Romo says he won't play against Bucs

Cowboys QB waiting for finger to mend

Tony Romo will miss his second straight game because of his fractured right pinkie, and he did not sound confident he would be able to return before the Cowboys' Nov. 9 bye week.

Brad Johnson will start Sunday against Tampa Bay, one of his former teams.

"Brad is going to go this week unless something happens that I don't foresee," Romo said. "It will be very difficult to change. Right now we've got to get two wins going into the bye and go from there."

Romo said he was confident he could at least serve as Johnson's backup last week at St. Louis but in pregame warmups he realized he could not catch a snap and throw quickly. Romo said the pain was not an issue.

"I wasn't physically able to get my fingers on the ball in position to throw it," Romo said. "I needed time to get the ball in my hand. I couldn't figure out a way to make it happen."

He is not sure how much or if he will be able to practice this week.

SURGERY FOR BUSH: Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee and it's unclear when the New Orleans Saints running back will be back with the team.

Bush, injured on a punt return in the first half of Sunday's 30-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, had the operation Monday in Birmingham, Ala., Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. He gave no other details.

Bush sustained cartilage damage, and some athletes have missed several months because of surgery to repair similar injuries.

CHIEFS CHANGE KICKERS; SEARCH FOR HELP AT QB: The Kansas City Chiefs, who are still looking to sign a quarterback, released kicker Nick Novak and signed former UNC player Connor Barth as his replacement on Tuesday.

Barth was beaten out by Novak in a close competition and released in August.

With quarterback Brodie Croyle out for the season and Damon Huard wearing a big bandage on his throwing hand, the Chiefs said Tuesday they were working out two veterans and would probably sign one. The Chiefs face the New York Jets on Sunday.

Coach Herm Edwards said former Tampa Bay quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is one quarterback the team has looked at and said that the team does not expect to sign former Pro Bowler Daunte Culpepper.

VICK READY TO PLEAD GUILTY ON VA. CHARGES: Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick plans to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, a step that could allow him to qualify for an early release from federal prison and into a halfway house.

BROWNS SUSPEND WINSLOW: Tight end Kellen Winslow has been suspended for one game without pay by the Cleveland Browns for critical comments he made following Sunday's loss at Washington.

POLAMALU MAY PLAY: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has not been ruled out of Sunday's key game against the New York Giants despite sustaining the seventh concussion of his career last weekend.