Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
IRVING, Texas ó The Dallas Cowboys sure would like to close Texas Stadium the way they opened it in 1971.
Not just by winning the last game.
By winning the Super Bowl, too.
The Cowboys began playing under the hole in the roof in October 1971 and won their first championship at the end of that season. Four more Super Bowl titles and 37 seasons later, Dallas will play its 313th and final game there Saturday night, taking on the only team that’s never visited, the Baltimore Ravens.
“I know the fans will be excited, I know the players are excited,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “We’d like to send it out on the right note.”
The Cowboys (9-5) also need a win to get closer to the playoffs. There are even three scenarios in which Dallas could lock up a wild card this weekend, but all require a victory over the Ravens, who are among three 9-5 teams fighting for the AFC’s lone remaining wild card.
PANTHERSCHARLOTTE ó Although officially questionable, the Carolina Panthers hope defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu will play in Sunday night’s critical game against the New York Giants.
The winner earns the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
Kemoeatu practiced on a limited basis Friday, but several Panthers indicated earlier in the week they were preparing to play without him.
REDSKINSASHBURN, Va. ó Jim Zorn’s future as coach of the Washington Redskins in the wake of a 1-5 slide has not been discussed by the team’s hierarchy, front office chief Vinny Cerrato said Friday.
“In this building, that question has never even been brought up,” Cerrato, the executive vice president of football operations, said on his radio show on WTEM-AM. “It’s never even been discussed.”
Cerrato hedged, however, when asked whether Zorn would return next season. Cerrato answered “Yeah” before quickly adding again that the matter hadn’t been discussed.
First-year coach Zorn’s status has been the subject of widespread speculation during the free-fall that has followed a 6-2 start.
YOUNG SUES
HOUSTON ó Vince Young is suing former major league infielder Enos Cabell and two other men for applying for a trademark to use his initials and “Invinceable” nickname to sell products without his permission.
OBITEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Ronald Lee “Pete” Case, a guard who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants from 1962-70, has died.
He was 67.