Phillips denies saying titles were tainted

Dallas Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips insisted Friday that he had never said that New England’s three Super Bowl championships were tainted.

Two days before the already much-hyped matchup of 5-0 teams, when the Patriots play in Dallas, Phillips denied making such comments after New England Coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team lost a draft pick for videotaping an opposing sideline this season.

“I think it’s ludicrous to demean a team, an organization that has done a great job and won all those games, and deserved every bit of it,” Phillips said. “They won all those championships. They deserve every bit of what they got.”

On HBO’s “Inside the NFL” program this week, Peter King said in a discussion about the Patriots that Phillips suggested to King that their three Super Bowl titles in four seasons were tainted because of the spying allegations.

A House committee that criticized the NFL’s retiree benefit system asked the league and the players’ union to turn over information on football injuries, the disability and retirement system and what’s being done to help battered and broken retirees.

The House Judiciary Committee has arranged for the Congressional Research Service, an investigative and research unit, to conduct an independent study of those questions as well, committee leaders said in letters to the NFL and the NFL Players Assn. The NFL and union have until Oct. 26 to turn over the information and answer the committee’s questions.

Quarterback David Carr returned to practice for Carolina and was listed as probable for the Panthers’ game Sunday at Arizona, though Coach John Fox was not ready to declare him the starter. . . . Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is listed as probable for the Vikings’ game Sunday at Chicago, making it likely that he will get his first start in three weeks. . . . Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair sat out his second consecutive day of practice because of a stiff back, and the team will make a decision at game time Sunday whether he will play against the St. Louis Rams. . . . Washington Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El and linebacker Marcus Washington sat out practice again because of hamstring injuries. . . . Oakland defensive tackle Gerard Warren will sit out the Raiders’ game Sunday at San Diego, and defensive end Derrick Burgess and running back LaMont Jordan are doubtful. . . . Jaguars running back Fred Taylor sat out practice because of a groin injury.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najeh Davenport was charged with domestic violence, child endangering and unlawful restraint in a custody-related confrontation with the mother of his 5-year-old son. . . . Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams was fined $15,000 for a “horse-collar” tackle, the second time he has been punished this season.