NFL Wire Notes | Parcells headed for Miami

DAVIE, Fla. — Bill Parcells' day began with reports he would rebuild the Atlanta Falcons. It ended with him on the cusp of taking the same job with the Miami Dolphins.

Parcells and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga agreed Wednesday on a four-year contract to be Miami's vice president of football operations, according to ESPN, which employs the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach as an analyst.

The Dolphins declined to comment, only saying no contract has been signed, and no one at Huizenga's business office was authorized to comment when reached by The Associated Press.

Parcells, who previously coached the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys, is apparently set to return to the NFL.

"Really?" defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. "You can't control it. But somebody like the Big Tuna, regardless of who's in the front office or who's not, brings a lot of respect and a lot of credibility with him. ... If you're a free agent out there, that might draw you in."

The Falcons announced Parcells, 66, turned them down.

"We met with him this morning to complete the contract. At that time, we were made aware by Parcells that he was considering a revised offer from the Miami Dolphins," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. "He later informed us that he would not be signing a contract with us."

Blank said current team president and general manager Rich McKay will continue in those duties until a new GM is hired.

T.O. only "joking" about Simpson

IRVING, Texas — Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens created a media firestorm when he said quarterback Tony Romo is distracted because he's dating singer Jessica Simpson.

"Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium," Owens said. "I think with everything that has happened, and obviously the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel like she's kind of taken his focus away."

Several hours later, Owens said through a publicist: "I was joking."

Romo, who has an injured thumb, practiced Wednesday and is expected to start Saturday night at Carolina.

Meanwhile, the NFL upheld its decision to suspend Cowboys safety Roy Williams for one game for a collar tackle of Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Notes

• The Bills are making plans for tight end Kevin Everett to attend the team's home finale Sunday, which would be his first trip back to Buffalo since suffering a serious spinal cord injury. The player was initially paralyzed from the neck down but is now walking on his own. Meanwhile, 15 Bills players are on injured reserve after backup defensive end Ryan Denney was placed on the season-ending list.

• New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush returned to practice, ahead of schedule after learning only two weeks ago he had a torn left knee ligament. But he was coy about whether he would play Sunday. "I guess you guys have to wait and see," a grinning Bush said.

• Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy expects at least five Colts starters to miss Sunday's game against Houston because of injuries: receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), right tackle Ryan Diem (knee), defensive tackle Raheem Brock (ribs), safety Antoine Bethea (knee) and defensive end Robert Mathis (knee).

• The Tennessee Titans placed starting middle linebacker Ryan Fowler on injured reserve after he had surgery on his right shoulder, and he will be replaced by Stephen Tulloch.

• The New York Jets are unsure who their starting quarterback will be Sunday at Tennessee. Coach Eric Mangini said Kellen Clemens (ribs) would start if he recovers in time. But Chad Pennington took the snaps in practice Wednesday while Clemens' participation was limited.

• The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a three-year contract with tight end Michael Allan, the Chiefs' seventh-round draft pick out of Whitworth College. The Chiefs placed offensive tackle Kyle Turley (foot) on injured reserve.

• Takeo Spikes needs surgery on a torn rotator cuff, and the Philadelphia Eagles said they will place the veteran linebacker on injured reserve.

• Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he cut punter Todd Sauerbrun because police said the player was belligerent toward them during his recent arrest for assault.

• Two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. — sent a letter to the NFL threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption if it doesn't make games on the NFL Network available to more viewers.