NFL notes: Romo needs time to heal
Tony Romo doesn’t need surgery on his broken left collarbone, just time for it to heal.
Romo is expected to miss six to eight weeks, which could be an eternity for the 1-5 Dallas Cowboys. If their playoff hopes aren’t already squelched, they likely will be by the time their Pro Bowl quarterback is healthy.
The Cowboys will look to turn things around while led by 38-year-old backup Jon Kitna, who hadn’t thrown a pass in more than two years before Monday night and whose last gig as a starter was on the Detroit club that went winless in 2008.
“We’re not going to stop right now and give up or quit or whine or even make excuses,” coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday. “You’ve just got to go forward. That’s what we have to do. I think our guys will band together.”
Phillips said he had a conversation with Romo and described him as disappointed.
Court hears Carruth appeal
Lawyers for former NFL player Rae Carruth asked a federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., to throw out his conviction for plotting to kill his pregnant girlfriend in 1999.
Carruth’s attorneys told a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that statements and written notes by Cherica Adams after she was shot so tainted the jury that his conviction should be tossed out. A lower court ruled that the statements implicating Carruth were unconstitutional, but found that Carruth didn’t deserve a new trial.
Carruth, also known as Rae Wiggins, was a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers from 1997 through 1999. The 36-year-old was sentenced to 18 to 24 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder, discharging a firearm into occupied property and using an instrument with the intent to destroy an unborn child.
Around the league
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones will miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury that might require surgery. The Bengals placed Jones on injured reserve with a herniated disk in his neck. … Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith is out indefinitely after needing surgery to repair a torn triceps tendon in his left arm. Such injuries typically are season-ending, but the Steelers plan to wait and see how quickly Smith recovers before deciding to place him on injured reserve. … The NFL fined Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress $35,000 for criticizing officials and disclosing confidential conversations with the officiating department. Childress sharply criticized the officiating crew after a 28-24 loss to the Packers on Sunday night. He was particularly upset with a replay reversal of a touchdown catch by Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.