Around the NFL: Romo concedes Prescott has earned Cowboys’ starting QB job

Tony Romo stopped a reporter in the middle of what appeared to be the first question in his first meeting with the media since August. The Dallas quarterback brought a statement, and he wasn’t going to answer any questions Tuesday.

The 36-year-old coming off his fourth back injury in less than four years conceded the starting job to Dak Prescott, who has led the Cowboys (8-1) to a franchise season record-tying eight straight wins and the best record in the NFL.

And a somber Romo didn’t hide his disappointment while reading the five-minute statement.

“He’s earned the right to be our quarterback,” Romo said of the 23-year-old rookie. “As hard as that is for me to say, he’s earned that right. He’s guided our team to an 8-1 record and that’s hard to do.”

Romo signed the first $100-million contract in franchise history in 2013 and counts $20.8 million against the salary cap this season. The cap hit next year is nearly $25 million, but the Cowboys can reduce it by roughly $5 million if they release him.

Vikings cut kicker Walsh, sign Forbath

The Minnesota Vikings, desperate to save their season, cut Blair Walsh on Tuesday, two days after he missed his league-leading fourth extra point in a 26-20 loss to Washington. Walsh was 12 of 16 on field goals and 15 of 19 on extra points in nine games this season.

The Vikings reached agreement on a contract with Kai Forbath to take Walsh’s place, two people with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press. With Forbath, punter Jeff Locke and long snapper Kevin McDermott, all three of Minnesota’s specialists will be UCLA products.

Etc.

The NFL has agreed to end a policy that prohibited the resale of tickets at below face value. New York Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman announced a legal settlement between the league and several states that was prompted by his office’s investigation into NFL ticketing pricing. The former policy prohibited sellers from listing tickets on sanctioned resale sites for less than the full face value of the ticket. The settlement applies nationwide, an NFL spokesman said. ... In Nevada, the Clark County Commission approved an ordinance to enact an increase in the local hotel room tax to help fund construction of a stadium intended to bring the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas. ... Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward is out for the rest of the season with an upper-body injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to Dallas. Coach Mike Tomlin described the injury as a pectoral or chest problem. ... The Buffalo Bills have signed veteran safety James Ihedigbo. The 32-year-old has played for four teams in eight seasons, starting 52 games. The Bills have had a need at safety since Aaron Williams was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 1. ... The Seattle Seahawks released running back Christine Michael after the former second-round draft pick lost his starting job to rookie C.J. Prosise. Seattle also released veteran defensive tackle Sealver Siliga and signed defensive tackle John Jenkins. ... New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Decker, on injured reserve because of his ailing shoulder, also had hip sur-gery on Oct. 18. ... The Arizona Cardinals have switched punters, re-signing Drew Butler and releasing Ryan Quigley.