Dallas changes kickers

— The Dallas Cowboys cut place kicker Nick Folk on Monday and replaced him with Shaun Suisham, a former Cowboy.

Suisham previously kicked for Dallas in 2005and 2006. He was released by Washington on Dec. 8 after missing a key kick - the same problem that cost Folk his job Monday.

Folk hit the right upright on a 24-yarder that would have put away Saturday night’s 24-17 victory against the unbeaten Saints.

Instead, the Dallas defense had to make one more stand against one of the league’s best offenses.

Folk leads the NFL with 10 misses, going 18 of 28 and missing seven of his past 11.

Suisham was released by the Redskins after he missed a short field goal against New Orleans, which rallied to win in overtime.

For his career, Suisham is 85 of 107 (79.4 percent). He originally signed with Pittsburgh out of Bowling Green in 2005, went to the Cowboys’ practice squad and was signed to the active roster Oct. 24, Suisham played in three games and was 3 of 4 on field goals before being released.

Back with Dallas in 2006, he played in three games and was 1 for 2 before again being cut. He finished the year with the Redskins, appearing in five games and converting 8 of 9 field goals. Suisham played in 16 games for the Redskins in 2007 (29 of 35) and 2008 (26 of 36) and 12 games in 2009,

Dallas tried several remedies while Folk piled up a six-game streak of at least one miss.

First, the Cowboys switched holders, replacing Mat Mc-Briar with Tony Romo even though their quarterback is haunted by a critical flub late in a playoff loss at Seattle three years ago. Then they tried an in-house competition with kickoff specialist David Buehler, who proved unreliable on field goals.

“It’s a mystery to us,” Phillips said before Folk was cut. “We have tried to work it out a lot of different ways. Now it’s come to this point.” BROWNS

Holmgren in charge

BEREA, Ohio - Mike Holmgren has decided to see if he can fix the Cleveland Browns.

The Super Bowl-winning coach accepted a job to become the club’s president, joining a franchise needing a major makeover after a decade of losing.

Browns owner Randy Lerner said the sides reached an agreement Monday. Lerner said current President Mike Keenan will become chief financial officer.

RAVENS Starting CB out

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Baltimore Ravens must continue their playoff push without rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb, who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.

Webb tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.

TITANS 2 starting LBs lost

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck has a torn left anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season while outside linebacker David Thornton will have season-ending shoulder surgery later this week.

CARDINALS Gandy has surgery

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona Cardinals left tackle Mike Gandy has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said no decision has been made on whether to keep Gandy on the active roster or place him on season-ending injury reserve.

BEARS Ogunleye out

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Chicago Bears sacks leader Adewale Ogunleye will miss the rest of the season because of a fracture in his lower left leg. He leads the team with 6 1 /2 sacks.

32-year-old Ogunleye was injured during the third quarter of the Bears’ 31-7 loss at Baltimore on Sunday.

Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that Ogunleye won’t need surgery.

Sports, Pages 17 on 12/22/2009

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