Gailey Backs Aikman

Coach Chan Gailey of the Dallas Cowboys defended the inconsistent play of quarterback Troy Aikman, saying that injuries and a rotating-door receiving corps are partly to blame.

“I think we’re constantly trying to adjust and search for things that are going to work best for the people in the ballgame,” Gailey said. “When you search and adjust to what’s good, you don’t have that consistency and that working relationship on specific routes.”

Aikman completed four of 13 passes for 37 yards in the second half of Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the New York Jets, the Cowboys’ first defeat this season at Irving, Texas. He had two passes intercepted in three attempts, one in the end zone.

In Washington, Coach Norv Turner played down the notion that he is finding this season particularly taxing because of mettlesome Redskin owner Dan “the Fan” Snyder.

“Every season in this league is demanding and draining,” Turner said. “There’s going to be ups and downs.”

The coach denied reports that he is considering quitting even if the Redskins make the playoffs.

In Philadelphia, Coach Andy Reid clicked his heels after Sunday’s 24-9 victory over the New England Patriots ended a four-game losing streak.

“Very easily this team could’ve packed their bags for Christmas and chalked it up for 1999. They didn’t do that,” he said. “Rather than be a cowardly lion, they stepped up and played the game.”

CENTRAL / Moss ‘Too Relaxed’

Wide receiver Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings, who has followed up his brilliant rookie season with an up-and-down sophomore campaign, indicated this week that indifference may be at the root of his inconsistency.

“I really don’t want to say bored,” said the moody Moss, who has sulked on the sideline, nonchalantly cut off routes when the plays weren’t designed for him and dropped at least four potential touchdown passes. “I think I’m just being too relaxed. There have been times when I’ve been bored, just dragging along and stuff like that. I don’t think mine is moping around in a bad way. It’s just how I feel on game day.”

He obviously felt OK on Monday, when he caught five passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers that ended the Vikings’ two-game losing streak.

“I like big games,” said Moss, whose 36-yard catch set up the winning touchdown. “That’s how I’m made.”

In Green Bay, where the Packers’ string of six consecutive playoff appearances is in serious jeopardy, strong safety LeRoy Butler ripped the team’s fans: “Everybody around here has been so spoiled, man. I don’t think people up here are rooting for us anymore.”

In particular, Butler scolded fans who have called for the firing of Coach Ray Rhodes and defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas--an interesting stance from a player who was sharply critical of Thomas’ game plans only last week, breaking his media boycott to say, among other things, that “you don’t have to be a rocket scientist” to figure out that Butler should be featured more prominently.

WEST / Saints Turn to Unknown

Jake Delhomme has never taken a snap in an NFL regular-season game, but he’ll line up against the Cowboys on national television today for the we’ll-try-anything New Orleans Saints.

“It’s not a public relations ploy,” Coach Mike Ditka said. “It’s nothing like that. I want to see how he plays. I said he was going to play and we’re going to see, that’s all.”

Delhomme, who was cut by the Saints after training camp and re-signed Nov. 23, spent two springs in NFL Europe, backing up Kurt Warner with the Amsterdam Admirals in 1998 and alternating as the starter for the Frankfurt Galaxy last spring, when he finished near the top of the league in passing.

“I always thought I just needed to be in the right place at the right time, and this could be it,” Delhomme said. “Playing with Kurt and being on the same team with him, it really gave me a lot of confidence. I played with him, and I played against Damon Huard. I see them and I think, ‘I can play like that.’ I just need a chance.”

Warner, the season’s leading passer, has helped the St. Louis Rams to a 12-2 record after 4-12 and 5-11 seasons. Huard filled in for the injured Dan Marino in midseason for the Miami Dolphins.