Star-Telegram.com: Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo out four weeks with fractured pinkie

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:50 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

IRVING -- The Dallas Cowboys have lost two of their last three games and have now lost their Pro Bowl quarterback.

Tony Romo suffered a fractured pinkie finger on his right hand and could be lost for up to four weeks. The Cowboys next three games are at St. Louis, home against Tampa Bay and at New York Giants before the bye week. Romo could return at Washington on Nov. 16.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips termed the injury more week-to-week and his finger would not require surgery. Romo suffered the injury on the first play of overtime.

The Cowboys now turn to 40-year-old backup Brad Johnson, who is in his 17th year and owns a Super Bowl championship with Tampa Bay in 2002. Johnson started 14 games in Minnesota in 2006, throwing for nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and will be making his first start with the Cowboys.

Johnson expects to bring a drastic difference to the Cowboys offense, which may be forced to rely on more shorts passes due to his limited arm strength. He also lacks the mobility of Romo.

Dallas also has Brooks Bollinger, who was signed by the Cowboys on Sept. 8. Bollinger will take some first-team snaps this week, but the Cowboys are committed to Johnson as the starter.

Your Turn: What should the Dallas Cowboys do now?

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:26 CDT

Dallas Cowboys punter Mat McBriar out 6-8 weeks

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:53 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

IRVING -- The Dallas Cowboys have more significant injury problems than just quarterback Tony Romo.

Punter Mat McBriar, who was averaging 49 yards per punt, will be out six to eight weeks after suffering a broken right foot against the Arizona Cardinals. He was injured when Cardinals special teams player Sean Morey blocked his punt on the game-winning play in overtime Sunday.

That leaves the Cowboys pressed to find immediate long-term help and could turn to free agent punter Jay Ottovegio, who was with the team in training camp before being released. McBriar could be placed on injured reserve.

After Sunday night’s game, McBriar was diagnosed with a bruised foot and it wasn’t believed to be broken. But he was re-examined at Valley Ranch Monday.

The Cowboys also lost wide receiver Sam Hurd, who will likely be placed on injured reserve due to surgery to repair his reinjured left ankle.

Another hit to the offense will be the loss of rookie running back Felix Jones, who is likely to miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain. Jones, who had three carries for 22 yards against Arizona, suffered the injury on a 14-yard carry in the Cowboys’ first drive of the second half and did not return.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said they expect to lean heavily on Marion Barber this week against the St. Louis Rams with Jones out. Rookie Tashard Choice could also get a few carries.

Also, outside linebacker Anthony Spencer suffered a hamstring strain and is week-to-week.

Dallas Cowboys’ special teams were anything but special in overtime loss

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:12 CDT

BY MAC ENGEL

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Never before had an NFL game ended with a walk-off blocked punt, but the rarity of such a play was seemingly the appropriate way to cap the Dallas Cowboys’ second loss of the season.

The way the Cowboys’ 30-24 overtime loss concluded was not that much different than the beginning, with the Cowboys’ special teams shaking their collective heads at the sight of the Arizona Cardinals celebrating a touchdown in the east end zone.

Despite extra emphasis during the week of practice, the special teams were especially bad Sunday. And special teams coach Bruce Read, who has heard some criticism of late, realizes there might be more harsh words coming his way.

"That’s fine. We were bad. We deserve it," Read said in the locker room after the game as players patted him on the back and said a few encouraging words.

What had been a unit that was erratic this season proved to be a fatal flaw from the opening kickoff when Cardinals returner J.J. Arrington returned it 93 yards for a touchdown.

"I thought we missed about three tackles on that play," Read said.

As bad as Read felt then, a few hours later his stomach bottomed out when Cardinals receiver Sean Morey came through the edge of the line of scrimmage to block Mat McBriar’s punt. Cardinals linebacker Monty Beisel recovered the block and returned it 3 yards for a game-winning score.

It’s the first time in NFL history a game ended in overtime on a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Replays show it appeared that Cowboys’ "up man" Tony Curtis released early, which allowed Morey to come through the right side of the line and smother McBriar’s right foot.

Ironically, the Cardinals were set up for a return and were not going after McBriar. But when Morey noticed Kevin Burnett wasn’t in his normal position, he said he was going to make the play to end the game.

"A lot of people are going to point the fingers at Bruce Read and act like Bruce Read has done this and this," special-teams captain Keith Davis said. "[Bruce Read] did his job. We didn’t show up and make plays. Guys have to be accountable and that’s what it all boils down to."

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones did not place any blame on Read. His point was if one is going to be critical of the special teams, then it must be praised as well.

The team recovered a pooch kick near the end of the first half, which resulted in Nick Folk banging a 37-yard field goal off the right upright.

But Folk nearly erased every substandard special teams play with a game-tying 52-yard field goal as time expired.

"Everybody do their assignment [and] we will win football games. I am speaking from a special-teams standpoint," Burnett said. "We’ve just got to do our job. I am included. Anytime somebody does their assignment, it’s not going to be a big play. I will take missed tackles. There is no excuse for missed assignments. Everybody’s been saying our special-teams coach has been hanging on by a thread. And it’s not him."

Monday Musings: Nothing special for Dallas Cowboys in loss to Arizona Cardinals

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:53 CDT

By JENNIFER FLOYD ENGEL

Arizona scored on the first and last play Sunday.

Both touchdowns came courtesy of shoddy Cowboys special teams play in a 30-24 loss in overtime. Ugly, disgusting special teams play.

I would not want to be Cowboys special teams coach Bruce Read this morning. Let me rephrase, I would not want to be Read if the Cowboys were an organization who held people accountable for such things.

They are not, at least not recently.

This is not to say the 93-yard kickoff return by J.J. Arrington and the punt blocked by Sean Morey in overtime that turned into the game-winning touchdown by Monty Beisel are necessarily all Read’s fault. He did not miss the tackles. He did not miss the block, allowing Morey to come free off the edge. But he is the guy who has been watching silliness like this happen for a while and thereby, he is responsible.

“Everybody’s been saying our special teams coach has been hanging on by a thread. It’s not him,” linebacker Kevin Burnett said. “That’s not cool.”

Too bad Read did not sound like he had any answers on how to solve what has become an almost-weekly problem of varying degrees of special teams ineptitude.

“If we knew, we’d clean it up,” Read said. “The result, I suppose, is the most disappointing. Our guys are working hard and we have good players.”

He was a little more harsh than anything we get from Coach Wade, although, not quite hard enough. Especially considering they just handed the Cardinals 13 points on special teams.

I am pretty sure Read will keep his job. And if we are being fair, he probably should not since nobody is held accountable. But this has to get better, and quick.

While I ponder if this hot mess also is the figment of negative media imagination, let’s dive into another round of Monday Morning Musings:

1. Losing in Arizona may actually help this Cowboy team more than another pull-it-out-of-their-you-know-whats win.

OK, I admit to pulling you into a debate we had on our live Game Log (click here to view a replay of Sunday's Game Log), and by “we” I mean S-T writers and Cowboy fans blogging together. I am not normally a believer in “losing is good” yet I found myself arguing for this.

Let’s be frank, losing always stinks.

But what we learned this week was the Cowboys do not learn from winning ugly. They barely beat Cincy a week ago, looked pretty average doing so and chafed when called on this fact. Unfair expectations and meanie media was the plaintive cry. And what did we see in Arizona? A Cowboy team who barely won the week before and sloughed off their problems as not important because they won.

Blame for this has to fall on Coach Wade.

If he refuses to hold them accountable, how will they ever be accountable? Or get better? Or fix mistakes? Or get up for a game? And players seem to be noticing this as well, with a few even starting to call him out on his lackadaisical approach to this team.

“Maybe we need our asses chewed out or something,” Cowboys receiver Pat Crayton said. “You never know that might jumpstart something.”

2. The Cowboy offensive line owes Tony Romo an apology, or a massage, or a promise to be much much better in St. Louis.

The only thing saving them from being judged the worst unit on the field Sunday was Read’s special teams. They were not good. And Romo has bumps and bruises and a dinged ego as proof.

Loss to Arizona Cardinals leaves Dallas Cowboys searching for answers

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:09 CDT

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Slowly but surely, a fire of anger is starting to smolder in the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room, but it’s not coming from the usual suspects.

The most smoke came from special-teams captain Keith Davis, who gave a fiery tongue lashing to his teammates following Sunday’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals before a sold-out crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium.

He was primarily upset because of the two decisive plays on special teams at the start and end of the game that keyed the loss.

The Cardinals’ J.J. Arrington had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening play.

And a blocked punt by Sean Morey led to a 3-yard touchdown return by Monty Beisel on the first possession of overtime to end it, spoiling what had the makings of miracle comeback but sending the Cowboys to their second loss in three games.

Trailing 24-14, the Cowboys scored on a 70-yard catch-and-run by Marion Barber with 2 minutes left and a 52-yard field goal by Nick Folk as time expired in regulation to force overtime.

The results completed a day of sporadic and mistake-prone play.

For Davis, it was not just about the special teams, but the overall attitude of a talented Cowboys team that doesn’t always play with a sense of urgency and chooses to increasingly rely on its 13 Pro Bowl spots from last year rather than its effort.

"I am fed up with it," Davis said. "Yeah, I’m fed up. Because there’s no reason. Everybody wants to talk, 'Oh, the Cowboys are the most talented team.’ Man, talent ain’t ever won nobody nothing. Nothing. It’s going to be a complete team. It’s not about talent. Talent’s not going to get it done. Want-to is what’s going to get it done. Focus is what’s going to get it done. Busting your tail starting on Monday is what’s going to get it done."

Davis’ words were contrasted by those of Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who spoke glowingly of a Cardinals defense that harassed him for four quarters. Romo’s numbers — 24-of-39 for 321 yards and two touchdowns — didn’t tell the story of an increasingly out-of-sync Cowboys passing game that can no longer get the ball in the hands of playmaking receiver Terrell Owens on a consistent basis. Owens was a non-factor for the third game in the past four weeks with four catches for 36 yards.

The offensive line allowed three sacks and a number of hits on Romo. The pressure took its toll as Romo fumbled three times, including one lost fumble. It marked the 10th consecutive game — including the playoffs — which included a Romo turnover.

A sack and fumble on the first play of overtime resulted in sprained right pinkie finger for Romo.

"This season isn’t going to go down this straight and narrow path and be a nice cozy Sunday drive," Romo said. "You’re going to have ups and downs, and you’ll get to a point where you have to turn it on and get to a point where you are playing good football. Right now we didn’t play good enough football to win."

Romo’s comments were echoed by team owner Jerry Jones, who said the Cowboys are playing to his expectations and credited the Cardinals with being an improved team.

"I would never have thought we could have been 6-0," Jones said. "I like 4-2. I do like 4-2."

Like Davis, however, there are others in the locker room who are less than satisfied with the Cowboys’ performance.

"Somebody needs to get mad," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "It’s disgusting. We have to step up and get some fire."

Linebacker Bradie James was part of a defense that wore down in the second half, when Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner repeatedly burned the Cowboys for big plays to receivers Steve Breaston and Larry Fitzgerald.

The loss came after a week of controversy stemming from cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones’ involvement with a fight with his bodyguard at a downtown Dallas hotel Tuesday night. Jones, who was suspended for the 2007 season for repeated violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, will learn in the next few days from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell whether he will be suspended again.

Adam Jones has yet to discuss the incident and declined to talk after the game.

Dallas Cowboys find talent on defense doesn’t equate to results

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:55 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Give Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bradie James credit. He makes a very valid point about his team.

"One thing I could say about this team is everybody has been talking about how talented we are, but we’re finding out that doesn’t equate to wins," James said. "You have to go out there and earn every victory. Today was a direct reflection of that."

James wasn’t talking about the defense specifically, but it certainly applies. For a defense coated with first-round draft picks and big-money contracts, the results are not matching the résumé.

The Cowboys took another step backward Sunday in a 30-24 overtime loss to the Cardinals that came after a lackluster win the week before.

While the Cowboys’ special teams lost them the game, the defense certainly has some finger-pointing directed its way. The unit produced a solid first half, holding Arizona’s offense without a touchdown, but was picked apart in the second half and continues to show an inability to finish off teams.

But the Cowboys are short-handed in the secondary without their best cornerback in Pro Bowler Terence Newman, who will miss about a month after having abdominal surgery Friday.

With or without Newman this season, the Cowboys have given up big plays in the secondary. Little-known receiver Steve Breaston, filling in for Anquan Boldin, had eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown and gave Anthony Henry fits all day.

On the other side, Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald showed why he’s one of the best in the league. He had five catches for 79 yards and an 11-yard touchdown, beating Adam "Pacman" Jones in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 14-14 in the third quarter.

Jones refused to talk with reporters after the game and only offered a "nope" when asked to. He still has not spoken to the media since his fight with a bodyguard Tuesday night at a Dallas hotel.

Meanwhile, Cowboys safety and special teams captain Keith Davis, who was emotional after the game, had plenty to say. He gave a post-game speech to the team in the locker room along with other players.

Davis’ message sounds a lot like an echo of James’ feelings.

"I am fed up with it," said Davis, while he tried to dress with a bloody finger and banged-up left leg. "Yeah, I’m fed up. Because there’s no reason."

While the Cowboys did get an interception from free safety Ken Hamlin, just the second by the team this season, the offense could not turn it into points in the first quarter.

The Cowboys also recovered a Kurt Warner fumble at the Arizona 25 when Henry pounced on the dropped ball. But on the next play, Tony Romo was sacked and fumbled. So even when the Cowboys’ defense came up with big plays, the offense failed to take advantage.

No such plays came for the defense in the second half as Warner was 9-for-10 in the fourth quarter with 104 yards following a third quarter in which he was 6-for-9.

"They kept their same game plan," outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "The plays in the second half they made, guys were there, but they just outplayed us at that time. It does deflate you."

Dallas Cowboys offensive line leaves quarterback Tony Romo battered

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:47 CDT

By MAC ENGEL

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tony Romo’s struggles during the game Sunday were almost topped by his postgame difficulties. His right hand wrapped in ice because of a pinkie sprain, Romo was left to try to put on his socks, shirt, belt, etc., with just his left hand.

His right hand looked almost like a club.

Most of the Cowboys couldn’t remember the last time they saw the back of Tony Romo’s jersey look like it had been covered in green spray paint. They couldn’t remember the last time he had been hit so hard and so often.

"I’d turn around way too many times and see him on the ground," guard Leonard Davis said. "For real. That’s serious."

A unit that a few weeks into the season was arguably one of the strongest in the league has surprisingly gone in reverse, and it was never more evident than Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals in a 30-24 overtime loss.

With erratic play from the offensive line, the once fluid Cowboys offense that purred is now coughing and wheezing its way through games.

"Our inconsistency and a handful of negative plays force us not to be able to dictate as much as we’d like to the defense," Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said.

Not since the divisional playoff loss against the New York Giants in January has an opposing defense been able to hound, hit and harass Romo the way the Cardinals did on Sunday. Even though Romo finished with pretty stats — 321 passing yards, three touchdowns, 113.3 passer rating — they hide the fact that he was under pressure the entire game.

He was sacked three times and hit eight other times, at least. Romo also fumbled three times, one of which he lost. Romo said he suffered the finger injury on the first play of overtime, when he was sacked and fumbled.

"When people are around you every play and they hit you, half the time they hit you and you don’t see them," Romo said. "I got hit blindsided a couple of times for the first time in a while. ... That was the best D-line I’ve gone up against in a long time."

Romo’s leading receiver was running back Marion Barber, who caught mostly last-option routes. Barber’s 11 catches are the same number that Jason Witten, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton had combined.

Equally alarming was a ground game that was limited to a total of 73 yards on 22 carries.

When asked why he thought the line has been erratic, center Andre Gurode said: "You asked a question that stumped me. I would say not as an offensive line but as a team we have to correct our mistakes. They are making plays and we’re making mistakes. We need to fix it. It is fixable."

Romo is hoping it’s fixed soon. Putting on socks is generally easier with two hands.

Role players play big parts in Arizona Cardinals’ win

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:04 CDT

By RICHARD OBERT

GLENDALE, Ariz. — It started with a kickoff return for a touchdown from a guy who was inactive the first four games.

It ended in overtime with a guy scoring his first NFL touchdown.

Nobody expected J.J. Arrington and Monty Beisel to play big parts in the Arizona Cardinals’ stunning 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

But they came up big on special teams, and that proved to be the difference.

Before the game, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged his kickoff-return team to make a big play.

Arrington took it to heart after the Cardinals won the toss and elected to go on offense first.

Fifteen seconds later, Arrington, activated for the first time last week with Anquan Boldin injured and Steve Breaston relieved of return duty to be the second receiver, was in the end zone.

His 93-yard touchdown was the first time he returned a kickoff for all the way since opening a game against the Minnesota Vikings with a score two seasons ago.

"We had a scheme going that was actually to the other side," Arrington said. "I didn’t know it was going to open up that way."

The game ended in regulation with the Cowboys erasing a 10-point deficit in the final 2 minutes.

"Everything was going good for us at one point, then bad," Arrington said.

"It was crazy."

The Cardinals’ defense, dominating the front line most of the game, quickly forced the Cowboys to punt on the first possession of overtime.

The Cardinals actually were setting up for a return to try to give the offense good field position. But Sean Morey beat his man off the edge and blocked Mat McBriar’s punt at the 1.

Beisel picked it up at the 3 and ran it in for the winning touchdown.

"I was thinking, 'It’s about time,’ " Morey said when asked what he was thinking during his last few lunges before blocking the punt. "I was real fortunate to get that opportunity. They don’t come along too often."

Beisel said he was shocked to see the ball just lying there in front of him.

"It’s kind of a funny way to end a game," Beisel said. "It was a great win for this organization."

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett praised the Cowboys’ incredible talent and said "a lot of people didn’t give us a chance."

"But," he added, "a lot of things can pop up on the desert."

Physically speaking, it’s a painful loss for Dallas Cowboys

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:55 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dallas Cowboys left Arizona with a loss and a battered team.

Several Cowboys sported bandages and ice wraps or limped in pain through the locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday after the 30-24 overtime upset by the Cardinals.

None of the injuries appeared to be too serious, but some players could miss practice time this week.

Quarterback Tony Romo said he suffered a right pinkie strain on the first play of overtime, and the finger was bandaged and heavily iced after the game.

Punter Mat McBriar dodged serious injury and was diagnosed with a right ankle contusion. That was good news for McBriar, considering he had to be carted off the field after his leg was hit hard on the Cardinals’ game-winning blocked punt for a touchdown in overtime.

Rookie running back Felix Jones suffered a left hamstring strain and missed most of the second half. He was injured on a 14-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter and did not return.

Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer also suffered a left hamstring injury, and strong safety Keith Davis had a left thumb laceration and leg injury but said he would be fine.

Receiver Sam Hurd also had X-rays following the game after reinjuring his left ankle.

He missed the first three games because of an ankle sprain. Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams suffered a stinger that slowed him in the second half.

Barber’s receiving

Running back Marion Barber was surprisingly more effective as a receiver than rusher against the Cardinals.

Barber set career highs with 11 catches and 128 yards (highest totals for any Cowboy this season), including a 70-yard touchdown catch that pulled the Cowboys within three points late in the fourth quarter. Romo continued to look for Barber on check-downs, and it worked repeatedly.

Barber had 45 rushing yards on 17 carries for a season-low average of 2.6 yards per carry.

Folk makes up for miss

Pro Bowl kicker Nick Folk’s homecoming had a bad start with a great finish — for him. The University of Arizona ex came back from missing his first field goal of the season with a season-long 52-yarder to send the game into overtime.

It came after his first try from 52 was blocked, but the Cardinals had called timeout to ice him before the play.

In the first half, he had his first misfire of the season on a 37-yarder that hit the upright just before halftime. Folk was 6-for-6 on field goals before the miss.

Cowboys win challenges

Wade Phillips remains undefeated on challenging calls. Phillips challenged the Tony Romo fumble in the end zone in the second quarter, and it was overturned thanks to the "Tuck Rule," which states that if a quarterback loses the ball while stopping his passing motion or trying to tuck the ball, it is considered an incomplete pass.

Phillips also challenged a third-quarter Larry Fitzgerald touchdown catch, and he was ruled out of bounds after review. Fitzgerald beat Adam "Pacman" Jones for a touchdown on the same route two plays later.