By Tom Orsborn
torsborn@express-news.net
ARLINGTON — Center Phil Costa is the Dallas Cowboys' pit bull.
According to teammates, it's impossible to distract him once he sinks his teeth into something.
“He's like fanatical,” quarterback Stephen McGee said. “I think you refer to it as OCD.”
McGee first encountered Costa's obsessive nature last season shortly after the Maryland-ex signed as an undrafted free agent.
“He's crazy about getting shotgun snaps,” McGee said. “He's like, ‘McGee, let's get some guns. Let's get a couple of guns. You got some time? Let's get some guns.' And I'm like, ‘Phil, (your) snaps were perfect.' He's like, ‘Give me a couple more.'”
Thinking his hyper teammate would eventually calm down after hearing the compliment, McGee joined his coaches and Tony Romo for a film session.
What happened next still causes McGee to burst into laughter.
“The day was over, and we're watching video, getting extra work in,” McGee said. “Phil had just gotten here. They didn't even know his name probably. But he interrupts the meeting, (saying) ‘Excuse me, guys. McGee, you about ready to get some snaps?' We're just dying laughing. (Jason Garrett) goes, ‘Wow, I love that. He's got something to him.'
“That's Phil Costa.”
More than a year later, Costa was singled out for praise by owner Jerry Jones in his assessment of camp and last week's preseason opener, which Costa started.
“I don't know if anybody has had a better preseason,” Jones said. “I put him right at the top.”
Costa will be out to impress Jones again when Dallas hosts the San Diego Chargers at 7 tonight. Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode returned to practice eight days ago following offseason knee surgery, but his status for the game is uncertain.
Even if he doesn't start, Costa, 24, is expected to play plenty as the Cowboys continue to evaluate if they should line him up at center and slide Gurode, 33, over to left guard.
“We have to see what combinations work best,” Garrett said. “Who are the top five guys, and where should we put them?”
Costa shrugs at all the attention he's getting.
“It's good, but you can't be content with it,” Costa said. “You have to just keep working, building off that.”
This time last year, Costa was on the bubble. Undersized at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, he earned a job with the scrappy play that has made him a team favorite.
“Hustle and muscle would be the best way to describe him,” McGee said. “He's a smart player. He's gotten so much better every day. You see the work and the fire. He's a winner, very serious, very competitive.”
In four games last season, Costa earned playing time at guard and center. He even started one game at left guard after an injury sidelined Kyle Kosier.
With a year under his belt, Costa is playing with more confidence.
“I feel more comfortable knowing the offense better, knowing the guys better,” he said. “Building off last year, you come in with a different mentality. You want to play.”
McGee said it's no surprise Costa's stock is on the rise.
“He doesn't care if you're (Pro Bowl nose tackle) Jay Ratliff or whoever. He's going to fight his butt off,” McGee said. “As a quarterback, he's what you want in the huddle because you know he's going to give you everything he has.”
Linebacker Sean Lee called Costa fiercely competitive.
“He hates getting beat,” Lee said. “We're friends, but when we go after it on the field, I don't talk to him because he's not going to be your friend at all.”
While Costa needs to gain weight to effectively battle massive nose tackles, Lee is confident Costa can get the job done at his current weight of 311 pounds.
“He's really strong,” Lee said. “When I go against him, I never feel like I'm facing someone undersized. I just feel like you need to bring your helmet and have your feet under you because he's going to try to hit you.”
A native of Pennsauken, N.J., Costa is comfortable in his own skin, McGee said.
“He's a fighter, and he's got tattoos,” McGee said. “He does the fist pumping. He lifts tons of weights. He takes supplements. The lockout was over for a day (in April), and he's on ESPN carrying a box of ‘supps,' as he calls them, out the door.
“That's Phil. He's crazy about it, and you love him for it. You look at him, and you laugh. But when he's on the field, he gets after it. I love that about him.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/cowboys/article/Focused-feisty-and-fun-2134425.php#ixzz1VgVbET1u
torsborn@express-news.net
ARLINGTON — Center Phil Costa is the Dallas Cowboys' pit bull.
According to teammates, it's impossible to distract him once he sinks his teeth into something.
“He's like fanatical,” quarterback Stephen McGee said. “I think you refer to it as OCD.”
McGee first encountered Costa's obsessive nature last season shortly after the Maryland-ex signed as an undrafted free agent.
“He's crazy about getting shotgun snaps,” McGee said. “He's like, ‘McGee, let's get some guns. Let's get a couple of guns. You got some time? Let's get some guns.' And I'm like, ‘Phil, (your) snaps were perfect.' He's like, ‘Give me a couple more.'”
Thinking his hyper teammate would eventually calm down after hearing the compliment, McGee joined his coaches and Tony Romo for a film session.
What happened next still causes McGee to burst into laughter.
“The day was over, and we're watching video, getting extra work in,” McGee said. “Phil had just gotten here. They didn't even know his name probably. But he interrupts the meeting, (saying) ‘Excuse me, guys. McGee, you about ready to get some snaps?' We're just dying laughing. (Jason Garrett) goes, ‘Wow, I love that. He's got something to him.'
“That's Phil Costa.”
More than a year later, Costa was singled out for praise by owner Jerry Jones in his assessment of camp and last week's preseason opener, which Costa started.
“I don't know if anybody has had a better preseason,” Jones said. “I put him right at the top.”
Costa will be out to impress Jones again when Dallas hosts the San Diego Chargers at 7 tonight. Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode returned to practice eight days ago following offseason knee surgery, but his status for the game is uncertain.
Even if he doesn't start, Costa, 24, is expected to play plenty as the Cowboys continue to evaluate if they should line him up at center and slide Gurode, 33, over to left guard.
“We have to see what combinations work best,” Garrett said. “Who are the top five guys, and where should we put them?”
Costa shrugs at all the attention he's getting.
“It's good, but you can't be content with it,” Costa said. “You have to just keep working, building off that.”
This time last year, Costa was on the bubble. Undersized at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, he earned a job with the scrappy play that has made him a team favorite.
“Hustle and muscle would be the best way to describe him,” McGee said. “He's a smart player. He's gotten so much better every day. You see the work and the fire. He's a winner, very serious, very competitive.”
In four games last season, Costa earned playing time at guard and center. He even started one game at left guard after an injury sidelined Kyle Kosier.
With a year under his belt, Costa is playing with more confidence.
“I feel more comfortable knowing the offense better, knowing the guys better,” he said. “Building off last year, you come in with a different mentality. You want to play.”
McGee said it's no surprise Costa's stock is on the rise.
“He doesn't care if you're (Pro Bowl nose tackle) Jay Ratliff or whoever. He's going to fight his butt off,” McGee said. “As a quarterback, he's what you want in the huddle because you know he's going to give you everything he has.”
Linebacker Sean Lee called Costa fiercely competitive.
“He hates getting beat,” Lee said. “We're friends, but when we go after it on the field, I don't talk to him because he's not going to be your friend at all.”
While Costa needs to gain weight to effectively battle massive nose tackles, Lee is confident Costa can get the job done at his current weight of 311 pounds.
“He's really strong,” Lee said. “When I go against him, I never feel like I'm facing someone undersized. I just feel like you need to bring your helmet and have your feet under you because he's going to try to hit you.”
A native of Pennsauken, N.J., Costa is comfortable in his own skin, McGee said.
“He's a fighter, and he's got tattoos,” McGee said. “He does the fist pumping. He lifts tons of weights. He takes supplements. The lockout was over for a day (in April), and he's on ESPN carrying a box of ‘supps,' as he calls them, out the door.
“That's Phil. He's crazy about it, and you love him for it. You look at him, and you laugh. But when he's on the field, he gets after it. I love that about him.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/cowboys/article/Focused-feisty-and-fun-2134425.php#ixzz1VgVbET1u
