Jerry Jones says Cowboys aren’t ruling Tony Romo out just yet

Dallas owner Jerry Jones says the Cowboys aren’t ruling Tony Romo out of a winner-take-all game against Philadelphia because doctors could clear him after treating his back injury.

Jones said on his radio show Tuesday that his quarterback has proven he can play with pain but won’t if doctors advise against it.

The Cowboys (8-7) and Eagles (9-6) are playing Sunday night in Dallas’ third straight season finale against an NFC East rival with the division title and a playoff berth on the line. Romo was the starter in losses to the New York Giants two years ago and to the Washington Redskins last season.

He injured his back Sunday in the fourth quarter of a 24-23 win at Washington. Kyle Orton, who hasn’t started a game since 2011, is the backup.

Jones said he had lengthy discussions with Romo and his doctors Monday about getting the 33-year-old ready to play. The owner wouldn’t discuss the details of Romo’s injury.

“If you know Tony, you can’t imagine what a competitor he is, and he doesn’t want to miss a snap,� Jones said. “He was very disappointed, particularly disappointed for his team, repeated over and over again, ‘Jerry, I can’t tell you how badly I feel relative to you and relative to my teammates.’ �

Romo didn’t miss a game in 2011 after breaking his ribs in Week 2 against San Francisco. He was heavily padded and medicated the next week against Washington and did enough to get the Cowboys an 18-16 win.

“Tony will play with all the pain,� Jones said. “But his doctor has to clear him.�

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When the Green Bay Packers take the field for practice on Thursday, they will know whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to start Sunday in an NFC North showdown at Chicago with the Bears.

There was no word Tuesday on the most scrutinized collarbone in Wisconsin. Rodgers said on his weekly ESPN radio show in Milwaukee that he recently had another scan and it’s being evaluated.

Rodgers broke his left collarbone Nov. 4 against the Bears and has missed the last seven games. He started practicing on a limited basis four weeks ago and has been pain-free for about two weeks.

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Quarterback Terrelle Pryor backed off comments his agent made accusing the Oakland Raiders of putting him in a position to fail by reinserting him in the starting lineup for the season finale Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

Agent Jerome Stanley told CSN Bay Area on Monday night he believed Coach Dennis Allen hopes Pryor struggles as starter to justify the decision to play Matt McGloin the last five weeks — even after Pryor recovered from a sprained knee.

The Raiders (4-11) lost all five games after McGloin won his debut start in place on an injured Pryor, extending their streak of non-winning seasons to 11.

Pryor apologized on Twitter and in a conversation with Allen for the comments shortly after they came out.

“I’m happy that Coach Allen gave me this opportunity,� Pryor said. “I know for a fact the man Coach Allen is, and that doesn’t even cross my mind as a possibility. I know he wants to win. All he talks about is winning. We have a good game plan and we’re going in to try to beat the Denver Broncos.�

Allen quickly dismissed the accusation from Stanley, calling it the “stupidest� thing he has ever heard and that he holds no ill will toward Pryor.

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Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters will undergo season-ending Achilles’ tendon surgery after getting injured Monday in a loss at San Francisco.

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The agent for Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton said his client didn’t start an altercation at a Dallas-area bar that led to the player’s arrest.

Agent Jordan Woy released a statement that said several independent witnesses said Melton did not physically start the incident early Sunday in Grapevine.

Police said Melton became belligerent, refused to leave and punched the manager of the sports bar in the face and bit his arm. The nearly 300-pound Melton, who is from Grapevine, was charged with assault and public intoxication. He was freed on bond.

Melton has been sidelined since September after suffering a knee injury against Pittsburgh.

Etc.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 15-game suspension of Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton.

Thornton appealed the ban last week after he was sanctioned for punching and injuring an unsuspecting opponent against Pittsburgh on Dec. 7. He knocked Brooks Orpik’s feet from under him and landed gloved punches to his head.

Orpik was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion.

Bettman heard Thornton’s appeal at a hearing in New York on Friday. The commissioner’s decision was announced Tuesday.

Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Thornton will forfeit $84,615.45. Thornton and the NHL Players’ Assn. could still elect to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

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Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce was fined $15,000 for his flagrant foul on George Hill of the Indiana Pacers.

Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indiana’s 103-86 win Monday. Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. But his arm ended up going around Hill’s neck for a clothesline tackle.