Dolphins keep Harrington at the helm

By: Associated Press - | Tuesday, October 10, 2006 12:16 AM PDT ∞

There's no mystery this week. Joey Harrington will remain as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback.

For now, anyway.

Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Monday that when his team opens practice for next Sunday's visit to the New York Jets, Harrington will be the first-stringer. Daunte Culpepper will enter a rehab-type program designed to help restore some explosive movement in his surgically rebuilt right knee.

"We'll evaluate it on a week-to-week basis," Saban said. "This week, we're going to plan to play like we did last week. ... We're going to work with Daunte, improve his movement, give him some reps in practice, get Joey ready to play in the game. Now, does that make him the starter? I guess that makes him the starter."

Harrington completed 26 of 41 passes for 232 yards and two interceptions Sunday in Miami's 20-10 loss at New England. He was chosen the starter one day earlier by Saban, while Culpepper was listed as "probable" on the team's injury report with what the team said was a sore shoulder.

And while Saban said Culpepper's shoulder remains a concern, it was clear that the knee recovery issues were foremost in his decision to continue with Harrington.

Jags' Peterson out

Already missing their best pass rusher, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be without their best tackler for the rest of the season.

Linebacker Mike Peterson, the team's top tackler the last three years, tore a pectoral muscle in the 41-0 victory against the New York Jets on Sunday and is out for the season. It's the latest setback for a defense that lost Reggie Hayward in the opener and linebacker Pat Thomas the following week.

Tests determined the severity of Peterson's injury. Coach Jack Del Rio said Peterson likely will get a second opinion, but he was confident the eight-year veteran will be place on injured reserve.

Cards lose Fitzgerald

The struggling Arizona Cardinals lost Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald for perhaps a month or more with a hamstring injury.

"I'd say it will be at least two weeks, two-to-five maybe, two-to-four, it's hard to say," coach Dennis Green said at his news conference. "It's a real strong pull, maybe even a slight tear in there also."

Bledsoe still the man

Like it or not, Terrell Owens will still be catching passes from Drew Bledsoe this week.

Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells stood by his quarterback, instead blaming the offensive line for most of Bledsoe's mistakes in a 38-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I'm not switching the quarterback," Parcells said. "I don't think that's the answer right this minute. ... Let's try to get some of the things corrected (on the line) and we'll go from there."

Bledsoe threw three interceptions Sunday, the last on a pass to the end zone that could've tied the game in the final minute, but wound up going 102 yards the other way.

Shockey has tests

Oft-injured Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants underwent a test near his right ankle and had another one scheduled for today.

Shockey was forced off the field in Sunday's 19-3 win over Washington with what was described as a foot injury. X-rays after the game did not reveal any broken bones.

Hall questionable

Dante Hall, one of the NFL's most dangerous kick returners, has a hip injury and his status is uncertain for this week's game at Pittsburgh.

Hall had an MRI on his hip and the Chiefs were awaiting the results. The two-time Pro Bowler, who earlier this year got his 11th career touchdown return, was hurt while running back a kickoff in Sunday's bruising come-from-behind 23-20 victory at Arizona.

Swaying ramps

The Philadelphia Eagles are investigating reports from fans that ramps leading from the upper level of Lincoln Financial Field swayed as the crowd exited Sunday's game with the Dallas Cowboys.

The team received reports of movement in the northeast ramp leading from the upper level following Sunday's 38-24 victory over the Cowboys, team spokeswoman Bonnie Grant said.

Grant described the movement as "lateral vibration," which she said can occur when "exceptional conditions are in place, including a driving force of pedestrian traffic."

Et cetera

Panthers: Carolina rookie RB/KR DeAngelo Williams has a sprained ---- not broken ---- right ankle. Williams was injured as he ran into sea a players in the second quarter of Carolina's 20-12 win over Cleveland on Sunday

Bills: Buffalo rookie DT John McCargo is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a broken left foot. Coach Dick Jauron said it's not clear how much time the first-round draft pick will miss, adding he first wanted to consult with McCargo and the team's training staff.

TITANS: Tennessee DT Randy Starks' court appearance on a charge of domestic assault was rescheduled for Nov. 14.

Patriots: New England signed former Houston Texans WR Jabar Gaffney to shore up their thin group at that position. The Patriots also released DT Johnathan Sullivan and CB Hank Poteat.