Friday, November 21, 2008

Careful Who You Cheer For!

The Texas Tech and Oklahoma game Saturday night has made this a weird week for college football fans, especially those who follow the Texas Longhorns. Texas Tech is playing in another one of their "Biggest Games" in program history, and if your a Texas fan, you may have no choice but to cheer for Oklahoma. How crazy is that? A win by Oklahoma would put Texas right back in the hunt for a National Championship.

I asked Cowboys Wide Receiver Roy Williams, a Texas Ex, if he would be cheering for Oklahoma this weekend, and he would only say "I'll be watching the game."

Leonard Davis, another Texas Ex, confirmed that he will be cheering for Oklahoma Saturday night, but he wasn't real crazy about it.

"I'm always rooting for Texas Tech," says Cowboys Linebacker Zach Thomas. As a graduate of Texas Tech, Thomas says "I'm excited that they're even in this situation. We never had Tech in this situation so I'm very excited for the program, and I'm really glad they're taking it to the next level."

There is one place where there is no question who folks are pulling for and that's Ennis, Texas. That's the hometown of Texas Tech Quarterback Graham Harrell.

Cornerback Terence Newman Is Hurt Again

Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman wouldn't say whether he is in our out for Sunday's game against the 49ers.

He didn't practice, and when he was leaving the Cowboys practice facility, he wouldn't confirm or deny that he would be able to play on Sunday.

"Terence had a slight (muscle) pull yesterday," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "So, he's working through that and we didn't want him to push off on it." Jones said Newman didn't re-injure the same groin muscle as before, but didn't say what the new injury was. When asked if he will be able to go on Sunday, Jones reply was a simple "Yeah, but I don't know that. But I think he ought to."

Head Coach Wade Phillips was quizzed as he left the practice field, but would only say "it's a secret."

A Cowboys web site says the injury is a slight groin injury, but not in the same area that he had surgically corrected last month.

An official injury report has not yet been released.

Is Terrell Owens' Contentment Vanishing?

We've seen this headline before: "Owens Frustrated with offensive, role," but it showed up again today in the local paper.

Cowboys Wide Receiver Terrell Owens talked to former Cowboys Cornerback Deion Sanders on the NFL network Thursday night. During that interview he said, "For me to have the numbers that I have and not really being involved, it is discouraging."

Owens didn't talk to the media at Valley Ranch on Friday, and said to hear the rest of the interview, "stay tuned." The NFL Network plans to air more of the interview on Sunday.

Head Coach Wade Phillips didn't seemed concerned about the latest interview with his star receiver. "Our philosophy is try to get the best players the football, and that's what we're trying to," Phillips said. "It depends on how it's preceived, sometimes a guy is trying to be honest and say the things that he believes except but it comes out a way that some people take the wrong way."

Owens has had only 40 catches for 505 yards and 6 touchdowns so far this season. His numbers have really suffered the last few weeks.

"Terrell has been exemplary as far as being a team player and wanting to win," says Phillips. "He works hard in practice and does all the right things. I don't think he's trying to do anything that will hurt the team."

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Does Dallas Really Need Pacman?

I can't tell for sure how many of Pacman Jones' teammates are truly excited about having him back. I think if you took a poll, you might be surprised to see how much support from his teammates has deteriorated.

After all, the club has managed to climb out of their death defying spiral without having the troubling cornerback on their team.

So, why should any player on this team be excited about having this guy back on the team? Because Jerry said so? Is Dallas truly a better team with this trouble chaser on the team?

Pacman has support, not just from owner Jerry Jones, who is still trying to convince fans they should spend big bucks on buying tickets at his new stadium, but from defensive tackle Tank Johnson.

"I support Pac," says Johnson. "He knows that we're all with him and we're not going to turn our back on him, and as soon as he gets back, it'll be business as usual and I can't wait to have '21' next to me and my locker."

I guess you have to consider the source, but this is from a guy who seems to have learned his lesson. I'm all for second chances, but I'm not convinced he makes the Cowboys a better team.

"He hasn't let me down. I think he let himself down," says Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears. "It's just like parents teaching you when you're at home. They expect you to do the thing things when you leave. If you don't it's your responsibility to suffer the consequences."

Lately, Pacman Jones has been suffering the consequences.