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NFL notebook: Dolphins' wish Williams would "Go away"

By Seattle Times news services

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SAN FRANCISCO — Former coach Dave Wannstedt said yesterday the Miami Dolphins just wanted Ricky Williams to "go away."

"The main concern that our players had was that Ricky kept coming back and talking about it," Wannstedt said on Sporting News Radio. "Once he decided to move on, the consensus in the locker room was, 'Hey, move on. You don't want to play anymore? OK, that's done. We'll deal with it.' But every three days, you know, don't have another story in the paper. Let the thing go.

"Just move on and let us go about our business. I think that was probably the biggest issue that was going on during the season is, 'Hey, just go away.' "

Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is doubtful for Sunday's game against the 49ers after missing practice with a hamstring injury.

Quarterback A.J. Feeley, who played through a painful injury to his back and buttocks last week in Seattle, is listed as questionable. But he plans to play with the help of pain-blocking injections.

With Jay Fiedler on injured reserve with a neck injury, Sage Rosenfels is the backup quarterback. The Dolphins signed veteran Jason Garrett as a third quarterback.

Today's NFL games Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 7; Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 13.

Notes

• With a 1-9 record and persistent rumors about his future, coach Dennis Erickson said 49ers management has assured him his job is safe for 2005. When asked if he had been told he would be back next year, Erickson said: "Oh, yeah. I mean there's no question about that. Like I've said, we have a long-term plan and we go ahead and go from there." Heading into Sunday's home game against the Miami Dolphins, the former Seahawks coach is 8-18 since getting a five-year, $12.5 million contract before the 2003 season. Overall in the NFL, he is 39-51 (.433), including his four-year stint with the Seahawks.

• Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will miss Sunday's game against the New England Patriots with a sprained right ankle, the latest in a series of setbacks for the 2003 NFL rushing champion. "He's definitely out this week," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "Bottom line, doctors are optimistic that he'll be able to go next week."

• Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich (knee) got the go-ahead from coach Jack Del Rio to make his first start in three weeks when the Jaguars face Minnesota on Sunday.

• The Cleveland Browns will start Kelly Holcomb at quarterback this week because Jeff Garcia has a strained right shoulder, coach Butch Davis said. An agitated Davis refused to discuss his uncertain future, but reports already are surfacing that Davis is quietly looking into the job at the University of Florida.

• Linebacker Mike Barrow (knee), who hasn't played a down all year, was placed on injured reserve by the Washington Redskins.

• With his team almost certain to miss the playoffs for a second straight year and with plans to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter said he is looking at the final six weeks as an open audition for the NFL's other teams.

• Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley, who has missed the past three games with a bruised hamstring, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Washington. However, Staley is expected to practice and could be available.

• Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will miss a third straight game with strained knee ligaments.

• Jets quarterback Chad Pennington threw a football for the first time since straining his right rotator cuff Nov. 7 against Buffalo. Pennington threw 50 passes and said he had no discomfort afterward. He added it was still too tough to tell when he would make his return. Pennington is out for Sunday's game at Arizona, and hopes to be back no later than Dec. 19.

• Arizona Cardinals backup running back Troy Hambrick will miss the rest of the season with an injured foot.

• The San Diego Chargers will raise prices next year by $8 per game for season-ticket holders and $12 for single-game tickets.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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