Dolphins a Possibility for Sanders

Barry Sanders would consider playing for the Miami Dolphins, among other teams, if he comes out of retirement next season.

Whether Jimmy Johnson returns as coach wouldn’t affect Sanders’ decision regarding Miami, said his agent, David Ware. Sanders hasn’t decided if he wants to play in 2000, Ware told The Miami Herald in Friday’s editions.

“I’ve tried to avoid dealing in hypotheticals,” Ware said. “But if we put him in a position where he can go to another team, certainly Miami would be high on his list of places where he would like to play.”

A Jan. 11 arbitration hearing is scheduled to determine Sanders’ future. The Lions want him to return $5.5 million in signing bonus money they say he owes the team after his unexpected retirement this summer.

Sanders is willing to repay the Lions, Ware said, but in return wants the club to relinquish its rights to him. That would make Sanders an unrestricted free agent.

*

Washington Redskin running back Stephen Davis was unable to practice again and was put on the inactive list for Sunday’s regular season finale against the Dolphins.

“I don’t think Stephen Davis could play this week under any circumstances after watching him today,” Coach Norv Turner said.

Davis, who sprained his ankle in the Dec. 19 game at Indianapolis, did some agility drills on the sidelines as his teammates practiced. Turner said he hoped Davis, who has rushed for a franchise-record 1,405 yards, would be able to resume practicing Wednesday and be ready to play in the Redskins’ first playoff game.

The Redskins (9-6) have already clinched the NFC East, and Sunday’s game will have no bearing on Washington’s playoff picture. If Chicago defeats Tampa Bay and Detroit defeats or ties Minnesota in earlier games, Washington would get a first-round bye.

*

The NFL fined Lion free safety Ron Rice $5,000 for a hit on the Bronco wide receiver Ed McCaffrey during Denver’s 17-7 victory on Christmas.

Rice was fined for “unnecessary roughness and for striking an opponent in the head with a forearm,” NFL spokesman Dan Masonson said.

The hit came on the first play of the third quarter, when McCaffrey made a leaping catch of a 17-yard pass from quarterback Brian Griese. After McCaffrey landed and sprawled on the turf, Rice hit him from behind.

Rice was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness. McCaffrey sat out a few plays.

*

Terry Glenn has withdrawn his appeal of his suspension by the New England Patriots for the season’s final game.

Coach Pete Carroll, who levied the suspension, said Glenn wouldn’t have played even if his suspension was overturned.

Glenn’s agent, James Gould, had requested an expedited arbitration hearing after Carroll suspended his top wide receiver for Sunday’s season finale at home against the Baltimore Ravens for not meeting with team medical personnel on three days.

Carroll said he suspended Glenn because the player, who was excused from practice last Friday and Saturday because of the flu, didn’t meet with club medical personnel Saturday night, Monday and Tuesday.

*

Denver offensive lineman Tony Jones, out for the season because of a torn triceps, was put on injured reserve, becoming the sixth Bronco starter to join the list this season.

To replace Jones on the 53-man roster, Denver signed cornerback Jason Suttle from the practice squad.

Jones joins fellow starters running back Terrell Davis, tight end Shannon Sharpe, safety Eric Brown, defensive end Alfred Williams and linebacker John Mobley on injured reserve.

Suttle, 25, spent eight weeks on Denver’s active roster earlier this season, playing primarily on special teams in four games.