PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Cowboys-Dolphins, Lions-Bears Today

The Super Bowl MVP and the league’s oldest player compete against each other at quarterback today in a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) and Don Shula’s resourceful Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. PST, Channel 4).

Troy Aikman, well rested after a two-week absence to let a pulled hamstring heal, makes his return against Steve DeBerg, the 39-year-old quarterback who thought his career was washed up three weeks ago until he got a 911 call from Shula.

“It’s ironic,” said DeBerg, who has played for five NFL teams, including the Cowboys. “I was prepared to retire thinking my career was over and now I’m on a team with a chance to win the whole thing.”

Injuries to Dan Marino and Scott Mitchell forced the Dolphins (8-2) to sign DeBerg and Hugh Millen, who was with the Cowboys until they signed Bernie Kosar on Nov. 10.

Kosar led the Cowboys to a victory over Phoenix but couldn’t get the offense clicking in a 27-14 loss to Atlanta last Sunday.

The Cowboys desperately needed Aikman’s return because of the condition of running back Emmitt Smith, listed as doubtful because of a bruised right thigh muscle. Dallas lost two games at the start of the season when Smith was holding out in a bitter contract hassle. Coach Jimmy Johnson was to rule shortly before the kickoff whether Smith would play.

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In the other game today, Detroit (7-3) plays host to Chicago (5-5) at the Silverdome (9:30 a.m., Channel 2).

Hidden behind the Bears’ .500 record is some of quarterback Jim Harbaugh’s best football. Sunday at Kansas City, he threw two interceptions. But he rushed seven times for 61 yards and brought the Bears back from a 14-0 deficit to defeat the Chiefs, 19-17.

“Jim Harbaugh is a lot like Brett Favre at Green Bay,” Lion Coach Wayne Fontes said. “He’s a scrambler. Jim Harbaugh is the key to the Bears’ offense. He’s the guy you try to take out of the game.”

“Rodney Peete and Jim Harbaugh are very similar,” Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said of the Detroit quarterback. “They don’t have a great reputation around the league. But they lead, and they win.”

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Quarterback report: Joe Montana practiced extensively for the first time in almost a month, increasing the possibility of his starting this weekend when the Kansas City Chiefs play Buffalo. . . . Steve Beuerlein of the Phoenix Cardinals, who sat out two games because of a knee sprain, will start Sunday against the New York Giants. . . . Tom Tupa, signed by the Cleveland Browns after Kosar was released, was waived. The Browns said Vinny Testaverde, recovering from a separated right shoulder, will suit up for Sunday’s game against Atlanta but is listed as doubtful. . . . Jim McMahon returned to practice Wednesday but probably won’t be able to play Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings play host to the New Orleans Saints. . . . Washington’s Mark Rypien might undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee at the end of the season to repair a torn ligament.