Cowboys Corner

Cruisin' on the road

I would like to report that Dulles International Airport is a very nice facility. Today, I got here and had a Five Guys burger, and even though the franchise has come to North Texas, there is not one close to me, so it was a delight. The rest the day from DFW to New Jersey hasn't been quite as good. I made late reservations so I had to take a connecting flight to save the company $1,000. And then I got to Washington and it was snowing. Flights were delayed and delayed and although I got on one plane and we made it all the way to No. 1 on the runway, we had to come back because Newark Airport was limiting planes coming in. Weather problems.

So as we speak, I have been in this airport a little over nine hours and although they are optimistic that I will make it to Jersey, well, it's still a process. And I have this troubling feeling that if I do finally make it, my checked in bag will not.

But hey, it's not like I have a concussion. This is the NFL and you've got to travel with pain.

And I am.

-- Jan Hubbard

Kickin' it with Folk

Nick Folk has missed three of his past four field-goal attempts, but he says his confidence is good.

 

“I feel pretty good,” Folk said. “I hit the ball pretty well in practice. We’ll keep working on it. A little cold, a little bit of wind, so it’s a semi-preparation for New York, and we’ll get rocking and rolling.”

 

Folk made 46 of 53 field goals in his first two seasons. But he has missed six field goals this season and is making only 71.4 percent of his tries. Folk had surgery on his right hip in May and didn’t start kicking again until July, so he didn’t get in his usual off-season work. He also has a new holder as punter Mat McBriar has replaced Brad Johnson.

 “We’re obviously concerned when he doesn’t make them all,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. “But we’ve kicked him from a good distance a lot, and you’re not going to make all of them. We expect him to make all of them, and he expects to. I think just because of his mindset he’ll come through it all right.”

Folk has kicked twice in Giants Stadium and says he was lucky because the weather was nice and the wind wasn't much of an issue.

"But you never know what it's going to be like until you get there," he said. "It's one of those things that you can't worry about. You get there and see how the wind is blowing and go from there."

-- Jan Hubbard and Charean Williams

Not by choice

 This time last year, Tashard Choice was the man. With Felix Jones on injured reserve, and Marion Barber limited by a toe injury, Choice started three of four games in December and carried the load. He had 79 touches for 488 yards and two touchdowns in the final four games last season.

 

“Shoot, I mean, whenever I can, man, I try to make it my time,” Choice said. “Whatever opportunities I get. Last year I had more of a role, so that’s how it was.”

 

His role this season is as the third-down and single-wing back. The Cowboys have run 10 plays out of the Razorback -- or the T.C., as Choice calls the formation when he takes the direct snap -- for 103 yards and a touchdown. All were carries by Choice. He has 48 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns out of other formations.

 

“It’s cool,” Choice said of the Razorback. “Shoot, I get to run the ball. It’s always cool when I get the ball in my hands. So that’s why I like it.”

 

Choice has not thrown a pass yet.

 

“I can,” Choice said. “I did it in college.”

-- Charean Williams

Manning says signature is his

Giants quarterback Eli Manning confirmed for New York reporters Thursday that the autograph he left in Cowboys Stadium is his. But he says that a Cowboys employee asked him to do it.

Manning signed a column in the visitors' locker room, added the score (33-31) and the date (9-20-09) and "first win in the new stadium."

-- Charean Williams

A couple of no-no's with Tony

Tony Romo met briefly with the media and was expansive when asked football questions on Thursday. But when asked about attending a charity event in Las Vegas after the Thanksgiving victory over Oakland, Romo was abrupt.

"I'm not talking about that," he said.

He was also asked about the recent difficulties of his good friend Tiger Woods, and his response was the same.

Inquiring minds may want to know details, but Romo made it clear that friends and charity functions are his business and had no intention of talking publicly about them.

-- Jan Hubbard

Just CHILL: Wade Phillips, aka Rodney Dangerfield, deserves better but blame Jerry Jones not the media

Clarence Hill

 

Wade Phillips, the Rodney Dangerfield of NFL coaches, is right. He doesn't get any respect.

With a 30-14 record in three years as Cowboys coach, he shouldn't have to face questions about his future every week.

Does it stem from a lack of respect?

Yes, some of that is at work.

It's certainly unfair that Phillips gets blamed for everything that goes wrong with the Cowboys but gets little credit when they win.

His frustrations are understandable.

But attitude reflects leadership.

And in that case the blame lies with Phillips' boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and himself.

Allowing Phillips to get to the last year of his contract without an extension has fostered the weekly questions about his job security.

No matter how much Jones has said he supports Phillips and never had any doubts about him as the Cowboys coach, it is Jones who has treated Phillips unfairly and disrespectfully.

After last year’s disappointing and embarrassing finish, Jones’ position is understandable. That was a gutless performance down the stretch but namely in the blowout loss to the Eagles in the season final with the playoffs on the line.

But you can’t have it both ways, if Phillips is your guy, then commit to your guy. Give him a contract extension and a hammer to use in the locker room.  The players and coaches know the score and the situation. They also know that supposed coach in waiting, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, has a guaranteed deal for next year and Phillips doesn’t.

Any other coach would not have allowed himself to go into the final year of his deal without a contract extension.

Remember the January of 2006 when Jones and Bill Parcells had the big showdown about his future. Parcells had one year left on his deal and was planning to walk without an extension.

Jones gave him a raise and an extension, worth $5 million annually.

Of course Parcells left one year later with a 34-32 record in four years in Dallas.

He didn't finish the job and wasn’t worth the headache.
Sure he improved the talent but he didn't win a playoff game and left the Cowboys no closer to that elusive playoff win.

Still there was no question that Parcells had Jones' respect.

That Jones didn't give Phillips a contract extension speaks volumes.

It wreaks of the attitude that Jones laid on Jimmy Johnson following the 1993 Super Bowl.

You remember the "any one of 500 coaches" could do this job quote that led to the controversial split

Jones wasn't trying to push Phillips out by not giving him a contract extension in the offseason. There is no question that he did want Phillips back.

But if Phillips would've balked about not having a new deal, Jones wouldn't have batted at eye. He would have closed the chapter and moved on.

There would not have been a Parcells' style extension.

Right or wrong, that's the foundation of the questions about his future and the perceived disrespect that Phillips feels.

The bigger question is what does Phillips have to do to keep his job?

I would say, win the NFC East division and win a wildcard playoff game.

He is 0-4 as coach in the playoffs and the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996. So that would be a positive step.

And let's be real, the Vikings (10-1) and Saints (11-0) are in a different class which is beyond Phillips' control.

There should be no shame and no punitive repercussions for losing a second round playoff game on the road at Minnesota or New Orleans.

Obviously anything can happen. And the Cowboys will show up anyway, as they should.

But as of now, the Cowboys would be an overwhelming underdog against either team.

The funny thing is that if Phillips does get the green light to come back in 2010, I have the feeling Jones will only pick up his one year option and not give Phillips any kind of long-term security.

With a lockout or possible strike looming, why would Jones commit future money to a coach he is still not sure about when he might not have to pay him at all?

The NFL owners have opted out of the collective bargaining agreement and  2010 is slated to be uncapped year. If the NFL and the players don't come to terms, there could be a lockout in 2011.

In other words, there is a chance Phillips could win enough to save his job. But its also likely he will be subjected to the same disrespectful questions about his future.

 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Wade not biting

If you'd like to play the December game with Wade Phillips, you'll have limited success. Phillips was asked at his press conference today if he had talked to players about not folding the last five games of the season, and he refused to take the bait.

When asked if he had talked to the team about finishing strong, Phillips said:: This game. I talked to them about this game only."

 

And why not overall?

"Because I don’t  think the big picture is as important as the immediate picture -- the immediate thing right now is getting ready to play this game and play as well as we can play. You can’t play five games at once. You can only play one. And this one is real important."

-- Jan Hubbard

Bradie bashes Giants

Bradie James had much to say about the Giants during the Wednesday media session in the Cowboys locker room -- and none of it complimentary. James greeted a large group of reporters, made sure all cameras and tape recorders were on, then took off on the Giants. Some of what he had to say is in a story in the sports part of the Star-Telegram web site, but here's more.

James was asked if the Giants might have the same sense of desperation that the Packers had when they beat the Cowboys in November.

"With Green Bay, we don't play them that often," James said. "The Giants, we play them twice a year, so we know what to expect. It doesn't matter if they are 6-10 or whatever, 11-0, those guys will play and try to be physical, no matter what is on the line. It's a good, old-fashioned rivalry. It's been one of the tougher games we've played. We've developed this rivalry since I've been here. They've beaten us, we've beaten them. They've beaten us, then gone on to win the super Bowl. There's no way that I can forget that. The only way we can get past that is we've got to go ahead and beat these guys."

James also said that the Giants celebrated a little too much in September when they defeated the Cowboys in Arlington.

"Eli [Manning] signed the inside of the locker room, the wall," James sad. "He put the score. They ruined our first game. We won’t forget that. It just makes for a more intense game. No matter what’s leading up to it, when we get on the field, it’s going to be the same thing. It’s who executes the best and who plays the hardest for 60 minutes."

-- Jan Hubbard

Cowboys roster moves

The Cowboys released cornerback Jamar Love and signed cornerback Marquis Floyd and linebacker Donovan Woods to their practice squad today.

Jeff Caplan

Romo talks Witten, December

Tony Romo was talking about the Cowboys' confidence level and how he's never surprised at what Jason Witten can do. Here are some quotes:

On Witten's performance: "You can’t talk about Jason enough in my opinion. As good a teammate as I’ve been around and we’re lucky to have him. The fact he’s as competitive as he is makes him twice the challenge (for opposing defenses). Being the quarterback in this league, I’m lucky to have him."

On entering December, and what the Cowboys need to do: "It still comes down to trying to improve each time we get out here. We improved from last game. but it’s about each time out there. It gives you confidence when you can have some big plays and move the ball and feel you can score.

"I know that’s something people want to talk about (December). But (any month), it’s all the same to us. It’s all about improving each time you’re out there. And if you do, December will take care of itself."

Wade's "feel-good game"

That's what the head coach was calling this one, and I see what he means. The Cowboys needed it, for sure, after the loss to the Packers and the so-so (generous) victory against the Redskins. Everyone was involved, and that's what he liked.

Here's more of what he said:

"I think we feel good about ourselves. Obviously the passing game we were worried about offensively and it really came through. I don’t know how many big plays we had over 20 yards. It just gives us that confidence. We played like we did on our winning streak. We played well on offense, defense and special teams. It takes the whole team. I think we played how we ought to play."

On Witten's game: "He was (feeling) a lot better yesterday. Today in pregame he said he didn’t feel it, that he was ready. I think it wasn’t quite as bad as we first thought. He didn’t even grimace when he pushed on another guy, cut and those things in pregame. It was good to see him make those plays. He and Tony (Romo) are a heck of a combination."

On that nasty little stretch of games coming in December:

"We probably have as tough a schedule of anybody (these last few games). We have a rough schedule, but we've had a rough schedule all the way through. But if we play well, we can do well. They're a close-knit group. Our guys are not selfish, they're very focused, I could tell this week how focused they were. I think they'll continue that."

-- Tracey Myers

 

And now, December looms...

OK, folks, you knew it was inevitable that we reached this point of the discussion.

The Cowboys got some of their mojo back on offense today against the Raiders. This is the game where you needed to experiment, do a few things, get your game back because the Raiders put up very little of a fight (if you can call it that).

But now... we are nearing that mystifying time of year for the Cowboys: December. And their schedule in December is so brutal it's brooooootal.

So, are you OK with how the Cowboys look entering this tough stretch?

Are you concerned?

Apprehensive beyond words?

Tell us.

-- Tracey Myers

Witten is a game-time decision

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will be a game-time decision Thursday because of a sprained foot. He suffered the injury in the second quarter Sunday against Washington, but was able to finish out the game.

Witten did not practice Monday and was limited Tuesday for the team's no-pads workout.

"Jason did go through some of the walk-through as he did yesterday," Phillips said. "We're a little bit worried about him being able to play."

The Cowboys have committed to using a two tight-end formation with Witten and Martellus Bennett. Rookie tight end John Phillips has also seen considerable action as a blocker. Phillips said if Witten can't play, it shouldn't affect their ability to utilize the formation.

Of course, John Phillips isn't Witten, who leads the team with 54 receptions. He's also quarterback Tony Romo's security blanket. The Cowboys just want to make sure they're cautious. Witten played with a broken rib last season and hasn't missed a game since 2003.

"It's a situation where if it's not well enough he could hurt it more," Phillips said. "That's a concern."

Jeff Caplan

Need a ride? Call Jay Novacek

Heading out tomorrow night?

Thanksgiving Eve is one of the most celebrated out-on-the-town times of the year and former Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek wants to make sure everyone makes it home for Thanksgiving turkey safe and sound.

 

As part of the Crown Royal “Safe Rides Home” designated-drive program, Novacek will get behind the wheel of a Crown Royal-branded car to provide adults with a ride home tonight from area party spots.

 

Catch a ride from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with rides departing from the northeast corner of McKinney Ave., and Boll

St. Sign up throughout the evening at special Crown Royal taxi stands.

 

Jimmy Johnson is also a spokesperson for the Crown Royal program. He stopped by Cowboys practice today, had a chat with Jerry Jones, plus visiting former Cowboys Russell Maryland.

 

Jeff Caplan

Newman goofs on Campo incident

Cornerback Terence Newman probably knew there was no way to defend his shove and verbal spat with secondary coach Dave Campo during the first quarter of Sunday’s game, so he tried to lighten things up Tuesday when asked about the incident.

 

“We’ve got Don King promoting. We’re going to be the undercard for the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight in Vegas,” Newman said. “They’re still putting it all together.”

Newman continued the theme:

 

“Actually, Jerry Jones is taking over. We’re going to have Jerry. I’m kicking Don out. We’ll have Jerry promoting. We might have to move this whole thing to Cowboys Stadium. It’ll be Pacquaio-Mayweather and Campo-Newman. We’re going to make it happen.”

 

Newman became upset at Campo when Campo tried to stop Newman to talk to him about a previous play. Newman shoved Campo with both hands, they bumped chests and exchanged words.

 

“We’re all in a fight if you look at it,” Newman said. “It really doesn’t matter. It’s in the same spirit. We’re fighting to get to the playoffs.”

 

Jeff Caplan

Roy still frustrated with pass location

Roy Williams had another tough day Sunday against the Redskins, going catch-less and twice having to go up high to try and snare sailing Tony Romo passes. On a deep ball, he stretched out, but couldn't corral it in off his fingertips.

Williams, as always, vowed to keep plugging away, although he did say he was frustrated with the location of Romo's passes. Williams added that Romo's back injury early on didn't help matters and likely contributed to Romo sailing his passes. Although that doesn't explain why Romo has consistently thrown high to Williams.

"I was a little upset with the way they was coming to me a little bit," Williams said. "I did my best to stretch out, lean and fall and do all kinds of things to catch a ball, but you’re going to have those types of games. I’ve never had a zero-reception game where I’ve played the whole game, but we came out with the win, and that’s what I told my teammates. That’s why we have a good football team, we really do."

Williams said he does not think about the rib injury he sustained at Denver going for a high ball. Williams endured cracked cartilage around three ribs and missed one game.

"If that was the case I’d have alligator arms going across the middle twice," Williams said. "But ,I’m not like that. I’m a guy that goes across the middle and catches the ball if I can, you know, and the one that they’re giving me a drop on because it hit both my hands, it hit my fingertips, but I’m barely hanging onto the ball, that would have been a tough catch if I would have caught it."

 

Jeff Caplan

 

Roy blows off LaRon Landry "scared" comment

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams had little time for Redskins free safety LaRon Landry on Tuesday. Williams briefly discussed the shot fired from Landry's mouth after Dallas beat the Redskins, 7-6, Sunday. Landry said Williams was "scared" to go over the middle and run certain routes:

"Yeah, I know he was, y’all can quote it, too,” Landry said. “Y’all can tell him right now, tell him I’m saying it. I can say it right now, yeah, he was scared, I think. I told him he was scared.”

Williams delivered his response with a sense of humility and humor. 

"You know, God Bless the individual, God Bless the young man. Love him," Williams said. "There's nothing you can say. You know he was coming off a tough loss against the Dallas Cowboys so I guess that's all he had to say. I'm  just going to continue to play my game, move on. I got the win under my belt and I'm smiling."

Williams said he is not afraid to run routes over the middle of the field or take a hit, and that fact, he said, should be apparent in the game.

"I'm running across the middle, stretching out, trying my best to catch the ball," he said. "So, if that's scared, let me know."

The Cowboys play at Washington on Dec. 27, but Williams said he won't look ahead to that game with any more motivation than any other game. He said Landry, whose Redskins are 3-7, had every right to make the comments.

"When you've won two or three games that's what happens," Williams said. "You get frustrated with yourself and your team and the way things are going and you envy others who are on winning ballclubs and are doing things they're supposed to do. So, I'm just going to continue to do my job. God Bless the young man, him and his family and his football team."

Jeff Caplan

  

Just CHILL: Williams has been a disappointment but he doesn't have to answer to trash from LaRon Landry

Clarence Hill  

Roy Williams can't win these days. Of course, he seemingly can't catch either. But that's for later.

Not only does Williams have to hear criticism in Dallas about his disappointing play but he is now getting criticized by opposing players on losing teams. Now that's just going too far.

Redskins safety LaRon Landry generated headlines on Monday with post game comments about Williams being "scared" to go over the middle. At least that was his explanaion for Williams coming up with zero catches in the Cowboys 7-6 victory.

"Scared," Landry said to Redskins.com. "Yeah. I know he was. Y'all can quote it, too. Y'all can tell him right now, tell him I'm sayin' it. I can say it right now: yeah, he was scared, I think I told him he was scared."

Landry said Williams had no response to his "scared" taunts during the game. He also said he wasn't worried about any retaliation or payback from Williams when the Cowboys play the Redskins again in a few weeks.

"I don't care," he said. "What's that gonna do?"

This story is getting a lot of play in Dallas because Williams is the object of everybody's discontent right now. But shouldn't the reporter at Redskins.com have been asking Landry about where he was on the final Cowboys drive when quarterback Tony Romo completed seven of eight passes, including the 10-yard game winner to Patrick Crayton.

Talking trash about Williams being scared rings a little hollow when you had chances to make plays to help your team win the game and didn't. Was the goal to scare Williams or beat the Cowboys? 

The Redskins are 3-7 while Williams and the Cowboys are 7-3. It would seem that Landry would have enough on his plate to say grace over rather than trying to belittle Williams.

But as they say, it is what it is.

I considered calling Williams at home for a comment about this but decided against it. He will get a chance to answer questions on Tuesday in the lockerroom. But really what can he say?

At this point there is nothing he can say to win over public sentiment. A paltry 24 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns says it all.

Scared or not, the bottom line is Williams' production has been a huge disappointment. Sunday was the third time in his career Williams has been shut out, including twice since coming Dallas in a bye week trade with Detroit last season.

Even the most ardent Williams critics didn't expect this. It's one thing to say he's not a No. 1 receiver in the mold of a Larry Fitzgerald or Terrell Owens, it's another to be the fourth leading receiver on the team  and one the quarterback has no confidence in when it matters most.

On the final drive against the Redskins, Romo did not look once in Williams direction. An incomplete pass to Crayton started the drive. Then Romo went to Felix Jones, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Witten, then Austin twice before finding Crayton for the game winner.

The frustrating thing for the Cowboys is that they knew he wasn't the type of game-breaking receiver who took short passes to house or simply ran by defenders. But they expected a big sure handed receiver who made tough catches in traffic. Think Keyshawn Johnson with better speed.
That's why they felt justified in trading three draft picks to Detroit to get him last season and why they had no problem giving him a $45 million contract extension.

Williams, however, has not been close to the player the Cowboys expected. He is not making the tough catches and he's having trouble with the easy ones.

The drop against the Packers that he blamed on the glare on his shield was inexcusable.

It's makes you wonder if Williams has lost confidence or if he's succumbing to the enormous expectations placed on him after coming to the high profile Cowboys following five years in Detroit.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he didn't think Williams was pressing. He bristled when asked if there was a chance the Cowboys would consider benching the expensive Williams in favor of Crayton.

Phillips said he remains confident in Williams because of what he sees every day practice where the former Longhorn routinely makes tough catches.  But Phillips doesn't deny that Williams has become an enigma.

"Jerry's paying him," said  Phillips in reference to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when asked if Williams was giving the team a return on its investment. "We saw some good things [against Green Bay, when he had five catches for 105 yards, a touchdown, a fumble and dropped pass in a loss]. This game [against the Redskins], we didn't get the ball to him, and whether he had opportunities or didn't have opportunities, we just didn't get the ball to him. We still think Roy's a good receiver, and Tony [Romo] is a good quarterback, so I think they'll work things out."

Time will tell.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Rudy Carpenter signed by Tampa Bay

Quarterback Rudy Carpenter was signed off the Cowboys practice squad by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. Carpenter originally signed with the Cowboys as an undrated free agent. He was released in training camp but was signed to the practice squad, largely because of an injury to rookie third quarterback Stephen McGee.

He is the second player the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed off the Cowboys practice squad. They signed rookie cornerback Mike Mickens a few weeks ago.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Just CHILL: Cowboys got away with one as late TD pass shouldn't have counted

Clarence Hill

For all of your griping about the officiating blunders that have seemingly gone against the Cowboys the past two weeks, take solace in knowing that the only reason the Cowboys beat the Redskins is because of an officiating mistake.

According to television replays, the final 10-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Patrick Crayton Sunday, giving the Cowboys a 7-6 victory, shouldn't have counted. Guard Kyle Kosier and center Andre Gurode were down field on the play. Kosier, anticipating that a scrambling Romo might run, was seen on video throwing a block two yards down field.

That should have been a penalty, thus nullifying the touchdown. But the officials were too busy watching Romo's whodini act and late heroics to see the penalty.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Romo talk

Just got some quick hits off this, folks. Tony Romo talked about the touchdown drive, about the urgency of getting in the end zone (um, yes), and then the real questions began:

To the question, "Are you concerned about this offense?"

"It’s not what you hope for, obviously. This (Redskins) team knows us pretty well. Their defense keeps them in a lot of games. Their defense was good. We made mistakes to compound that. We didn’t play as well as we’d like today. But I'm proud of the guys for continuing to fight and not giving up and believing we’d win. You don’t win these type of games without that belief in each other."

About his injury on that early tackle, which has been called a hip pointer:

"It hurts. Usually like right before and after the snap it hurts. But at the snap not thinking about it. It's just one of those deals. That’s part of football, part of understanding the only way to play the game."

Anyone concerned about the injury?

-- Tracey Myers

They won, but...

I'm paraphrasing what one chatter said on our live chat this afternoon: the Cowboys just beat 1/2 of a Redskins team. A beat-up, tattered Redskins team.

Yes, I know the Cowboys still won. But are you all concerned out there that the Cowboys didn't get a touchdown until the end of this one to eke it out? Consider that's just the second touchdown in the past two games, and both came late in the fourth quarter.

Thoughts? Concerns?

Discuss.

-- Tracey Myers

Haynesworth out

Washington's stellar defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has been ruled out for today's game. That's a huge boost for Marion Barber and the Cowboys' running game as it tries to get back on track.

Jeff Caplan

Romo not sweating lack of rush

Quarterback Tony Romo isn't overly concerned that the team's rushing attempts and yards are down, especially over the past two games. The 14 carries at Green Bay were a season-low as the offense overall sputtered.

Romo, like coaches Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett, said circumstance often dictates what the offense will do. So Romo's not overly concerned that the team's early commitment to the run is waning.

"It’s important every week [to establish a run game], but people talk about trying to run the ball more, things of that nature. It’s simply a matter of each game is different," Romo said. "If a team [loads up] the box it would be dumb to run the ball 34 times into it. So it’s all different. You want to be able to do everything well so that way when the game calls for 45 passes you do that well. when the game calls for 45 runs you do that well and over the course of the season it ends up equaling out. To jump after a game or two is a misconception. For us, if we can run the ball into different looks and do different things we will definitely do that."

Jeff Caplan

Shotgun, shotgun, shotgun

The Cowboys were in the shotgun offense for 45 of 58 plays Sunday against the Packers. They called only 11 running plays. Their last 27 plays were all passes as they were behind by more than one score.

"The facts are if we didn’t have that number of snaps in that fourth quarter everybody would understand why you didn’t run the ball enough, because you just didn’t have the ball," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday, pointing out why the Cowboys didn't run the ball more.

-- Charean Williams 

Ball standing tall

Alan Ball will make his first career start this week, as he replaces Ken Hamlin at free safety. Ball is 6-1, 188 pounds. Hamlin is 6-2, 209. But Ball said his size -- or lack of size -- won't play a part in how he plays.

"I haven't been big my whole life I've been playing football, so that really doesn't make a difference for me," Ball said.

-- Charean Williams

Just CHILL: Bradie James says Cowboys must win the upcoming football double header and other Cowboys tidbits

Just CHILL: Bradie James says this is the beginning of a football double header and other Cowboys tidbits from Thursday

--LB Bradie James normally subscribes to the one game at a time theory. But with the Cowboys facing Redskins on Sunday and the Raiders four days later on Thanksgiving, he said he looking at both games together. He called it football double header. He said the Cowboys are focused on sweeping both games so they can get the Green Bay loss out of their minds and get back on a roll before crucial December stretch. They want to be 8-3 heading into the Dec. 6 showdown at the New York Giants.

--Kicker David Buehler plans to kick off on Sunday's despite a fractured right picky toe. After missing Wednesday practice Buehler said he will give it a go in practice today to test himself for Sunday. He plans to tape his toes together to hopefully reduce the pain. Buehler said it bothers him when he runs and plants but said he will work through it. If he can't kick, Nick Folk will handle field goals and kick offs.

--RB Felix Jones had runs of at least 11 yards or longer in each of the first five games he played this year. The last two weeks his longest runs have been four yards. Running back coach Skip Peete says its more of a product of team's keying on Jones that him being slowed by the sprained knee that sidelined him for two games earlier in the year.

--SS Gerald Sensabaugh will handle the calls in the secondary in place of the injured Ken Hamlin. Normally the free safety makes the calls but with the inexperienced Alan Ball replacing Hamlin in the starting role, Sensabaugh will serve as the quarterback of the secondary.

--FS Ken Hamlin is slated to be out two to four weeks with a sprained ankle. According to the Cowboys trainers, it will more closer to four weeks than two weeks. So don't look for Hamlin back in the lineup until the Chargers game on Dec. 13 at the earliest.

--LB DeMarcus Ware is a good bet to have a big day against the Redskins. He has had a sack in six straight games against the Redskins dating back to 2006. He is tied for the longest active sack streak in the NFL against one opponent. Chike Okeafor had six straight games with a sack against the Cardinals when he was with the Cardinals. Okeafor now plays for the Cardinals so Ware will be all alone if he gets another on Sunday.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Ball to start

Alan Ball will start for the injured Ken Hamlin at free safety. It will be Ball's first career start.

"It’s a position we’ve worked him on all along," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday. "He’s obviously very versatile. He came in and played corner and made a nice play a couple of games ago. He’s ready to go in, and he did go in the last game and play at safety."

Rookie safety Mike Hamlin, who began the season rehabbing a broken wrist, will be activated Sunday for the first time.

-- Charean Williams

Bradshaw hard on Roy

Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw ripped receiver Roy Williams, saying Williams cost the Cowboys a victory against the Packers. Williams had his first 100-yard game since being traded from Detroit last year, but he lost a fumble at the end of a 42-yard gain and later dropped a pass that would have been a big gain.

"Dallas lost that game when Roy Williams dropped that pass and then fumbled, too," Bradshaw said in comments released by Fox. "He may have finished with 100 yards receiving, but he's certainly not worth two first-round picks and all the money Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is paying him. He's not proving anything."

Williams has caught 10 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown in his past two games combined. It is his best two-game stretch in two years.

"We're getting there," Williams said Wednesday when asked if he and Tony Romo finally were getting on the same page.

-- Charean Williams

NFL says Cowboys would have lost challenge

Mike Pereira, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, said Wednesday the Cowboys would have lost a challenge on Tony Romo’s fumble if the play could have been challenged.

In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, Romo had the ball knocked out of his hands by Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. Felix Jones covered, and, while he was lying on the ground, Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly pulled the ball free from Jones’ hands. Packers linebacker Clay Matthews eventually recovered at the Dallas 3.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips challenged the play, but, by rule, fumble recoveries in the field of play are not reviewable.

On his weekly review on the NFL Network, Pereira said Jones had to maintain control of the ball for it to be deemed a recovery.

“If you’re going to the ground, it’s a process, and you’ve got to hold onto it throughout the whole process,” Pereira said. “…If it comes out at all during that process, it’s ruled still a fumble if you’re trying to recovery a fumble.

“If this was actually reviewable, still in my mind, [it] would not have changed.”

Pereira verified that the Packers should have been penalized 15 yards for attempting a third challenge they didn’t have. Pereira said officials now will inform a coach face-to-face when a team is out of challenges.

"These types of administrative things should never happen," Pereira said.

-- Charean Williams

 

Just CHILL: Free or Holland

 
Clarence Hill

 

Do you want Free or Holland?

The Cowboys are going with Doug Free to replace Marc Colombo at right tackle.

But the question is not a simple one.

The Cowboys are going to miss Colombo. He wasn't the best offensive lineman on the team but he was solid and he played with the most intensity. The latter can't be understated.

Now as the Cowboys labored over what to do in his absence, the question was simply who is a better fit?

 The inexperienced Doug Free at right tackle or the experienced but limited Montrae Holland at right guard with Leonard Davis moving from guard to tackle. It's a given that Davis is a better fit at tackle than Free.

 But is the Davis and Holland tackle-guard combo better than the Free and Davis tackle-guard combo?

The talk of disrupting two positions rather than one is a non issue because this should be considered a long-term move. Colombo is out for six weeks and possibly the rest of the season, not just a few games. So the Cowboys need to make the right decision and one that's going to take hold for the rest of the season.

The Cowboys should also dismiss the notion that they should play Free just because they drafted him and should trust him. They also acquired Holland in a trade. Should they trust that move as well?

The decision should be based on whoever is best for the team. How they got here shouldn't matter.

 Considering how important the tackle position is, I would go with the Davis-Holland combo. You can hide a guard but you can't hide a tackle.
 If the Cowboys were confident and/or comfortable with Free doing job it wouldn't have been a question in the first place.

Well, if you have questions, then go with what you know.

After all, you have invested too much money in franchise quarterback Tony Romo to take any chances with his health.

Again, the Cowboys are going with Free and it might work. It’s their point of view that he has the most potential and they need to find out if he can do the job. They can always move Davis outside if he struggles.

Just hope it's not too late.

 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

 

 

Just CHILL: The Cowboys didn't abandon the run but the running game has not been good lately

 
Clarence Hill

 

Watch the game, please.

Those who are criticizing the Cowboys for supposedly abandoning the run in the 17-7 loss to the Packers clearly weren't watching the game. They simply looked at the final lopsided pass-run numbers and concluded it was a case of abandoning the run.
The numbers don't tell the whole story. Many of the passes came on the final two drives when the Cowboys were behind and had to throw every down.
Before that they simply didn't have the ball enough to get anything going because the Packers were dominating time of possession and when they did have the ball they didn't do anything with it.

The Cowboys ran only 21 plays in the first half and notched just three first downs. One was a 42-yard pass and fumble by receiver Roy Williams.

They had the ball just twice in the third quarter. The opening drive of the quarter began with Marion Barber being dropped for a loss and Romo being sacked.

There was no chance to run there.

The next drive featured a second and 10 run by Tashard Choice out of the Wildcat offense that netted 11 yards. 15 more yards were tacked because of a face mask penalty.

Of course the Cowboys then began to self destruct with Romo fumbling a snap, Williams dropping a pass and a 22-yard pass to Choice being negated by a pass interference penalty on tight end Jason Witten.

That drive was over. So again, I asked, was this a case of abandoning the run or the Cowboys simply making mistakes and not executing?

They opened the first drive of the fourth quarter with a 20-yard pass to Williams and a Felix Jones run for four yards. Of course, Charles Woodson came through on the next play for the infamous sack and forced fumble on Romo.

Now down 17-0 and in desperation mode, the Cowboys ended the game with 27 straight passes.

No doubt, the Cowboys didn't run the ball often. But they didn't abandon the run either.

What's also true is the Cowboys are not running the ball well and haven't for a while. Their running attempts and yards have a diminished dramatically since the start of the season.

That is a more of a product of Marion Barber and Felix Jones being injured. Neither has had the same burst since returning to the lineup. Barber missed one game. Jones missed two.

Barber has started to look more like his old self of late. But Jones looks uncomfortable and tentative. He has not been a game-breaking threat.

Consider that he has had only two runs longer than 10 yards the last four games since returning from the sprained knee and they were just 12 and 11 yards each. He has not had a run longer than four yards against the Eagles and Packers the past two weeks.

Jones needs to be game-breaking good for the Cowboys to be truly special on offense.

He hasn’t been that lately.

There are those calling for the Cowboys to put the ball back in the hands of the three-headed monster at running back. If that monster is not a beast in more then that won’t work either.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Free to start

Doug Free will replace Marc Colombo at right tackle, offensive line coach Hudson Houck said Wednesday. The Cowboys had considered several options, including moving right guard Leonard Davis, who played tackle at Arizona, to right tackle.

"I think you always look at two or three options and then pick the best one, and the best one is exactly what we’re doing," Houck said.

 

Colombo is expected to miss six weeks after having surgery to repair ligaments in his left ankle. He also broke his left fibula.

 

Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, has never started a game. He replaced Flozell Adams at left tackle in mop-up duty against the Seahawks and then replaced Colombo on Sunday after Colombo was injured.

 

Free was not available in the locker room Wednesday.

 

-- Charean Williams

Free will start at RT

Doug Free will start in place of injured Marc Colombo Sunday against the Redskins.

The coaching was thinking about other possibilities such as moving right guard Leonard Davis outside and replacing him with perhaps Montrae Holland, who's been deactive for all nine games.

Free, the former 7th round pick out of Northern Illinois, will line up next to Davis at least for this next game.

"He might be a little nervous deep down," Davis said of Free. "But butterflies or whatever you want to call it, won't be around long. After a few plays it'll settle down."

Jeff Caplan

Ken Hamlin out 2-4 weeks

Free safety Ken Hamlin could miss up to a month with a high ankle sprain, coach Wade Phillips said Monday.

Hamlin injured the ankle in the third quarter Sunday at Green Bay. Alan Ball replaced him. Ball or Pat Watkins could get the start this week against Washington.

Jeff Caplan

Gurode, Hamlin practicing

Center Andre Gurode (ankle) and safety Ken Hamlin (groin) both were on the practice field. We'll know later how much each was able to participate. As reported on the earlier blog, Gurode said he expects to play at Green Bay while Hamlin said he isn't certain.

Jeff Caplan 

Wrong call?

Mike Pereira, the league's vice president of officiating, said on his weekly NFL Network show that referee Walt Coleman might have erred in his replay review of Donovan McNabb's fourth-and-one quarterback sneak. Pereira said video establishes a point at which the ball could have been placed and then re-measured.

"I think I'd move it," Pereira told NFL Network host Rich Eisen. "...It might have made a difference."

-- Charean Williams

Romo letting hair go

For some reason, Tony Romo is not cutting his hair until the team loses, a superstitious deal that seems a bit corny, but, hey, whatever works.

It seems that sort of thing is usually saved for the other way around, like if the Cowboys had lost four in a row, maybe Romo wouldn't cut his hair until the team won a game.

If the Cowboys keep winning, maybe Romo can consult Dirk Nowitzki for sytling suggestions.

Jeff Caplan

Gurode plans to play; Hamlin uncertain

Center Andre Gurode said he plans to play Sunday despite a sprained ankle suffered in the Philadelphia game. Gurode came out briefly in the game and returned to finish it out. Gurode didn't practice Wednesday and said he said he will practice today.

Safety Ken Hamlin (strained groin) said he'll have to wait and see as the week goes on about his status for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Hamlin has never missed a game because of a football injury and he takes pride in his streak that dates back to 2003. He's played a full schedule in each of his previous six seasons except for 2005 when he played the first six weeks, but missed the rest of the season after sustaining off-the-field head injuries.

Jeff Caplan

Injuries

The Cowboys were missing two starters at practice Wednesday. Safety Ken Hamlin (strained groin) and center Andre Gurode (sprained ankle) were injured in the victory over the Eagles, but both returned to the game. However, coach Wade Phillips said if the Cowboys had played today, Hamlin and Gurode could not have played. Phillips is confident both will play Sunday.

Alan Ball filled in for Hamlin, and Cory Proctor was at center Wednesday.

-- Charean Williams

Just CHILL: Breakthrough performer on offense Miles Austin

 

Clarence Hill

My no brainer breakthrough performer on offense is receiver Miles Austin

What can be said about wide receiver Miles Austin that hasn't already been said. Nobody in league history has put up the numbers he has in the first four starts of a career. He literally won two games with big plays in the fourth quarter and overtime. And while there were frustrations in training camp with Austin not developing as fast as the Cowboys had hoped, his emergence came when the Cowboys needed it most.

 I would bet that the Cowboys beat the lowly Chiefs with a healthy Roy Williams on the field. I believe Williams catches those two touchdown passes that Austin dropped in the first half. That being said, Williams didn't play and Austin did.

 I know that Austin broke the team record for receiving yardage in a game against the Chiefs. Williams wouldn't have done that. Nor does he have the run after catch ability like Austin to end a game on one play like Austin did against the Chiefs and Eagles.

It's probably fitting that a rags to riches quarterback like Tony Romo gets a rags to riches receiver like Austin to be his top big play target. The good thing for the Cowboys is they know have a mix at receiver they are comfortable with  _ just not the roles they thought.

 The opened the season thinking Williams would be the go-to guy with Austin mixing in a occasional deep pass to keep defenses honest. Now Austin is the proverbial go-to guy with Williams complementing him as a move the chains possession receiver.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. 

Just CHILL: Best Free agent Addition is Keith Brooking

Clarence Hill

 

Linebacker Keith Brooking has been proven to be the team's best free agent addition at the midpoint of the season.

 

This could easily be a shared award with linebacker Keith Brooking and safety Gerald Sensabaugh, who has been such an upgrade over Roy Williams that its not even funny. The Cowboys no longer have a weak spot in the secondary. Sensabaugh has proven to be a playmaking difference maker in his ability to tackle, cover tight ends and make plays on the ball.

 But Brooking gets the honor for what he brings on and off the field. He leads the team in solo tackles and has three sacks. His previous career high in sacks is 3.5, which he did in 2001 and 2004 with the Falcons. Add that to his leadership in the locker room and his impact can't be disputed. Most players who come to new teams sit back and back try not to step on anyone's toes.

Brooking asserted himself as a leader from the outset and the Cowboys are following. 

 

 Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Just CHILL: Breakthrough Performer on Defense Mike Jenkins

Clarence Hill

Cornerback Mike Jenkins is my breakthrough performer on defense at the midpoint of the season 

There was never any doubting Mike Jenkins' talent. That's why the Cowboys drafted him in the first round last season. But even the Cowboys will admit they didn't expect him to be this good this fast _ especially considering his mildly disappointing rookie season.

Even in training camp Jenkins gave no indication that he would be the team's most feared cornerback eight games into the season. If he did, they wouldn't have fooled around with the silly platoon system with Orlando Scandrick. And if truth be told, it was a bad performance by Scandrick more so that the coaches seeing a light coming on in Jenkins that prompted him to be named the full-time starter.

But he has taken the proverbial bull by the horns since. Jenkins leads the Cowboys with three interceptions and is second in pass deflections even though he split time early with Scandrick. He has covered like a blanket and he has also been physical with receivers.

 Teams are paying the ultimate compliment to Jenkins by choosing to pick on veteran and former Pro Bowler Terence Newman rather than taking their chances on his side of the field. His physical style is also rubbing off on Newman who has playing with more physicality and aggressiveness than any time during his career. 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Just CHILL: Tony Romo is the MVP

 

 

Clarence Hill
 

My midpoint is MVP is quarterback Tony Romo

Tony Romo won't truly shut up his critics until he wins some important games in December and January. You can never be labeled a great Cowboys quarterback if you don't win in the postseason. But it’s hard not to like what Romo has done so far in 2009.

 Criticized for his care free and sometimes careless play, Romo has seemingly found a happy medium between gunslinger and caretaker. He is still making plays but he is not turning the ball over at an alarming rate. As Patrick Crayton pointed out, there is no way Romo can be a bus driver for the Cowboys. He has to be a playmaker and sometimes that means taking a few risks.

 The Cowboys can't win if Romo doesn't play well. You can't say that about anybody else on the team. And certainly nobody on offense.

The Cowboys are playing with three different running backs and getting mixed results from all three, yet they are winning. Tight end Jason Witten leads the team in catches but he has largely been a non factor. Yet, they are winning. $9 million receiver Roy Williams has yet to have a big game. Yet the Cowboys are winning.

 And even though the current winning streak has coincided with a breakout performance from receiver Miles Austin, the Cowboys won two games without Austin being the focal point. And he only had one catch against the Eagles, albeit the game winner.

 But the point is the same, the Cowboys can't win if Romo doesn't play well. And when he plays well, they have a chance to beat anybody (not named the Saints, Vikings and Colts _ at least I'm not ready to go there, not yet).

 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Just CHILL: Cowboys Grades at the Midpoint

 

Clarence Hill
 

Here are my grades for the 6-2 and NFC East leading Cowboys at the midpoint of the season:

RUSH OFFENSE: B-- The Cowboys are seventh in the league in rushing, averaging 138 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. And while the Cowboys are getting decent production from running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, neither are having stellar seasons. A lot of the credit goes to behemoths up front. Center Andre Gurode and guard Leonard Davis are again having Pro Bowl seasons. The return of guard Kyle Kosier gives the chemistry they missed last season. The two-tight end offense also helps as Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett are getting it done in the run game. 

PASS OFFENSE: A--Tony Romo has met the challenge and come out a better man. He is still making plays but he's playing mistake free in the process with 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He only has one pick the last four games. It's notable that supposed No. 1 receiver Roy Williams has put up disappointing numbers so far. But it's even more notable that Miles Austin has more than picked up the slack, putting up numbers that Williams and former Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens can only dream about this season. And oh by the way, tight end Jason Witten is again leading the Cowboys in receptions, although he is admittedly having a down year.

RUSH DEFENSE: B+--The Cowboys are ranked 12th in league in rushing defense. But that does not tell the story of how well they have been playing against the run of late. That number is skewed by the embarrassing 174 yards the Cowboys gave up on the ground to Tampa Bay in the season opener. The Phillips' 3-4 has fixed things since. Consider that the Cowboys have allowed fewer than 100 yards rushing in five of the last seven games and three of the last four. The Cowboys are giving up an average of 3.8 yards per carry since the season opener. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who is the heart and soul of the defense and arguably the best player,  is the key  to everything that is going on up front. And he is flanked by inside linebacker duo are Bradie James and Keith Brooking, who are both tackling machines.

PASS DEFENSE: B--This is another unit that has gotten better as the season has gone on. Remember they went the first two games without recording a sacks and were picked apart by the Giants in Week 2. They now have 21 sacks on the season, including 18 in the past five games combined and 15 during the current four game winning streak. DeMarcus Ware is leading the way again with five sacks. But Ratliff has four and Cowboys have gotten three each from linebackers Keith Brooking and Victor Butler. The Cowboys still need to get some production from much maligned linebacker Anthony Spencer. The secondary has also stepped up in a big way and credit game-changing performances from cornerback Mike Jenkins and safety Gerald Sensabaugh. Jenkins is just in his second year but he is the best cover cornerback on the team. And Sensabaugh is just the ball hawking safety Roy Williams wished he could be, even with a broken thumb. 

SPECIAL TEAMS: A--If you don't think Joe DeCamillis has made  a difference on special teams then consider the fact that wide receiver Patrick Crayton has returned two punts for touchdowns and is among the league leaders in punt returns. Yes, the same slow-footed Crayton that coach Wade Phillips said was back there primarily to catch the ball because he had the most experience doing it on the team. Crayton gets credit for those huge returns because he had to finish the plays but that's how good the blocking was, which is all about DeCamillis. Because of him, special teams are finally important in Dallas again. The Cowboys are winning the battle of field position because of punter Matt McBriar, who has few peers in dropping the ball inside the 20, and rookie kicker David Buehler, who on his way to setting a team record for touchbacks in a season. 

COACHING: B-- It seems so long ago that the natives were restless and calling for Wade Phillips' job....after an overtime win against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys haven't lost since and are now in first place in the NFC East with a 6-2 record.  While the fans and the media might not like or respect Phillips, the Cowboys are definitely responding to his coaching and leadership. Phillips' hands all on the turnaround because its been fueled by his defense. He has called all the right signals on defense and outsmarted and outcoached the highly respected Andy Reid of the Eagles last Sunday. If the Cowboys keep this up, all the Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren will have to be put on hold and Phillips might not be going anywhere. 

Clarence E. Hill Jr. 

Ratliff is the heart and soul of defense

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff is not only arguably the best player on defense but he is the heart and soul of the defense. He gives relentless effort on every play and he is accountable.

Consider this encounter with coach Wade Phillips at halftime of Sunday's game with the Eagles.

"At halftime, we came in and he says, ‘My fault on the running game,’” Phillips recalled about Ratliff. “And I said, ‘No it isn’t your fault.’ He jumps back at me and said ‘ITS MY FAULT’ I said, ‘Ok it’s your fault.’ But he said he would get it corrected. And sure enough they had 16 yards rushing in the second half, so it wasn’t all his fault, he played some things different second half than he did in first half.”

If everybody played with Ratliff's effort and attitude this would be a Super Bowl team for sure.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Free Reign delays release of CD until after football season

Free Reign's record label has pushed back the release date of their new CD until after the football season...January 26, 2010. Members of Free Reign include tackle Marc Colombo, guard Leonard Davis and center Cory Proctor. If you are an optimist it could mean that the release will coincide with the Cowboys first trip to the Super Bowl. To hold fans over they will be releasing FR's single "Tragedy" via iTunes later this month.
Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hyh0UpCZu8

Here is album cover.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.
 

Roy Williams said he is no T.O. and Tony Romo said there is no controversy in Dallas

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams was in full damage control Thursday.

One day after seemingly pointing the finger at quarterback Tony Romo for his disappointing production and causing a mini national firestorm, Williams again stood up in front of the media and tried to explain himself.

Williams, who has just 14 catches through seven games, said he is not unhappy and wasn't complaining. Most importantly, Williams wants everyone to know he is not trying to be like former receiver Terrell Owens and cause a problem in the Cowboys lockerroom.

"I didn’t complain. I didn’t complain that I didn’t get the ball," Williams said. "All I said was that, when it comes to me, it’s not there. The percentages that you just said back my case. I’m not saying it can’t be fixed, because that’s what we do every day. We try to work on it and get it fixed. I’m not a T.O. or I’m not trying to be a T.O. I don’t know why people are trying to put me in that category, because I’m happy to win. I’ve said that 100 times. I don’t understand why people won’t just say OK and leave it alone. But I’m a professional football player and am trying to get this thing right."

Williams' initial comments raised some eyebrows in the Cowboys lockerroom because it created a perception that there is a controversy.

 The Cowboys weren't happy. Receivers coach Ray Sherman said he talked to Williams about just letting his play do his talking."

Romo defended Williams and the work the two have put in together. He said he will not let this problem divide the team.

"I don't look at the numbers," Romo said. "We've been through this before with people trying to intersect and divide a football team. This team is too strong from the core. I know the media is going to make certain things appear what they may not actually have been or things of that nature. This team is too committed to winning and too committed to improving to let anything like that or anything [the media] may present to us divide this team."

  Clarence E. Hill Jr.

 

Williams story overblown by ESPN and media

ESPN and the media are making a bigger deal of this Roy Williams story than what it was. Williams did not throw Tony Romo under the bus. Williams is frustrated with his numbers but he is not causing problems in the lockerroom nor is he complaining about his role. But he did answer questions honestly about his disappointing production. There is a difference. Furthermore, he is not T.O.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Roy Williams is admittedly frustrated but says he is not mad

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams is frustrated with his numbers and tired of trying to defend himself.

He said he is not complaing or pouting and is continuing to do everything he can to still help the Cowboys win.

But he wants everyone to know it's not all on him_ especially when passes are high or behind him. 

"It makes me look like crap," Williams said. "The only thing that keeps me going is cause I now I'm not. I know what I am. I know what people are trying to make me be.  I know I'm not that."

Williams has no answers when asked to explain the difference between his numbers and those of receiver Miles Austin. Williams has 14 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Austin has 26 catches for 563 yards and six touchowns.

"He gets the ball thrown correctly," Williams said. "I'm stretching, falling, doing everything. My balls are everywhere."

Williams said and quarterback Tony Romo are simply not on the same page _ which is downright shocking to him, considering the work the two have put in together.

 "It's stunning," Williams said. "I anticipated us rolling right now. We are rolling in the win column. But as far as me and Romo's production, we are not even close. I'm not mad or anything by no means. We are just not connecting. I am not going to rant or rave or be pissed off. I'm going to work. I'm just waiting for the switch to cut on on one  day...boom."

 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.