SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013 What would Cowboys do without Romo?

IRVING: For years, ’s defenders have answered expectations, challenges anyone to come up with a current during a 24-23 win over Washington that included a his penchant for costly late-game mistakes with a rhetorical who could do better in Romo’s situation. And fourth-down pass to DeMarco Murray in the question: What would the Dallas Cowboys do without him? he’s not kidding. final 2 minutes. Or maybe the Cowboys just can’t bring It appears they will find out in their fourth playoffs-or-bust “Name whoever you want,” said White, who lost three themselves to believe the franchise leader in touchdown season finale against an NFC East rival since 2008 - and straight NFC championship games in the 1980s and lost his passes - ahead of Troy Aikman, White and Roger Staubach - their first elimination game without Romo in 10 years. job to Gary Hogeboom. “I don’t care if it’s Tom Brady, if it’s is going to miss the game that decides whether they get a Dallas hasn’t ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday Peyton Manning, if it’s Aaron Rodgers. I can make an argu- playoff game at their $1.2 billion stadium or go home early night’s game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to ment for Tony getting better results than anybody else for the fourth straight season. One thing’s for sure. The con- Romo’s back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting could get.” Romo has the same support from Cowboys fidence of his teammates wasn’t shaken after Romo’s latest role after two years of limited play as the backup. owner Jerry Jones on down, which is why the question of crushing error - an that let the Packers finish a Surely Orton’s name isn’t the first that comes to mind whether he’s going to play against the Eagles is the hottest rally from a 23-point deficit in a 37-36 win two weeks ago. for fans wanting a change after years of damaging inter- topic of the week in the NFL now that the Packers have said Never mind that Romo is 1-6 in elimination games - three ceptions, or, most infamously, the field goal flub Rodgers will return from an seven-game absence for a simi- losses in the playoffs and three in season finales against when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have lar winner-take all battle for the NFC North title against NFC East rivals with the division title and a playoff spot on won his first playoff game in 2006. Danny White, the last Chicago. Maybe the Cowboys are trying to keep the Eagles the line, including the past two years against the New York longtime Dallas starter who failed to meet Super Bowl guessing when it comes to Romo, who injured his back Giants and Washington.—AP

NFL Preview

4 playoff spots at stake in last-weekend games

WASHINGTON: The ’s last four playoff berths will be decided by tomorrow’s final regular-season games, two of them showdowns in which the winner advances and the loser is done. Chicago entertains Green Bay and Philadelphia will visit Dallas with the winner in each capturing a division crown and first-round home playoff game and the los- er seeing their season conclude. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, who has a herniated disk in his back, is likely to be replaced by Kyle Orton when the Cowboys play host to the Philadelphia Eagles to decide the NFC East champion and a playoff spot. “It’s a health issue. We’ll just see how he’s feeling,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of Romo, who had not practiced through Thursday. “Certainly you want your quarterback to practice during the week. Tony has played a lot of football for us so you would give him more lee- way than most.” It’s the third year in a row in which the Cowboys will either make or miss the playoffs based upon their final game of the season, having fallen to Washington and the the past two years. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named Thursday as the Packers’ starter at Chicago against the team that sidelined him in a road triumph last month. “This is a playoff game for us,” Rodgers said. “It’s all out there.” A victory gives the Bears or Packers the NFC North crown GREEN BAY: Green Bay Packers’ Eddie Lacy (27) flips into the end zone past ’ Chris Carter (54) and Ike Taylor and spells the season’s end for the loser of the NFL’s oldest rival- (24) for a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday in this file photo. — AP ry, which will be contested for the 188th time. Seattle, Carolina and San Francisco have secured National Conference playoff spots with the Chicago-Green Bay and Dallas-Philadelphia win- NFL’s players still hiding, ners joining them. The sixth and final NFC spot will go to either New Orleans or Arizona. New Orleans can clinch the berth by winning at home over Tampa Bay but anything less would playing with concussions allow the Cardinals to take the final wildcard berth by beating visiting San Francisco. Seattle can seal a home-field edge throughout the path to ALLEN PARK: Dorin Dickerson is the latest NFL oped dementia or other concussion-related health problems they the Super Bowl with a home win over St Louis but a loss opens player to stay in a game with a concussion. He joined a list that is likely claimed were caused by the same on-field violence that boosted the the door for San Francisco to overtake them for the NFC West long. safety Jim Leonhard and safety game’s popularity and profit. Former Lions and Washington Redskins title. Carolina needs a victory at Atlanta to clinch a first-round George Wilson both acknowledged this week they have played with athletic trainer Al Bellamy, who worked for NFL teams from 1988- bye and the NFC South division crown. In the American concussions in the past. San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle said, 2012, said there’s only so much medical professionals can do to pro- Conference, playoff spots have been clinched by division cham- “of course it happens,” because players don’t want to come out of tect players from themselves. “I don’t think there’s anything you can pions Denver, New England, Cincinnati and Indianapolis as well games for fear of losing their jobs or roles. do if a player isn’t being forthright about his health,” said Bellamy, as wildcard qualifier Kansas City. That leaves four teams-Miami, Dickerson didn’t tell the Lions’ medical staff immediately about his now the director of athletic training at Temple. Baltimore and San Diego at 8-7 and Pittsburgh at 7-8 - vying for concussion, which he recalled getting on a kickoff during the second “Athletic trainers and team doctors are trying to see what they can the last wildcard spot in a complicated mess where all of the half. He later dropped a pass and was called for holding in overtime of from the sideline and the NFL puts an athletic trainer in the press box clubs need help from results in other games to advance. Miami Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the New York Giants. “I just got knocked out,” to point out possible concerns. “Ultimately, though, it’s up to the play- needs a home victory over the New York Jets and either a loss Dickerson told reporters after the game. “I just got a little concussion. I ers to be forthcoming about their health when there’s any doubt.” by Baltimore at Cincinnati or a San Diego home victory over should have reported it. I thought I could get through it.” Sometimes, that simply doesn’t happen. Dr Stanley A Herring, a Kansas City to advance. A win by reigning Super Bowl champi- Four days later, the 25-year-old journeyman was put on injured Seattle Seahawks team physician for 20-plus years and chairman of on Baltimore would still need Miami or San Diego losing to reserve. Dickerson, who has caught 11 passes in 23 games over three the NFL head, heck and spine committee subcommittee, said a key keep the Ravens in the running to defend their crown. San years with three NFL teams, may have simply been trying to make the component of diagnosing concussions is a good relationship with Diego must win and have Baltimore and Miami lose. Pittsburgh most of his opportunity to play even if he was putting his health at players. “The clinical diagnosis is aided if you know what the player is needs a win and losses by the other three contenders to reach risk. For players and the league, there’s a lot at stake. Millions can be like - how he thought, acted and talked - before he was injured,” the playoffs. If all four teams lose, the Ravens reach the playoffs. made by men who can thrive and survive in what Lions receiver Nate Herring said in a telephone interview Thursday night. “You can’t Denver has clinched a first-round playoff bye, but must win at Burleson called “a gladiator sport,” by shaking off hits that are so hard understand if a player is acting differently if you don’t know him very Oakland or have New England fail to beat visiting Buffalo to brains collide with skulls. And, hundreds of millions of dollars - per- well.” Leonhard said he continued playing “an important” game for ensure the Peyton Manning-led Broncos have a home-field haps billions in the future - can be lost by the league. the New York Jets three or four years ago with a concussion. Looking edge all the way to the Super Bowl. —AFP The NFL agreed a week before this season started to pay $765 mil- back, he said it was a “terrible decision” because of what he has lion to settle lawsuits from thousands of former players who devel- learned about head injuries.—AP