13 of 35 pass attempts for 159 yards, was sacked twice and fumbled once.
CHIEFS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Tony Gonzalez practiced with the Kansas City Chiefs for what could be the last time Monday and then went home to await word on whether he’s been traded.
Several teams are thought to be interested in the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end, including Buffalo, Philadelphia and the New York Giants. The trade deadline is today at 4 p.m.
NO MADDEN
John Madden will miss calling an NFL game this weekend after working 476 in a row.
The 72-year-old Sunday Night Football analyst, who travels by bus because of a fear of flying, will take a break to spend time with his family instead of making three straight cross country trips.
JAGUARS
With a smattering of applause, a judge Monday accepted Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones into a drug treatment program that could erase a felony cocaine charge against the former Arkansas star.
BENGALS
Quarterback Carson Palmer will miss at least one more game because of a sore passing elbow that has left the Cincinnati offense in chaos.
Palmer stayed behind in New York after a 26-14 loss to the Jets on Sunday to get a second opinion from Dr. David Altchek.