By Tom Osborn
IRVING — Sammy Morris lived in Dallas Cowboys-crazy San Antonio in the early 1990s, but that doesn't mean he spent those years rooting for Troy, Emmitt and Michael.
“My dad was an old-school Steelers fan, so the Cowboys were pretty much off-limits in my house,” said Morris, a 1995 Jay graduate. “My mom and my brother liked the (Houston) Oilers, and I was actually a 49ers fan. That's like double against the Cowboys.”
Now 34, Morris could play a central role in trying to help a team he once ignored beat one of its oldest and fiercest rivals.
With Felix Jones missing practice Tuesday with what Jason Garrett termed tightness in a hamstring, Morris is gearing up to possibly start in Saturday's crucial NFC East clash with the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles.
A 12th-year pro signed last week after rookie star DeMarco Murray suffered a season-ending injury, Morris is the only other tailback on the roster. Chauncey Washington, a practice-squad running back, likely will be promoted to add depth.
“Sammy is the most logical choice, and he got a lot of the work today,” Garrett said. “But we're hopeful (Jones) will be back in the next couple of days to get ready to play.”
While Garrett is optimistic Jones will heal in time to face the Eagles and their 10th-ranked defense, Jones' troubling injury history suggests otherwise. Since Dallas selected him in the first round of the 2008 draft, Jones has missed 16 games due to injury.
Two weeks ago in a 37-34 loss to the New York Giants, Jones finished with 106 yards on 16 carries after taking over as the lead runner following a first-quarter ankle fracture suffered by Murray. In Saturday's 31-15 win over Tampa Bay, Jones tied his career high with 22 carries to finish with 108 yards.
It was the first time he had rushed for 100 yards in consecutive games. It also marked the first time he had logged 15-plus carries in back-to-back games.
Despite being out of the league since New England cut him at the end of the preseason, Morris logged 12 carries for 53 yards against the Buccaneers in his Cowboys debut.
Considering the Texas Tech alum hadn't played in three months, he was asked if he had fresh legs this week.
“Nah, the fresh legs went out the window like five years ago,” he joked.
So what will be his approach should he have to start Saturday?
“Same as it was last Saturday — to help the team win,” Morris said. “It's not really complicated. It's help the team win, whether it's five carries or 25.”
Morris also gave a low-key answer when asked about his whirlwind two weeks. In that span, he went from seriously contemplating retirement to playing for a team in a hotly contested three-team division race.
“It just shows you how fast things can change,” he said. “I thought my life was going in this direction, and it ends up going in the other direction. You just never know what you are going to get, and you just got to be prepared for whatever does happen.”
What he hopes will happen is that he gets to continue to play into February.
“I'm just looking forward to doing my part to help the team win, to make a run at the playoffs,” Morris said.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er-role-for-Cowboys-2416459.php#ixzz1hB8Be2G8
IRVING — Sammy Morris lived in Dallas Cowboys-crazy San Antonio in the early 1990s, but that doesn't mean he spent those years rooting for Troy, Emmitt and Michael.
“My dad was an old-school Steelers fan, so the Cowboys were pretty much off-limits in my house,” said Morris, a 1995 Jay graduate. “My mom and my brother liked the (Houston) Oilers, and I was actually a 49ers fan. That's like double against the Cowboys.”
Now 34, Morris could play a central role in trying to help a team he once ignored beat one of its oldest and fiercest rivals.
With Felix Jones missing practice Tuesday with what Jason Garrett termed tightness in a hamstring, Morris is gearing up to possibly start in Saturday's crucial NFC East clash with the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles.
A 12th-year pro signed last week after rookie star DeMarco Murray suffered a season-ending injury, Morris is the only other tailback on the roster. Chauncey Washington, a practice-squad running back, likely will be promoted to add depth.
“Sammy is the most logical choice, and he got a lot of the work today,” Garrett said. “But we're hopeful (Jones) will be back in the next couple of days to get ready to play.”
While Garrett is optimistic Jones will heal in time to face the Eagles and their 10th-ranked defense, Jones' troubling injury history suggests otherwise. Since Dallas selected him in the first round of the 2008 draft, Jones has missed 16 games due to injury.
Two weeks ago in a 37-34 loss to the New York Giants, Jones finished with 106 yards on 16 carries after taking over as the lead runner following a first-quarter ankle fracture suffered by Murray. In Saturday's 31-15 win over Tampa Bay, Jones tied his career high with 22 carries to finish with 108 yards.
It was the first time he had rushed for 100 yards in consecutive games. It also marked the first time he had logged 15-plus carries in back-to-back games.
Despite being out of the league since New England cut him at the end of the preseason, Morris logged 12 carries for 53 yards against the Buccaneers in his Cowboys debut.
Considering the Texas Tech alum hadn't played in three months, he was asked if he had fresh legs this week.
“Nah, the fresh legs went out the window like five years ago,” he joked.
So what will be his approach should he have to start Saturday?
“Same as it was last Saturday — to help the team win,” Morris said. “It's not really complicated. It's help the team win, whether it's five carries or 25.”
Morris also gave a low-key answer when asked about his whirlwind two weeks. In that span, he went from seriously contemplating retirement to playing for a team in a hotly contested three-team division race.
“It just shows you how fast things can change,” he said. “I thought my life was going in this direction, and it ends up going in the other direction. You just never know what you are going to get, and you just got to be prepared for whatever does happen.”
What he hopes will happen is that he gets to continue to play into February.
“I'm just looking forward to doing my part to help the team win, to make a run at the playoffs,” Morris said.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er-role-for-Cowboys-2416459.php#ixzz1hB8Be2G8
