Mid-Day Report HBO, Cowboys Ready For Some Reel Football
Josh Ellis - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
What's The Scoop:
The stage is set for the debut of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, which airs at 9 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday, and Cowboys players are sure to be watching. Everybody wants to be a star.
Ross Greenberg, president of HBO sports, was at camp Monday to get a feel for the action. He said for every hour of footage the network airs, another 300-400 are left on the cutting room floor. Wouldn't that make for a must-see DVD?
"Unfortunately we have no where to put it," Greenberg said. "There might be some elements from one day that might create a story for the second or third or fourth show. You kind of keep in around in case some story develops."
Greenberg said the finished product won't be delivered to HBO studios until a couple of hours before it goes to the air, and the narration by actor Liev Schreiber will be recorded Wednesday. This is the fourth installment of the show. The Cowboys were featured once, in 2002, and the Ravens and Chiefs have also had their camps recorded. But with the collection of celebrities and star players the Cowboys have accumulated, bringing the cameras to Oxnard was a no-brainer.
"I just feel the professionalism, the intensity, the America's Team atmosphere," Greenberg said. "You look at the names and faces on this team and you just know that this team is poised to win it all. And dare I say that last year when we were in Kansas City, you didn't exactly have that feeling."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be a very interested viewer.
"I think it's going to capture the first 10 days here," Jones said, and joked about the adult language from the head coach in the 2002 installment of the show. "Surely (Dave Campo) has cleaned it up a little bit, you think?"
Greenberg said last year's show was perfect from a filmmaker's perspective, but he called it a "dress rehearsal" for this year's collage of stars and title aspirations.
Quick Shots:
Starting offensive tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo were given the morning practice off, the third session each has missed for rest purposes this camp.
The Cowboys held a slow-paced walk-through morning workout, dressing in shorts and helmets. Head coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday the team would begin working on plays for Saturday's game against San Diego and the season opener at Cleveland.
Rookie tight end Martellus Bennett appeared to roll his right ankle early in the morning drills, and limped to a tent with head trainer Jim Maurer to be re-taped. He returned to practice and caught several balls the less-than-half-speed defense.
Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback wore a tight wrap on his right elbow, saying he was experiencing some bursitis. He was not limited in practice, however.
This is the last two-a-day of camp here at River Ridge. The team will practice at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Thursday and have a light walk-through Friday morning before leaving for San Diego. They'll have the whole day off to rest Sunday.
You Should've Seen:
The boatload of family out here at camp. The last few days many players and coaches have had their wives and children attend practice. At a cookout Tuesday evening, tight end Jason Witten chased his toddler son around a parked SUV - "Never gets old," he said.
Who's Hot:
Alonzo Coleman. The first-year running back showed a nice burst around the end during Tuesday afternoon's workout, and lowered his head on safety Dowayne Davis to finish one run. He could get to return a kickoff Saturday, fielding those for the first time here this morning. A Cowboys player said this week he thought Coleman had more natural ability than fourth-round pick Tashard Choice.
Who's Not:
Marcus Dixon. For any rookie free agent trying to make an NFL roster, missing camp practice due to injury is a killer. Dixon will probably miss Saturday's game. Even before the defensive end's back injury, he wasn't flashing much through the first week and a half of practice.
Injury Update:
CB Terence Newman, groin - out three weeks (7/28)
CB Quincy Butler, hamstring - day-to-day (7/27)
DE Marcus Dixon, back - day-to-day (8/5)
Missed Practice:
OT Marc Colombo (rest)
OT Flozell Adams (rest)
CB Terence Newman (groin)
CB Quincy Butler (hamstring)
DE Marcus Dixon (back)
Transactions:
WR Todd Lowber, signed (7/27)
WR Terry Glenn, waived (7/25)
QB Jeff Terrell, signed (7/25)
LB Khari Long, waived (7/24)
Wade's Best:
"You've got to shovel that coal."- On media members riding the team train to San Diego for the preseason opener.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
What's The Scoop:
The stage is set for the debut of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, which airs at 9 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday, and Cowboys players are sure to be watching. Everybody wants to be a star.
Ross Greenberg, president of HBO sports, was at camp Monday to get a feel for the action. He said for every hour of footage the network airs, another 300-400 are left on the cutting room floor. Wouldn't that make for a must-see DVD?
"Unfortunately we have no where to put it," Greenberg said. "There might be some elements from one day that might create a story for the second or third or fourth show. You kind of keep in around in case some story develops."
Greenberg said the finished product won't be delivered to HBO studios until a couple of hours before it goes to the air, and the narration by actor Liev Schreiber will be recorded Wednesday. This is the fourth installment of the show. The Cowboys were featured once, in 2002, and the Ravens and Chiefs have also had their camps recorded. But with the collection of celebrities and star players the Cowboys have accumulated, bringing the cameras to Oxnard was a no-brainer.
"I just feel the professionalism, the intensity, the America's Team atmosphere," Greenberg said. "You look at the names and faces on this team and you just know that this team is poised to win it all. And dare I say that last year when we were in Kansas City, you didn't exactly have that feeling."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be a very interested viewer.
"I think it's going to capture the first 10 days here," Jones said, and joked about the adult language from the head coach in the 2002 installment of the show. "Surely (Dave Campo) has cleaned it up a little bit, you think?"
Greenberg said last year's show was perfect from a filmmaker's perspective, but he called it a "dress rehearsal" for this year's collage of stars and title aspirations.
Quick Shots:
Starting offensive tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo were given the morning practice off, the third session each has missed for rest purposes this camp.
The Cowboys held a slow-paced walk-through morning workout, dressing in shorts and helmets. Head coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday the team would begin working on plays for Saturday's game against San Diego and the season opener at Cleveland.
Rookie tight end Martellus Bennett appeared to roll his right ankle early in the morning drills, and limped to a tent with head trainer Jim Maurer to be re-taped. He returned to practice and caught several balls the less-than-half-speed defense.
Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback wore a tight wrap on his right elbow, saying he was experiencing some bursitis. He was not limited in practice, however.
This is the last two-a-day of camp here at River Ridge. The team will practice at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Thursday and have a light walk-through Friday morning before leaving for San Diego. They'll have the whole day off to rest Sunday.
You Should've Seen:
The boatload of family out here at camp. The last few days many players and coaches have had their wives and children attend practice. At a cookout Tuesday evening, tight end Jason Witten chased his toddler son around a parked SUV - "Never gets old," he said.
Who's Hot:
Alonzo Coleman. The first-year running back showed a nice burst around the end during Tuesday afternoon's workout, and lowered his head on safety Dowayne Davis to finish one run. He could get to return a kickoff Saturday, fielding those for the first time here this morning. A Cowboys player said this week he thought Coleman had more natural ability than fourth-round pick Tashard Choice.
Who's Not:
Marcus Dixon. For any rookie free agent trying to make an NFL roster, missing camp practice due to injury is a killer. Dixon will probably miss Saturday's game. Even before the defensive end's back injury, he wasn't flashing much through the first week and a half of practice.
Injury Update:
CB Terence Newman, groin - out three weeks (7/28)
CB Quincy Butler, hamstring - day-to-day (7/27)
DE Marcus Dixon, back - day-to-day (8/5)
Missed Practice:
OT Marc Colombo (rest)
OT Flozell Adams (rest)
CB Terence Newman (groin)
CB Quincy Butler (hamstring)
DE Marcus Dixon (back)
Transactions:
WR Todd Lowber, signed (7/27)
WR Terry Glenn, waived (7/25)
QB Jeff Terrell, signed (7/25)
LB Khari Long, waived (7/24)
Wade's Best:
"You've got to shovel that coal."- On media members riding the team train to San Diego for the preseason opener.
posted by The Gryphon at 5:34 PM
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