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Moore: As fans fret and stew, Cowboys insist that preseason worries are overblown
12:44 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 1, 2010
COLUMN By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
IRVING – Most summers, before the calendar turns to September, at least one movie has been released that deals with a mysterious contagion that turns people into zombies or creates mass panic.
[Click image for a larger version] VERNON BRYANT/DMN
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Keith Brooking, who returned to practice Tuesday after missing time with a shoulder injury, says his wife had been fretful over the Cowboys' preseason play.
The entertainment void in this year's schedule has been filled by the Cowboys and their fans.
Doom and gloom swirls. That's the phrase linebacker Keith Brooking uses to describe the mood outside the Cowboys' locker room these preseason days.
Are people overreacting to a 23-7 loss to Houston?
"Well, my wife is freaking out," Brooking said. "She's overreacting. I had to sit down and have a talk with her last night. So based on her, yeah."
Brooking was able to calm his wife down. Holly Brooking remains a believer in this team.
Can the same be said for everyone else?
The last few weeks have not inspired confidence among the Cowboys faithful. Those hoping the starters would get a chance to break out of their doldrums in the final preseason game were dealt a blow Tuesday when coach Wade Phillips announced that few, if any, starters will play.
Quarterback Tony Romo will not take the field. Stephen McGee will start and play the majority of the game.
Brooking, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and defensive end Marcus Spears all returned to practice Tuesday after missing time with injuries. None of them will play.
Dez Bryant also returned to practice. The team's first-round pick hasn't worked out in team drills since spraining his ankle July 30.
Bryant did not speak to reporters but tweeted earlier in the week that he would play against the Dolphins. Phillips has been noncommittal. He said he wanted to see how Bryant looked in practice and go from there.
"I would like to see him play with the first group if he's going to play," Phillips said. "But overall, that wouldn't happen, so that's another determining factor."
Translation: Why have Bryant return to catch passes from McGee when that combination won't see the light of day during the regular season?
A poor performance against Houston forced Phillips to consider playing his starters against Miami, something he traditionally avoids in the final preseason game. After discussing the issue with his staff, he determined that an additional 10 or so plays for the starters would not help them get ready for the regular-season opener at Washington on Sept. 12.
What tipped the scales?
"Ultimately, our overall feeling about our team and how they've worked and how they're doing," Phillips said.
The players are unified in their stance that their preseason issues can be fixed with practice. Jay Ratliff will tell you the Cowboys are fine.
"I do believe we are," the nose tackle said. "Now, do we have to pick it up? Yeah, we do.
"But I do believe we're fine."
So does DeMarcus Ware. The linebacker said he's not concerned with how the team has performed.
"I feel like everything is great, to be honest," Ware said. "I'm glad to be back here. No more training camp. Now you have something to really look forward to rather than just hitting each other and watching each other on film.
"Now it's watching Washington."
The Cowboys spent time in Tuesday's practice on the Dolphins and Redskins.
A fine line exists between accountability for what has gone on this preseason and not letting it impact confidence. Brooking said the Cowboys have walked that line and kept it all in perspective.
"We have a lot of reasons to be positive with this football team, and I think it will be evident very soon the reasons we're thinking that way," Brooking said.
And those reasons are ...
"We work extremely hard," he said. "You get what you earn in this league. We've worked our tails off, not just training camp, but we had a very good show in our off-season conditioning.
"I feel we've grown as a football team. We've gotten better from last year. I think we can take a step from last year in the right direction and build off of that.
"We're extremely talented. And I think we believe in one another."
Hey, it turned his wife around.
Will it work on you?
• • •
12:44 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 1, 2010
COLUMN By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
IRVING – Most summers, before the calendar turns to September, at least one movie has been released that deals with a mysterious contagion that turns people into zombies or creates mass panic.
[Click image for a larger version] VERNON BRYANT/DMN
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Keith Brooking, who returned to practice Tuesday after missing time with a shoulder injury, says his wife had been fretful over the Cowboys' preseason play.
The entertainment void in this year's schedule has been filled by the Cowboys and their fans.
Doom and gloom swirls. That's the phrase linebacker Keith Brooking uses to describe the mood outside the Cowboys' locker room these preseason days.
Are people overreacting to a 23-7 loss to Houston?
"Well, my wife is freaking out," Brooking said. "She's overreacting. I had to sit down and have a talk with her last night. So based on her, yeah."
Brooking was able to calm his wife down. Holly Brooking remains a believer in this team.
Can the same be said for everyone else?
The last few weeks have not inspired confidence among the Cowboys faithful. Those hoping the starters would get a chance to break out of their doldrums in the final preseason game were dealt a blow Tuesday when coach Wade Phillips announced that few, if any, starters will play.
Quarterback Tony Romo will not take the field. Stephen McGee will start and play the majority of the game.
Brooking, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and defensive end Marcus Spears all returned to practice Tuesday after missing time with injuries. None of them will play.
Dez Bryant also returned to practice. The team's first-round pick hasn't worked out in team drills since spraining his ankle July 30.
Bryant did not speak to reporters but tweeted earlier in the week that he would play against the Dolphins. Phillips has been noncommittal. He said he wanted to see how Bryant looked in practice and go from there.
"I would like to see him play with the first group if he's going to play," Phillips said. "But overall, that wouldn't happen, so that's another determining factor."
Translation: Why have Bryant return to catch passes from McGee when that combination won't see the light of day during the regular season?
A poor performance against Houston forced Phillips to consider playing his starters against Miami, something he traditionally avoids in the final preseason game. After discussing the issue with his staff, he determined that an additional 10 or so plays for the starters would not help them get ready for the regular-season opener at Washington on Sept. 12.
What tipped the scales?
"Ultimately, our overall feeling about our team and how they've worked and how they're doing," Phillips said.
The players are unified in their stance that their preseason issues can be fixed with practice. Jay Ratliff will tell you the Cowboys are fine.
"I do believe we are," the nose tackle said. "Now, do we have to pick it up? Yeah, we do.
"But I do believe we're fine."
So does DeMarcus Ware. The linebacker said he's not concerned with how the team has performed.
"I feel like everything is great, to be honest," Ware said. "I'm glad to be back here. No more training camp. Now you have something to really look forward to rather than just hitting each other and watching each other on film.
"Now it's watching Washington."
The Cowboys spent time in Tuesday's practice on the Dolphins and Redskins.
A fine line exists between accountability for what has gone on this preseason and not letting it impact confidence. Brooking said the Cowboys have walked that line and kept it all in perspective.
"We have a lot of reasons to be positive with this football team, and I think it will be evident very soon the reasons we're thinking that way," Brooking said.
And those reasons are ...
"We work extremely hard," he said. "You get what you earn in this league. We've worked our tails off, not just training camp, but we had a very good show in our off-season conditioning.
"I feel we've grown as a football team. We've gotten better from last year. I think we can take a step from last year in the right direction and build off of that.
"We're extremely talented. And I think we believe in one another."
Hey, it turned his wife around.
Will it work on you?
• • •