NFL Notes: Kurt Warner says he’s making progress in recovery

Warner improving

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona's Kurt Warner says he had his "best day yet" since sustaining a concussion two games ago.

Still, Warner split practice time with backup Matt Leinart yesterday as coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff took a cautious approach to handling the 38-year-old quarterback's head injury.

By contrast, Warner took all the first-string reps in practice last week only to sit out Sunday's 20-17 loss at Tennessee, snapping his string of 41 starts.

Waiting for talks

IRVING, Texas -- Despite having won 30 of 44 games as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Wade Phillips knows he better keep winning the next month if he's going to keep his job. Phillips is in the final year of a three-year contract.

The Cowboys have an option for next season, but team owner Jerry Jones hasn't picked it up -- or even talked to Phillips about picking it up.

The next month or so likely will determine what Jones does. The Cowboys (8-3) lead the NFC East with five weeks left. Dallas has a history of fading in the final month.

Only New England, Indianapolis, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers have won more games than Dallas since Phillips was hired to replace Bill Parcells before the 2007 season.

TD ball under glass

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kenny Britt is keeping the ball from his game-winning touchdown catch in a safe place. A day after his catch sealed Tennessee's amazing 99-yard drive, a fan gave the rookie receiver a glass case for the ball at Britt's weekly radio show.

Britt placed the souvenir right next to his own framed jersey and a photo of his son.

Britt leads all AFC rookies and is fourth among all rookies with 521 yards receiving.

A focus on tackling

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Tackling is the theme of the week for Mike Singletary.

In August, Singletary began his first training camp as 49ers coach with intense tackling drills. His players were in full pads from the start, hitting each other in nearly every practice.

By the time camp broke, they were beat. And by midseason, some were feeling beat up.

Now, improved tackling is what Singletary is calling for from San Francisco's defense heading into a key NFC West game at Seattle on Sunday. But the 49ers are no longer practicing it, having quit wearing pads about two weeks ago after some players made the suggestion to Singletary.

It's not as if the tackling has been poor -- the Niners' rushing defense ranks fifth in the NFL.

Yet Singletary, a defensive-minded guy to the core considering he's a Hall of Fame linebacker, is always looking for more from this talented veteran unit. "We have some guys, they don't just want to tackle, they want to blow people up."