Marino Cleared to Return to Practice

Now that the Miami Dolphins have shown they can win without Dan Marino, there’s no need to rush him back into the lineup.

Marino will practice Wednesday for the first time since breaking his right ankle Sept. 23, but he’s unlikely to play Sunday at Philadelphia.

“We’ll put him into practice and let him throw a little bit,” Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “As he feels comfortable, we might accelerate it a little bit. But I would not anticipate Dan Marino playing in this game.”

Receiver Fred Barnett, sidelined all season because of a knee injury, has also received medical clearance to rejoin practice. Barnett amazed doctors with his speedy recovery from surgery this summer, and he may see limited action against the Eagles, his former team.

“The doctors said this: ‘Never before has anybody seen a nine-week recovery off that type of injury,’ ” Johnson said. “It’s almost unheard of.”

There were fears that Barnett’s career might be over when the 30-year-old tore cartilage and the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Using a cadaver’s tendon as a replacement, doctors needed two operations to repair the damage.

“I told them if I’m just able to chase my wife around the house, that would be all right,” Barnett said with a smile. “You can’t open up a book or punch a computer on a thing like this. I’m just thankful I’m able to run as fast as before.”

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Just when the Pittsburgh Steelers had their running game going like the ‘70s, right guard Brenden Stai is expected to sit out four to six weeks because of an injured left elbow that might require surgery.

Stai’s injury, sustained late in Sunday’s 20-10 victory over Cincinnati, initially was diagnosed as a hyperextended elbow. But an MRI revealed interior damage, apparently to the ligaments, and Stai is not expected back until mid-to-late November.

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The Kansas City Chiefs signed veteran cornerback Tony Stargell and activated rookie defensive lineman Kerry Hicks from the practice squad.

To make roster room, they put wide receiver Victor Bailey and linebacker Tracy Rogers on injured reserve.

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive end Todd Kelly to a two-year contract and released defensive end Kenny Davidson.

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Fewer than one in four voters statewide would approve of a plan to use public funds to build or maintain a new stadium for the Seattle Seahawks, according to a poll released today.

Seven out of 10 polled said they disapprove of such a plan, according to the Mason-Dixon/Political Media Research Inc. poll conducted for The Spokesman-Review and KHQ-TV in Spokane.