As the Rumors Swirl, Campo Stays Upbeat

Although his status as coach of the Dallas Cowboys is shaky, Dave Campo remained upbeat Monday and tried lifting the spirits of everyone around him, too.

He told players in a team meeting that they should tune out all the talk about him being fired and Bill Parcells possibly being hired. Parcells met with owner Jerry Jones for five hours last week, though both sides said no job was offered.

Campo wants his players’ attention squarely on extending a 10-game winning streak against Washington, Dallas’ opponent in the season finale Sunday.

“His demeanor has been the same,” running back Emmitt Smith said. “He’s been on an even keel, trying to stay positive, trying to not lose focus.”

Campo said Sunday he wasn’t sure if or how he’d discuss his job status with the team. Figuring it was too big to ignore, he brought it up in a meeting Monday morning.

Campo said he kept it brief: “Don’t let the distraction be a distraction, just go about your business and get done what you have to get done.”

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St. Louis Ram quarterback Marc Bulger will miss the team’s final game Monday night because of a spinal injury that will not require surgery or harm his career.

Bulger was hurt when he was sacked early in Sunday’s 30-10 loss at Seattle. The spinal injury was described as three compression fractures.

Matt Matava, one of the team physicians, said Bulger should be healthy in six to eight weeks.

Backup Jamie Martin, who played most of Sunday’s game, had his knee drained and is questionable for the home game against San Francisco. That would leave Scott Covington as the Rams’ only healthy quarterback. Opening day starter Kurt Warner went on injured reserve with a hand injury earlier this month and is out for the season.

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Eagle Coach Andy Reid said quarterback A.J. Feeley, who is 4-0 as a starter, will start again Saturday against the New York Giants because Koy Detmer is not ready to play yet. Philadelphia can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory over the Giants.... Cincinnati safety Mark Roman aggravated torn cartilage in his right knee during the Bengals’ 20-13 victory over New Orleans and will miss the final game of the season.... Atlanta fullback Bob Christian will not play this weekend because of a concussion he suffered Sunday, and he acknowledged that this second concussion in two months could end his career.... Brian Griese’s sprained left knee was still sore Monday, but the Denver Broncos will not know until later this week whether their quarterback will play in Sunday’s finale against Arizona.