Parcells Gives O’Donnell Nod

Neil O’Donnell, who gave way to Glenn Foley in the second half of the New York Jets’ win over New England, will be the starting quarterback in the Jets’ next game.

Foley, meanwhile, will get back his headset and his clipboard.

For now.

In his typical terse way, coach Bill Parcells said Wednesday that the old order had returned and O’Donnell would start the next game - Nov.

2 against Baltimore.

He didn’t say why, but he also didn’t rule out again lifting O’Donnell for Foley, who completed 17 of 23 for 200 yards and had a run of 14 straight completions as the Jets beat the Patriots 24-19 Sunday.

“I’m not telling you what my thinking was,” Parcells told a big crowd in the Jets’ press room, which usually is near-empty on a bye week.

“I told you I’d do what was best. I’m not going to explain it or tell you what the process was or anything else. I’m just telling you that O’Donnell is starting and Glenn will be ready to go.”

Blades case officially ends

A state appeals court has backed the Broward County judge who threw out the manslaughter conviction of the Seattle Seahawks’ Brian Blades.

Wednesday’s ruling by the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach effectively ends the case against Blades, 32, stemming from the shooting death of his cousin and best friend, Charles Blades, 34, on July 5, 1995.

The unsigned ruling affirms the actions of Broward Circuit Judge Susan Lebow, who ordered charges against Brian Blades dropped the day after a jury convicted him in May 1996. Lebow ruled the prosecution case was so weak, it never should have gone to the jury in the first place.

Chandler to sit out

Chris Chandler won’t start at quarterback when the Atlanta Falcons face the Carolina Panthers Sunday night, coach Dan Reeves said.

“The doctors don’t want him to do anything until Friday,” Reeves said. “If he can’t practice until Friday then he’s not going to start.”

Chandler suffered his second concussion in six weeks in Sunday’s 35-28 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Results of two CAT scans and an MRI were negative, the team had reported Tuesday.

Reeves said he’ll work with his other two quarterbacks, Billy Joe Tolliver and rookie Tony Graziani, in practice this week, and might not determine which will start until game time.

Cowboys sign Emmitt’s brother

Emory Smith, younger brother of Dallas’ star running back Emmitt Smith, was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad.

Emory, also a running back, said being on a team with Emmitt “is something I’ve been wanting to do since I’ve been playing football. I just hope some day the Cowboys can activate me.”

The Cowboys gave Emory a locker next to Emmitt’s in the dressing room.

Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston said he will undergo surgery Oct. 31 to repair a bulging disk in his neck and will miss the rest of the season. Johnston added that, contrary to some reports, the injury and corrective surgery will not end his football career.

Around the league

The San Diego Chargers placed linebacker Kurt Gouveia on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season with a neck injury.

Gouveia has a herniated disc in his neck which will require surgery. He aggravated the injury in Thursday night’s 31-3 loss to Kansas City.

To take his place on the roster, the Chargers signed free-agent linebacker Bobby Houston to a one-year contract.

Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton, who was cleared by a Dallas County grand jury, has been sued by a former mistress who accused him previously of rape.

Tina Hill, 31, of Grand Prairie, filed the lawsuit in Denton County, where Newton lives. She alleges Newton raped her in her mobile home on June 15, and is suing for unspecified damages.

The Green Bay Packers signed veteran defensive lineman Gerald Williams off waivers from the Carolina Panthers. To make room for Williams, the Packers waived defensive end Shannon Clavelle, who had one tackle in six games this season.