Redskins Lose Kicker Blanton

The Washington Redskins learned Monday that kicker Scott Blanton won’t be available in Sunday’s crucial game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Blanton injured his right hamstring trying to make a tackle in the second quarter of the Redskins’ 30-10 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday.

Washington (7-7-1) can make the playoffs with a victory over Philadelphia and a loss or tie by either Detroit or Minnesota.

The Redskins gave former Green Bay kicker Chris Jacke a tryout Monday. Jacke, 31, was signed by Pittsburgh in the off-season, injured his hip in preseason and was waived in October.

Washington played Saturday without five offensive starters--quarterback Gus Frerotte, running back Terry Allen, wide receiver Leslie Shepherd, guard Tre Johnson and center Jeff Uhlenhake. Frerotte (hip) and Shepherd (wrist) are out for the season, Johnson and Uhlenhake aren’t expected to start Sunday and Allen, trying to come back from a sprained ankle, is questionable.

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Troy Aikman, not a big supporter of Barry Switzer, says he will return as the Dallas Cowboy quarterback next season.

This was another sign that Switzer might not return as coach because he doesn’t use the discipline Aikman believes is necessary to win.

With a 31-24 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday, the mistake-plagued Cowboys are 6-9 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

“I’ll be back,” Aikman said. “I’ve always said 10 years is important to me, so I’ll play. I just hope [owner] Jerry Jones takes the necessary steps to get this thing back on track.”

As far as the subject of Switzer is concerned, Aikman said he has never tried to influence Jones’ coaching and personnel decisions.

“Jerry makes the decisions he is comfortable with, and I don’t lobby for anybody,” Aikman said. “I’ve removed myself from the process. I don’t have a magical answer for all this.”

But he did say the team needs more focus and discipline, things it lacked this season.

“That [discipline] is just my nature, and maybe it’s an extreme approach,” Aikman said. “On teams that are successful, there is discipline. Something needs to be done about penalties and mistakes. But it is not for me to decide what is done.”

Switzer has two years remaining on his contract, worth about $1 million per season.

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The San Francisco 49ers’ 34-17 victory over the Denver Broncons on Monday gave the Kansas City Chiefs the AFC West title, a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. . . . Philadelphia Eagle defensive end Mike Mamula will not face criminal charges after being accused of exposing himself in a bar during training camp last summer. . . . Seattle Coach Dennis Erickson said Warren Moon, still recovering from injured ribs, may start Sunday against San Francisco instead of Jon Kitna, the third-stringer who started and led the Seahawks to a come-from-behind 22-21 victory over Oakland on Sunday. . . . San Diego Charger linebacker Junior Seau has a sprained ligament in his left knee and is listed as day-to-day for Sunday’s season finale at Denver.