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Parcells Blames Line, Sticks With Bledsoe

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From the Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells stood by quarterback Drew Bledsoe on Monday, instead blaming the offensive line for most of Bledsoe’s mistakes in a 38-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’m not switching the quarterback,” Parcells said. “I don’t think that’s the answer right this minute.... Let’s try to get some of the things corrected [on the line] and we’ll go from there.”

Bledsoe threw three interceptions Sunday, the last on a pass to the end zone that could’ve tied the score in the final minute but wound up going 102 yards the other way.

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He also set up an early field goal for the Eagles with a fumble. That turnover came on the first of his seven sacks.

“He was under pretty good duress,” Parcells said. “The majority of the easy sacks they had were mental mistakes.”

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Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson, the team’s top tackler the last three years, tore a chest muscle in a victory over the New York Jets on Sunday and is out for the season.

Coach Jack Del Rio said Peterson probably will get a second opinion, but he was confident the eight-year veteran will be put on injured reserve.

Peterson started every game the last three seasons.

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The Arizona Cardinals lost Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald for at least one month because of a hamstring injury.

Fitzgerald was hurt late in the first quarter Sunday, shortly after catching a five-yard touchdown pass from Matt Leinart.

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Fitzgerald has 25 catches for 336 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, his second in the NFL, he caught 103 passes, tied with Steve Smith for most in the NFL.

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Miami Dolphins Coach Nick Saban said Joey Harrington will remain the starting quarterback and that Daunte Culpepper will enter a program designed to help restore some explosive movement in his surgically rebuilt right knee.

“We’ll evaluate it on a week-to-week basis,” Saban said. “This week, we’re going to plan to play like we did last week.... We’re going to work with Daunte, improve his movement, give him some reps in practice, get Joey ready to play in the game. Now, does that make him the starter? I guess that makes him the starter.”

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The Philadelphia Eagles are investigating reports from fans that ramps leading from the upper level of Lincoln Financial Field swayed as the crowd left Sunday’s game with the Dallas Cowboys.

Team spokeswoman Bonnie Grant described the movement as “lateral vibration,” which she said can occur when “exceptional conditions are in place, including a driving force of pedestrian traffic.”

“At no time was the public in danger,” Grant said in a statement.

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San Diego Chargers practice squad cornerback Markus Curry was released by the team only hours after he was arrested on suspicion of committing domestic violence.... The New England Patriots signed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and released defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan and cornerback Hank Poteat.

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