PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : ACROSS THE NATION : Switzer Says Foes Want to Injure Aikman

Dallas Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer is upset about what he sees as a deliberate attempt to hurt quarterback Troy Aikman, and he’s complaining to the NFL about it.

Switzer’s anger stems from a head shot by Cincinnati’s James Francis during Sunday’s game, won by the Cowboys.

“He knew what he was doing and it was uncalled for,” Switzer said. “He went to Troy’s head and that bothers me.”

The Bengals received a 15-yard penalty for the blow. Dallas got an extra chance on the fourth-and-nine incomplete pass and eventually scored a touchdown on the drive.

It was the second consecutive week Aikman had been hit in the head. He suffered a concussion the previous week when he was hit by Arizona’s Wilber Marshall.

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Insisting they aren’t giving up on quarterback David Klingler, Bengal general manager Mike Brown says he agrees with Coach Dave Shula that Jeff Blake earned another start after throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in a 23-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. “But I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that there’s been a permanent change,” Brown said. Klingler’s knee injury two weeks ago gave Blake his chance.

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San Francisco 49ers right tackle Harris Barton, who tore his left triceps in the season opener, is on pace to return for Sunday’s game at Washington, about two weeks ahead of schedule. Wide receiver John Taylor, who underwent arthroscopic surgery last week to relieve an arthritic condition in his right knee, might also play Sunday, Coach George Seifert said.

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Former Raider Mike Haynes was among eight first-time nominees on the 58-name preliminary ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Haynes was a nine-time Pro Bowl defensive back with the New England Patriots and Raiders. Other first-time eligibles include wide receivers Steve Largent and Wesley Walker, quarterback Ron Jaworski, defensive ends Ed (Too Tall) Jones and Art Still and defensive backs Hanford Dixon and Mark Haynes, Mike’s brother.