NFL roundup: Coach Garrett's job safe, Cowboys owner says

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said coach Jason Garrett's job is not on the line this year.

The Cowboys are 21-19 and have not made the playoffs under Garrett. That includes consecutive 8-8 marks the past two seasons.

"Everything I'm thinking about is not only about how to beat the (New York) Giants when we open up (the season), but also about what our future is in a plus manner or in a positive way with Jason," Jones said Saturday as the Cowboys opened training camp. "I look to the future with Jason, not just through his contract that we're sitting here with right now. I think he has a couple of years left on his contract, but that's not a thought.

"It is not what is implied when you say, 'This is an Armageddon year for him.' It's not that with me."

Jones said the last two seasons have been disappointing. He fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and encouraged Garrett's brother, John, to leave his job as tight ends coach/passing coordinator to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receivers coach. Jones also handed play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Bill Callahan.

Still, Jones said Garrett would not lose his job if the Cowboys missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

"It's a mistake. That's not right," he said. "He's been directly involved in the coaching of (quarterback Tony) Romo for six years. When he got here, Romo had never had the same guy two years in a row. We've got to take advantage of that. His safety-net presence for what we're doing not only as a team but on offense is a big part of the plan. It gives us a real advantage."

Garrett is the Cowboys' seventh coach under Jones, who has owned the team since 1989. No Cowboys coach has lasted beyond five years during Jones' tenure.

"I can tell you that it's very comforting to have Jason as our head coach," Jones said.

---The San Francisco 49ers announced Saturday that they placed four players on the active/physically unable to perform list and four others on the active/non-football injury list.

Linebacker Darius Fleming, running back Kendall Hunter, wide receiver Mario Manningham and wide receiver Kyle Williams were placed on the active/PUP list.

Defensive tackles Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial, running back Marcus Lattimore and offensive tackle Luke Marquardt were placed on the active/non-football injury list.

Players placed on either list count against the 90-man roster limit and can be activated at any time prior to the final cuts of training camp.

The 49ers open training camp on Wednesday.

---49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has the NFL's best-selling jersey over the past three months, according to NFLShop.com.

Quarterbacks made up four of the top five spots on the top 10 list, which is based on sales figures from April 1 to June 30.

Following Kaepernick were Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

Even though Ray Lewis retired, his Baltimore Ravens jersey placed eighth. Brian Urlacher, who retired from the Chicago Bears in the offseason, was 10th.

The jersey of the San Diego Chargers' Manti Te'o topped all rookies.

Among team jerseys, the 49ers led the way, followed by the Seahawks. The rest of the top five were the Dallas Cowboys, Ravens and New England Patriots.

---New York Giants safety Will Hill was suspended without pay for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy and program for substances of abuse.

Hill was suspended for four games last year for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Hill is eligible to return to the roster Sept. 30, a day after the Giants' game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

He can participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.

---The Miami Dolphins signed No. 3 overall draft pick Dion Jordan before opening training camp Saturday.

With Jordan aboard, the Dolphins have signed all nine of their picks.

Jordan, a defensive end who stood out at Oregon, said Friday he has not yet signed over an issue related to guaranteed money but that he would report. The two sides had haggled over language in the contract that would allow the team to recoup money from Jordan if he is cut.

The Dolphins had a similar issue in negotiating the contract of quarterback Ryan Tannehill last year.

Jordan missed all organized team activities because he was recovering from shoulder surgery and because of Oregon's late graduation date.

---The Washington Redskins asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by former NFL linebacker Barrett Green, which alleged that the team violated criminal and civil laws by intentionally injuring him.

Former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and tight end Robert Royal were also named as defendants.

Green was injured in 2004 as a member of the New York Giants during a game against the Redskins. Williams, a central figure in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, was defensive coordinator of the Redskins in '04.

Green claims in the lawsuit that "Redskins coaches directed their players to disregard criminal and civil laws, as well as NFL rules, to intentionally injure opponents" and Royal "intentionally lowered his helmet and dove into" Green's knees "at full speed" and ended his career.

The Redskins responded by asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that it is "utterly baseless."

The team's attorneys also wrote that the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations for Green's claims had expired and he failed to follow several procedures as required by the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.

A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24.