PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AFC : Lowery Admits He Lost His Cool

Nick Lowery, a 15-year veteran kicker for the Jets, said he lost his cool during the incident Sunday in which he was accused of slapping 20-year-old ballboy David Foscaldo, who had sworn at him during an argument over providing heated footballs in New York’s 31-28 loss at New England.

“Let’s just say that I reacted in an improper way,” Lowery said. “Nobody looks good in this incident. I regret it. I kind of pride myself as a professional athlete as able to focus and keep cool in games. In the heat of the moment . . . I lost my cool.”

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Jim Harbaugh is back at quarterback and Craig Erickson is back on the sideline as the Indianapolis Colts take aim at their first playoff berth since 1987.

Erickson filled in for Harbaugh on Sunday and led the Colts to a 41-31 win at Jacksonville. Harbaugh dressed for the game, six days after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, but did not play.

“I don’t think there’s any question that Jim will be able to go and Jim will be the starter,” Coach Ted Marchibroda said Monday.

Marshall Faulk, who bruised his left knee at Jacksonville, also was cleared to play after an MRI proved negative.

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Oakland quarterback Jeff Hostetler, sidelined 3 1/2 games with an injured shoulder, is expected to return Sunday.

The Raiders (8-6) must beat Seattle and Denver in their final two regular-season games to be assured a wild-card playoff spot.

The offensive line also will get a boost this weekend in Seattle. Tackle Gerald Perry, out with a broken arm, is expected back.

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Simple support from NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue won’t put a team in Cleveland Stadium next season, Mayor Michael R. White warned.

Tagliabue said in a televised interview Sunday that Cleveland needs a team, whether or not Cleveland Browns’ owner Art Modell follows through on his plans to move the team to Baltimore.

“I think our challenge as a league is to keep a team in Cleveland and get a team to Baltimore,” Tagliabue said. “Let’s face it, those are two storied groups of fans, two storied franchises. . . . The NFL has to be in those cities. That’s got to be our goal.”

Nice words, White told a news conference Monday. But far from a guarantee.

“The real decision is not going to be voted upon by Commissioner Tagliabue--it’s going to be voted on by the 30 owners of the NFL franchises,” White said.