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Jerry Jones gives Cowboys much-needed pep talk
12:10 AM CDT on Thursday, October 21, 2010
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones tried his hand at motivational speaking this week.
Jones spoke at a team meeting Monday and rejected a fire-and-brimstone, heads-will-roll sermon in favor of an optimistic approach. Jones stressed the season is not lost and big goals remain in sight despite the 1-4 start.
The first step in the recovery, Jones said, is to win Monday's home game against the New York Giants.
Jones could not be reached for comment. Coach Wade Phillips said it was important the players heard a positive message from Jones during a time of turmoil.
"With people saying this and that about your team, I think it's important that they feel everybody is on the same page," Phillips said. "Everybody realizes where we are, but everybody also is going to work harder to get better."
Quarterback Tony Romo, in a conference call with New York media, said Jones delivered a positive message.
"He knows, like we all know, that we had high expectations and we haven't reached that, but we still have a chance," Romo said. "The season is not over. We can feel better about ourselves if we can beat the Giants because [they] are at the top of our division."
Reaction to high hits: The NFL's increased discipline concerning hits to the head and neck area should have little impact on the Cowboys.
They have avoided those types of hits. In the last 23 games, they have only one penalty for a hit to the head. Safety Ken Hamlin picked up the foul for his late hit on Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek in last season's playoff game.
Phillips and his defensive staff will continue to stress the need to avoid high hits.
"I think we've gotten the point over," said Phillips, who is in favor of the increased vigilance against high hits.
The players are less than enamored with the change.
"We'll be playing flag football in five years," linebacker Bradie James said.
Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh said the alternative – hitting offensive players at the knees – is unappealing.
"I don't believe in cutting people when they don't see you," Sensabaugh said. "Cutting them on the legs when they jump for the ball, that's more dangerous."
Cowboys practice: If there is any doubt that the Cowboys and Giants are headed in different directions, consider what each did on Wednesday.
The Giants, on a three-game winning streak, did not practice for the second consecutive day. The Cowboys returned from their lone off-day of the week for the first of four practices before Monday night's game.
Sometimes, Phillips has given the team two days off before a Monday night game. Given the state of the Cowboys, that was not a consideration.
"We needed to practice," Phillips said. "It's how you feel about your team and what they're doing, and we needed to practice."
The Cowboys devoted the no-pads practice to preparation work on the Giants and ways to avoid the team's plague of penalties. NFL referees were not present to offer input but that could change later in the week.
Briefly: Phillips said there is a chance left guard Kyle Kosier (Achilles' tendon) could play against the Giants. Kosier did not practice Wednesday, but he has not been ruled out for the rest of the week. Inside linebacker Bradie James (knee ligament) also did not practice.
Tailback Tashard Choice, normally gregarious, declined interview requests. Choice has not handled the football in the last two games in what appears to be a role change. Choice has handled the ball only seven times, producing 18 yards, since his costly fumble on the final play of the first half in the opening-night loss at Washington. ... Romo reported no problems with a bruised left thumb, incurred during Sunday's loss at Minnesota, and went through a full practice. "We won't have him throw left-handed," Phillips said. "You can tell the Giants that. We'll give you that secret."
• • •
12:10 AM CDT on Thursday, October 21, 2010
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones tried his hand at motivational speaking this week.
Jones spoke at a team meeting Monday and rejected a fire-and-brimstone, heads-will-roll sermon in favor of an optimistic approach. Jones stressed the season is not lost and big goals remain in sight despite the 1-4 start.
The first step in the recovery, Jones said, is to win Monday's home game against the New York Giants.
Jones could not be reached for comment. Coach Wade Phillips said it was important the players heard a positive message from Jones during a time of turmoil.
"With people saying this and that about your team, I think it's important that they feel everybody is on the same page," Phillips said. "Everybody realizes where we are, but everybody also is going to work harder to get better."
Quarterback Tony Romo, in a conference call with New York media, said Jones delivered a positive message.
"He knows, like we all know, that we had high expectations and we haven't reached that, but we still have a chance," Romo said. "The season is not over. We can feel better about ourselves if we can beat the Giants because [they] are at the top of our division."
Reaction to high hits: The NFL's increased discipline concerning hits to the head and neck area should have little impact on the Cowboys.
They have avoided those types of hits. In the last 23 games, they have only one penalty for a hit to the head. Safety Ken Hamlin picked up the foul for his late hit on Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek in last season's playoff game.
Phillips and his defensive staff will continue to stress the need to avoid high hits.
"I think we've gotten the point over," said Phillips, who is in favor of the increased vigilance against high hits.
The players are less than enamored with the change.
"We'll be playing flag football in five years," linebacker Bradie James said.
Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh said the alternative – hitting offensive players at the knees – is unappealing.
"I don't believe in cutting people when they don't see you," Sensabaugh said. "Cutting them on the legs when they jump for the ball, that's more dangerous."
Cowboys practice: If there is any doubt that the Cowboys and Giants are headed in different directions, consider what each did on Wednesday.
The Giants, on a three-game winning streak, did not practice for the second consecutive day. The Cowboys returned from their lone off-day of the week for the first of four practices before Monday night's game.
Sometimes, Phillips has given the team two days off before a Monday night game. Given the state of the Cowboys, that was not a consideration.
"We needed to practice," Phillips said. "It's how you feel about your team and what they're doing, and we needed to practice."
The Cowboys devoted the no-pads practice to preparation work on the Giants and ways to avoid the team's plague of penalties. NFL referees were not present to offer input but that could change later in the week.
Briefly: Phillips said there is a chance left guard Kyle Kosier (Achilles' tendon) could play against the Giants. Kosier did not practice Wednesday, but he has not been ruled out for the rest of the week. Inside linebacker Bradie James (knee ligament) also did not practice.
Tailback Tashard Choice, normally gregarious, declined interview requests. Choice has not handled the football in the last two games in what appears to be a role change. Choice has handled the ball only seven times, producing 18 yards, since his costly fumble on the final play of the first half in the opening-night loss at Washington. ... Romo reported no problems with a bruised left thumb, incurred during Sunday's loss at Minnesota, and went through a full practice. "We won't have him throw left-handed," Phillips said. "You can tell the Giants that. We'll give you that secret."
• • •
