Romo to miss two games

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who wanted to try to play last week despite the broken pinkie on his throwing hand, said Wednesday he now doesn’t expect to play again until at least mid-November.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back,” Romo said. “I think definitely the idea now is to get healthy by that bye week.”

That means Romo would sit out at least two more games: Sunday at Tampa Bay and the following week at the rival New York Giants.

The Cowboys (4-3), who have lost three of their last four games, then take a week off before returning Nov. 16 at Washington.

After being limited in his only practice last week, Romo was still listed as the backup quarterback Sunday at St. Louis. He even threw some passes before the game.

Although the pain was tolerable, Romo couldn’t take direct snaps. And because of the protective splint on his hand, he needed an extra two to three seconds to get a proper grip before making throws.

“I wouldn’t have been able to play at any kind of level that would have helped this football team,” Romo said.

Brad Johnson will start again for Dallas on Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Holmgren addresses 49ers rumors

Mike Holmgren, the exiting coach of the Seattle Seahawks, had a chance to slam the door on rumors he is a prime candidate to take over his hometown San Francisco 49ers in 2009. Instead, he left it partially open.

”. . . . For years, that was my dream job. And it never quite came to fruition,” Holmgren said. “But times change and right now, I think it’s been stated . . . for the 27th time: The plan for me and Kath [wife Kathy] is to take a year off after this time in Seattle. We’ve been here 10 years, and we love it here, and that’s the plan. While I’m flattered -- we have a lot of friends in the Bay Area -- that’s the plan right now.”

Chiefs’ Johnson apologizes

Saying he was “kind of disgusted with myself,” Larry Johnson apologized for behavior that’s led to an NFL investigation and his benching for a second straight week.

“I want to start off saying I apologize to the Hunt family, my family, first and foremost, the fans, teammates, coaches and players,” said Kansas City’s two-time Pro Bowl running back. “This is the first time in my life I actually had to stand up, I mean actually woke up and kind of be disgusted with myself and disgusted as far as the way my life and my career is heading right now.”

Police and the NFL are investigating a report that Johnson spat several times on a woman at a Kansas City, Mo., nightclub.

Patriots’ Harrison is out for season

Rodney Harrison’s season is over after the New England safety tore a thigh muscle. The Patriots put the 35-year-old player on injured reserve. . . . Denver has lost linebacker Boss Bailey (knee) and backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey (elbow) to season-ending injuries and cornerback Champ Bailey is out for at least a month because of a groin injury. . . . Washington defensive end Jason Taylor estimated that he is only 60% healthy as he plays his way back after emergency calf surgery. . . . Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow appealed his one-game suspension for critical comments he made about the Browns’ handling of his hospitalization for a staph infection.