Mike Williams cut by the Raiders

The Oakland Raiders waived wide receiver Mike Williams on Tuesday, becoming the second team in six months to cut ties with the 10th pick of the 2005 draft.

Williams was acquired from Detroit in April along with quarterback Josh McCown for a fourth-round pick. The Raiders hoped that reuniting Williams with his former college assistant at USC, Oakland Coach Lane Kiffin, would revitalize his career.

Williams was a frequent target of criticism from Kiffin and had two gaffes Sunday in Oakland’s 13-9 loss at Tennessee.

Williams, who played in six of Oakland’s seven games, had seven catches for 90 yards.

Add Tony Romo to the list of Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterbacks, right after Don Meredith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

Romo’s spot in the team’s hierarchy was secured with the signing of a six-year, $67 million contract of which $30 million is guaranteed.

“He’s the man for the 2000s,� team owner Jerry Jones said.

“I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t think he gives us a chance to win Super Bowls.�

Romo is signed through 2013, which means he’ll be the face of the franchise when it moves into a $1 billion, 100,000-seat stadium in 2009.

The Buffalo Bills announced that quarterback J.P. Losman will start Sunday against Cincinnati.

Trent Edwards, who sprained the right wrist on his right (throwing) hand in the third quarter of Buffalo’s 13-3 victory last Sunday at the New York Jets, needs additional time to recover. Bills Coach Dick Jauron said in a statement that it’s unclear whether Edwards will practice at all this week.

The mystery surrounding Jonathan Vilma’s injured knee was not clarified even during the player’s conference call Tuesday.

The New York Jets linebacker, out for the season after being put on injured reserve, said he’s still mulling surgery for what he described only as “a regular knee injury.� He also wouldn’t specify which knee is affected. Vilma was hurt in New York’s loss at Cincinnati on Oct. 21.

The Atlanta Falcons announced that some 3,000 tickets are available for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, endangering a streak of 56 consecutive sellouts at the 70,000-seat Georgia Dome. . . . The Pittsburgh Steelers finally gave up on 2004 second-round draft pick Ricardo Colclough, releasing the cornerback and signing cornerback Anthony Madison.

The Houston Texans signed Craig Nall to add depth at quarterback with starter Matt Schaub ailing after helmet-to-helmet hits in consecutive games. . . . DeShawn Wynn’s season is over. The Green Bay Packers put the running back on season-ending injured reserve because of a shoulder injury and activated receiver Koren Robinson.

Cornerback Darrell Green and wide receivers Cris Carter and Herman Moore were among 124 modern-era players, coaches and contributors on the preliminary list of nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other first-year eligibles are running back Eric Metcalf; offensive tackles Tony Boselli, Lomas Brown and Richmond Webb; and linebackers Levon Kirkland and Hardy Nickerson.