Dolphins will count on Fiedler

"I'm optimistic he'll be ready to play," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "But he's not 100 percent healthy."

During Sunday's loss at New England, Fiedler aggravated a knee injury that sidelined him for four games earlier this season.

Defensive tackle Tim Bowens also practiced and is expected to play. He missed Sunday's game with a calf strain.

McKay on the outs

First Keyshawn Johnson, now Rich McKay. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers figure to have a different look on and off the field next year with one of their star players and the club's popular general manager likely headed elsewhere after this season. Johnson was let go three weeks ago because of differences with Jon Gruden. McKay has clashed with the coach of the Super Bowl champions, too, and could wind up with the Atlanta Falcons after receiving permission to speak with other teams about becoming their GM. "People's visions and people's goals don't always stay the same," Gruden said. "My focus is on winning football games. If his goals are elsewhere, I certainly wish him well." . . . Maurice Clarett's lawyers contended yesterday that the NFL bars teenagers from playing professional football to perpetuate a free farm system for the league. The lawyers asked a New York judge to allow Ohio State's suspended tailback to enter next year's NFL draft. Clarett sued the NFL this year, challenging the league rule that a player must be out of high school three years to be eligible for the draft. The league wants the case tossed out. US District Judge Shira Scheindlin hopes to rule by Feb. 1. The player's lawyers said in court papers that the NFL supports the NCAA college football system to save the league tens of millions of dollars in development and training. Clarett is not eligible for the draft until 2005 under current rules.

Decision is due

In what has become a weekly ritual in Tennessee, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said quarterback Steve McNair will be a game-time decision tomorrow against Buffalo as he recovers from an ankle injury. The swelling in McNair's injured left ankle continues to go down, but the NFL's top-rated passer has not practiced this week after tests revealed a sprain and a cracked bone spur in the ankle. Officially, he is listed as questionable against the Bills . . . Buffalo tight end Dave Moore missed his second straight practice because of a strained right hamstring yesterday, and his status is uncertain for tomorrow. Coach Gregg Williams said Moore will be a game-time decision. The starting tight end, who's listed as questionable, hurt his hamstring in practice on Wednesday. Williams added that rookie running back Willis McGahee is unlikely to make his NFL debut against Tennessee . . . In a move not totally unexpected, San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer handed the Chargers quarterback job back to Drew Brees even though 41-year-old Doug Flutie had led the team to two-thirds of their victories. "You want to be out on the field and play, but you totally understand the situation," said Flutie. "I know that Drew needs to get back out on the field and he needs to show this team that he can lead this team and regain all the confidence of the guys around him and for himself." . . . Michael Bennett's sprained ankle prevented him from practicing yesterday, and the Minnesota Vikings running back was downgraded to questionable for tomorrow at Chicago . . . Oakland linebacker Bill Romanowski, who's out for the season with a concussion, was approved by the NFL League to work on the Fox network's broadcast of tomorrow's Arizona-Carolina game.