In his bid to win at all costs while selling the most expensive tickets, suites, sponsorships, PSLs, etc., in his magnificent new stadium, Jerry Jones is going to welcome back Pacman to a team that doesn't need him.

Right when the Cowboys are getting back injured players and preparing for the most important time of the season, the owner is letting the rooster back in the henhouse. Some never learn.

Goodell could have saved Jones from himself by not reinstating Pacman. Hmmm. Maybe it's a sinister plot orchestrated by the league office to keep the Cowboys out of the playoffs. What do you think?

When quarterback Tony Romo returned last weekend, the Cowboys muscled up and showed a lot of guts by whipping the Redskins.

In fine shape without him

Just when they're getting their act back together, along comes Jones - Pacman, not Jerry - and this time, he won't have bodyguards supplied by the owner. He's the last thing the Cowboys need at the most important time of the season because he's guaranteed of being a distraction. It's what he is.

Before he got into a late-night fight with one of his bodyguards, was suspended by Goodell and ordered into a 30-day alcohol treatment facility, Pacman wasn't doing anything special. Injuries helped him get a lot of playing time, and he led the team with 11 passes defensed because quarterbacks were throwing at him.

Now the Cowboys are healthy and set with their top four cornerbacks in place: Terence Newman and Anthony Henry starting and rookies Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins coming off the bench. Why toss a shark into smooth water?

Something will happen

The Cowboys have a good thing going. They had lost four of six, including two with Romo sidelined because of his broken finger, and the Washington game was a must-win situation. The Cowboys got physical and played their best defensive game of the season, getting revenge for the two-point loss at Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys are 6-4, one game behind Tampa Bay for the second-best wild-card record in the NFC. After playing four of five against teams with winning records, they get breathers at home against San Francisco and Seattle, who are a combined 5-15.

The Cowboys should be 8-4 when crunch time arrives, but no team has it tougher during the stretch drive of December. They play at Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, host the New York Giants and Baltimore and close at home against Philadelphia. If you're tallying up the combined record of those four opponents, it's 28-12-1.

The Steelers, Giants and Ravens are the three most physical teams in the NFL. The Eagles are always a tough out, especially in Philadelphia.

The last thing the Cowboys need is another controversy created by Pacman. And it's not a matter of if; it's a matter of when.

It's something no team needs, especially one trying to win its first playoff game since the 1996 season.

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McCLAIN'S PICKS

America's Line...McClain's pick

Houston (3-7) plus-3 at Cleveland (4-6)...Brwns. 26-24

N.Y. Jets (7-3) plus-5 ? at Tennessee (10-0)...Titans 23-20

Tampa Bay (7-3) minus-9 at Detroit (0-10)...Bucs 24-17

Chicago (5-5) minus-8 at St. Louis (2-8)...Bears 28-21

New England (6-4) minus-11/2 at Miami (6-4)...Patriots 21-17

San Francisco (3-7) plus-10 at Dallas (6-4)...Cowboys 28-19

Buffalo (5-5) minus-3 at Kansas City (1-9)...Bills 23-21

Philadelphia (5-4-1) plus-1 at Baltimore (6-4)...Ravens 19-16

Minnesota (5-5) plus-2 at Jacksonville (4-6)...Jaguars 24-20

Oakland (2-8) plus-9 ? at Denver (6-4)...Broncos 24-16

Carolina (8-2) plus-1 at Atlanta (6-4)...Panthers 23-19

Washington (6-4) minus-3 at Seattle (2-8)...Redskins 22-20

N.Y. Giants (9-1) minus-3 at Arizona (7-3)...Giants 24-23

Indianapolis (6-4) plus-3 at San Diego (4-6)...Chargers 29-27

Green Bay (5-5) plus-3 at New Orleans (5-5)...Saints 30-24

Last week: 12-4 straight up, 9-7 against spread

Season: 111-49 straight up, 84-72-4 against spread