NFL Wire Notes | Cowboys' Romo gets big deal worth $67 million

IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo didn't have to wait until the offseason to get his big payday from the Dallas Cowboys after all.

Romo has agreed to a six-year, $67 million deal that includes $30 million in guaranteed money, according to a person familiar with the deal who requested anonymity because the contract has not been signed. A formal announcement is expected Tuesday.

"Right now we're just talking, but it's closer than it was before," Romo said late Monday. "I feel like I'm going to be with the Cowboys the rest of my career, definitely. I love it."

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would have no announcements Monday night. Other club officials did not immediately return calls.

Ken Kramer, who negotiated the contract for Romo, also was not available for comment.

Recently, quarterbacks Matt Schaub of Houston ($48 million) and Marc Bulger of St. Louis ($65 million) received six-year contracts. Bulger got $27 million guaranteed.

Schaub's Texans are 3-5, while Bulger's Rams are 0-8. Both have also been injured this season. The Cowboys (6-1) lead the NFC East.

Hyped up for Patriots-Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Dungy welcomed the three-ring circus back to Indianapolis.

With more reporters, more hype and more debate than a regular-season game typically merits, Dungy instructed his Colts to have fun as they prepare for another high-wire act: Playing the dreaded Patriots.

"I really think that's why you're in the league, for games like this," the Indy coach said. "So I think you've got to enjoy it and focus on the task at hand."

You can bet there will be lots of not-so-subtle reminders about the Colts' task everywhere they look this week, in meetings, on television and radio, even in the grocery store.

Since the Patriots (8-0) have won every game by at least 17 points, most consider the three-time Super Bowl champs the league's best team. Quarterback Tom Brady is on pace to shatter Peyton Manning's season touchdown record (49), and many outsiders have argued for weeks whether New England could finish the season 16-0.

It's a proposition coach Bill Belichick isn't even considering.

"We're going to put this one behind us and move on to the Colts," he said Monday, after the Patriots' 52-7 rout of Washington.

Notes

• New York Jets coach Eric Mangini will start Kellen Clemens at quarterback instead of Chad Pennington for Sunday's game against Washington.

"Coach made it clear that I'm not the villain here," Pennington said. "And I'm not the only one to blame for the lack of our success or our problems, but he did feel like Kellen deserved a chance."

• The NFL and NFL Players Association will contribute $250,000 through a disaster relief fund to the San Diego Chargers' fire relief fund to assist victims of the San Diego County wildfires. The fund will be administered by the San Diego Foundation, which will distribute donations throughout San Diego County to help with relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts.

• The Detroit Lions and Charles Rogers are scheduled for a grievance hearing Wednesday before an arbitrator in the Detroit area. The team is seeking more than $10 million of its former receiver's $14-plus million signing bonus because he was suspended for four games in 2005 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.