Raiders’ Allen to Have Surgery

Cornerback Eric Allen, who helped lift the Oakland Raiders defense from the NFL’s worst in 1997 to one of its best this year, will have surgery this week on a torn ligament in his left knee.

The six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, who has missed only one game in an 11-year career at Philadelphia, New Orleans and Oakland, was injured in Sunday’s 20-17 victory over Seattle while returning his fifth interception of the season.

Allen’s injury further weakens a secondary that already was missing starting free safety Eric Turner, out of the lineup since Oct. 11 because of a sprained right foot. Strong safety Anthony Newman hurt a toe and ankle Sunday against Seattle and will have an MRI to determine the seriousness of the injuries.

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Coach Jimmy Johnson of the Miami Dolphins, indirectly involved in a tampering investigation by the NFL against Bill Parcells, said he had no role in the matter.

CBS reported Sunday that the New England Patriots had filed a complaint alleging that Parcells, coach of the New York Jets, shared information about an injured New England player, receiver Terry Glenn, with Johnson in a telephone conversation the week of the Dolphins’ game against New England last month.

NFL spokesman Joe Browne said the investigation was initiated by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, not by the Patriots. Browne also said as far as he knew, there had been no conversation between Parcells and Johnson.

Said Johnson, “I have no idea what they’re talking about. I’ve got better things to do than worry about phone calls and he-said, she-said. That’s part of the media trying to find something that’s interesting to the public. I didn’t talk to Parcells. I had no idea what was going on.”

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Receiver Charles Jordan, a one-time gang member from Los Angeles who broke into the NFL after a tryout with the Raiders in 1993, had played his last game with the Dolphins even before he was arrested in a scuffle outside a Jacksonville nightclub over the weekend, Johnson said. Jordan is on injured reserve, which means he can’t play again this season. The team can’t release him until he’s certified as recovered.

“He’s not under contract for next year, and we didn’t have any plans on signing him to a new contract,” Johnson said.

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Philadelphia Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes said his team’s offensive line is among the worst in NFL history.

“I have to look at it that way,” Rhodes said in the wake of a 28-3 loss to the Washington Redskins, who like the Eagles have a 2-8 record. “We can’t score points and in the NFL, that’s the name of the game.”

The Eagle offense has scored only 90 points.

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Kicker Matt George is off the Pittsburgh Steeler roster. George, signed late last week to kick in place of injured Norm Johnson, badly missed his first, and probably only, NFL field-goal attempt, a 36-yarder that was partially blocked, in Sunday’s 23-14 loss to Tennessee. . . . Baltimore Raven Coach Ted Marchibroda said he’s considering weeding out players he thinks are falling short of a full effort. Although Marchibroda wouldn’t specify players, he said several younger ones didn’t have the proper focus Sunday in a 14-13 loss to the San Diego Chargers. . . . Cincinnati Coach Bruce Coslet said Jeff Blake or Paul Justin may start in place of Neil O’Donnell at quarterback against Baltimore this Sunday. . . . Backup quarterback Bubby Brister signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.45 million before the Denver Broncos’ 30-7 victory over against Kansas City on Monday night, the Denver Post reported.