IRVING, Texas — Jason Garrett will more than likely be named the Dallas Cowboys’ next head coach, a high-ranking team source told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
It can’t happen now because the Cowboys must adhere to the “Rooney Rule” and interview at least one minority candidate.
Owner Jerry Jones has identified Cowboys receivers coach Ray Sherman as an interview candidate to satisfy the mandate. He said he will interview at least one other minority person outside the organization, in addition to other candidates.
But it’s clear inside Cowboys headquarters that Garrett is the man for the job. He has long been a favorite of Jones’ dating to his days as a backup quarterback on the Cowboys’ Super Bowl title teams of the 1990s.
• The Bills announced Saturday that they’ve re-signed former star pass rusher Shawne Merriman despite a nagging Achilles tendon injury that prevented him from playing a game with Buffalo over the final two months of the season.
• Miami Dolphins kick returner Nolan Carroll has been ruled out of today’s game at New England because of a head injury.
• The Minnesota Vikings added wide receiver Bernard Berrian (quadriceps) to the injury report, listing him as questionable for today’s game at Detroit.
Beckham tied to Tottenham
LONDON — David Beckham could be on his way back to England’s Premier League — for a little while.
Tottenham, where Beckham trained as a schoolboy before signing for Manchester United, wants to sign the former England captain on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy until the Major League Soccer season starts in March.
Beckham has said he would like to return to the Premier League after more than seven years away, and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp thinks the 35-year-old midfielder’s experience could be invaluable for a team challenging for a second straight top-four finish.
“He just said that he would like to come and play here at Tottenham,” Redknapp said.”I’ve left it to the people at the club.”
Advantage to Aussies
PERTH, Australia — Former No. 1 Justine Henin and Lleyton Hewitt made winning comebacks from injuries as Australia beat Belgium 2-1 in the Hopman Cup.
Henin beat Alicia Molik 6-4, 6-4 in her first singles match since hurting her elbow at Wimbledon in June and Hewitt beat Ruben Bemelmans 6-4, 6-3 in his first singles match since injuring his right hand in September. Hewitt teamed with Molik to beat Henin and Bemelmans 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8) in the mixed- doubles decider of the Group A match.
• Top-ranked Rafael Nadal started 2011 with a win over rival Roger Federer, beating the Swiss star 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) to defend his title at the World Tennis Championships exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• Third-ranked Kim Clijsters beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 in an exhibition warm-up for the Australian Open in Hua Hin, Thailand.
