"Two key cogs in the Dolphins defense, middle linebacker Channing Crowder and nose guard Jason Ferguson, are listed on the final injury report as ``doubtful'' for Sunday's game against New England, which has the AFC's No. 1 offense.

Crowder, whom Sparano calls the unquestioned quarterback of the defense and one of its surest tacklers, missed last week's game against the Jets with a shoulder injury. The Jets rolled up 127 yards rushing against the Dolphins' then-No. 4-ranked run defense, which is actually less than the average rush yards allowed in the games Crowder has missed over the past three seasons.

Though Crowder practiced this week, he was limited each day. Charlie Anderson, an outside linebacker who backs up Joey Porter on the weak side, worked with the inside linebackers Thursday and Friday in practice.

On Friday, the 35-year-old Ferguson, who was on last week's injury report with a foot injury, made light of this week's elbow injury with, ``Who, me banged up? I'm old. It's easy for me to get banged up. It is what it is. It's part of the game.''"