Cunningham Gets the Nod

Troy Aikman’s back remained so sore Thursday that he could not bend over to take a snap, prompting the Dallas Cowboys to select Randall Cunningham as starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We made that decision based on the fact we don’t think Troy will be ready,” Coach Dave Campo said.

Aikman was downgraded from questionable to doubtful. Campo said he’ll decide Sunday whether Aikman will be the backup or the emergency quarterback.

While Aikman did not rule himself out, he sounded more optimistic of playing the next week because he’s scheduled to undergo a second series of pain-relieving injections on Monday.

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Washington Redskin quarterback Jeff George will make his first start of the season Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals because starter Brad Johnson suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee last week, the team said.

George, 32, hasn’t thrown a pass this year after signing a four-year, $18.25-million contract in April to be Johnson’s backup. George started the final 10 regular-season games for the Minnesota Vikings last season after Randall Cunningham was benched.

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Minnesota Viking receiver Randy Moss was fined $25,000 by the NFL for making contact with an official Sunday in the Vikings’ 41-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Moss said he was trying to get field judge Lloyd McPeters’ attention when he grabbed the official’s arm. Moss was ejected with 1:54 to play.

Moss also will have to pay $15,000 as part of an agreement he made after last season. He was fined $40,000 for squirting an official with a water bottle in the Vikings’ NFC divisional playoff game against the St. Louis Rams last season, but that penalty was reduced to $25,000 on the condition that Moss have no further problems with officials. Moss agreed to pay the remaining $15,000 if he had any other fines involving referees.