Wednesday, October 24, 2007

DMN Blog: Barber, TO team players... Henry update

"A team player"
RB Marion Barber made it that simple when he was asked about how he wants to be seen in the Cowboys offense.

"It’s all about winning the game," said Barber. "Whether it’s one back or a three-back system, whatever it is, you gotta get that 'W'."

On Sunday, the Cowboys did it by getting Barber the ball. The third-year tailback logged 19 carries, a season-high for all Dallas backs, against the Vikings.

But he swears he doesn't see the increased workload as evidence of the team transitioning him into a role as the lead back.

"I don’t think that at all," said Barber. "I just look at the opportunities and try to take advantage of them."

Barber kept quiet on his physical running style, offering only that he used to play defense -- corner to be specific -- and he tries to bring his mentality from that side of the ball with his game. And he denied that his stiff-arm is a punch, emphasizing that it's executed with an open hand.

Which brought him back to the two-back dynamic the Cowboys carry. Since college, when he Laurence Maroney split carries at Minnesota, Barber has been part of such a platoon. It's something he's never had a problem with.

"I’m used to it," said Barber. "But it’s all about what type of player you are. I’m a team player first."

Posted by Albert Breer at 12:50 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (7)

Another sign of T.O.'s unselfishness
T.O. was asked what he considered the highlight of the season so far. His answer: the comeback in Buffalo.

"That was the good, the bad and the ugly," T.O. said. "You know, the things that happened in that game, you can’t script it."

T.O. had his worst statistical game of the season against the Bills, finishing with only two catches for 25 yards. You know the Original 81 cares about his stats, but he's much more concerned with winning.

Posted by Tim MacMahon at 1:06 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (1)

Henry returns to practice (sort of)
CB Anthony Henry was back at Cowboys practice, in uniform, for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain against the Rams.

But while he took part in early DB drills and stretching, when the team broke into group, Henry went over to do individual exercises with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown and assistant strength and conditioning coach Tony Ollison. So while Henry was in shorts, shoulder pads and a practice jersey like everyone else, he wasn't exactly full go. Still, this is another step for the hobbled corner.

Just two players on the 53-man roster weren't out there today -- WR Terry Glenn and OLB Justin Rogers. Rogers suffered a left calf strain on Sunday, and Phillips said he could be out for a while. The rookie sauntered on to the field near the end of the portion open to the media, without any pads on.

The team was donning its white throwback helmets, which will be worn against Green Bay on Nov. 29, for the first time since they were issued earlier this week.

Posted by Albert Breer at 1:42 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (2)