Cowboys

Ray Lewis told the NFL Network on Wednesday that he wouldn't give the Ravens a hometown discount in free agency and considered the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets as attractive options. A 10-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Lewis would become an unrestricted free agent in three weeks if the Ravens don't sign him to a new contract or use the franchise tag on him. At the end of the season, owner Steve Bisciotti and linebacker Terrell Suggs brought up the possibility that Lewis might take less money to stay.

Giants (6-3) @ Lions (6-3) -- Both teams are in the wild-card hunt now after difficult losses yesterday left them two games out of first place in their divisions. Redskins (5-4) @ Cowboys (8-1) -- Having swept the Giants, the Cowboys are threatening to run away with the NFC East title.

Dan Reeves, who appeared in nine Super Bowls as player or coach during a 37-year NFL career, wants to talk to the Dallas Cowboys about the coaching vacancy left by Bill Parcells' retirement. Speaking yesterday from his vacation home at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia, Reeves said he phoned the Cowboys on Monday to express interest in the job. Reeves, 63, spent eight seasons with the Cowboys as a running back and six more as an assistant coach. During that time, he participated in five Super Bowls, winning two. He also went to the Super Bowl as head coach with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, but lost each time.

Moves Baseball ASTROS -- Signed OF Luke Scott and P Chad Qualls to one-year contracts. Colleges DUKE -- Announced that G Gerald Henderson was suspended one game for actions in yesterday's loss to North Carolina. GEORGIA STATE -- Fired men's basketball coach Michael Perry. ILLINOIS -- Suspended WR Jody Ellis and WR Derrick McPhearson from football team for "alleged criminal activity." Football BROWNS -- Signed DB Kenny Wright to three-year contract. BUCCANEERS -- Signed FB B.J. Askew.

EastWR Randy Moss will get his first chance to duel CB Deion Sanders tomorrow night when the Minnesota Vikings play host to the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders was out with a toe injury last Thanksgiving when Moss played his first game against the Cowboys. The Cowboys say Sanders can shut down Moss even though he had problems with the Colts' Marvin Harrison last week. But the Cowboys have to stop Cris Carter, who has 46 catches to 35 for Moss. Coach Chan Gailey said, "They're still trying to get the ball to Moss.

Chicago (5-6) at Detroit (6-4)Time: 12: 40 p.m., chs. 45, 5.Line: Lions by 6.Vs. spread: Bears 9-2; Lions 6-4.Last week: Bears beat Chargers, 23-20, in OT. Lions lost to Packers, 26-17.Series: Bears lead 77-56-5.Last meeting: Lions won, 26-3, on Nov. 15, 1998, at Detroit.Outlook: Did you know that Chicago leads the NFC in passing offense, averaging 263.9 yards per game? The Bears use multiple wide receiver sets but most frequently get the ball into the hands of Bobby Engram, who has caught 56 passes.

Time: 1 p.m., chs. 45, 5.Line: Redskins by 2 1/2.Vs. spread (1998): Cowboys 8-8; Redskins 7-9.Series: Cowboys lead, 43-31-2.Last meeting: Cowboys won, 23-7, on Dec. 27, 1998, in Dallas.Outlook: One of the best rivalries in the history of the league has lost some of its spark, but this is still one of the most important games of the week. The Cowboys, Redskins and Giants are all close in talent level in the NFC East, but the Cowboys, especially on offense, have an edge because of their aging but still skilled veterans.

There's trouble in Big D with a capital D and it rhymes with disaster.At least it's a disaster by the Dallas Cowboys' standards when the team loses back-to-back games by 13-10 scores to the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.It's easy to forget the Cowboys are still 3-2. In Dallas, all they're talking about is that the offense has produced two touchdowns in the last 28 possessions."I think there's some frustration, sure," Cowboys coach Chan Gailey said.No doubt about that. Gailey's being second-guessed by everybody from Terry Bradshaw to Emmitt Smith.

LANDOVER -- Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner grimaced, remaining still with his arms crossed. Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield stared up at the stands and could only close his eyes.Safety Matt Stevens stood out of breath near the end zone, questioning the biggest blunder in a game defined by mistakes.The Redskins made physical, mental and all-around embarrassing miscues, paving an easy road for the Dallas Cowboys to come from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to capture a 41-35 overtime victory yesterday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In a dawning era of quick-fix football, the Indianapolis Colts made the quantum leap from also-ran to playoff contender yesterday.They achieved legitimacy with a searing second-half comeback that riddled the Dallas Cowboys, 34-24, before a raucous RCA Dome sellout crowd of 56,860 and a national TV audience.Down 14 points in the first half, the Colts outscored the Cowboys 31-7 over the final 32 minutes of the game, riding a wave of big plays from their big playmakers -- quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

A few years from now, when Ray Lewis decides to retire, the Pro Bowl inside linebacker will be celebrated as a lifelong Raven and have a statue erected at M&T Bank Stadium in his honor. But yesterday, in fielding questions for the first time since re-signing with the Ravens, Lewis dismissed "flirtations" with other teams and repeatedly insisted that Baltimore was his first choice in free agency. "My family is Baltimore," said Lewis, who wore sunglasses and a yellowish-tan, open-neck shirt during the half-hour interview session.

Ray Lewis apparently irritated owner Steve Bisciotti recently with his comments about possibly playing for the Jets or Cowboys, even though Bisciotti and Lewis are friends. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ ravensinsider)

From owner Steve Bisciotti to coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens have made it clear they want to bring back Ray Lewis. But the Pro Bowl inside linebacker could be laying the groundwork to go elsewhere when free agency begins Friday. According to Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware, Lewis said it's his "dream" to play in Dallas and repeatedly expressed his desire to sign there. "When we played Ray Lewis and Baltimore at the end of the season, he came over and pointed to my helmet. He said: 'I want to wear this star on my helmet.

Ray Lewis told the NFL Network on Wednesday that he wouldn't give the Ravens a hometown discount in free agency and considered the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets as attractive options. A 10-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Lewis would become an unrestricted free agent in three weeks if the Ravens don't sign him to a new contract or use the franchise tag on him. At the end of the season, owner Steve Bisciotti and linebacker Terrell Suggs brought up the possibility that Lewis might take less money to stay.

Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press that Mangini will be introduced today at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Berea, Ohio. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Mangini's contract had not been finalized. Mangini reached an agreement on a four-year deal with the club yesterday, the person said. Mangini is represented by agent Ron Shapiro, who is Mangini's father-in-law.

The Ravens might believe it's too early to talk about playoffs because they haven't clinched a spot yet, but the Ravens won't lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in the regular-season finale. It's not a bold prediction, especially with the way the Jaguars have struggled this season. It's simply based on the personality of the Ravens. With some teams, you might worry about a meltdown because of the pressure surrounding the game, but the Ravens never panic. In fact, that will be their main strength heading into the postseason.

QB A Joe Flacco made some really impressive throws. He showed great patience under duress and kept his patience regardless of what happened in the game. He won a big game against a quality team. It was a strong showing. OL C+ The Ravens gave up five sacks, but all were in the first half. They got better as the game went on. The Ravens' inside linemen had no answers for Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff. The Ravens wore down the Cowboys in the second half. WR C Derrick Mason put on a gutsy effort, maybe the grittiest in Ravens history.

Defense dominated the quarter, and it was the Cowboys who took advantage of a big turnover by Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. On the Ravens' first drive, Flacco was sacked inside the 5-yard line by Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. The ball was recovered by Greg Ellis at the Ravens' 4. Two runs by Tashard Choice sandwiched around an incompletion gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. Despite the inauspicious start, Flacco led the Ravens right back on a 10-play drive that resulted in a field goal by Matt Stover.

IRVING, Texas - The Ravens closed out venerable Texas Stadium by making some history of their own. Le'Ron McClain's 82-yard touchdown run - the longest by a visiting back in the stadium's 37-year existence - finished off the Ravens' critical 33-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and ruined the much-anticipated celebration. The Ravens (10-5) now need only a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) next Sunday in the regular-season finale to clinch a playoff berth. Their path to the postseason remained clear because they hurdled a tough roadblock against the Cowboys (9-6)

QB A Joe Flacco made some really impressive throws. He showed great patience under duress and kept his patience regardless of what happened in the game. He won a big game against a quality team. It was a strong showing. OL C+ The Ravens gave up five sacks, but all were in the first half. They got better as the game went on. The Ravens' inside linemen had no answers for Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff. The Ravens wore down the Cowboys in the second half. WR C Derrick Mason put on a gutsy effort, maybe the grittiest in Ravens history.