NFL: Dallas QB Romo returns to practice

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo returned to work yesterday, going through practice a day after being sent home with flu symptoms.

Romo shuffled through the hallway on his way to a quarterbacks meeting before the workout. Asked whether he felt better, Romo said: "Oh, yeah. I feel like a hundred dollars."

The Cowboys (9-6) will close the regular season Sunday against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Dallas would get a wild card with a win and miss the playoffs with a loss.

"We'll make him practice double today," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said, smiling. "We'll make him practice extra so he can catch up for people who worried about him missing practice yesterday."

Tight end Jason Witten (sprained left ankle) also returned to practice after missing Wednesday's session. Running back Marion Barber (dislocated right little toe) and safety Ken Hamlin (foot) were there, too.

Witten and Hamlin are expected to play against the Eagles. Barber is likely to be a game-time decision.

Dallas has given right tackle Marc Colombo a four-year contract extension, guaranteeing that nearly all of Romo's blockers will be together through 2012.

Colombo's deal was agreed on weeks ago but wasn't finalized until Wednesday because of technicalities. It's worth $22 million, with $11.5 million guaranteed.

"We had a couple of road bumps with some of the new rules," Colombo said yesterday. "We worked through it. Now I can focus completely on football."

Bills.

Running back Marshawn Lynch and linebacker Kawika Mitchell returned to practice yesterday as Buffalo prepared to close their season hosting New England this weekend.

Both missed Wednesday's practice - Lynch with a sore shoulder that kept him out of most of the second half of Buffalo's win at Denver last Sunday, and Mitchell with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters (knee) and No. 3 receiver Roscoe Parrish (knee) missed practice for a second straight day.

Bills coach Dick Jauron didn't give any indication of the playing status of any of the injured players.

Sunday's game has significant playoff implications for the Patriots, who must win to stay in the postseason hunt. The Bills will be looking to finish .500 for the first time since 2004.

Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden promoted secondary coach Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator, replacing Monte Kiffin, effective for the 2009 season.

Kiffin, 68, said earlier this month that he was leaving the post he has held for 13 seasons to join his son, Lane Kiffin, at the University of Tennessee.

"I wanted to give him something to be excited about and to reward him for his hard work and effort," Gruden said of Morris after the team's afternoon practice yesterday. "We're going to keep the playbook somewhat the same."

Naming Morris now rather than later put an end to any speculation or uncertainty regarding a pending vacancy at coordinator.

Meanwhile, linebacker Derrick Brooks, limited last week with bruised ribs, was held out of practice for a second consecutive day with a hamstring injury. Today's workout is the final practice of the week.

Brooks was able to play last week after missing practices Wednesday and Thursday. He has never missed a game because of injury, playing in 223 straight. Brooks has started 220 consecutive games, second most among active players behind New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre.

Colts.

Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy has no complaints about the NFL's playoff system.

Colts fans contend it's all wrong.

They see Indianapolis at 11-4, tied with Pittsburgh for the second-best record in the AFC, and complain that the Colts deserve more than a likely postseason on the road.

"If you win your division, you should get a home game," Dungy said this week. "We had our opportunity."