August 2006 - Posts
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 Funny Bill Parcells would sing the praises of Terry Glenn on Tuesday. According to a list recently compiled by SI.com, Drew Bledsoe and Glenn are ranked the sixth-best QB-WR tandem in the NFL, and if not for the Cowboys in Week 2 of last year, the duo might be fifth, ahead of Mark Brunell and Santana Moss. Probably no arguments with Carson Palmer-Chad Johnson, Jake Delhomme-Steve Smith, Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison and Marc Bulger-Torry Holt.
Now Glenn sort of blends into the woodwork when he’s not on the field, mostly because he likes it that way, and probably has been ignored somewhat in the T.O. Storm, but as Parcells said, “Let me tell you, the opponents don’t overlook him.” Bet not, especially if they have been paying attention to preseason, where he has nine catches for 189 yards, two touchdowns and a 21-yard average. Get out of town!
Special teams will decide those final receiver spots. Who is returning punts, Green or Rector? Who is covering kicks the best, Hurd or Copper? Don’t forget to keep track of those things Thursday night.
Not that you even get any regular-season brownie points for it, but the Cowboys will be gunning for the first 4-0 preseason since 1985. Only two other times have the Cowboys gone undefeated in preseason, 5-0 in 1966 and 6-0 in 1971. Oh my, could you imagine sitting through six preseason games?
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The Cowboys would not acknowledge they fined Terrell Owens or how much they fined him, though Owens said he was fined for showing up late. Oversleeping, he said. And Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seemed more peeved at whoever leaked the usually hush-hush information than he was at Owens for being late, saying, “They won’t be around this damn place if I find out how that got out.” Jones went on to point out the team collected $50,000 to $60,000 in fine money last year, all donated to The Salvation Army.
After going back to watch the first half of Saturday’s preseason game, center Andre Gurode had several really nice blocks, including the one on the 34-yard Marion Barber screen pass and Barber’s five-yard touchdown run on the draw when Gurode sealed off the middle linebacker in the end zone.
When Jones was asked if he is planning to save a spot on the 53-man roster for a kickoff specialist, he emphatically said, “No.” Kicker Mike Vanderjagt seemed positive he’ll do all the kicking this Thursday against Minnesota and that he’s dealt with this sore groin previously, and as recently as last year.
Who knows, if the Cowboys are still looking for a wide receiver with some NFL experience, Reggie Swinton let me know he’s already here in town and ready to play after undergoing surgery following last season (Arizona) to repair a damaged toe ligament. Also see where seventh-year veteran Troy Edwards was released.
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OK, the San Francisco offense was overmatched, but this Cowboys’ first defense is developing an edge, having now given up one field goal in three preseason games. And if we thought playing 19 plays against New Orleans in the first half was something else, they only worked 18 plays Saturday night.
Oh, if the Cowboys can just get Terrell Owens healthy. Because Terry Glenn is in mid-season form, pulling in another four catches for 98 yards and another spectacular touchdown grab. Can you just image if opposing defenses want to double T.O. and single Glenn?
Now Bill Parcells, with Owens and Crayton still not practicing, still is looking for some receiver depth. But tell you what, no matter what he does, first-year receiver Jamaica Rector just might have made the roster Saturday night, catching seven passes for 80 yards and generally playing pretty tough out there for a 5-10, 186-pound guy.
Tony Romo continues to give the Cowboys confidence in his ability to play in this league, but anyone got any complaints with Drew Bledsoe, completing 12 of 17 passes – one drop and one throw-away – for 200 yards and one touchdown? That now is 24 of 33 for 356 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in four preseason quarters. His QB rating is now 127.8.
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When Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells was asked about recent reports suggesting a high probability of veteran safety Marcus Coleman facing a four-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, he said he was not at liberty to discuss anything, but did point out Coleman would be practicing with the team Wednesday. (He was.) Coleman did run into some problems in Houston, the club suspending him for a game in 2003 and then last year head coach Dom Capers deactivating him for a game after missing a walk-through practice before the Baltimore game and subsequently not starting him the final month. In the summer of 2004 in Houston, Coleman was convicted of a misdemeanor drunken driving charge and was sentenced to three days in jail, fined $2,000 and had his license suspended for 180 days.
If sources are accurate, and the Cowboys like what they’ve seen of Coleman so far, that would actually give them five weeks to evaluate their current safeties before having to decide if they still want him on the roster. And because he would be placed on the reserve/suspended list, the Cowboys don’t have to weigh guaranteeing him his $750,000 base salary for being on the roster the first week of the season.
By the way, Tony Romo does want to beg to differ with Bill Parcells saying he had never practiced in gloves all summer. Evidently, in the spring, and probably the last time it’s rained around here (I just jinxed today’s cloudy skies), Romo said he would wear a glove while throwing to receivers. And evidently feeling a certain comfort level, Romo took a little jab back at Parcells when the media asked him about what the head coach had to say, saying himself – and knowing Parcells turned 65 on Tuesday – “He’s getting up there in age, you got to let him say some things.” And as Jerry Jones would say, he was grinnin’ when he said that.
The writing has been on the wall all summer for Drew Henson, who was never really given much of a chance. You just got the feeling Parcells didn’t like the speed of Henson’s decision-making, and actually NFL Europe sources – hey, lots of people talk – say that was the knock on him this spring in Rhein.
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Did you see Reggie Bush jump inside Terence Newman that one time? Holy Toledo. You kidding me? “When he’s got space, he can make a lot of players miss,” Newman said. “He’s quick – he’s quicker than a hiccup.”
Nice little, mostly unnoticed gesture between the two quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, just before entering the stadium tunnel after the game, giving each other shoulder-high, high-fives, signifying to each other jobs well done.
OK, it’s been only two preseason games, but just maybe the Cowboys have found something in this Sam Hurd. He has seven catches for 70 yards and one touchdown in two games now, and as you might have seen on the 13-yard touchdown grab on the fade Monday night, he can really go up to get the ball.
Anyone still worried Bledsoe’s timing would be off just because he didn’t play in that first preseason game? Or that he’s too old for this? Looked to me he was pretty darn sharp, and for a half, didn’t make any mistakes. Even threw one ball out the back of the end zone when he should have.
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Here was a case on Saturday where not enough information led to out-of-control speculation when Terrell Owens didn’t practice Saturday afternoon following Bill Parcells announcing earlier in the day the wide receiver would not be playing in Monday night’s game. Had he said Owens was not going to practice in the afternoon, then no one would have started putting two and two together, figuring Owens was pouting after finding out he wasn’t going to play, so basically said his hamstring still hurt and didn’t want to practice. Evidently, Owens already knew he wasn’t going to play before he even practiced Saturday morning. So, actually, since he wasn’t going to play Monday, there was no sense asking him to go twice on Saturday when the second practice was basically a cards practice, meaning the Cowboys were running scout-team stuff to prepare for the Saints.
Also, don’t start adding stuff up after you discover Owens wasn’t on the team plane to Shreveport, La. Injured players don’t go to the games. Patrick Crayton (ankle) was heading back to Dallas, and I’m sure no one started oohing about that. Not playing Monday gives Owens three full days of rest on a hamstring that evidently was starting to tighten up on him. Plus, Parcells would like to practice twice at least one day this week.
Here’s guessing the Cowboys will be fully stocked with IV’s for Monday’s game since the heat index at kickoff is sure to be hovering round 100 – that is if predicted thunderstorms don’t hit.
Here are some guys to watch Monday night: Watkins (25) playing safety on the first nickel defense; Greg Ellis at left outside linebacker; Jay Ratliff (66) at defensive tackle on the nickel defense; Abram Elam (37) on the first kickoff return team with Skyler Green (10); Cory Procter (71) at one of the two guard positions on the second team; and how well Andre Gurode plays at center against a 4-3 defensive front.
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Don’t know if this will be the last move at the receiver position, but it’s the first one, the Cowboys acquiring fourth-year receiver Charlie Adams from Denver for a sixth-round pick. Tried to tell you guys the Cowboys were looking for a depth guy, not a starting-quality guy.
This means the Cowboys still might be able to use linebacker Scott Shanle and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, seemingly being showcased this past week for a possible trade, to acquire a backup nose tackle if one of the young guys don’t step up or possibly another offensive lineman. We should learn more about that Monday night when veteran Jason Fabini will play the first half of the preseason game at right tackle. Parcells has said Fabini needs to show him something soon. “When you get a player his age, you worry about it,” Parcells said of the veteran tackle who turns 32 on Aug. 25.
Just when I was about to write the offensive line was looking better, and it has been the last few days, those guys didn’t perform very well in Thursday’s morning practice, leaving Parcells giving them the eye after throwing the first team off the practice field for giving up four sacks in the first six snaps of team drills.
Guess who uttered these phrases: “It’s always interesting to see if they dip their toes in the water.” And this: “If he can help us, then we can bring him to the game.” And this: “I can only go by what we see.” And one last one: “At some point we got to see something.” If you guessed Parcells, you’re dead wrong. Try Parcells South, Sean Payton, now the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, whom the Cowboys face in Monday’s preseason game in Shreveport, La.
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This Anthony Fasano, he’s pretty tough. Appeared to do a nice job blocking from the H-back position against Seattle Saturday, and got up from a vicious – for a no-tackling practice – Roy Williams hit after catching what would have been a touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe Tuesday. Bledsoe didn’t appreciate the hit, walking all the way to the goal line to bark at Williams, which started Jason Ferguson barking back at Bledsoe. Fasano never said a word.
Don’t know how sore Mike Vanderjagt’s groin and quad still are, but he didn’t participate in the field goal sessions Monday or Tuesday morning. So since going oh-for-three a week ago Wednesday, he hasn’t kicked in practice since, only warming up before the preseason game and hitting that 21-yard field goal on Saturday.
Even though he was without his top three receivers again in practice, when Parcells was asked if acquiring a veteran receiver had become “more urgent,” he said, “I wouldn’t use that word yet. Let’s say I’m thinking about it.” And when asked what he was looking for, meaning quality of receiver, Parcells said, “I’m looking for a guy that can play.” Just know for San Francisco to acquire wide receiver Taylor Jacobs from the Redskins, it cost them safety Mike Rumph, a former first-round pick with four years’ experience – though he only has played five games the past two years.
That scout exchange Parcells talked about last week is taking place. Word was Cowboys scouting director Jeff Ireland had been visiting New England, and lo and behold, he strides into Tuesday’s afternoon practice with none other than Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who just happens to be Parcells’ son-in-law. Guess Parcells wasn’t kidding when he talked of trusting an opposing team’s scout doing this, and said they’d know the guy. No kidding. The Patriots, though, aren’t exactly overloaded with receivers, so the Cowboys possibly could have been looking at nose tackles and offensive linemen.
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Now isn’t this a sight? The first-team offense lining up with Terrence Copper and Sam Hurd at wide receiver. And when they went three-wide Monday with Owens, Crayton and Terry Glenn sitting out, Jamaica Rector entered the scene.
Now hear this, now hear this: Parcells is not interviewing Tony Romo to be this year’s starting quarterback. Maybe next year’s or the year after that. So don’t start something that’s not there.
Also, good that Bill cleared up what Jerry Jones meant over the weekend when he told us on our pregame show Owens needed to learn to pace himself in practice when he’s only like 75 or 80 percent. He used Deion Sanders as an example, saying when Deion was hurt, he would practice, but would not extend himself – meaning not go full speed. Jones said Owens only has one gear when he practices – all out – and that if he would hold himself back some, he could get work in. But of course, when Jones said that again after the game, everyone thought the worse.
Despite the swirling wind here, and maybe for a few seconds it swirled right, backup kicker Shaun Suisham hit from 57 yards. That’s 5-7. By the way, Mike Vanderjagt didn’t kick in this session, Suisham and Tyler Fredrickson getting all the kicks.
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OK, save it. Don’t start. Not yet anyway. The Cowboys have no intention of starting the season with, as owner Jerry Jones says, “a rookie quarterback,” knowing Romo, even though entering his fourth year, is the equivalent of a rookie when it comes to playing time in NFL regular-season games. With a healthy Drew Bledsoe, Romo is playing for coaching-staff confidence and possibly a contract extension if he can convince everyone he is worth getting the shot as the quarterback of the future.
If the Cowboys will indeed need a kick-off artist this season, Shaun Suisham did himself a big favor in this game, his four kick offs landing at the 8, 2, 3 and 2 with decent hang time.
While the Cowboys held Seattle to just three points and 235 total yards, Zimmer was a little disappointed in the team’s man coverage in the secondary, calling it “not good.” He also was disappointed with giving up so many third-down conversions in the second half.
So how many oh-no’s were uttered during and after the Cowboys’ first possession, which included a dropped pass, false start, fumbled snap from center, an incompletion and a bobbled snap on the punt? Romo said over the past three years he’s learned, “When things are not going well, don’t make it worse,” meaning taking silly chances trying to make something out of nothing.
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The way Parcells answered the question about Beriault’s status for Saturday’s game – he still hasn’t practiced since suffering that concussion a week ago – you get the feeling the club is very worried about the knee which underwent two radical surgeries last September. Beriault already was limping around before suffering the concussion, and the Cowboys might not want to put him back on the field for fear of another season on injured reserve. Remember, no football player is known to recover from that osteotomy surgery Beriault had, and Parcells cryptically answered this way when asked about the safety’s status for Saturday: “I don’t know, we’re probably going to talk his situation over this afternoon – I know we are.” And when he was asked if there is more to talk about than just returning from the concussion (i.e. the knee), Parcells said, “I think we need to talk to the player first before we discuss that, but I’d say yes it’s more than that.”
The Cowboys sure are getting some use out of Matt Baker, the rookie free agent quarterback they just signed. They are using the fourth quarterback to work out receivers, in the morning tight end Erik Jensen, who they signed, and then in the afternoon wide receiver LaShaun Ward, who they signed. And then in between, Baker spent time throwing to Terrell Owens and Sam Hurd after practice. By the way, the kid is pretty good against air, and Owens was running as hard as he’s run while missing practice the past six days. If he doesn’t return to practice Thursday, then by the looks of things, because Friday is no more than a walk-through, the game is Saturday and there’s no practice on Sunday, then returning on Monday looks like a certain possibility.
Sure sounding more and more as if Parcells <i>will</i> start Tony Romo in Saturday’s preseason opener in Seattle. He reiterated on Wednesday that Romo would play “a lot in the game.” Probably know for sure on Thursday.
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Parcells says there is at least a chance Tony Romo would start Saturday’s first preseason game instead of starter Drew Bledsoe. That should not be surprising since he’s said from the start he wants to see more of Romo this summer. But he also wants to get some visual, game proof his offensive line, which is looking to establish continuity, can protect the quarterback before he sends out his franchise guy who is not the most mobile quarterback.
Here the NFL conducts this nationwide search for a commissioner, and in the end they simply choose the guy right under its nose, retiring commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s right-hand man, Roger Goodell.
Desperados kicker Carlos Martinez sure didn’t last long in Atlanta’s camp. Signed last week, cut already Monday. So much for the Desperados needing to find another kicker.
Wednesday might be the toughest day of training camp for the players. There are two practices, the last two-a-day this week before Saturday’s first preseason game in Seattle. They can see the light at the end of the tunnel, finally getting a chance to hit someone else, yet they have to still do it twice on Wednesday. Here’s putting money on Parcells riding them hard.
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OK, sometimes parts of these speeches are a little schmaltzy, a little hokey. But got to give it to John Madden, he might have had the thought of the day when he talked about how everyone leaves the Pro Football Hall of Fame building every night, the lights go off, it gets quiet and, “I think the busts talk to each other, and I can’t wait for that conversation.” Priceless.
Not sure why this surprised me, but the number of Cowboys fans attending this ceremony was overwhelming, and I know sure made an impression of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who departed training camp to be here on this day.
Sara White, what a little spitfire. Never thought she’d ever get through her acceptance speech for deceased husband Reggie since she began crying with her presenter son Jeremy as they unveiled White’s bronze bust. But not only did she make it, she did so impressively.
She also combined with Troy Aikman for a great line during the press conference on Friday, talking about how one game Reggie must have hit Troy “like 55 times.” Aikman politely interjected, “Fifty-five.”
If you just need to be reminded how important Aikman was to the Dallas Cowboys’ success, I ran into former scouting director Larry Lacewell, and during our conversation about Aikman, he proudly held out his Super Bowl ring won with the Cowboys, pointing right to the middle and said, “I know why I got this.” He meant Aikman.
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Hard to tell much on running backs until the live bullets start flying, which maybe is a tasteless analogy with Keith Davis around. But this Demetris Summers, saw him make this one cut during a practice that made your eyes open wide.
Keep getting asked who is the Cowboys’ third receiver. Well, it’s Patrick Crayton, and you should have seen the guy’s performance the other day when Parcells yelled to him coming back to the huddle, “You’re on fire.” Seems to be running well again after last year’s mid-season ankle surgery hampered him that final month.
‘Bout ready to pin the nickname “Hopalong Cassidy” on Marion Barber. When the guy runs, he has this little hop he seems to take before he either gets going good or when making a cut.
Those who think Baltimore’s Ed Reed’s seven-year, $40 million package is much more lucrative than the five-year, $25.2 million deal Roy Williams just signed should know that Reed’s contract, because of a $6 million base in 2010, probably will have to be re-done, which means his deal really is a four-year, $20.385 million package, which averages out to the same $5 million a year Roy’s does. Man, you gotta pay a lot for safety these days.
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Boy, what a brush fire this Lincoln Kennedy visit started here Tuesday morning. But after all was said and filtered out, the bottom line is Kennedy, the former Raiders offensive tackle who wants to come out of retirement, basically came asking for a visit, but the Cowboys, who threw open their doors, said thanks but no thanks before they even got to giving the big guy who hasn’t played in two years a physical.
Kennedy II: Also, it would be wrong to assume the Cowboys talked with Kennedy because they have been petrified with the play of their offensive line so far in camp and that they were so desperate they were willing to check out a guy who hasn’t played in two years. Seems as though this might have been one of those leave-no-stone-unturned kind of deals.
Kind of how they landed Marc Colombo last year. And guess what, Colombo now is working with the second team at right tackle, and is starting to show some of the stuff which caused the Bears to draft him in the first round, all before he suffered the severe knee injury a couple of years ago. If he keeps this up, he might be pushing Rob Petitti for first-team status.
Keep an eye on Sam Hurd, the rookie free agent out of Northern Illinois. It sure appears the Cowboys are.
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