Graham Unseats Esiason

Kent Graham, a fifth-year pro from Ohio State who was on the Detroit Lions’ inactive list last season, will start at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at New Orleans.

Graham will be the 13th quarterback to start for the Cardinals since they moved to Phoenix from St. Louis in 1988, the season Neil Lomax’s hip problems ended his career.

Graham was picked up almost as an afterthought after the Cardinals (0-3) signed free agent Boomer Esiason from the New York Jets. But Graham upstaged Esiason in the second half of Arizona’s last two games.

For the season, Graham has completed 22 of 38 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Esiason is 37 of 68 for 316 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Both have low quarterback ratings. Graham’s is 53.0, while Esiason’s 48.4 is the lowest for a Cardinal starter since Gary Cuozzo in 1972.

Graham spent three seasons as a backup for the New York Giants before last season.

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Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones denied rumors that Barry Switzer is in his last year as the team’s coach. “Rubbish,” Jones said.

“Barry Switzer is more vital today than he was when he got here three years ago. I think of Barry Switzer coaching the Cowboys 10 years from now. He is my coach and my only coach for a long time to come.”

Jones fueled the rumors himself when he said wasn’t adding another year to Switzer’s five-year rollover contract. Instead, he was just letting it run. Jones admitted that was a mistake from a perception standpoint.