 |
 |
|
|
WFAA Sports BLOG |
|
December 2008
Categories
More WFAA Blogs
|
Adam "Pacman" Jones will be back on the field for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday in Pittsburgh and coach Wade Phillips says Jones could do something we haven't seen him do as a Cowboy. No, not avoid Downtown Dallas hot spots, but return kickoffs. "I think Pacman may be back there some," Phillips said. Isaiah Stanback will also return kicks; the Cowboys use two deep return men in most situations. Jones has returned pu... Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said he could not know until Sunday if starting running back Marion Barber will play against the Steelers. "It may run all to way to then, I don't know," Phillips said. Phillips said if Barber is able to play then he shouldn't be limited. "I think if he can play, he'll be ready to go," he said. Phillips said practice squad running back Alonzo Coleman has been getting more... The Steelers have taken a lot of ribbing for their horrible playing turf at Heinz Field, considered one of the NFL's worst. And with bad weather conditions expected on Sunday, the field could have turned into a muddy mess resembling Candlestick Park in its worst days. Except, the Steelers decided to have none of it. The team has installed a brand new grass turf at the stadium, and the Cowboys will be the first opponent to play ... The Dallas Cowboys starters who were given the day off from practice yesterday by coach Wade Phillips are all back at practice today. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware is also practicing, but running back Marion Barber is still not practicing with his injured foot. ...Dallas Cowboys star linebacker DeMarcus Ware is wearing a brace on his hyperextended right knee and says he will wear in Sunday's game in Pittsburgh. Ware said he will practiced today to "warm his leg up a little bit." ...Dallas Cowboys rookies loaded a Salvation Army truck with the hundreds of toys and gifts purchased by the Cowboys for children in need at Valley Ranch Thursday. Well tight end Martellus Bennett, never short on words, declared himself the "black Santa Claus." He's 6-6 and 265 pounds. So he won't get much argument. He even has the beard to match. We have pictures of the festivities. You can see them here: >> Continue reading: Cowboys' Bennett 'black Santa Claus' Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, as you probably know, has a fitness book out. He's been promoting his book quite a bit lately and a big part of that is doing interviews. The one I just read may be the most revealing. Sure, the interviewer asks him about his book and fitness, but there's a lot more. And yes T.O. still loves "me some me." Take this: Interviewer:How much mirror time does Terrell Owens give himself ... I'm sure many of us have found out about an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend dating someone else, maybe even someone we know. We probably weren't happy about it. We may even have been jealous about it. But none of us have a forum to blast the ex and the new partner for the entire nation to hear. Sean Avery did. When you watch the interview in question, it didn't appear that Avery reacted off the cuff or emotionally. It see... Cowboys coach Wade Phillips says the return of Adam "Pacman" Jones won't mean less of rookie cornerback Orland Scandrick. Scandrick will remain the nickel corner, covering slot receivers. Jones will play in what Phillips describes as sub packages, although he isn't elaborating. "We like what Scandrick has done, we think he's going to be a good player for us," Phillips said. Do expect to see Jones returning punts. Several veteran Dallas Cowboys starters did not participate in practice Wednesday. Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, linebackers Greg Ellis and Zach Thomas and receiver Terrell Owens all did not work with the team, although they did attend meetings and film sessions. "I just think it's the time of year that we need to take a look at resting some of these players," coach Wade Phillips said. With the injuries to M... Marion Barber and DeMarcus Ware are not participating in the Wednesday practice session for the Dallas Cowboys. Both players were in the team's indoor practice facility with the rest of the team during stretching, but neither is working in team drills. ...The New York Giants have decided how they're gonna handle receiver Plaxico Burress. We can safely say it's not the Cowboys' way. Burress is facing gun charges for taking a loaded gun into a nightclub. He accidentally shoots himself in the leg and the Giants have suspended him for the year. A star in the Super Bowl last year, Giants suspend him this year. Not the Cowboys say, but here's another example of what happens wh... The Dallas Cowboys placed safety Pat Watkins on injured reserve with a neck injury. Watkins played in eight games this season with 15 tackles. The vacant roster spot was filled by cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones - who's suspension was lifted by the league Tuesday. Jones leads the team in pass breakups with 11 and has 27 tackles this season. I just never understand it. Why is it that the athletes with the best potential and best skills in their game always seem to be the ones who screw up the most? You seldom hear about the practice squad guy who got arrested or the third string right tackle who got into a strange fight at a nightclub somewhere. It's historically the big name dudes: Pacman Jones, Michael Irvin, Michael Vick, Dennis Rodman, Roy Tarpley, ju... There are a lot of reasons to like Cowboys rookie running back Tashard Choice, a fourth-round draft pick. First, he's a really nice guy. He's considerate and bright. He's they kind of guy we hope football players are. He's a good guy. But I like the Georgia Tech product for what he does on the field, too. Choice has run 30 times for 147 yards this season, that's a healthy 4.9 yards per carry. Marion Barber is a... Any conversation or debate about the BCS system needs to begin with a variation of this statement: The system sucks and needs to be changed. I really think it's important to remember this while talking about the BCS; the fact that we have to debate this is ridiculous. I imagine myself in 30 years explaining to my kids: "First, they used a system called the BCS, a combination of computer polls and human polls, to determine the best two teams in... New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants Giants receiver Plaxico Burress prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law on gun charges. Bloomberg is apparently a Jets fan, or maybe just a man with a conscience. Burress has been charged with having a loaded gun in a New York nightclub Friday night. He accidentally shot himself in the leg and is facing gun charges now and free on a $100,000 bail. Cowboys owner Jerry Jo... The Cowboys haven't had a winning December since I had hair -- not a lot -- but more than now. '96 was the last time they played winning football in December. They need one now; 2-2 probably makes 'em a playoff team, but 2-2 won't make 'em a good playoff team. And the days of being just a playoff team are gone What happens if you're the Dallas Cowboys, expected to be a Super Bowl or playoff contender, and December rolls around? You crumble. That's been the case the last several years at Valley Ranch, but now the Cowboys are painted with a different brush: playoff underdogs. So far, so good...with three straight impressive wins. I'm no psychologist, but there's something about proving yourself when all the naysayers have spoke... The Dallas Cowboys normally don't practice on Mondays, so today is an extra practice. With the Thanksgiving Day game coaches have already been able to breakdown game film, which is what they normally do on Mondays. So the Cowboys are using this extra day to prepare for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, but they're practicing inside. The weather outside is very Pittsburgh like: Windy and in the 40s. Why not outside? ... Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips says running back Marion Barber will be limited this week with a foot injury. "Any time you lose a great player it's certainly going to hurt you some," Phillips said. It is unlikely Barber will practice this week. Tashard Choice, a rookie, will get the majority of the snaps in practice. The Cowboys could sign another running back or promote Alonzo Coleman from the practice squad.... Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips says now unsuspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones will be the team's punter returner and will play on defense in sub packages. While Jones will return punts, Phillips said he is unsure if he will use him on kickoffs. Isiah Stanback returned kickoffs last week. Phillips said he likes Jones' ability as a returner. "He made the first guy miss almost every time," Phillips said. "...
Texas and Texas Tech are both out. Oklahoma is playing in the Big 12 Championship game. The Lon... MRIs on two Dallas Cowboys stars both came back negative for major injuries. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware left the Thanksgiving Day game with a hyper extended left knee. An MRI test Friday revealed no ligament damage. Running back Marion Barber suffered a dislocation of his right fifth toe. An MRI for him revealed no fracture. Both players will receive treatment throughout the weekend and both will be evaluated on a day-to-... Nearly everyone agrees, the BCS is a joke. I'm sorry, but deciding the outcome of a game of blood, sweat and tears that is played by humans should not be left up to a computer. If any sport deserves a playoff system, it is college football....where we should teach the young stars of tomorrow that we don't live in a corrupt world. But, I digress. The Longhorns have logic and fairness on their side in their BCS "argumen... From the Dallas Cowboys: Today's win upped the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day record to 26-14-1. It was also the club's third straight on Thanksgiving Day - tying the club's second-longest Thanksgiving Day win streak. Tony Romo has a sense of humor. Asked to evaluate his performance, Romo had this gem: "T.O will tell you I'm playing at a ridiculously high level." Romo was 22 for 34 passing for 331 yards and three touchdowns. He also had an interception, but it was a heave to the end zone, that really worked as a punt well after the game was in control for the Cowboys. Tony Romo and Jason Witten are good friends. Romo also thinks Witten is great at his job. "Jason Witten is the absolute perfect tight end," Romo said. "He is just really an easy guy to play with." Romo praised Witten's hands, route running and especially toughness. Witten has been playing for four weeks with a broken rib. He had nine catches for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks. He had fou... Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo may be done wearing a splint to protect his right pinkie finger. "I'd be very surprised if I wore the splint against Pittsburgh," Romo said. The Cowboys play Pittsburgh a week from Sunday. Romo has been wearing the splint since he broke the finger in the Oct. 12 loss to the Cardinals. Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips says he likes what he saw from guard Montrae Holland who got his first start as a Dallas Cowboy Thursday. "I think Montrae met the challenge," Phillips said. "I think he did a good job." Tony Romo was not sacked and the Cowboys ran for 116 yards. Marion Barber ran for a touchdown behind Holland. Aside from Tony Romo, are there two more important Cowboys than DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber? Marion Barber hurt his foot and DeMarcus Ware has an injury to his right knee. Ware said after the game he's fine and that the coaches just didn't want him to get injured worse. After suffering the injury in the first half, Barber returned in the third quarter, but didn't stay long. Tashard Choice replace Barber, but... It almost got lost in all of the offense and the injuries to Marion Barber and DeMarcus Ware and Jason Witten's big day, but Terrell Owens had another impressive game. Owens had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. By my math that is 311 yards receiving in two weeks. It must be Jason Garrett changing the Cowboys' offense. Must be. ...The Cowboys have done what they have to do, beating the now 2-10 Seattle Seahawks, 34-9 in the last Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium. ...You have to feel for Matt Hasellbeck, who has now been sacked seven times by the Cowboys. The most recent one came at the hands of linebacker Greg Ellis. Remember all the talk of Brooks Bollinger being the Cowboys #2 quarterback? Well he's not. Brad Johnson still is, mostly because he's also the holder and coach Wade Phillips couldn't find a holder on the team he liked better. So Bollinger is the third QB and if he went in neither Romo nor Johnson could come back in the game, if needed. So we'd likely see Johnson come in and not Bollinger. Nick Folk just keeps kicking long field goals. That's a huge relief for a coaching staff to be able count on making long field goals. Folk's latest is a 42 yarder and gives the the Cowboys a 34-9 lead. ...I keep writing here that I want to see more of Tashard Choice. He showed some nice ability on a 27-yard run. Choice has six rushes for 49 yards. Barber had 10 rushes for 32 yards. ...DeMarcus Ware is one of the most important players on the Cowboys defense and now he is on the sideline being attended to by trainers. It appears to be a right knee injury. Even if he can, he should not return at this point. He needs to rest up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a week and a half. ...Terrell Owens makes some drops, but he also makes some amazing catches. His 33-yard catch from Tony Romo went left, right, left catch. That his left hand, right hand and back to his right before he came down with it and stepped both feet narrowly in bounds. The next play Romo hit a wide open T.O. for a 19-yard touchdown and a 31-9 lead. Bizarrely, Owens was guarded by linebacker Julian Peterson, without help on the tou... The reverse take down penalty is a new one. Deep snapper L.P. Ladouceur was charged with the penalty on a Cowboys punt. He snapped the ball then was hit by the defender and fell back and flipped him. Apparently, that's a penalty. A reverse take down. ...DeMarcus Ware is putting on a defensive show. He now has three sacks of Matt Hasselbeck and 15 on the season. ...No the Cowboys didn't actually have Romo punt, but that's the basic outcome of Romo's bomb attempt to Terrell Owens that was intercepted by Marcus Trufant. Since it was intercepted in the end zone and goes to the 20, it is almost like a punt. Not ideal, but not the end of the world for Romo, who is having a great day and took a chance on home run. ...Marion Barber must not be too terribly hurt. He is back on the field with the Cowboys offense for their first possession of the second half. ...That Cowboys defense is really living up to the bend-but-don't-break model. Seattle is able to move the ball on the Cowboys with some regularity, but is having to settle for field goals. The Seahawks did get another Olindo Mare field goal to make it 24-9. ...Reports are that Marion Barber was stepped on, which is what cause trainers to attend to him before halftime. Julius Jones suffered some sort of head injury, although he is on the Seattle sideline with his helmet on. If Marion Barber can't play or is limited in the second half, the Cowboys should consider using fullback Deon Anderson on passing downs. Anderson is a much more experienced blocker in the NFL, as well as being a solid receiver. Using Anderson would mean the Cowboys wouldn't have to rely so much on rookie Tashard Choice, who it appears, does not have the full confidence of the coaches to pick up complex blitzes. ...I realize they're not in my age range or musical taste range, but this halftime performance sounds dreadful. Not sure who stinks more...the Jonas Brothers or the Detroit Lions, Shameful. ...The Seahawks gained 161 yards in the first half. That's not too bad, but they only have six points to show for it. Julius Jones fumbled in his return to Dallas and the Seahawks haven't been able to score touchdowns when deep inside Cowboys territory. Jones has just 21 yards on 10 carries. The Cowboys have 265 yards of offense and have pretty much been able to do what they want. Jason Witten has seven catches for... It looks like after each sack the Cowboys are doing the old chicken dance (think a wedding reception), but it is Thanksgiving, so maybe it's a turkey dance. Either way, it's good for the Cowboys if they keep having the chance to do it. ...Cowboys star tailback Marion Barber is being tended to on the sideline. It's hard to tell if it's an equipment issue or injury problem. Tashard Choice is the only other on the roster. Barber is one of the most indispensable Cowboys, especially with the season-ending injury to Felix Jones. ... |
|
|
|
|
|
