Pacman could be done for year
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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones might miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury.
Coach Wade Phillips said yesterday that Jones, who was injured early in the 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh, has a "herniated disk, maybe two" and will definitely miss Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
"Our people don't think it's career threatening or anything else that he would have to be operated [on] or anything like that," Phillips said. "But it is something that might put him out this year."
Jones is scheduled to be evaluated by another doctor today.
"The prognosis wasn't good for him playing this year, from our people," Phillips said. "They're going to see if maybe they can reevaluate in a few weeks or they'll say you're not going to play this year. That's what we're looking at."
For the wild-card hopeful Cowboys (8-5), Jones added to an already lengthy injury list. Running back Marion Barber (right pinkie toe, calf), tight end Jason Witten (sprained right ankle), receiver Roy Williams (foot), safety Ken Hamlin (right foot), and guard Montrae Holland (ankle) were among those who did not practice yesterday.
Sunday's game was Jones's first after a six-game suspension, the second time he has been banned by commissioner Roger Goodell for off-field issues.
Portis, Zorn cool off
The rookie head coach and the flamboyant running back reached a smiling truce, with Clinton Portis announcing that he's "cool with everything" and that he has no plans to sever ties with the Washington Redskins.Portis and coach Jim Zorn held a 10-minute meeting early in the day to discuss Portis's blistering comments made during a radio interview Tuesday. After practice, the two took turns explaining what happened - with the caveat that, as Portis put it, "We both got egos."
"It was something on my chest that I needed to get off," Portis said. "I had some stuff built up. I was itching to air it out. After we talked, we're on the same page."
Miffed over his lack of playing time in last week's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Portis used his radio airtime on WTEM-AM to accuse Zorn of sending mixed messages. He also sarcastically called Zorn a "genius," and spoke of the possibility of severing ties with the organization.
The issue boiled down to communication, Zorn said. "It's all about losing. Winning doesn't bring all of this out. Losing does. You know what remedies all this? Winning."
Burress loses bonus
The Giants have refused to pay suspended receiver Plaxico Burress a $1 million portion of a signing bonus from a contract signed in September. NFL Players Association union spokesman Carl Francis confirmed that the Super Bowl champions decided to not make the payment, which was due yesterday. "We will file a claim in the appropriate forum to enforce his right to receive and keep the moneys entitled to him under his player contract," Francis said. The union on Tuesday filed a grievance challenging the Giants' decision to suspend and fine Burress last week, just days after the Super Bowl hero accidentally shot himself in a Manhattan nightclub Nov. 29. He will not play again this season . . . Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs (knee) sat out practice and his status for Sunday's game is uncertain . . . Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, the first former NFL player since George Halas to become a team owner, is in need of a heart transplant and has been placed on a donor waiting list. Richardson, 72, has been hospitalized since last week after complaining he didn't feel well. Richardson has a history of heart trouble and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002 . . . Indianapolis signed running back Najeh Davenport to shore up a suddenly injury-depleted backfield. Starter Joseph Addai could miss Sunday's game against Detroit because of a right shoulder injury and No. 3 back Chad Simpson (ankle) is unlikely to play. That would have left Dominic Rhodes as the only running back on the active roster . . . Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is awaiting a second opinion on his injured left thumb before deciding whether to have season-ending surgery . . . Saints starting left tackle Jammal Brown will sit out tonight's game in Chicago because of a sprained left ankle. Zach Strief is slated to start . . . The Denver Broncos signed tight end Jeb Putzier and added former University of Massachusetts running back Steve Baylark to their practice squad . . . Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper (shoulder) did not practice yesterday and could miss Sunday's game against the Colts . . . An arrest warrant has been issued for former Giants star Mark Ingram after he failed to report to federal prison to begin serving nearly eight years for bank fraud and money laundering.
