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Nichols: McCann-o-mite! Cowboys have a super rookie not named Dez
COLUMN By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
But after making game-changing plays in two straight games, McCann has made a name for himself – actually, several names.
"Big-Play McCann," Gerald Sensabaugh said, walking through the locker room as a crowd of reporters circled McCann.
"McCann-o-mite," offered punter Mat McBriar.
The Lions must be wondering just who McCann thinks he is.
Detroit's Nick Harris pinned Dallas three times inside the 5-yard line with punts that stuck like wedge shots on soft greens. Harris was going for his fourth green in regulation when McCann became "Da Man."
When Harris' third-quarter punt was heading for the end zone, returner Dez Bryant waved off his teammates. Detroit's John Wendling jumped into the end zone and batted the ball back into play.
McCann, responsible for the gunner, anticipated the play, and ignored Bryant's wave-off. He swooped in, caught the ball on one bounce and then took off around the left edge and down the sideline.
"I knew he couldn't see where his guys were," McCann said. "I was just hoping he'd throw it in my direction. He threw it and I grabbed it. I couldn't see where I was, but I could hear the crowd cheering, so I was thinking I had the edge, and as soon as I turned the corner I saw my guys rolling with me, so I just knew we had to find the end zone."
McCann tip-toed along the sideline as Orlando Scandrick threw a block. Asked if he stepped out, McCann said:
"I couldn't even tell you. I was just trying to make sure I got as close to the sideline as I could so he wouldn't get me without stepping out."
Detroit coach Jim Schwartz did not challenge.
"We knew it was close," Schwartz said. "Our guys upstairs didn't think he went out, but we are on the road, so we knew we would not get a replay."
McCann's 97-yard touchdown return turned out to be the game-winning score. Dallas never relinquished the 14-12 lead McCann provided with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
"He's such an aware football player," Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett said. "They had done a nice job of trapping us down there. I think it happened earlier in the game, and he was aware of it and just had it in his mind that if it happens again, he would take advantage of it."
After spending most of the season on the practice squad, McCann got into the lineup because of injuries in the secondary. In his first game against the New York Giants last week, the former SMU cornerback returned an interception 101 yards for a touchdown.
His 97-yarder is the second longest punt return and the second longest by a rookie in club history. Dennis Morgan went 98 yards against St. Louis in 1974.
McCann is the second player this season with two 90-plus-yard returns for touchdowns in two-or-fewer consecutive games. Leon Washington of Seattle had kickoff returns of 99 and 101 yards for touchdowns against San Diego on Sept. 26. McCann is the first rookie to accomplish the feat since Devin Hester in 2006.
The Cowboys' three punt returns for scores this season is a team record for a season. Bryant has the other two.
Teammates are not surprised by McCann's ability to break long returns. He ran a 4.3 40-yard dash when working out for scouts before the season.
"He's a hard working guy," kicker David Buehler said. "When you see the guy out on the practice field, he's busting through the holes on returns. He knows he can get the job done. It seems like he's always in the right place at the right time."
McCann almost broke a kickoff return earlier, but stumbled and then got tackled by kicker Dave Rayner.
As is customary, teammates gave him grief for not getting past the kicker.
"Dez told me he wasn't going to talk to me anymore," McCann said. lol "They forgot about that real fast."
• • •
COLUMN By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
But after making game-changing plays in two straight games, McCann has made a name for himself – actually, several names.
"Big-Play McCann," Gerald Sensabaugh said, walking through the locker room as a crowd of reporters circled McCann.
"McCann-o-mite," offered punter Mat McBriar.
The Lions must be wondering just who McCann thinks he is.
Detroit's Nick Harris pinned Dallas three times inside the 5-yard line with punts that stuck like wedge shots on soft greens. Harris was going for his fourth green in regulation when McCann became "Da Man."
When Harris' third-quarter punt was heading for the end zone, returner Dez Bryant waved off his teammates. Detroit's John Wendling jumped into the end zone and batted the ball back into play.
McCann, responsible for the gunner, anticipated the play, and ignored Bryant's wave-off. He swooped in, caught the ball on one bounce and then took off around the left edge and down the sideline.
"I knew he couldn't see where his guys were," McCann said. "I was just hoping he'd throw it in my direction. He threw it and I grabbed it. I couldn't see where I was, but I could hear the crowd cheering, so I was thinking I had the edge, and as soon as I turned the corner I saw my guys rolling with me, so I just knew we had to find the end zone."
McCann tip-toed along the sideline as Orlando Scandrick threw a block. Asked if he stepped out, McCann said:
"I couldn't even tell you. I was just trying to make sure I got as close to the sideline as I could so he wouldn't get me without stepping out."
Detroit coach Jim Schwartz did not challenge.
"We knew it was close," Schwartz said. "Our guys upstairs didn't think he went out, but we are on the road, so we knew we would not get a replay."
McCann's 97-yard touchdown return turned out to be the game-winning score. Dallas never relinquished the 14-12 lead McCann provided with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
"He's such an aware football player," Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett said. "They had done a nice job of trapping us down there. I think it happened earlier in the game, and he was aware of it and just had it in his mind that if it happens again, he would take advantage of it."
After spending most of the season on the practice squad, McCann got into the lineup because of injuries in the secondary. In his first game against the New York Giants last week, the former SMU cornerback returned an interception 101 yards for a touchdown.
His 97-yarder is the second longest punt return and the second longest by a rookie in club history. Dennis Morgan went 98 yards against St. Louis in 1974.
McCann is the second player this season with two 90-plus-yard returns for touchdowns in two-or-fewer consecutive games. Leon Washington of Seattle had kickoff returns of 99 and 101 yards for touchdowns against San Diego on Sept. 26. McCann is the first rookie to accomplish the feat since Devin Hester in 2006.
The Cowboys' three punt returns for scores this season is a team record for a season. Bryant has the other two.
Teammates are not surprised by McCann's ability to break long returns. He ran a 4.3 40-yard dash when working out for scouts before the season.
"He's a hard working guy," kicker David Buehler said. "When you see the guy out on the practice field, he's busting through the holes on returns. He knows he can get the job done. It seems like he's always in the right place at the right time."
McCann almost broke a kickoff return earlier, but stumbled and then got tackled by kicker Dave Rayner.
As is customary, teammates gave him grief for not getting past the kicker.
"Dez told me he wasn't going to talk to me anymore," McCann said. lol "They forgot about that real fast."
• • •