Bledsoe's night ends painfully
Owens catches one pass for six yards in debut with star on his helmet
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Quarterback Drew Bledsoe's night was cut short because of a head injury.
Bledsoe watched the second half in a T-shirt and shorts and walked off the field with 3:48 left in overtime. After the game, he declined to comment as he walked to his car.
"He's OK," coach Bill Parcells said. "I think he will be fine. I just took him out. I think he could have kept playing if he would have wanted to. I just took him out."
Bledsoe appeared to be caught off guard by an Andre Gurode snap in the second quarter and was hit hard by Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams. He remained in the game but was flushed from the pocket on the next play, and Napoleon Harris was penalized for roughing the passer.
Three plays later, Bledsoe's final pass was intercepted at the Vikings 4-yard line after he appeared to turn the wrong way after the snap and his arm was hit Keneche Udeze. On the sideline after the play, Bledsoe was examined by the doctors and appeared to wobble as he stood on one leg.
Bledsoe, who has played in 64 straight regular-season games, finished 9-of-11 for 69 yards and an interception. He closed the preseason with 425 yards on 33-of-44 passing with three touchdowns and a pick.
Owens makes Cowboy debut: Terrell Owens' Texas Stadium debut as a Cowboy was not as fruitful as his visits with San Francisco and Philadelphia, but the receiver provided some electricity.
Owens came in with 13:46 left in the second quarter and caught one pass for six yards before his night was through. He kept close to passing game coordinator Todd Haley for most of the first half and played catch with third-string quarterback Matt Baker before getting into the game.
When he entered, the crowd stood and cameras flashed across the stadium. He ended up playing 19 snaps before halftime.
"I've always said once I got close to 100 percent and I was feeling good, then I would play," said Owens, who returned to practice Tuesday night. "That's how I've always been since training camp. It's kind of hard to play when you're injured. ... I'm healthy now. I'm not 100 percent, but I'm close."
Said Parcells, "He got a few plays in, and that's what we wanted to do."
TE dealt to Jets: With the development of Tony Curtis at tight end, the Cowboys traded Sean Ryan to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick in 2007.
Ryan, a fifth-round pick in 2004, played in nine games his first two years with two starts. He spent most of his time on the practice squad. Curtis has caught two passes for 50 yards in the preseason. The Cowboys now have three seventh-round selections next year, having picked up one when they dealt linebacker Scott Shanle to New Orleans last week.
Three QBs are a crowd: When the Cowboys finalize their 53-man roster Saturday, owner Jerry Jones said it will almost certainly include only two quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, at least for the opening game.
Matt Baker could be put on the practice squad if he is not claimed by another team, allowing the Cowboys to go heavy at another position.
Awards handed out: At the Cowboys' annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday at the Hotel Intercontinental, wide receiver Terry Glenn was named the team's offensive most valuable player and cornerback Terence Newman was named the defensive MVP.
Former tight end Dan Campbell was named the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. Ed "Too Tall" Jones was named the Tom Landry Memorial Legend Award winner.
Briefly: Rookie Pat McQuistan replaced Flozell Adams at left tackle for the second straight game. ... Running back Tyson Thompson returned kickoffs for the first time in the preseason and nearly scored on his second try, picking up 46 yards before he was tackled. ... Rookie Jason Hatcher saw time at defensive tackle on the nickel defense. He had a half sack in the third quarter. ... Linebacker Bradie James watched the second half from the sidelines in shorts because of an apparent leg injury.
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Quarterback Drew Bledsoe's night was cut short because of a head injury.
Bledsoe watched the second half in a T-shirt and shorts and walked off the field with 3:48 left in overtime. After the game, he declined to comment as he walked to his car.
"He's OK," coach Bill Parcells said. "I think he will be fine. I just took him out. I think he could have kept playing if he would have wanted to. I just took him out."
Bledsoe appeared to be caught off guard by an Andre Gurode snap in the second quarter and was hit hard by Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams. He remained in the game but was flushed from the pocket on the next play, and Napoleon Harris was penalized for roughing the passer.
Three plays later, Bledsoe's final pass was intercepted at the Vikings 4-yard line after he appeared to turn the wrong way after the snap and his arm was hit Keneche Udeze. On the sideline after the play, Bledsoe was examined by the doctors and appeared to wobble as he stood on one leg.
Bledsoe, who has played in 64 straight regular-season games, finished 9-of-11 for 69 yards and an interception. He closed the preseason with 425 yards on 33-of-44 passing with three touchdowns and a pick.
Owens makes Cowboy debut: Terrell Owens' Texas Stadium debut as a Cowboy was not as fruitful as his visits with San Francisco and Philadelphia, but the receiver provided some electricity.
Owens came in with 13:46 left in the second quarter and caught one pass for six yards before his night was through. He kept close to passing game coordinator Todd Haley for most of the first half and played catch with third-string quarterback Matt Baker before getting into the game.
When he entered, the crowd stood and cameras flashed across the stadium. He ended up playing 19 snaps before halftime.
"I've always said once I got close to 100 percent and I was feeling good, then I would play," said Owens, who returned to practice Tuesday night. "That's how I've always been since training camp. It's kind of hard to play when you're injured. ... I'm healthy now. I'm not 100 percent, but I'm close."
Said Parcells, "He got a few plays in, and that's what we wanted to do."
TE dealt to Jets: With the development of Tony Curtis at tight end, the Cowboys traded Sean Ryan to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick in 2007.
Ryan, a fifth-round pick in 2004, played in nine games his first two years with two starts. He spent most of his time on the practice squad. Curtis has caught two passes for 50 yards in the preseason. The Cowboys now have three seventh-round selections next year, having picked up one when they dealt linebacker Scott Shanle to New Orleans last week.
Three QBs are a crowd: When the Cowboys finalize their 53-man roster Saturday, owner Jerry Jones said it will almost certainly include only two quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, at least for the opening game.
Matt Baker could be put on the practice squad if he is not claimed by another team, allowing the Cowboys to go heavy at another position.
Awards handed out: At the Cowboys' annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday at the Hotel Intercontinental, wide receiver Terry Glenn was named the team's offensive most valuable player and cornerback Terence Newman was named the defensive MVP.
Former tight end Dan Campbell was named the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. Ed "Too Tall" Jones was named the Tom Landry Memorial Legend Award winner.
Briefly: Rookie Pat McQuistan replaced Flozell Adams at left tackle for the second straight game. ... Running back Tyson Thompson returned kickoffs for the first time in the preseason and nearly scored on his second try, picking up 46 yards before he was tackled. ... Rookie Jason Hatcher saw time at defensive tackle on the nickel defense. He had a half sack in the third quarter. ... Linebacker Bradie James watched the second half from the sidelines in shorts because of an apparent leg injury.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:37 AM
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