NFL News and Notes

Jeremy Shockey's swollen left ankle has improved considerably, and there is a good chance the Pro Bowl tight end will play for the New York Giants on Sunday in the NFC wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I want to play every Sunday," Shockey said Wednesday. "I felt bad I couldn't play last week. It's the nature of this sport, being hurt. You have to deal with the injuries. It's the one thing I don't deal with very well. It's getting better every day, and hopefully I'll be able to do something this week."

Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said that Shockey, who had a team-high 66 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns, would do some individual work Wednesday and possibly practice today.

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The Detroit Lions hired Coach Rod Marinelli's son-in-law, Joe Barry, as defensive coordinator.

Barry, the linebackers coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, takes over for Donnie Henderson, who was fired Tuesday.

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The San Francisco 49ers fired defensive coordinator Billy Davis and defensive line coach Gary Emanuel.

Davis joined Coach Mike Nolan's staff in 2005 after one season as New York Giants linebackers coach and three previous seasons in the same position with Atlanta.

Though Nolan was involved in defensive game-planning and meetings, Davis took much of the criticism as the 49ers' defense had several terrible games, most notably giving up 41 points by halftime in a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears.

Emanuel spent 24 seasons as a college coach before joining the 49ers along with Davis in 2005.

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Receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark and safety Bob Sanders all practiced for the Indianapolis Colts, making it more likely the three starters would play in Saturday's wild-card game against Kansas City.

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New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison will miss Sunday's playoff game against the New York Jets.

Coach Bill Belichick made the announcement but didn't say whether Harrison would be available for future games if New England moves ahead in the playoffs. Harrison's right knee was injured last Sunday when he was blocked by receiver Bobby Wade in a 40-23 win at Tennessee.

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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack underwent surgery for a bone he cracked in his neck in a game nearly four months ago.

There were no complications in the surgery performed by a spine specialist, Dr. Anthony Guanciale, and Pollack was resting comfortably, the Bengals said. "No forecast of Pollack's eventual return to football will be made at this time," the Bengals said.


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