Giants’ Jacobs says he’ll play against Panthers

Giants running back Brandon Jacobs is still listed as questionable with a left knee injury but said he expects to play Sunday against Carolina.

"Yes, I will be out there on the field come Sunday," Jacobs told 1050 ESPN's Michael Kay in his weekly spot Friday.

Jacobs' presence on the field should be a boost to the Giants, who have lost two in a row and will be fighting the Panthers for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs in the cold, wind and maybe precipitation at Giants Stadium.

Coach Tom Coughlin, who held Jacobs out of Sunday's 20-8 loss to the Cowboys because he hadn't practiced all week, said he was pleased Jacobs has been able to practice this week. But he still would not say Jacobs will definitely play Sunday and continues to list him as questionable.

"Jacobs has practiced, really, all three days," Coughlin said. "Barring something that would be a setback -- which means we have to see (today), basically -- hopefully he will go."

Jacobs isn't hopeful; he plans to play. He was angry he was inactive for the Dallas game, but the Giants were cautious with their top rusher when it seemed as if they had everything but a Super Bowl parade locked up.

• REDSKINS -- Washington running back Clinton Portis missed practice with a muscle spasm in his back and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.

Coach Jim Zorn said he expects Portis to play.

"He's working out the kinks," Zorn said. "It would have to be pretty severe for him to stay out."

• BRONCOS -- The man accused of killing Denver cornerback Darrent Williams will enter a plea in February after Friday's hearing was postponed.

Willie D. Clark faces 39 counts, including first-degree murder. His plea hearing was postponed until Feb. 20 because his attorneys wanted more time to review evidence.

Williams was shot after leaving a Denver nightclub on New Year's Day 2007. The indictment says Williams and Clark were at the club with separate groups that exchanged taunts before Williams and his friends left in a rented limousine.

• LAWSUIT -- Vince Young is suing three men for applying for a trademark to use his initials and "Invinceable" nickname to sell products without his permission.

The federal suit filed Dec. 12 in a U.S. District Court in Houston alleges the men applied for the rights in 2006, the day after Young led Texas to a national championship in the Rose Bowl and won the most valuable player award.

The suit claims the trio has spent large sums marketing and branding the VY image and Invinceable nickname, damaging endorsement deals for the Tennessee Titans quarterback, including one with Reebok. Young is asking the court to give him the rights to use the initials and nickname.

• OBIT -- Ronald Lee "Pete" Case, a guard who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants from 1962 to 1970, has died. He was 67.

The Giants said Case died in Georgia on Thursday. Daughter Lee Anne Rice said he had been ill for a long time.

A first-round draft choice by the Eagles in 1962, Case was traded to the Giants after three seasons. He played 79 games in his six seasons in New York.