Cowboys QB coach back after five-game suspension
STEPHEN HAWKINS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING - Dallas Cowboys quarterback coach Wade Wilson won't have to watch Tony Romo play on television this week.
Wilson is back at work after completing his five-game NFL suspension for buying and using performance-enhancing substances that he said were to try to "improve the quality" of his life after living with diabetes for more than 20 years.
His first game is Sunday's hyped matchup of 5-0 teams against the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick, who didn't miss a game when he got in trouble this season for something that could have affected the outcome of a game.
Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys kicker Nick Folk, right, kicks the game-winning field goal as time runs out in the NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. The Cowboys won 25-24.
"I have my personal thoughts, but I don't think they really mean too much," Wilson said Thursday. "The commissioner made his decision. ... Personally, I thought I was treated pretty harshly. I deal with that, and what he wants to do with the Patriots and their situation, that's his decision."
"It's good to have Wade back," Romo said. "He wishes he could have been here. He's a worker. He's got a great mind for the game. He's excited to get in here and help us."
• Still-Silent T.O.
Terrell Owens maintained his vow of silence Thursday, even though he was in the locker room when it first opened to reporters.
Owens was at his locker fiddling with a cell phone when the open locker room period started. Seen directly over his shoulder was the note he posted a day earlier that said "due to the magnitude of this week's game" he wouldn't talk until after Sunday's game.
When cameras and reporters crowded near him, Owens didn't acknowledge them. He left the room a couple of minutes later.
Leonard Davis, a usually talkative offensive lineman, also declined interview requests Thursday. But he just said "No."
"I don't have to have a sign," Davis said. "That ain't me."
• Kick Trick
Count Wade Phillips among the coaches who hate the new trick of calling a time out just before the ball is snapped for a game-deciding field goal.
Dallas kicker Nick Folk kicked a 53-yarder to beat Buffalo on Monday night, then had to do it again because Bills coach Dick Jauron got an official to stop the clock in the nick of time.
It's a trick several coaches have used successfully this season. The move is legal because of a rule change allowing timeouts called from the sideline in the final 2 minutes.
"Somebody found a way to take advantage, so to speak, and they're doing it," Phillips said. "I can't blame them for doing it because they are getting away with it, but I don't think it's fair."
Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski was the first to have to try a do-over, and he missed his second try. Then Cleveland's Phil Dawson saw his second try get blocked.
Folk, a rookie, nailed both of his with ease. Funny thing is, the Bills were offside on his second try so he would've gotten a third attempt from five yards closer had he missed.
"It's part of the game right now," Folk said. "I didn't think about that at all until after I kicked. ... If you start thinking about that kind of stuff, then you're setting yourself up."
---
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?: Only four other times in NFL history have unbeaten teams with at least five wins played - and the home team has never lost in those matchups.
Sunday's game between Dallas and New England will be played in Texas Stadium.
The Patriots beat the New York Jets 13-7 in the last such game in 2004. Minnesota beat the Los Angeles Rams in 1973; Canton beat Chicago in 1923; and Buffalo and Akron played to a scoreless tie in 1921.
New England was also the opponent when the Cowboys played their first game at Texas Stadium in 1971. The Cowboys are 4-0 at home against the Patriots.
---
QUICK SHOTS: A few random comments heard at Valley Ranch this week:
"Randy has never sacked a quarterback, but I have scored a touchdown." - LB Greg Ellis, drafted eighth overall by the Cowboys in 1998, when they bypassed a chance to select WR Randy Moss.
- "We don't go fishing together. I didn't say we don't go to movies together." - Coach Wade Phillips when asked how well he knows New England coach Bill Belichick.
- "This will be a building block. This won't, I don't think, determine our season, but it definitely gets us closer to our goals." - LB Bradie James.
---
COVERING KICKS: Since bottling up Chicago return specialist Devin Hester, the Cowboys have allowed two kick returns for touchdowns.
Dante Hall returned a punt 85 yards for St. Louis' only TD and Buffalo's Chris Kelsay had a 103-yard kickoff return. Both came with Cowboys special teams standout Keith Davis sidelined with a pectoral muscle injury.
"Personnel is certainly part of it. And Keith is a big part of our coverage teams," coach Wade Phillips said.
Davis practiced Thursday, and could play against the Patriots.
"That last kickoff return was right up the middle, right where I would have been," Davis said. "It was difficult (to watch)."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING - Dallas Cowboys quarterback coach Wade Wilson won't have to watch Tony Romo play on television this week.
Wilson is back at work after completing his five-game NFL suspension for buying and using performance-enhancing substances that he said were to try to "improve the quality" of his life after living with diabetes for more than 20 years.
His first game is Sunday's hyped matchup of 5-0 teams against the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick, who didn't miss a game when he got in trouble this season for something that could have affected the outcome of a game.
Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys kicker Nick Folk, right, kicks the game-winning field goal as time runs out in the NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. The Cowboys won 25-24.
"I have my personal thoughts, but I don't think they really mean too much," Wilson said Thursday. "The commissioner made his decision. ... Personally, I thought I was treated pretty harshly. I deal with that, and what he wants to do with the Patriots and their situation, that's his decision."
"It's good to have Wade back," Romo said. "He wishes he could have been here. He's a worker. He's got a great mind for the game. He's excited to get in here and help us."
• Still-Silent T.O.
Terrell Owens maintained his vow of silence Thursday, even though he was in the locker room when it first opened to reporters.
Owens was at his locker fiddling with a cell phone when the open locker room period started. Seen directly over his shoulder was the note he posted a day earlier that said "due to the magnitude of this week's game" he wouldn't talk until after Sunday's game.
When cameras and reporters crowded near him, Owens didn't acknowledge them. He left the room a couple of minutes later.
Leonard Davis, a usually talkative offensive lineman, also declined interview requests Thursday. But he just said "No."
"I don't have to have a sign," Davis said. "That ain't me."
• Kick Trick
Count Wade Phillips among the coaches who hate the new trick of calling a time out just before the ball is snapped for a game-deciding field goal.
Dallas kicker Nick Folk kicked a 53-yarder to beat Buffalo on Monday night, then had to do it again because Bills coach Dick Jauron got an official to stop the clock in the nick of time.
It's a trick several coaches have used successfully this season. The move is legal because of a rule change allowing timeouts called from the sideline in the final 2 minutes.
"Somebody found a way to take advantage, so to speak, and they're doing it," Phillips said. "I can't blame them for doing it because they are getting away with it, but I don't think it's fair."
Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski was the first to have to try a do-over, and he missed his second try. Then Cleveland's Phil Dawson saw his second try get blocked.
Folk, a rookie, nailed both of his with ease. Funny thing is, the Bills were offside on his second try so he would've gotten a third attempt from five yards closer had he missed.
"It's part of the game right now," Folk said. "I didn't think about that at all until after I kicked. ... If you start thinking about that kind of stuff, then you're setting yourself up."
---
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?: Only four other times in NFL history have unbeaten teams with at least five wins played - and the home team has never lost in those matchups.
Sunday's game between Dallas and New England will be played in Texas Stadium.
The Patriots beat the New York Jets 13-7 in the last such game in 2004. Minnesota beat the Los Angeles Rams in 1973; Canton beat Chicago in 1923; and Buffalo and Akron played to a scoreless tie in 1921.
New England was also the opponent when the Cowboys played their first game at Texas Stadium in 1971. The Cowboys are 4-0 at home against the Patriots.
---
QUICK SHOTS: A few random comments heard at Valley Ranch this week:
"Randy has never sacked a quarterback, but I have scored a touchdown." - LB Greg Ellis, drafted eighth overall by the Cowboys in 1998, when they bypassed a chance to select WR Randy Moss.
- "We don't go fishing together. I didn't say we don't go to movies together." - Coach Wade Phillips when asked how well he knows New England coach Bill Belichick.
- "This will be a building block. This won't, I don't think, determine our season, but it definitely gets us closer to our goals." - LB Bradie James.
---
COVERING KICKS: Since bottling up Chicago return specialist Devin Hester, the Cowboys have allowed two kick returns for touchdowns.
Dante Hall returned a punt 85 yards for St. Louis' only TD and Buffalo's Chris Kelsay had a 103-yard kickoff return. Both came with Cowboys special teams standout Keith Davis sidelined with a pectoral muscle injury.
"Personnel is certainly part of it. And Keith is a big part of our coverage teams," coach Wade Phillips said.
Davis practiced Thursday, and could play against the Patriots.
"That last kickoff return was right up the middle, right where I would have been," Davis said. "It was difficult (to watch)."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:46 AM
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