Cowboys Corner

T.O. drama?

Is it more Terrell Owens drama?

Or just more drama about Owens?

The controversial Owens, who faced some internal discipline after being late to the morning practice for this week's game with the Broncos, didn’t participate in the afternoon practice.

The Cowboys will likely not comment on Owens’ situation until after practice.

After his mid-day news conference, coach Wade Phillips had this to say about Owens arriving 20 minutes late for the morning practice. 

"We had a player late for practice, and it's been handled," Phillips said. "I don't discuss who is, who isn't. You guys find out all that stuff."

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Big hitters talk

The Cowboy-Broncos practice sessions fostered a number of intriguing matchups, including wide receiver Terrell Owens vs. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and Cowboys guard Leonard Davis facing Broncos defensive tackle Sam Adams.

But it also brought about mutual admiration between hard-hitting strong safeties Roy Williams of the Cowboys and John Lynch of the Broncos. The two are the last of a dying breed of NFL safeties, whose forte is to hit first and ask questions (ie..cover) later.

“We respect each others game,” Williams said. “I respect his game. I know what he has done.”
Lynch, a 15-year year veteran who says he sees a lot of himself in Williams, said the two players have gotten to know each other over the years at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. He said Williams has always been respectful and has come to him to pick his brain.

Lynch likes the way the Cowboys are going to use Williams in Wade Phillips’ new scheme.
“I’m excited for him, just hearing what they’re doing with him, getting him in the mix, getting him more involved,” Lynch said. ‘ He’s an impact player. He makes plays. He can do a lot of different things, but I think his skills are best suited.... I haven’t seen it, but from what they’re talking about the way they’re using him sounds good for him.”

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Texas heat

With a heat index of 105 degrees, the Texas weather made a big impression on the visiting Denver Broncos at Valley Ranch. Former University of Texas defensive end Tim Crowder said he tried to warn his teammates about the weather.

"I told them it was going to be bad," Crowder said. "Luckily, I am used to it so it doesn't bother me that bad. I definitely feel back at home."

Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said he lost 10 pounds.

"We welcome Denver in with some nice cool weather," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.

The teams practice twice again Thursday and meet in a preseason game Saturday night at Texas Stadium.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Stanback on sidelines again

Not again.

Receiver Isaiah Stanback, a rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Washington, was held out of Wednesday's second practice. He was on the sidelines wearing a t-shirt, shorts and a visor while standing next to Greg Ellis.

On Saturday, Stanback practiced for the first time since he was drafted in June. He has been out with shin splints and missed all of camp in San Antonio. He also missed both minicamps while recovering from foot surgery in October.

Mac Engel

Newman at wide receiver?

Cornerback Terence Newman worked at wide receiver during Tueday's practice. Newman is one of the fastest players on the team.

The versatile Newman has one career run and 32 career punt returns, but has not caught a pass in the NFL.

Mac Engel

Spiderman Owens

Although he wasn't dressed as cyclist Lance Armstrong this training camp, receiver Terrell Owens wore a costume before Wednesday's walk-through. Owens wore a Spiderman mask and made some of Spidey's moves for the crowd at the Alamodome.

The Cowboys ended training camp Wednesday morning in San Antonio.

Mac Engel

T.O. has MRI on back

Receiver Terrell Owen underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday after back spasms forced him to miss a second straight day of practice.

Coach Wade Phillips said the Cowboys don’t believe Owens’ back issues are serious but they decided to have him undergo an MRI for precautionary reasons. The results should be revealed later today.

“The (trainers) feel sure he just has back spasms, but we didn’t want to take any chances,”  Phillips said.

Save for the injury issues, Owens was having a spectacular camp. But he missed two days last week to rest a sore hamstring. And then he was forced to the sideline again on Sunday when he complained of back stiffness. The Cowboys held him out of practice and had him during rehab in the whirl pool. The symptoms remained on Monday so they ordered the MRI.

Phillips hasn't ruled Owens out of the preseason opener against the Colts Thursday.

“No, he wants to play,”  Phillips said. “And I thought he would be a little better today because he did all the stuff the trainers wanted to him to do but it wasn’t better today so again as a precautionary (we did the MRI). There’s no alarm. We wanted to make sure.”

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Irvin will speak from the heart

Former Cowboys great Michael Irvin said he will have about 400 people in attendance for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday. Although he has gotten advice from Hall of Famers about having note cards with him, Irvin said he will speak from his heart. He will not keep it short, either.

  "I talked to ESPN and The NFL Network, and they're not cutting away," Irvin said. "That's all I needed to know."

Irvin said he is not nervous. Yet.

"I stand among all these Hall of Famers and I say, 'Wow, OK, this is coming down,'" Irvin said. "I'm getting overwhelmed in these rooms. Hopefully, I'm getting the hard part out of the way."

Charean Williams

Cowboys sleep in

Coach Wade Phillips gave the Cowboys a night off Wednesday night and pushed curfew back to midnight. Normally, curfew is 11 p.m.

The Cowboys have one practice today and Friday. Both are at 2:30 p.m.

Today and Friday will mark the first back-to-back, one-practice days since training camp began last week.

  Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Aaron Glenn returns

Cornerback Aaron Glenn, who has been slowed by an injured knee, returned to practice today.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.