No T.O. or Bledsoe, no problem for Cowboys in Seattle
SEATTLE (AP) -- The only people who may have noticed that Terrell Owens and Drew Bledsoe weren't playing in the Dallas Cowboys' exhibition opener: Owens and Bledsoe.
Backup quarterback Tony Romo played the entire game and completed 19 of 25 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown in the Cowboys' methodical, 13-3 win over the sloppy Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Bledsoe watched from the sidelines wearing a full uniform and a blue baseball cap, simply because coach Bill Parcells wanted to see Romo play.
And he did. Impressively.
The fourth-year veteran and place-kick holder, who has yet to throw a regular season pass, was especially sharp in the first half, going 12-of-15 for 154 yards on scoring drives of 12 and 15 plays.
Owens, who stayed back in training camp with other injured Cowboys, may or may not have watched from Oxnard, Calif. Dallas' newest star is recovering from a strained hamstring.
Romo completed 12 passes in a row, including six on Dallas' 15-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown throw to Patrick Crayton late in the opening quarter.
Crayton ran past Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu and in front of safety Mike Green, who was starting while Michael Boulware recovers from offseason knee surgery. Two other Seahawks defensive starters were out with injuries.
Crayton limped off at halftime with a sprained right ankle and did not return.
Owens' backup, rookie free agent Sam Hurd, allowed Romo's first pass to clang off his chest. But Hurd then made a running, one-handed catch on third down to set up Crayton's touchdown.
Romo completed five more in row with the second-team offense on Dallas' second scoring drive. Three of those completions came in succession against Seahawks' rookie top draft choice Kelly Jennings, who is battling veteran Kelly Herndon for the starting left cornerback job.
Crayton's 33-yard juggling reception and run against Jennings set up Mike Vanderjagt's 21-yard field goal late in the first half.
Jamaica Rector made a spinning, leaping catch against Jennings for 18 yards on a third-quarter drive. That ended with backup kicker Shaun Suisham plunking a 34-yard field goal off the center of the crossbar.
Reigning league MVP Shaun Alexander rushed six times for 13 yards before leaving with the rest of Seattle's starting offensive backs and receivers early in the second quarter. Matt Hasselbeck was 4-of-6 for 43 yards passing.
His backup, Seneca Wallace, played until midway through the fourth quarter and was 11-of-17 for 117 yards. He was sacked four times.
Dallas rookie No. 2 pick Anthony Fasano started at H-back. A Romo pass sailed high through his hands to end the opening drive.
That play included Seattle safety Ken Hamlin's first true hit since he fractured his skull in an October street fight -- a first that coach Mike Holmgren had acknowledged he was anxious to see. Hamlin came in late on Fasano and pushed his hands and head at the rookie's face.
Backup quarterback Tony Romo played the entire game and completed 19 of 25 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown in the Cowboys' methodical, 13-3 win over the sloppy Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Bledsoe watched from the sidelines wearing a full uniform and a blue baseball cap, simply because coach Bill Parcells wanted to see Romo play.
And he did. Impressively.
The fourth-year veteran and place-kick holder, who has yet to throw a regular season pass, was especially sharp in the first half, going 12-of-15 for 154 yards on scoring drives of 12 and 15 plays.
Owens, who stayed back in training camp with other injured Cowboys, may or may not have watched from Oxnard, Calif. Dallas' newest star is recovering from a strained hamstring.
Romo completed 12 passes in a row, including six on Dallas' 15-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown throw to Patrick Crayton late in the opening quarter.
Crayton ran past Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu and in front of safety Mike Green, who was starting while Michael Boulware recovers from offseason knee surgery. Two other Seahawks defensive starters were out with injuries.
Crayton limped off at halftime with a sprained right ankle and did not return.
Owens' backup, rookie free agent Sam Hurd, allowed Romo's first pass to clang off his chest. But Hurd then made a running, one-handed catch on third down to set up Crayton's touchdown.
Romo completed five more in row with the second-team offense on Dallas' second scoring drive. Three of those completions came in succession against Seahawks' rookie top draft choice Kelly Jennings, who is battling veteran Kelly Herndon for the starting left cornerback job.
Crayton's 33-yard juggling reception and run against Jennings set up Mike Vanderjagt's 21-yard field goal late in the first half.
Jamaica Rector made a spinning, leaping catch against Jennings for 18 yards on a third-quarter drive. That ended with backup kicker Shaun Suisham plunking a 34-yard field goal off the center of the crossbar.
Reigning league MVP Shaun Alexander rushed six times for 13 yards before leaving with the rest of Seattle's starting offensive backs and receivers early in the second quarter. Matt Hasselbeck was 4-of-6 for 43 yards passing.
His backup, Seneca Wallace, played until midway through the fourth quarter and was 11-of-17 for 117 yards. He was sacked four times.
Dallas rookie No. 2 pick Anthony Fasano started at H-back. A Romo pass sailed high through his hands to end the opening drive.
That play included Seattle safety Ken Hamlin's first true hit since he fractured his skull in an October street fight -- a first that coach Mike Holmgren had acknowledged he was anxious to see. Hamlin came in late on Fasano and pushed his hands and head at the rookie's face.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:39 AM
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