Garrett decides to stay in Dallas
The Falcons lost one of the top candidates for their head coaching job when Jason Garrett decided Thursday to remain in Dallas as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator.
Garrett had his second interview with the Falcons a day earlier, but withdrew from consideration in both Atlanta and Baltimore after returning to Texas for a meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Former Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is the only other candidate to meet twice with the Falcons, but there was no indication he was on the verge of getting the job.
The 41-year-old Garrett was an obvious target, guiding a Dallas offense that ranked second in the NFL with 455 points and third in total offense (365.7 yards).
But Garrett is a favorite of Jones and widely viewed in Dallas as the designated successor to head coach Wade Phillips.
Garrett was accompanied by his wife, Brill, during the interview process. They decided to stay in Dallas after returning late Wednesday.
"We told ourselves that we wanted to go through the process and fully investigate these opportunities," Garrett said. "For a variety of reasons, this is the best place for us."
L.T. returns to practice: Although quarterback Philip Rivers sat out for the second straight day with a sprained right knee, two-time NFL rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson returned to practice for the Chargers on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday to rest his hyperextended left knee.
Tomlinson and Rivers were hurt in Sunday's 28-24 upset win over Indianapolis.
Coach Norv Turner said Tomlinson looked good.
Tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (ankle) both sat out.
Extra points: The NFL, which held its first regular-season game outside North America in London last October, said Thursday it would come back to London again in 2008. The teams, date and venue will be announced during Super Bowl week late this month or in early February. … The Seattle Seahawks announced that Shaun Alexander had surgery this week to mend the left wrist the 2005 league MVP broke in Week 1. Coach Mike Holmgren said earlier this week that leading receiver Deion Branch will have surgery "soon" to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Holmgren estimated Branch will miss at least nine months, meaning he likely will miss the 2008 season opener. … Britt Reid, son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, already in jail on a road rage charge, pleaded guilty to DUI and drug charges stemming from a separate incident. … The Tennessee Titans hired Broncos assistant Mike Heimerdinger as offensive coordinator, his second stint with the team after spending the past two seasons in Denver. … The Buffalo Bills signed fullback Darian Barnes, who played in five games for the Jets last season.