NFL FanHouse

FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles

R.J. White — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East, FanHouse Previews

When the Eagles and Cowboys step on the same field, you know you're in for a battle. This will be the 100th meeting in the series, with the Cowboys entering the fay with a 55-44 lead in the previous 99 games. The Eagles have the leg up in recent years though, culminating in a Week 17 beatdown last year that wound up earning Philly a playoff berth over Dallas. (Not that Tony Romo would have done much had he made the playoffs anyway.)

Both teams are 5-2, and with the Giants losing to both these foes in recent weeks, this game will determine who has the inside track at winning the NFC East. So if you though this would be just another regular ol' 100th meeting between hated rivals, think again.

More Coverage: Westbrook Reportedly Out for Eagles
The Once-Over: Breakdowns of All Week 9 Games

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Miles Austin be stopped?

2. Will the Eagles second line of defense at linebacker be able to contain the Dallas rushing game?

3. Can Donovan McNabb's offensive line keep the pressure off their quarterback?

Player in the Spotlight: Brian Westbrook. He's often been labeled a fragile, injury-prone player, and that stigma has come to pass this year. He received 13 carries in each of his first two games before missing Week 3. He then returned after the bye to take six carries in each of his next two games before suffering a concussion early in Week 7. He missed the Giants game last week, but looks ready to go for this important contest. Which is great for the Eagles, as he's routinely been trouble for the Cowboys, and his presence will be key to an Eagles victory.

Dallas's Path to Victory: The emergence of Austin has brought Romo's A-game back, but with the Eagles likely to take away the deep threat, this game will come down to how well he connects with tight end Jason Witten, who's having a quiet year by his standards. If those two aren't on the same page (and it's probably foolish to think Romo and Roy Williams will be clicking), then Romo will start forcing balls to Austin. If that happens, the Eagles will take full advantage. The Cowboys aren't likely to contain the Eagles' passing game, so keeping up with them will be essential to making this a game. Dallas must be able to keep the running game in play in the second half, and it'll take a few defensive stops and smart decisions by Romo to get them tere.

Philadelphia's Path to Victory: It'll be tempting to stick to the air against the Cowboys secondary, but mixing in the rushing game will be crucial to making sure the Dallas pass rush doesn't tee off on McNabb. Luckily for Philly, the ground attack came out in full force last week, rushing for 180 yards thanks to big efforts from rookie LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver. With Westbrook back, Philly will try to run a balanced offense to slow down the rush and count on the defense to capitalize on any Romo mistakes. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will keep the pressure on Romo and try to expedite the process.

Prediction: This game should be close at halftime, but I can see the Eagles pulling away in the third quarter and maintaining a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. Once Dallas's offense goes pass-happy, this game is over. I like the Eagles to take a one-game lead in the division, but as we see time and time again, anything and everything is in play in this matchup. Eagles 31, Cowboys 24.

FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Harbaugh: Cowboys Are Everything That's Wrong With the NFL

Josh Alper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East

On the eve of a Sunday night NFC East showdown in Philadelphia, the Cowboys have gotten some bulletin board material via a comparison of their franchise and the Eagles. Strangely enough, the inflammatory statements weren't made by anyone with current ties to the Eagles, but by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, a former Eagles assistant, was asked for a new book what made the Eagles more successful than the Cowboys over the last 10 years. Matt Mosley of ESPN.com shares the answer.

"Why is that? Because what Andy Reid and his program stand for is the opposite of what the Cowboys stand for. The Cowboys are a star system. It's all about building around individuals first and collecting talent, collecting great players. Andy has always been about building a team. And over the long haul, it's a team sport, and one of the greatest examples of that is what's happened with the Eagles and the Cowboys over the last 10 years. The Cowboys stand for everything that's wrong with the NFL."

Yee-owch. No one can accuse Harbaugh of pulling his punches, but is he right?

He's certainly right about the Eagles having a better decade than the Cowboys. It's not even particularly close. They've been to five NFC title games and a Super Bowl while the Cowboys are looking for their first playoff win since 1996. Even the most diehard Cowboys partisan would have a hard time accepting that part of the argument at face value.

Parsing further, however, doesn't do much for Harbaugh's thesis. Building a team is about collecting talent. That doesn't mean buying great players as if you're buying trading cards, but finding the line between the two is awfully difficult. Presumably one of the players that fits Harbaugh's star system dig is Terrell Owens, but he was Reid's before he was Jerry Jones's. Why does one side get credit for the move while the other gets slapped in the face for it? And where, exactly would Michael Vick fit into the reckoning?

Furthermore, the ultimate prize has eluded both the Cowboys and the Eagles. All of those trips to the playoffs have resulted in the same number of Super Bowl wins that the Cowboys have picked up in the last 10 years. Whatever missteps Jones has made in the last decade, and there are many to choose from, he's got three Lombardi Trophies to look at when another season ends in a bitter defeat.

Stockpiling talent, be it through the draft or with veteran acquisitions like Charles Haley, and developing stars certainly worked out for them in those days. The Eagles have had a very good run and Harbaugh may well be right about the reasons why, but that doesn't make the Cowboys everything that's wrong with the NFL.

The Cowboys are relatively successful on the field and fabulously successful at the box office. That doesn't superficially look like everything that's wrong with the NFL, and deeper digging doesn't do much to support the point. Does Harbaugh really think the Lions, Raiders or Redskins, to name three examples, have exemplified what's right about the NFL more than the Cowboys?

I'd guess not, because Harbaugh's a smart guy who probably went a bit too far in trying to pay Reid a compliment.

John Harbaugh: Cowboys Are Everything That's Wrong With the NFL originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday-and-Long: Don't Sleep on the Dallas Cowboys

Dan Graziano — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Steelers, NFC East, NFL Analysis

In case you hadn't noticed, sports these days are all about Goliath. In 2009, the Steelers, Lakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and now the Yankees have all won titles in their respective sports. Cinderella is yesterday's news. The teams that win these days are the teams that always win, and if you think that's boring, well, tough. You can kiss one of Derek Jeter's five World Series rings.

So with that in mind, we need to be really careful about overlooking the Dallas Cowboys.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. All you ever hear about the Cowboys is what's wrong with them. Terrell Owens was a pain. Roy Williams is a loudmouth, too, and isn't good enough to replace T.O. Tony Romo's too concerned with his golf game and his high-wattage love life to ever attain his potential. The new stadium is ridiculous...

But you know what else? The Cowboys are 5-2. And if they win in Philadelphia on Sunday night, they'll be 6-2 and in first place all by themselves. Their defense is playing great. Their three-headed rushing attack (you know, the one with which they were torching the Giants in Week 2 before they inexplicably decided to start throwing the ball late?) looks healthy. Romo's found something with Miles Austin, and just when you thought it was safe to hang their plaque in the underachievers' hall of fame, here the Cowboys are, clacking helmets with the top teams in the league.

I have a couple of stats that indicate that this may not be a fluke. The first is a basic one: the Cowboys score a lot more points than they give up. Dallas ranks seventh in the NFL and fourth in the NFC in point differential (points scored minus points allowed) as shown here:

1. New Orleans +119
2. Indianapolis +106
3. New England +100
4. Philadelphia +70
5. Minnesota +70
6. Baltimore +62
7. Dallas +61

My second stat doesn't have a name that I know of, and I'm open to suggestion, but this one is intended to measure the extent to which a team controls the running game on both sides of the ball. It's another simple calculation. We take the team's average yards per rush on offense and subtract the average yards per rush it allows on defense. The principle is that if you're good at running the ball but no good at stopping it, that catches up with you eventually.

Dallas posts a score of plus-1.2 in this made-up category, averaging 5.4 yards per carry (second-highest in the league behind Tennessee and the curve-wrecking Chris Johnson) while allowing only 4.2 yards per carry to its opponents. That plus-1.2 is tied for best in the league with Tennessee (and its aforementioned curve-wrecker). And while this stat doesn't appear to be a great indicator through eight weeks of this particular season (Jacksonville is right behind at plus-1.1 while the 5-3 Texans rank last with a minus-1.4, and top teams such as New Orleans and Minnesota score plus-0.1 and 0.0 respectively), it holds up over 16 games, historically, and it bodes well for the Cowboys' chances going forward.

Now all they have to do is win in Philly on Sunday night, and this will all make tons of sense.

Special Explanatory Note of the Week

Why is Chris Johnson a curve-wrecker? Well, he leads the NFL so far this year with 10 runs of 20 or more yards. Adrian Peterson is second in that category with eight such runs. Maurice Jones-Drew and Cedric Benson have six each, and no one else has more than five.

What's more, there have been 20 runs this year of 40 or more yards, and Johnson has five of them. Jones-Drew and Frank Gore have three each, three backs have two each and no one else has more than one.

Those kinds of numbers skew an average, and Johnson is averaging 6.92 yards per carry while leading the NFL with 824 rushing yards. That average is the highest any NFL rushing leader has posted through eight weeks since the merger, well ahead of Jamal Lewis' 5.89 average through the first eight weeks of the 2003 season. If it holds up (and even if it slips a little), Johnson would become the sixth man in NFL history (and the first since 1973) to lead the league in rushing with an average of at least 6.0 yards per carry. The others:

Beattie Feathers, 1934 Chicago Bears, 1,004 total yards, 8.4 ypc
Jim Brown, 1963 Cleveland Browns, 1,863 total yards, 6.4 ypc
Barry Sanders, 1997 Detroit Lions, 2,053 total yards, 6.1 ypc
Joe Perry, 1954 San Francisco 49ers, 1,049 total yards, 6.1 ypc
O.J. Simpson, 1973 Buffalo Bills, 2,003 total yards, 6.0 ypc

Which also makes this the very rare and difficult-to-repeat "Beattie Feathers Note of the Week."

Hat-Tip of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers

For their handling of the Ryan Clark situation. The Pittsburgh safety said Wednesday he still hasn't decided whether he'll play Monday in Denver, where the high altitude combined with his sickle-cell trait nearly killed him and forced the surgical removal of his spleen and gall bladder after he played there two years ago. The Steelers get kudos for being up-front and not playing typical NFL-team injury games with this situation, and for making sure Clark doesn't feel any pressure to play if he doesn't feel up to it. The more you see from the Steelers and the way they operate, the more you realize why they're so (a) successful and (b) respected.

Seats Over Heat -- The five NFL head coaches most likely to be the next to lose their jobs:

1. Tom Cable, Raiders. Honestly, at this point, what could they be waiting for?
2. Eric Mangini, Browns. The only thing that could save him is that the Browns always seem to do the wrong thing.
3. Dick Jauron, Bills. Can't be but one long losing streak away.
4. Jim Zorn, Redskins. Chances he's coaching the team in 2010 are the same as the chances you are.
5. Jeff Fisher, Titans. Incredible record, incredible longevity, but if they don't finish huge, this could be the end.

Three for the Road -- Road teams in the NFL this year are a combined 52-64, for a .448 winning percentage. With that in mind, here are three road teams I think will buck the trend and win this weekend:

1. Arizona at Chicago. Bears are 3-0 at home, Cardinals are 3-0 on the road. Something's got to give. I say it's the Bears' (extremely) offensive line.
2. Dallas at Philadelphia. See above. Basically, Philly is the more exciting team, Dallas is the more solidly built. I'll take the Cowboy RBs to wear down the Eagles' D in a classic.
3. Pittsburgh at Denver. No, I'm not stubborn. I admit I was wrong about the Broncos before the season. But I'm not wrong about the AFC North, and Denver showed last week it can't play there.

(Ed. note: Last week, on twitter, I picked Vikings over Packers, Rams over Lions and Giants over Eagles. So, so far on this project we're 2-1.)

It's Just a Fantasy -- Three guys I wish I had on my fantasy team this week:

1. Aaron Rodgers vs. Tampa Bay: Sweet relief! A week without facing a real pass rush!
2. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Kansas City: Every week, I wish for MJD. But against the Chiefs? Hide the women and children.
3. Michael Crabtree vs. Tennessee. Was he a fool for his holdout? Sure. Greedy? You betcha. But they all are, and this one also happens to be a freak of nature. The bet here is he never looks back.

Traveling Man

The game I'll be covering this week is Houston at Indianapolis. A chance for the upstart Texans to pick up a statement win (not to mention a division win) against the high-flying, undefeated Colts. Can Houston adjust without Owen Daniels? Do they have anybody in the secondary who can even slow down Reggie Wayne, let alone stop him? Good questions, and I don't know the answers (though I have a hunch on the second). But let's just say I'm not expecting a 6-3 game.

Thursday-and-Long: Don't Sleep on the Dallas Cowboys originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roy Williams Still Calls Himself No. 1 Receiver in Dallas

Shane Bacon — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys

It's that time of year again. Nope, not the changing of the leaves or the holiday season, it's that time of year when a Cowboys wide receiver isn't happy with quarterback Tony Romo, and allows himself the privilege of complaining to the media about it instead of, you know, talking to TONY ROMO!

Roy Williams, who was supposed to replace previously unhappy Terrell Owens as the top wideout in Dallas, has continued his career of underachieving, this year to the tune of 41.5 yards per game and just two touchdowns. While Roy has struggled, Miles Austin, an undrafted receiver out of Monmouth has done incredible stuff, including breaking the record in Dallas for yards receiving in a game (250 in week five) and scoring six times, five of which have come in the last three games.

None of those numbers matter, however, because Roy is the best in Dallas and Roy should get more looks. According to Roy.

After putting in a lot of extra offseason work with Romo, Williams is stunned they haven't made more progress.

"It's just not even close," Williams said. "It's not even funny. Not even close."

"I'm the No. 1 receiver," Williams said. "But things are just going No. 2's way."

While ESPN's Tim MacMahon makes a great point (Miles has more yards, 482, in his first three career starts than Williams has in the 16 games, 447, since joining Dallas), Williams thinks it's something else. For some reason, when Romo looks to Williams, he makes a bad throw.

"He gets the ball thrown correctly his way," Williams said of Austin. "I'm stretching and falling and doing everything. Everybody [else] who's been here's balls are there. Our footballs [from Romo to Williams] are everywhere right now."

You have to be fairly dense to think this is anything more than bad luck for Williams, or just bad routes. Romo has split seconds to think of where to place the ball, so unless Williams is running bad routes, or the two just aren't on the same page, it is passes being tossed similar to how they are thrown when they go to Austin (or Jason Witten, or Patrick Crayton) and it is up to Williams to make a play on the ball.

So far, Austin has been incredible and the Cowboys are doing well because of it. I guess the 'ol saying is true -- there's no I in team, but there sure as hell is one in Roy Williams.

Roy Williams Still Calls Himself No. 1 Receiver in Dallas originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surging Cowboys Turn Focus to Eagles

Nancy Gay — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Seahawks

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A month ago, the Dallas Cowboys were a 2-2 mess; inconsistent on offense, generous on defense and seemingly already out of contention in the cutthroat NFC East following a mistake-filled thrashing by the then-undefeated Broncos in Denver.

Flash forward to Sunday's lopsided 38-17 victory over the battered Seattle Seahawks -- the Cowboys' third consecutive win in their swank $1.2 billion home -- and Dallas' turnaround from bashed to brilliant seems accomplished.

Quarterback Tony Romo completed passes to 10 different receivers, including touchdown throws to the increasingly popular Miles Austin (five catches, 61 yards), as well as to the forgotten Sam Hurd and the once-missing Roy Williams. Romo's performance, where he hit on 21-of-36 passes for 256 yards, capped off the first three-game span without an interception in his seven-year career.

More: Gutsy Hasselbeck Keeps Fighting | Check Box Score

Running back Marion Barber, still fighting myriad injuries, rushed for another touchdown. The Cowboys pass rush pummeled Seattle's patchwork offensive line and manhandled the Seahawks' fourth starter this season at left tackle, former Chief Damion McIntosh, on two of Matt Hasselbeck's three sacks.

Toss in an 82-yard Patrick Crayton punt return for a touchdown, his second in as many games, and Dallas (5-2) looks like a complete team at the halfway point. Or, at least, one that appears to have solved most of its earlier problems.

"I like that this team is explosive in that we're kind of rocking along and then we're ahead," said coach Wade Phillips, whose group scored 24 unanswered points on the Seahawks (2-5). "That we're able to do that can make you a good football team. It was 14-10 after awhile, and all of a sudden it was out of hand."

Dallas now sits atop the division standings with the Eagles -- and the two rivals have a Week 9 showdown in Philadelphia -- thanks to a complete offense-defense-special teams effort that fulfilled everyone's desire to pull this talented-filled franchise from the cliff's edge.

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"We just have to keep the same mentality each week," said linebacker Keith Brooking, the 12th-year veteran, who has been preaching the merits of keeping an even keel during this stormy Cowboys season. "A lot of people are real excited about the Cowboys right now, and they're gonna tell you how great they are, how you've won three in a row. The world's great.

"But we're not there. Our division is close, it's tight. You can never think that way. You have to keep your blinders on."

Dallas may not be where Brooking wants his team to be, but it is close. So close, the only point of contention seems to be when -- or if -- Romo will ever find his groove with Williams, the high-dollar receiver, a player for whom the Cowboys traded three draft picks and then awarded a five-year contract extension with $20 million guaranteed last season.

"It's tough right now," conceded Williams, who has just 29 receptions for 393 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games with Romo as his starting quarterback. "But it's fun to win, it's fun to see other guys do the things that they do, and I'm just happy to be a Cowboy, man. People don't understand that."

Sunday, Romo tried to find Williams deep on multiple occasions but failed -- those balls sailed wide, or high. Williams was targeted seven times and caught two balls for 19 yards, including a 7-yard scoring pass with 35 seconds remaining before halftime that pushed Dallas to a 21-10 lead.

If two catches sound lousy, consider Williams' Week 7 performance in the 37-21 victory over Atlanta, when the former Lions' first-round pick caught one pass for 16 yards and dropped two other balls. The chemistry with Romo just isn't happening, and Williams can't explain it.

"I don't know what it is -- we worked early in the offseason, came in a month early before everybody," Williams said with a shrug. "He throws to me every day, and it's just not there right now."

Again, this is like searching for flaws on what is nearly a perfect diamond. Romo-to-Austin has been a season-changing combination the past three games, and Dallas' underneath passing scheme Sunday took great advantage of Seattle's lack of depth at linebacker. Williams is a vertical threat, so when the Cowboys are moving the chains with screens, quick outs and slants, Williams looks like an afterthought.

"I missed him on a dig route early in the game," Romo said of Williams. "I've got to bring the ball down. I just missed him. He's running good routes. We're going to be fine. I know what Roy is doing."

So it's good feelings all around in Dallas-Fort Worth, just as Brooking said. And, also just as Brooking said, this is a surging team that can't let its guard down.

The Cowboys next make their annual trip to Philadelphia, where they were destroyed, 44-6, in Week 17 last season, eliminating Dallas from the playoff hunt. That makes Brooking's admonition of keeping a level head all the more important during the week-long buildup to the rematch.

Sunday, the Eagles (5-2) embarrassed the New York Giants, 40-17, so the Cowboys' path to revenge looks even more daunting.

"Last year is last year," Romo said. "We had to deal with that [Eagles game] all offseason. We had to grind it out to get better and improve, and not let that happen again. We've taken a lot of steps to be the ballclub that we're hopefully getting to be.

"For us, it's just about improving and getting better."

Surging Cowboys Turn Focus to Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terrell Owens Sets Goal: To Outperform Roy Williams

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Cowboys, AFC East, NFC East

After entering the National Football League in 1996 as a third-round selection, Terrell Owens has put up some big-time numbers in his 14-year career.

He's the NFL's active touchdown leader with 142 scores. He's second among active receivers to Isaac Bruce with 14,364 career receiving yards. He's also been a six-time Pro-Bowler. But, when asked what his goal for 2009 entailed, Owens didn't shoot for the moon like you would expect a player with his accolades to do. In fact, all Owens wants to do is outperform Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams.

Owens opened his media briefing with a laugh and said: "I've been looking at my stats compared to Roy E. Williams' stats over there in Dallas, and my goal is to have better stats than him at the end of the season."

Asked if he regrets signing with Buffalo, Owens said:

"No, not at all. Everything happens for a reason. There are times, I'm human, and it's frustrating. I never want to go back and rethink things. But that's the nature of it."

As it stands right now, Owens has 242 yards receiving on 18 catches and one touchdown. He's played in all seven of the Bills' games thus far and averages 13.4 yards per reception.

Williams, on the other hand, has only played in five of Dallas' six games and has 12 receptions for 230 yards and a touchdown. Williams averages 19.2 yards per reception.

The first glaring detail upon looking at the schedules for both teams shows that Dallas has 10 games remaining -- Buffalo only nine. If both receivers play in all of their remaining games, it would seem that Williams has an advantage. But remaining games don't paint the full picture.

By taking a look at the strength of schedule for both teams' remaining games in reference to receiving yards allowed, you'll see that Buffalo has a much easier time. In the nine games left for Buffalo, they only face three defenses in the top-10 in receiving yards allowed. The average rank of the defenses left to face is 18.4. Dallas, unfortunately for Williams in this competition he didn't ask to compete in, faces seven top-10 receiving defenses with an average rank of 8.5.

Owens definitely has an easier road to travel and should be able to easily win this "bet", even though he has one less game to play. He also probably knew that the schedule favored him before he opened his mouth. Because you wouldn't think that Terrell Owens would stir up trouble aimlessly, without thinking about the consequences of his actions -- would you?

Terrell Owens Sets Goal: To Outperform Roy Williams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miles Austin Filling Dallas' T.O. Void

Thomas George — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Notebook

IRVING, Texas -- After Tony Romo had his "Eli moment'' Sunday, Miles Austin enjoyed a few "T.O. moments.''

Romo made like Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLII when he ducked and dodged Atlanta Falcons pass rushers and spun and flicked a 5-yard touchdown pass to receiver Patrick Crayton just before halftime. It was the last of 17 straight Cowboys points in the half, and gave Dallas a 17-7 lead en route to a 37-21 victory.

"You have to do something out of the ordinary once in a while,'' Romo said.

Austin, meanwhile, is making the extraordinary routine.

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His answer -- and the Cowboys' -- after a three-turnover sequence in the second quarter said plenty about both the player and the team.

Atlanta led 7-3 when Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins intercepted Matt Ryan at the Dallas 46. Two plays later Cowboys running back Felix Jones lost a fumble at the Atlanta 42. On the next possession, Ryan was stripped of the ball in pocket and Dallas recovered.

Three turnovers in three minutes.

Right then, right there, the Cowboys decided to go for the Falcons' throats, to unleash Austin, to line him wide right and simply let him run across the field and past the entire Falcons defense. To dominate. To make the Falcons defense back off and play in a hesitant fashion the rest of the way.

It worked -- Romo hit Austin for a 59-yard scoring bomb that put the Cowboys ahead for good.

Austin was able to do what T.O. occasionally used to for Dallas, and what the Cowboys first envisioned Roy Williams would do.

Dallas is embracing Austin.

The franchise has taken a 2006 undrafted free agent, who has been groomed for three seasons, and tossed him into a lead role. In Austin's first start, in Week 5 at Kansas City, he set the franchise single-game record for receiving yards with 250. His 171-yard follow-up Sunday against Atlanta gave Austin 421 in two games -- the second-most yards combined in consecutive games in NFL history.

"He's got a clear picture on how to work and what it takes to be successful and he's very humble,'' Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said of Austin.

Romo said that Austin has just been waiting for his opportunity -- he has it now.

Austin is a big, fast receiver that can break tackles and outrun a secondary. His receivers coach, Ray Sherman, is as good as it gets at teaching the position in the NFL. Romo, his quarterback, is as confident and hungry as he has been as Dallas' leader.

And Garrett is increasingly eager to call his number -- out of nowhere, Austin looks like the remedy for Dallas' Terrell Owens hangover.

A FLICKER ... SOON A FLAME: Before Kansas City's 37-7 loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs' Larry Johnson defended San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson's slow start to the season, and after the game, Johnson used Twitter to blast his head coach, Todd Haley.

The latter was predictable.

It was not going to work out with Johnson and Haley -- Johnson has too much baggage in Kansas City, and he's too immature, sensitive and moody. Like they did with Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs should have shipped Johnson out, rather than ask him to be a solution in a full-fledged rebuilding situation.

Haley came in swinging as Chiefs coach with grueling practices, blunt criticisms of his players, and with new general manager Scott Pioli drawing an iron curtain on the Chiefs' operations. Haley needed early success to prevent a Johnson blowup -- much like the reprieve new Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels gained with his 6-0 start after a heavy-handed arrival.

The Chiefs, however, are 1-6.

And their relationship will not improve with Johnson. This is just a flicker of an eventual fire that will burn the Chiefs.

IT TAKES A GREAT DEFENSIVE BACK TO KNOW ONE: Darren Sharper is one interception return for a touchdown shy of tying Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson's NFL record of 12.

Sharper had another one in the New Orleans big-play, 21-point comeback victory at Miami. He has now returned three picks for touchdowns this season.

Sharper was a senior at William & Mary when he first met Woodson, who was at the school to give a speech to the football program and participate in a football camp. Later, Woodson would play with Sharper's brother, Jamie, a linebacker, with the Baltimore Ravens.

Woodson, 44, played 17 NFL seasons from 1987 through 2003. Sharper, who turns 34 on Nov. 3, is in his 13th pro season.

"Three picks returned for touchdowns in one season is a lot. I think the most I had is two," Woodson said. "I think it is easier to do it at safety [where Sharper plays]. You are playing center field, and you have the entire middle of the field to work with. Most of my picks came in the last five years of my career when I moved to safety. It looks like Darren is taking advantage of being at safety. He is taking advantage of a lot of young quarterbacks in this league -- I see him doing a lot of damage ... to young quarterbacks over the next couple of years. I didn't realize he was that close to breaking this record.

"You take a good athlete and you put him at safety and if he is a smart player, there are many plays to be made. The Saints obviously trust Darren a lot and they are letting him be a quarterback back there on defense.

"You have to think that any interception records or yardage records on those are going to be broken as the league moves forward. The NFL is basically setting its rules up for offenses to throw the football. There are a lot of chances to do something great against these passing games. A player like Darren is suited for it.''

Miles Austin Filling Dallas' T.O. Void originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry Jones Locks In DeMarcus Ware With $40 Million Guaranteed

Michael David Smith — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never been shy about spending big for superstars, and on Monday he spent very big to lock in one of the best defensive players in the league.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware has agreed to a six-year contract extension that Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports is worth nearly $13 million per season and almost $40 million in guaranteed money.

The contract ensures that the 27-year-old Ware will play for the Cowboys, who selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft, through the prime years of his career.

Ware led the league with 20 sacks last season, and after starting slowly this season while playing with a stress fracture in his left foot, he has four sacks in the last two games. Ware has never missed a game in his five-year NFL career

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said of Ware, "I've been lucky to be around a lot of good ones. He's at the top of the class, and it doesn't take long to call the roll. He's an all-around player, and he plays the run well, too. That's what you really like about him."

Now Jones has spent enough to ensure that Ware will be leading the Cowboys' defense for years to come.

Jerry Jones Locks In DeMarcus Ware With $40 Million Guaranteed originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suddenly Slumping Giants Slip Back to NFC East Pack

Dan Graziano — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, NFL Analysis

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- This was to have been the Giants' get-right game. Sure, New Orleans beat them up last week, but the Saints are an undefeated team that was coming off a bye week and playing at home. The Giants spent the week shrugging off that loss and promising to be better this week at home against the Cardinals. The defense promised more blitzing and less trepidation. The offense promised to be sharper. To a man, the Giants were certain they'd come up with a big win Sunday night over the reigning NFC champs...and then they lost.

"For whatever reason, we've had two weeks in a row now where one area has not performed very well," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "So, back to the drawing board."

And back, whether they like it or not, into a three-team NFC East tussle where there's no clear favorite -- not even them.

More: Cards Flip the Script on Giants | Eagles Look to Close in on First Place

Through five weeks, the Giants stood 5-0 and appeared to be in control of the division. Preseason predictions about the Eagles as a serious threat and the Cowboys as sleeper faded. The Giants weathered injuries, showcased their depth and simply crushed second-rate opponents such as Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland. Safety Kenny Phillips went down. Defensive end Justin Tuck played hurt. Brandon Jacobs dealt strangely with some confusing an undefined emotional issues regarding his running style versus Ahmad Bradshaw's. But it was all okay, because the Giants looked like a team built to handle all of it.

But with Week 7 just about in the books, the picture looks a lot different. The Giants are now 5-2. The Cowboys are 4-2. And once they plaster the sad-sack Redskins tonight in the Eagles will be 4-2 and ready to host the Giants next Sunday in the first game of a NY/Philly football/baseball doubleheader sure to set records for profane Northeast sports fan trash talk.

"Am I concerned?" Tuck asked. "I'm not the kind of guy who gets concerned in Week 7. The last time we lost two games in a row this early in the season, we ended up being Super Bowl champs."

There remain enough players in this Giants locker room from the 2007-08 title team that they feel they can trade on that. The Giants carry themselves with a champion's confidence because, well, a lot of them are champions. They're entitled to the perspective that comes with that.

The problem is, this year's Giants team has yet to prove anything. The 5-0 record was a mirage. They opened with a shaky win over a terrible Washington team. They gave up 250 rushing yards to the Cowboys in Week 2 and would have lost but for a couple of dumb late Dallas decisions. And then they rolled three of the worst teams in the league. Now that they're playing teams like New Orleans and Arizona, the shortcomings are showing up:

-The young receivers, Mario Manningham in particular, still drop too many passes. Teams continue to crowd up front to stop Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, daring Eli Manning to beat them in the passing game. Sunday night, Manning couldn't do it. Sometimes he struggled with his reads with safeties in the box. Sometimes he hit a guy in the hands and saw him drop it. Three times, he couldn't get the play off in time and got called for delay of game. Other than a miracle play on which rookie Hakeem Nicks caught a deflected pass and ran it in for a 62-yard touchdown, the passing game did nothing Sunday night. And the running game, thanks to an aggressive Arizona defense that was determined to stop it, remained stuck in the mud.

-Teams are able to gain yards down the field against the middle of the Giants' defense. Phillips' absence is being felt, as are those of defensive tackle Chris Canty, linebacker Michael Boley and cornerback Aaron Ross. The defense made more plays Sunday than it did the week before in New Orleans, but it didn't do enough to stop the Cardinal receivers and, perhaps more distressingly, rookie Cardinals running back Beanie Wells.

-The punting game was off! 84-year veteran Jeff Feagles had a rotten game, averaging just 34.3 yards per punt. Coughlin took the blame for that, saying he instructed Feagles to make sure to kick the ball out of bounds and away from Cardinals return man Steve Breaston, but Feagles said he always tries to kick the ball out of bounds and needs to do a better job.

It's all part of a weird and surprisingly substandard vibe the Giants are giving off the past couple of weeks. After two years as a dominant NFC force, they have looked lately like a team that still has a ways to go before we can call it a Super Bowl contender.

"We have to find a way to rebound and get back to where we were at the beginning of the season," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. "This was a game we should have won."

The Cardinals, who have won the NFC title more recently than the Giants have, beg to differ. And the Giants' next six games are against the Eagles, Chargers, Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys and Eagles again -- teams whose combined record is 20-9. The Giants suddenly look vulnerable. They've succeeded in turning the NFC East into a real race when they didn't have to. And they enter Week 8 of the NFL season with just as much to prove as any other team in the league.

Suddenly Slumping Giants Slip Back to NFC East Pack originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confident Cowboys Deliver Billion-Dollar Performance Against Atlanta

Thomas George — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:07:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons

ARLINGTON, Texas -- As the Atlanta Falcons' team bus rolled toward the Cowboys' unique stadium on Sunday morning, where more than 81,000 fans would eventually swarm inside, safety Erik Coleman soaked in the sight. No doubt, he was not alone in wonderment.

"I thought to myself, 'So, this is what a billion dollars looks like,' " Coleman said. "And once the bus rolled inside of it we just kept riding and riding. Usually inside of a stadium, the bus stops pretty quickly.''

Not this time. No nasty halt for the Falcons. No rubber burned.

And the Falcons kept it going that way, opening like they were cozily at home, taking the game's first possession, keeping the ball for more than 8 minutes, and building a 7-0 first-quarter lead.

But then the stadium's walls seemed to close in on the Falcons. Or, at least, the Cowboys certainly began to constrict Atlanta.

Funky things started happening: a 59-yard pass for a Cowboys touchdown; a 73-yard Dallas punt return for another score; two Matt Ryan interceptions and one Ryan fumble, resulting in three Atlanta turnovers.

That 7-0 Falcons lead vanished into a 37-21 Dallas rout.

"We got 37 points, we got them in a lot of ways, so I think that means a lot against what people want to call a quality team,'' said Cowboys receiver/returner Patrick Crayton, who scored on the long punt return.

Both teams are now 4-2. But it was the Falcons who entered Sunday with more respect -- they had more victories against quality opponents, the Cowboys players heard. Dallas wanted a piece of that respect, and believed toppling Atlanta would get it.

It sounded a little silly, a little hyped, until you heard Dallas owner Jerrry Jones say, when asked about the margin of his team's victory in this game: "It really was the statement we were trying to make.''

OK, statement made. Right now, the Cowboys are better than the Falcons.

The Cowboys still have a chance to become an elite team, and they will get every shot they desire to earn the type of respect they seek. They even think that they may see the Falcons again, right here in the playoffs, with Sunday's victory paying off by helping to give Dallas the home-field edge in a potential rematch.

To get that far, though, the Cowboys will need a lot more efforts like they had Sunday, when they got it done on both sides of the ball.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo played a more seasoned game than Atlanta's Matt Ryan.

As Romo comfortably hit on 21-of-29 pass attempts, the Cowboys' pass rush made Ryan antsy. Several of his timing routes to his receivers, that were clicking early, became robot-like throws to the same spots, even though the defense had responded and the passing lanes were closing. Little wonder that Ryan finished with 16 incompletions.

The Dallas secondary made the biggest strides in this game, stepping more boldly in front of passes as the game wore on, jumping routes, jumping receivers, mauling them in their tackling. Cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman led this wave.

"Yes, I felt like we started to do that across the board but especially in the secondary,'' Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "I was concerned about the fact that we had the bye week and we were starting slowly. I thought maybe it would take us some time to really get going. Too much time. But our guys responded.''

It is always about that with the Cowboys. Responding.

With the billion-dollar building come the billion-dollar questions -- not to mention heightened expectations. Romo feels them. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett feels them.

Garrett was told in the locker room, after his offense had rolled up 414 yards, four touchdowns and three field goals, that some believed Dallas could not win this game if it was forced to score more than 24 points.

"Well, we live for another day, huh?'' Garrett said. "Maybe we silenced some of that for one day. Our receivers and tight ends got us into some one-on-one situations where they were able to execute. We had to win some battles and make some plays and we did that. It was good to see us show that kind of versatility.''

Dallas receiver Miles Austin showed it, scoring on catches of 59 and 22 yards. Austin finished with 6 catches for 171 yards. He has become a big player for Dallas who is making big plays.

The Cowboys and Garrett used Austin beautifully on the 22-yard-passing score. Austin was lined wide right in man coverage against Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes -- Austin is 6-foot-3, 214 pounds; Grimes 5-foot-10, 185. It made sense that, if the Cowboys could get Austin in open space near the end zone against Grimes, his size advantage could prove decisive.

Zip, zap. Austin catches the ball near the Atlanta 10-yard-line and Grimes flies past trying to tackle him. Touchdown.

All over the field, Dallas began to win the matchups. That Austin scoring grab made it 24-14 late in the third quarter. The Cowboys added 13 more points in the fourth.

"I looked back some there, took the wrong angle, he competed and he got away,'' Grimes said. "We missed too many tackles as a group all night.''

Coleman explained about the Falcons defense: "Sometimes we were getting caught up in things. We'd blitz and it didn't work, and we'd be in trouble downfield. Or sometimes it was something else unpredictable.''

"Uncharacteristic" is the word Falcons coach Mike Smith used to describe his team's disjointed effort.

"I think,'' Cowboys guard Leonard Davis said, "we started out a little too fast and ahead of ourselves and literally had to slow down and then increase the speed of the game from there. You know what I mean?''

Believe so. Davis is saying that the Cowboys enjoyed this battle against the Falcons. That they used the bye week to study this opponent intensely and knew them well. That they reveled in taking some of the Falcons' luster and slapping it on their own blue stars.

This victory makes Dallas interesting and relevant in the NFC once again.

"At the end of most days, I think we're pretty good,'' Romo said as he walked to his car after his steady, impressive day of work. "They started so fast, but you just can't let that affect your emotions or your plan for four quarters. Every NFL game has five or six different levels of playing, of how the games go.

"You have to keep grounded and going through the things you believe in. We did that. We're OK. We'll be all right. We've got a chance.''

Confident Cowboys Deliver Billion-Dollar Performance Against Atlanta originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tashard Choice Will See More Carries Against Atlanta

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, AFC East, NFL Injuries

Marion Barber, on his own blog, stated that he was well rested after Dallas' bye week and that his strained left quadriceps is "no longer a problem". Meanwhile, Felix Jones, who hasn't played since Week 3, is back at practice this week -- he's wearing a brace to protect his left knee, but he's still practicing.

With Barber and Jones back, why is it that Tashard Choice is going to get even more carries this week against Atlanta? The simple answer -- because Jerry Jones said so.

On his weekly radio show, Jerry Jones said that even though Barber was as healthy as he's been in two weeks, Choice would see more playing time. "Tashard certainly earned and is going to get a big part of the load."

This decision comes after Choice stepped in against Kansas City and rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. In fact, over the last three games the second-year running back out of Georgia Tech is averaging 69 yards per game and almost 5.2 yards per carry. Those numbers seem to warrant an increase in touches, but who will lose out if Choice handles the ball more?

That may not be an issue this Sunday against Atlanta. Even though Barber says his quad is healthy and that he's not banged up anymore, he still has a fractured left thumb. Barber may be able to run just fine but if he can't hold on to the ball he'll see less time on the field.

Felix Jones may also be able to return to play this Sunday but he's probably going to have to wear a knee brace. The bulky brace will not only slow him, but should sap his explosive play-making ability just a bit. And it's still not a certainty that he'll be able to play. Felix Jones said that the pain is still there at times, and he's still not 100%.

Just how much of an extra load Choice will carry remains a mystery. All we know is that Dallas expects Barber to be the starting running back and the rest of the plan will unfold within the game.

Fantasy Football Spin:
There aren't enough carries in a healthy Dallas backfield for Choice, Barber and Jones. Since there's never really a time when all three backs are completely healthy, you won't run into complaints for lack of playing time. With Choice earning this extra work he's now a usable FLEX starter, limited to weeks when he's facing a good matchup.

There also isn't enough information to determine if this new role is just for the Atlanta game or if Choice will be more involved moving forward. A lot of that will be determined by the health of Jones and Barber, but also watch to make sure that Choice keeps his high yards per carry average up.

If any of these three backs is on your fantasy football roster, it's imperative that you check the injury report every week. Their health will go a long way on a week-by-week basis to determine who sees more action.

Tashard Choice Will See More Carries Against Atlanta originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Should Chiefs Have Gone for Two?

Matt Snyder — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Cowboys, AFC West, NFC East, NFL Coaching

With less than 30 seconds left in a home tilt against the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs had the opportunity to win their first game of the season -- which would have also been the first win of Todd Haley's head coaching career. After a Dwayne Bowe touchdown, the Chiefs trailed by the Cowboys 20-19 with a conversion on the way. They could have converted a two-pointer and won the game. Instead, they opted to kick the extra point and tie the game.

The Chiefs eventually lost in overtime to the Cowboys, so let the second-guessing begin. Should Haley have gone for the 2-pointer and the victory?

Yes

The Chiefs are clearly the inferior team. They had allowed the Cowboys to romp for 202 yards on three second half drives, which accounted for 17 of the Cowboys' 20 points. They had no answer for Tony Romo or Miles Austin through the air and weren't exactly stuffing the run (the 'Boys averaged 5.8 yards per carry on the game). Simply put: it was pretty obvious the Chiefs' defense wasn't going to stop Dallas if they were on the field in overtime.

Thus, why not go for two? You are 0-4. It's only two yards. If, heading into the game, someone told the Chiefs you have one play to gain two yards to win the football game, don't you think they would have loved that? I guess not, because Haley didn't go for it. He took the safe way out when he should be doing everything he can to capture that elusive first victory.

No

You are at home and have all the momentum. Why chance losing the game on an unsuccessful two-point conversion when you can go for the sure thing and tie the football game? Plus, the Chiefs had just mounted their most successful drive of the game, going 74 yards in just 10 plays to tie the game. For the first time in three weeks, Bowe and Matt Cassel seemed to be on the same page.

It's easy to sit here and second guess, but what if the Chiefs had gone for two and been unsuccessful? Wouldn't everyone be crucifying them for not taking the tie and heading to overtime at home?

If the Chiefs won the toss in overtime, it seems pretty reasonable that they could have moved the ball into field goal range -- and Ryan Succop had already nailed a 47-yarder earlier in the game.

So, which was it? Vote in the poll to let us know and feel free to argue your case in the comments section.

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NFL Throwback Uniforms

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Football League (AFL), several teams have worn throwback uniforms this year. Tom Brady's New England Patriots were one of four teams in retro duds for Week 5. Click through to check out the rest.

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Image,

NFL Throwback Uniforms

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Image,

Denver Broncos or Wyoming Cowboys? The Broncos' AFL eyesores looked very similar to those currently worn by Wyoming of the Mountain West conference. Ugly or not, they worked -- Denver upset New England in overtime.

Barry Gutierrez, AP

At first glance, the Kansas City Chiefs' uniforms on Sunday, which they sported for an overtime loss to the Cowboys, didn't look that dissimilar from their current gear. But looks can be deceiving ...

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

... While the Chiefs got to keep their red and white on, they also wore the helmet of the Dallas Texans -- the AFL squad that moved to K.C. after 1962. It made for an odd scene with "Dallas" playing Dallas in Kansas City.

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

The Rams wore what may be the most recognizable of all the throwbacks, suiting up in their well-known yellow and blue jerseys with the ram-horn helmet. It's a look that St. Louis still has in the rotation as an alternate jersey.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

Should Chiefs Have Gone for Two? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miles Austin Makes Pair of Huge Plays, Sets Dallas Receiving Record

Chris Burke — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:52:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Cowboys

The Cowboys had no choice but to ask fill-in starter Miles Austin to step up after they were forced to leave injured wide receiver Roy Williams in Dallas.

It worked out pretty well.

Austin caught 10 passes for 250 yards -- breaking Hall of Famer Bob Hayes' previous single-game team receiving record of 246 yards -- and scored two extremely clutch touchdowns as Dallas pulled out a 26-20 win at Kansas City.

More: Check Box Score | McNabb, Eagles Roll | Giants Go to 5-0

Austin's first score came just prior to the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. With the Cowboys and Chiefs knotted at 13 and Dallas facing a third-and-5 at its own 41, Austin caught a Tony Romo bullet in traffic, broke a pair of tackles, and raced to the end zone to give his team a 20-13 lead.

Dallas was unable to hold that edge, though. The Cowboys' defense let Kansas City march down the field and tie the game at 20 in the final 30 seconds.

On the fourth possession of overtime, Austin made sure Dallas got its victory. On second-and-15 from the Cowboys' 40, Austin came back to the ball to catch a Romo pass and freed himself from a defender. He then burst up the sideline, going 60 yards for the game-winning score.

Prior to Sunday's sensational effort, Austin had made just five catches for 81 yards and a score in the first four weeks of the season. Last season, he had 278 yards receiving -- just 28 more than what he put up in Kansas City.

Miles Austin Makes Pair of Huge Plays, Sets Dallas Receiving Record originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cowboys Leave Injured Felix Jones, Roy Williams Home

Chris Burke — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Injuries

Dallas will be shorthanded for its game at Kansas City Sunday -- running back Felix Jones and wide receiver Roy Williams did not travel with the team due to injury, according to Chiefs' PR man Josh Looney.

Neither development is much of a surprise, though Williams' loss definitely hurts an offense that has struggled mightily at times this season. Williams got popped by Denver's D.J. Williams late in the Cowboys' Week 4 loss at Denver, and missed practice all this week with a lingering rib injury.

His absence will force Miles Austin into the Dallas starting lineup.

More Coverage: Week 5 Scoreboard | Cowboys-Chiefs Preview

Jones' absence isn't as damaging for Dallas -- but Jones might not want to stay out of the lineup for too long. With Marion Barber back from his own injury and Tashard Choice playing well, Jones could find himself in a reduced role once he returns.

The best news for the banged-up 'Boys is that Kansas City's not shown much of anything so far this season. Heading into K.C. isn't a gimme, but there are definitely worse opponents that Dallas could be matched up with. The Cowboys also have the benefit of a bye next week, so if they can survive the Chiefs and get to 3-2, they should be able to get back to full strength for a Week 7 game against Atlanta.

Cowboys Leave Injured Felix Jones, Roy Williams Home originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Tony Romo's Star Fading?

Nancy Gay — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys

DENVER -- So much about Tony Romo's rise to NFL stardom has seemed mythical -- the small college background, his undrafted status, his ascension to starter under Bill Parcells' direction, his Pro Bowl selections in 2006-'07, the celebrity girlfriends and lifestyle.

Now Romo's work performance as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is increasingly under scrutiny, as is team owner Jerry Jones' decision to give his famous starter a six-year, $67.5 million contract extension midway through the '07 season. Sunday's sloppiness in a 17-10 loss in Denver to the 4-0 Broncos only gives the Romo skeptics more fodder.

Fact is, Romo and the Cowboys were beaten at a difficult road venue, Invesco Field, by a fired-up opponent brimming with momentum and confidence.

"They are No. 1 for a reason," Romo said of his encounter with the NFL's top-ranked defense, which limited him to 255 passing yards, sacked him five times, forced two costly turnovers and stopped him two times from tossing a game-tying touchdown pass in the waning seconds from the Denver 2-yard line.

Is Romo slipping, or are the Cowboys (2-2) facing tougher opponents since a Week 1 victory over a winless Tampa Bay team?

In that 34-21 win over the Buccaneers, Romo passed for 353 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 140.6 passer rating. Since then, he's still efficient, completing 57.7 percent of his passes for 437 yards in losses to the Giants and Broncos and a win over the struggling Panthers.

But ball protection has become a problem: Romo has only one touchdown, three interceptions and a lost fumble in his last three games.

The Broncos' resurgent defense saw tendencies on film that they carried into Sunday's contest.

"Our game plan was to press the pocket and keep him in the pocket," said safety Reynaldo Hill, who had one of the five sacks on a backside blitz, a play that forced the lost fumble and led to a Denver touchdown on the next play. "You see, a lot of his good plays are outside of the pocket. We just did a good job of containing him and keeping him in there. We figured if we did that and played solid coverage, eventually the rush would get there."

That's exactly what happened.

"I was getting ready to pull the trigger," Romo said. "If I hadn't been throwing it, I don't think we'd have fumbled, but I was getting ready at that exact moment. I didn't know (Hill) was there."

Blindside pressure caused Romo to throw hurriedly and many drives ended with the Cowboys' air attack being smothered by Denver on obvious passing downs. The sacks also took their toll physically.

"It's tough when you're not executing up to (your) standards," Romo said. "We got into too many 3rd-and-long situations, and you've got to protect the ball in those situations. Make sure you can try to get (first downs) but just be careful with the throws."

"I think we always can do things better and differently. I think we can always improve. I think they obviously did well -- give them credit. They have good players, a good scheme and they did a good job."

Now America's Team is under fire for blowing fourth-quarter leads twice in three games, and the focus of criticism as always, is the starting quarterback. It's Week 5 and suddenly, the Cowboys trail the Giants in the NFC East by two games.

Coach Wade Phillips, facing the heat even more than Romo, knows the Cowboys can't afford to let the once-dependable passing game get away from them in the second quarter of the season.

"The problem is we weren't connecting on the shorter (passes)," Phillips said of Sunday's performance. "I think that's what hurt us because you can't open up the bigger ones if you don't complete the shorter passes. The eight to 12-yard passes, we didn't seem able to get those open, or connect on those well enough."

Is Tony Romo's Star Fading? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't Put 'Em in Canton Yet

Dave Goldberg — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Jets, NFL Quarterbacks

It's the line Bill Parcells always uses when a rookie or some other youngster has a big day: "Don't put 'em in Canton yet.''

On Sunday, the two non-Hall of Famers in question were Mark Sanchez and Tony Romo, who came up small in losses by the Jets and Cowboys. Sanchez gave the Saints 14 of their 24 points in a 24-10 loss by the Jets; Romo's turnovers gave seven points to the Broncos and took away at least three from Dallas in a 17-10 defeat.

This isn't to knock either guy.

It's a knock on the fans and the media -- you and me to be specific -- who see a young player do something good, even spectacular, and assume we're watching a budding superstar.

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I first heard the line from Parcells in August 1990, when Rodney Hampton, the Giants' first-round pick that year, ran 80-something yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball. The excited media in the Giants locker room immediately posed the "how great can he be'' question to the Tuna, who to be fair, was biased because he had instead wanted a linebacker named Darion Conner but had been out-voted in the draft room.

"Did you notice that the guys he made the run against will all be cut next week?'' Parcells said, a probability in an era where teams regularly brought as many as 120 players to camp. As it turned out, Hampton had a nice career. Despite an upright running style that made him injury-prone, he rushed for 6,897 yards in eight seasons and held New York's career rushing record until Tiki Barber sailed by him.

But this is about the two quarterbacks.

Sanchez first. Anyone who lives anywhere near New York or listens to the self-described "Worldwide Leader'' already thinks he's the rookie of the year. And he clearly has plenty of potential.

But he's a ROOKIE and rookie QBs rarely win -- Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are both better this season than they were last. All that stuff about being the first quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to go 3-0? The result of a silly stat -- maybe 15 years old -- that treats QBs as pitchers, awarding wins and losses.

Maybe saves are next. In that case, the saves this season for the Jets go to the defense. It is the reason they were unbeaten going to New Orleans and it is the reason they might have been unbeaten leaving New Orleans if Sanchez had played his part -- he gave the Saints 14 points; the defense allowed three to a team that had been averaging 40 until a late drive that put the game away.

First, Sanchez threw the ball near Darren Sharper, who is so old, he played at Wililam and Mary on the same college team with Mike Tomlin, the Steelers' coach. Or rather Sharper baited Sanchez, lurking in centerfield where Sanchez didn't see him. He timed his grab perfectly and went 99 yards with his 10th career touchdown return. He loves to do that. Now in his 13th season, he has 58 interceptions and especially loves to harass young QBs who play in New York.

In 2005, Sharper had three picks of Eli Manning in a game at the Meadowlands, returning one for a TD in a game the Giants totally dominated on offense but lost to the Vikings because of Sharper. In 2007, he did it to Eli again, returning an INT for a touchdown. Those games are part of Eli's negative lore -- the kind of Manning-bashing one ESPN anchor repeated during the Giants' Super Bowl run after that 2007 season by saying after he had played a good playoff game: "I really think he played well, but I have to find something to bash him about because Eli-bashing is what I do.''

Eli figures in the Romo saga, too.

In Dallas' other loss this season, two weeks ago, Manning calmly drove the Giants down the field late to set up Lawrence Tynes' winning field goal as time expired -- Eli is far more reliable than Tynes. Romo isn't even close to being able to do that regularly.

He was the main reason for the 17-10 loss in Denver Sunday, holding the ball too long and taking a sack on the 9-yard line in the second quarter with his team holding a 10-0 lead. The ball came out, the Broncos recovered, and scored on the next play. In the third quarter, with the Cowboys at the Denver 17, within easy shot of at least a field goal in a low-scoring game, he tried to force a ball to Myles Austin and Champ Bailey picked it off. So give him minus-10 points.

Then, after Brandon Marshall's brilliant catch and run had given Denver a 17-10 lead on the first play after the two-minute warning, Romo had a chance to redeem himself.

He almost did, hooking up with Sam Hurd on a 53-yard fourth-down play in which he twisted right as he was moving left and found his receiver. It was the kind of athletic ability that led folks to put him in Canton about two weeks after he got the starting job in 2006 -- from Parcells, incidentally, after the Tuna had groomed him for three years.

But unlike Eli -- who has a dozen game-winning drives in his short career, including one in a Super Bowl -- he couldn't finish. With three shots at a tying TD from the 2-yard-line, Romo kept throwing at receivers covered by Bailey, rarely a good idea. Not really his fault, but another little mark against him as a QB who doesn't quite have "IT.''

Unless "IT'' is Jessica Simpson or whoever his latest tabloid celeb girlfriend might be.

No. Don't put him in Canton yet.

Probably never.

Sanchez? We have no idea yet.

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DENVER - OCTOBER 04: Running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos rushes as DeMarcus Ware #94 and Bradie James #56 of the Dallas Cowboys pursue during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on October 4, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 17-10. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Knowshon Moreno;DeMarcus Ware;Bradie James

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: A Cleveland Browns fan holds up a sign in disappointment in ownership during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals rolls out to pass against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carson Palmer

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Joshua Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns returns a kick against the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joshua Cribbs

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Andre Caldwell #87 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with a catch against Eric Wright #24 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andre Caldwell;Eric Wright

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Jerome Harrison #35 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jerome Harrison

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns fires a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Anderson

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Joshua Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns breaks the tackle attempt by Michael Johnson #93 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joshua Cribbs;Michael Johnson

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Daniel Coats #86 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with a catch against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daniel Coats

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals lines up for a play against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chad Ochocinco

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 4: Head Coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals shouts instructions to his team during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marvin Lewis

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Don't Put 'Em in Canton Yet originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Marshall's TD Lifts Broncos to a 17-10 Win, Casts Aside His Discontent

Nancy Gay — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Cowboys

DENVER -- Wherever Brandon Marshall had been hiding throughout much of the Denver Broncos' 17-10 victory over the overhyped Dallas Cowboys at Invesco Field on Sunday, quarterback Kyle Orton was able to find him at the most opportune time.

With just under two minutes remaining and the score tied 10-10, Orton connected with Marshall along the right sideline on a stunning 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining, a play that may help doubters understand how the once-overlooked Broncos are now among the NFL's elite teams at 4-0.

"Yes! Yes!" Marshall screamed as kicker Matt Prater's PAT sailed through to give the Broncos a 17-10 advantage that they would preserve when cornerback Champ Bailey smacked away a potential game-tying Tony Romo touchdown pass to Sam Hurd on 4th down at the Denver 2-yard line in the closing seconds.

So it seems the preseason of Marshall's discontent has now given way to an all-for-one attitude with everyone in the Broncos' organization.

The first guy to hug Marshall on the sideline was rookie coach Josh McDaniels -- the same guy Marshall seemed so intent on alienating throughout a preseason in which the tempestuous receiver made numerous trade demands.

"It was probably one of the most emotional plays ever since Little League, and I had a bunch of them," said Marshall, who did not have a catch until the 5:06 mark of the third quarter. "I'm just grateful that we were able to capitalize on that look."

He finished with four catches for 91 yards, but the fourth quarter touchdown will be talked about for a long time in Denver, where fans are rejoicing the Broncos' first 4-0 start since 2003.

Matched up man-to-man against Cowboys left cornerback Terence Newman along the right sideline, Marshall executed a textbook inside release to get open and snare Orton's slightly underthrown pass.

Marshall cut inside, escaped the clutches of Ken Hamlin and Newman at the 15-yard line and outran nose tackle Jay Ratliff into the end zone. Newman complained afterward that Marshall held his jersey on the initial release.

"I could have swore it was going to be a penalty at the start," Newman said.

Instead, it was Marshall carving his way through Dallas' defense and taking advantage of a great block by tight end Daniel Graham to make a play that -- by all appearances -- made all the training camp drama seem like a rumor.

"Again, hats off to coach [McDaniels]," Marshall said. "He does a great job of preparing us for situational football, and that was a situation where we knew what personnel was on the field and what they do with that personnel. Before we even came out of the huddle, me and Kyle were on the same page and we took advantage of it."

Is Marshall a McDaniels believer now?

"You never heard me say anything [bad] about him coaching, or what he brings to the organization," Marshall said.

"I never complained about not being a part of the offense. I think when you take a new coaching staff and new players -- it is almost a new team -- it takes time to get that chemistry. You are not going to get that overnight. We still have a lot of work to do. I didn't expect to come into the season and put up huge numbers. I just need to play my position and do my job, and everything will be all right."

Orton, who was maligned during the preseason for his lack of execution, has yet to turn over the ball in the regular season. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, including a 9-yard scoring pass to rookie Knowshon Moreno in the second quarter.

The Broncos' top-ranked defense did a superb job of surrounding Romo and forcing the Cowboys quarterback to throw from the pocket -- where he is least comfortable -- and dumping him for five sacks. Elvis Dumervil had two of them, giving him eight sacks for the season and tying him for the league lead with Antwan Odom of the Bengals.

The containment plan worked. Romo fumbled twice -- losing one, which the Broncos converted into the Moreno TD catch -- and he threw an interception. The more Denver's linebackers and defensive backs chipped at him, the less accurate Romo became.

Dallas' running game also stalled, with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice combining for just 74 yards on 25 carries, with 18 of those rushes coming in the first half. Barber had only one touch in the final two quarters, and Denver's offense was held to 315 total yards.

On the Cowboys' final drive with just over a minute remaining, Romo kept it interesting by hooking up with Hurd on a 53-yard catch-and-run reception that helped move Dallas to prime scoring position.

But the Cowboys challenged one of the NFL's top cover cornerbacks in Bailey with the game on the line -- and it cost them dearly.

"I welcome it! Please do!" Bailey exclaimed about Romo throwing his way so often. "That's the only way that I get a chance to make plays."

So is all well now in Denver? It seems that way, with a 4-0 record. A Week 5 home game against the 3-1 New England Patriots will be a another test of where the resurgent Broncos are.

But McDaniels said the early Broncos doubters have to realize his team has a special resilience that is tough to beat.

"What other people thought about our team, what other people who are less educated than the ones inside the building thought about our team, doesn't really provide us with any reason to feel anything," McDaniels said. "It doesn't really matter."

Brandon Marshall's TD Lifts Broncos to a 17-10 Win, Casts Aside His Discontent originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry Jones: Give 4-0 Broncos Credit, Rather Than Bash 2-2 Cowboys

Nancy Gay — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Cowboys

DENVER -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to drown his sorrows in orange slices Sunday, grabbing them for sustenance in a stunned Dallas locker room as he contemplated his team's 17-10 loss to the undefeated Denver Broncos.

The NFL's top-ranked defense had harassed quarterback Tony Romo all afternoon at Invesco Field, stuffed Dallas' rushing attack and openly challenged cover cornerback Champ Bailey time after time. That proved to be the Cowboys' biggest mistake in a game filled with them.

More: Discontent No More, Marshall Saves the Day | Check Box Score

With one second remaining, Bailey swatted down what might have been a game-tying Romo touchdown pass to Sam Hurd at fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, sending the crowd of 76,440 into a frenzy over their 4-0 team in Denver.

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And Jones -- who could not have imagined his franchise could be 2-2 at this point -- tried to deflect what will be a difficult week of scrutiny for Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and Romo, who missed receivers badly, threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked five times.

"We're 2-2 and I'm not going to sit here and look like we've lost the Super Bowl," Jones said. "That's just not called for here. It's not in me. I'm going to give Denver a lot of credit. There is a reason they are 4-0. They hung in there. Stayed with it."

Dallas, despite rushing 25 times for only 74 yards and getting a 1-yard touchdown run from gimpy running back Marion Barber (11 attempts, 41 yards) maintained a 10-7 advantage until 5:58 of the fourth quarter.

The Broncos tied the game on a 28-yard Matt Prater field goal, then jumped ahead on Brandon Marshall's eye-popping 51-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Orton with 1:46 remaining.

"We could possibly have gotten up another score while we had that lead, and didn't. Give (the Broncos) some credit," a red-faced Jones said in a staggered Dallas locker room. "We knew before we played them that they were going to be tough to move the ball on. Whatever the reason, we didn't run the ball well - obviously I don't need to tell you that - in the second half."

Barber, who is nursing a thigh injury, had only one touch in the second half. Jones said he didn't know if anything was wrong with his top running back.

"Not that I'm aware of," said Jones, who conceded he was surprised by that because Barber had played well in the opening quarter. "I haven't had time to be surprised; I know of nothing (wrong with Barber) and I usually know. I didn't hear anything that I needed to know about Marion."

Jerry Jones: Give 4-0 Broncos Credit, Rather Than Bash 2-2 Cowboys originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Julius Peppers' Effort Leaves Something to Be Desired

JJ Cooper — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Panthers, NFC South, NFL Analysis

Every week we take a look at some aspect of line play--one of the most important but least noticed keys to a team's success. Click here for previous Between The Lines.

Julius Peppers isn't happy. He wanted to be anywhere but in Carolina this year, but when the Panthers franchised him, he was left with no choice but to return to the Panthers for another season.

Things could be worse. He's getting paid $16.7 million this year as the team's franchise player. After watching every snap of the Cowboys' game, it's hard to say he's earning it.

Two years ago, Peppers picked up only 2.5 sacks in an extremely disappointing season. But he bounced back last year to record 14.5 sacks. With the way he played on Monday, it's hard to see him getting back to double digits this year.Peppers finished the game with one tackle and one assist. He had no quarterback pressures and no sacks. He now has nine tackles and one sack in three games. For the Panthers' defense to work, Peppers has to create havoc. It's not happening.

Worse than the stats was the lethargy with which he played the game. If you're being charitable, you could say that Peppers played against the Cowboys with a lot of hesitation, as if he wanted to make sure he didn't get caught out of position. Instead of firing off the ball he took choppy steps and stood around. If you're more inclined to be harsh, you could say that he's trying to play his way out of Carolina.

When the Cowboys ran the ball, they were able to run right at Peppers. Tight end Jason Witten showed he could block Peppers single-handedly, like he did on three different occasions including runs of 10 and 18 yards. They were also able to fool Peppers, like they did on a Patrick Crayton 14-yard reverse. Peppers was left unblocked, but he found himself out of position as the backside contain when Crayton ran right on by him.

When the Cowboys ran away from Peppers, they didn't worry about Peppers using his speed to track down the ball carrier from the backside. With few exceptions he often stood around on those plays and just stalemated with left tackle Flozell Adams. One exception came when he ran downfield to jump on the pile on a run up the middle by Felix Jones, although he wasn't credited with an assist. Peppers' best play against the run came when he cut inside on a third and goal and helped tackle Tashard Choice to help force a field goal attempt. It was Peppers' only tackle on a running play.

But run stuffing has never been Peppers' biggest strength. He's one of the league's elite pass rushers as he's shown by racking up five different double-digit sack seasons. Against the Cowboys, Adams handled him with no problems. Carolina did move him around a little bit. He got a little better rush when lined up against right tackle Marc Colombo, although Colombo was able to push him past Tony Romo as Romo stepped up into the pocket. It was the same story when Peppers moved inside to defensive tackle. Peppers got penetration against guard Leonard Davis, but Davis then rode him outside as Romo stepped up.

There were even two plays when a Cowboys back was able to cut Peppers and handle him on pass plays. Peppers had no hurries or sacks, but he did have one tackle on a pass play where Romo decided to tuck and run. After rushing upfield on a speed rush, Peppers did cut back to track Romo down five yards downfield.

But that was it. There were more pass plays where Peppers simply stood up at the line and was content to give a half-hearted effort than there were plays where he came close to sacking Romo. The Cowboys did double-team Peppers on eight of his 59 snaps, but that was more a case of giving respect to a once-great defensive end rather than by need.

If you didn't know Pepppers' reputation and watched Monday night's game, you wouldn't pick him out as the Panthers' best defensive player. That title would probably go to linebacker John Beason. He wasn't even the Panthers' best defensive end on Monday--that would go to Charles Johnson. While Peppers was ineffective as a pass rusher, Johnson got to Romo to nearly force a fumble on one pass play (Romo's arm was coming forward so it was ruled an incomplete pass), he had two other plays where he nearly got to Romo.

Peppers wasn't even significantly better than his backup Tyler Brayton. Brayton had four tackles, blew up one running play with solid penetration into the backfield, made another tackle on a run away from him because he hustled down the line and nearly got to Romo on a pass play--all in significantly less playing time than Peppers. He may not have Peppers' ability, but Brayton's effort was an equalizer on Monday.

Being outproduced by his backup isn't what you would expect out of a $16.7 million man. But if Peppers keeps playing like he did on Monday, he may get his wish: it's hard to imagine the Panthers spending nearly $20 million to franchise Peppers next yearpers next year to get production like he's given in the first three weeks.

Between the Lines: Julius Peppers' Effort Leaves Something to Be Desired originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flozell Adams 3-for-3 on Fines

Chris Burke — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys

If there's anything in sports that would qualify as the opposite of Joe Dimaggio's epic 56-game baseball hit streak, it may be what Flozell Adams has cooking for the Cowboys so far in 2009.

Three games into the NFL season, Adams has been fined three times. The third wallet hit, a $7,500 blow, came down Wednesday, as Adams was punished for kicking at Carolina's Julius Peppers on Monday night (video here courtesy of Digital Sports Daily).

Adams was fined $5,000 for an unnecessary roughness penalty in Dallas' Week 1 win at Tampa Bay, and $12,500 for two incidents in a Week 2 loss to the Giants -- one of which was a trip on Justin Tuck that ended with Tuck injuring his shoulder.

"He just wants to protect the quarterback," coach Wade Phillips said.

As with the Tuck trip, Adams' attempt to upend Peppers seemed pretty apparent. As Dallas QB Tony Romo took a snap in the shotgun and handed off on a draw, Peppers took a couple of steps into the backfield, then cut upfield to chase down the play -- as he did so, Adams stuck his right leg out, nicking Peppers' leg and causing him to stumble.

For the record, Adams will make $1 million plus bonuses this season, the second year for a six-year, $43.8 million deal.

Flozell Adams 3-for-3 on Fines originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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