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In Saints' Payton, Cowboys coach Garrett is facing a former mentor

09:04 PM CST on Tuesday, November 23, 2010
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING – Jason Garrett goes head coach-to-head coach against a mentor in Thursday's game against New Orleans.

Garrett, the Cowboys' interim head coach, was a backup quarterback with the New York Giants from 2000-03. New Orleans coach Sean Payton served as Garrett's position coach and offensive coordinator for the first three of those seasons.

Garrett and Payton developed a close friend relationship and have remained in communication since going their separate ways. Each this week described the other as "a good friend."

"I'm excited to see him do well in this opportunity," Payton said Tuesday. "It's not surprising at all. Aside from this game, I wish him all the luck in the world."

Said Garrett: "I cherish that time we had together, because I learned so much from him."

Payton said a big part of the relationship, even during the coach-player days, involved a free-form exchange of ideas and philosophies. Payton often used Garrett as a sounding board.

Payton scoffed at the suggestion that the Saints will have an advantage because their coach has a deep understanding of Garrett.

"I would say that would be a myth," Payton said.

Noteworthy double for Kitna: The scheduled start against New Orleans will put Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna into a select group.

Kitna will become only the ninth quarterback in the last 50 years to play in two games within five days at age 38 or older. Brett Favre has done it four times. George Blanda, Drew Bledsoe and Warren Moon did it twice. Steve DeBerg , Dan Marino, Jim Plunkett and Fran Tarkenton each did the ironman feat once.

This will be the third Thanksgiving week double of Kitna's career. In the previous starts, with Detroit, Kitna completed 41 of 80 passes for 476 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Kitna likes the quick turnaround because it prevents overanalysis going into the second game. The physical demands do not concern him.

"The adrenaline takes over," Kitna said. "Unless something major is bothering you, there shouldn't be a problem. Normal muscle soreness isn't going to be an issue at all."

Why not?

"It's hard for a slow person to mess up a hamstring," Kitna said.

Jones' catching ability proves handy: Running back Felix Jones has shown the sure hands required for him to be a part of the passing game.

Jones has caught 30 of the 33 passes thrown to him for a .909 reception average. Among the 149 players who have been the target of at least 30 passes, only Green Bay running back Brandon Jackson has a higher reception rate. He has caught 29 of 31 passes for a .935 average. Atlanta running back Jason Snelling is third, with 31 catches in 35 chances for an .886 average.

That running backs top the reception-average leaders is not surprising. Most throws to backs are high-percentage, short-range tosses.

"He has always had good hands," Garrett said of Jones. "The question with him was never having to pass block [at Arkansas]. He's really grown in that area the past couple of years."

Jones missed his second consecutive practice because of a sore hip, but he was able to do rehab work on the field.

Briefly: The Saints will have the all-Southlake Carroll specialist group of newly signed long snapper Justin Drescher, holder Chase Daniel and kicker Garrett Hartley . "I was going to invite Todd Dodge to be on our sideline," said Payton, referring to the former Dragons coach. Payton lived in Southlake while a Cowboys assistant from 2003-05 and attended several Dragons games. ... Drescher will be the Saints' third long snapper in three games. The Cowboys have used the same long snapper, L.P. Ladouceur, in the last 91 regular-season and postseason games.

No Cowboy ranks among the top 10 overall or leads at a position in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. The voting, conducted at www.nfl.com/ probowl, ends on Dec. 20. The Cowboys have had at least four Pro Bowlers annually since 2001.
 
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