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About 10 minutes into his tenure as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Garrett had to step aside. Team owner Jerry Jones had something to say.

Garrett had been asked how much authority he would have over choosing his coaching staff and Jones wanted to be the one who answered. It seemed like business as usual for the Cowboys.

Only, it wasn't.

"Jason will have the final say on any person that leaves the coaching staff or comes to the coaching staff," Jones said. "There won't be a player on this team that Jason does not want on the team. … That's the way we're going to operate."

So Jones didn't just change coaches Thursday. He changed his way of doing business. He ceded power and declared the start of a new era, one that could last for a while — maybe not 29 years like Tom Landry's tenure, but something along those lines. Garrett is 44 and received a four-year contract.

"You can dream that the thing is in place long term because of his age and, frankly, his background and experience," Jones said.

Jones said it was important for him to make this public announcement of Garrett's authority.

"I wanted to make sure our fans knew the extent of his power," Jones said. "Let's not be naive. You know that I'm criticized for basically making decisions in areas where fans and other people would like coaches to make. … That's the reason that I'm being as definitive as I am about this."

Garrett avoided directly answering whether he requested such decision-making power. Jones said it is not written into the contract.

"Ultimately, we're going to feel good about the decisions we make as an organization," Garrett said. "We'll communicate, we have very similar football values and we'll come to the right conclusions together."

Hasselbeck will start for Seahawks

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who missed Seattle's division-clinching win against St. Louis last Sunday with a hip injury, will start on Saturday against New Orleans in the NFC playoffs.

It'll be the 10th playoff start of his career — all with Seattle. And it might be his last as Hasselbeck will become a free agent at the end of the season.

"As we saw this year with the amount of turnover we had, you never know when your last day could be and that goes for everybody," Hasselbeck said. "I'm excited. Anybody who has played here when the crowd is really into it, it's always a lot of fun. Hopefully we can keep that rolling."

Hasselbeck is hoping he can duplicate his performance against New Orleans from earlier this season when he threw for 366 yards, the fourth-highest total of his career.

Chiefs warned to keep it clean

Cleanliness is the watchword in Kansas City.

Players are being told to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and hot water to keep anyone from getting sick. Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters missed a second straight practice Thursday as the Chiefs prepared to host Baltimore on Sunday in the first round of the AFC playoffs.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was back after being out sick on Wednesday.

As another precaution, players are removing their practice jerseys and putting them in a big hamper before they go into the locker room.

Said coach Todd Haley: "We've had a re-emphasis lesson, kindergarten rules, wash your hands in warm water, two minutes. As always, we know we're doing a good job in our building, trying the best we can to keep the germs out. Then you go home and it all gets thrown out the window in my case."

Around the league

Cardinals • Arizona fired defensive coordinator Bill Davis, who joined the team as linebackers coach in 2007 and became defensive coordinator in 2009. He has been an assistant coach in the NFL for 19 years. Arizona finished 5-11 this season and in last place in the NFC West.

Browns • St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will interview Friday with Cleveland for its coaching position. Shurmur will be the first candidate to formally interview with the Browns. The 45-year-old worked previously in Philadelphia with Cleveland's general manager Tom Heckert . —

Playoffs schedule

Saturday

• New Orleans at Seattle, 2:30 p.m., Ch. 5

• N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis, 6 p.m., Ch. 5

Sunday

• Baltimore at Kansas City, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

• Green Bay at Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., Ch. 13