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Around the NFC

COWBOYS: Defensive end Peppi Zellner has a strained left groin and could be sidelined up to four weeks and tackle Flozell Adams could be out longer with a knee sprain. Adams and Zellner could miss the rest of training camp and the Sept. 8 season opener at Houston. Zellner's absence clears the way for Ebenezer Ekuban to regain the starting job he lost because of an injury last season.

FALCONS: Tight end Alge Crumpler is coming off a promising rookie season and figures to be one of the key weapons in a younger, quicker offense. "I wanted to make an early impact," he said. "The coaches had confidence in me, and I showed them I could make some big plays. I just want to make them consistently now."

GIANTS: Halfback Tiki Barber probably will miss the preseason game against the Patriots on Saturday after straining rib cartilage during practice. Coach Jim Fassel said it is hard to determine how long Barber will be sidelined, but he expects him to be out 7-10 days. "When it happened it was very painful. It felt like someone was stabbing me," Barber said. "It feels fine now."

LIONS: Rookie Luke Staley's future is uncertain after he injured a knee that was reconstructed last season when he played at Brigham Young. Staley, the team's seventh-round draft pick, has missed a week of practice. He had the knee re-examined by the doctor in Denver who performed the surgery and was given three options, coach Marty Mornhinweg said. "No. 1 is to put the brace on it and play," he said. "No. 2 is to have surgery on the ACL again, plus some other procedures that will make it better again. The third option is to simply retire."

REDSKINS: Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, the team's first-round draft pick, signed after a 16-day holdout. Ramsey agreed to a five-year, $5.7-million deal. It includes a $3.1-million signing bonus. It is unlikely he will be included in what is a three-way battle for the starting job with Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel and Sage Rosenfels. "Obviously you can't get four quarterbacks ready to play," first-year coach Steve Spurrier said. "It's hard to get three. We've been rotating three, and it's worked out pretty well in practice. But now we're getting closer to the season, you start rotating two." ... Ex-Buc defensive lineman Santana Dotson was placed on injured reserve after surgery on his ruptured left Achilles' tendon that could end his career. The 11-year veteran was injured Tuesday in a pass-rush drill during his first practice of training camp. Dotson had been sidelined with a strained left calf. Trainer Dean Kleinschmidt said there was no evidence the two injuries are related.

SAINTS: Coach Jim Haslett had his contract extended for four years. Haslett was heading into the final year of his three-year contract. His team won the NFC West in 2000 and added the team's first playoff win, earning Haslett coach of the year honors.

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