Erickson Becomes Dolphins’ Starter

Only four weeks after joining the Miami Dolphins, Craig Erickson was named their starting quarterback in place of the injured Dan Marino, Coach Jimmy Johnson said.

Erickson, chosen over Bernie Kosar, will start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Marino is expected to sit out three to five games because of a fractured right ankle.

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Jacksonville Jaguar center Dave Widell had arthroscopic knee surgery and will sit out Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

Widell, who has started all 21 Jaguar games and has not missed a start dating to 1993 when he was with Denver, had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Michael Cheever will likely replace him.

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The Oakland Raider mystique is gone, and so is defensive end Anthony Smith, who refused to travel with the team Sunday to Chicago. Could Coach Mike White, whose club is 1-4, be next?

Based on history, it would not be a surprising.

The last time the club fired its coach in midseason was Oct. 2, 1989. Mike Shanahan was dismissed as the Raiders prepared to travel to New York to face the Jets. White, whose team has lost 10 of its last 11 games, is preparing to take his team to New York this weekend to face the Jets.

Meanwhile, Smith reportedly defected after hearing rumors that he was being offered to Atlanta in a trade for Jeff George.