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Cowboys hope .500 not their fortune
08:10 PM CST on Thursday, November 2, 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – It's just one game, but the Cowboys know there is a huge difference between being 5-3 at the midway point of the season, which would be the case if they win Sunday at Washington, and 4-4.
"We need to get on a roll," running back Julius Jones said. "Four-and-four means you're average. Five-and-three means you're a winning team, and we want to definitely be a winning team."
As much as the team has been energized by last week's win at Carolina, coach Bill Parcells has stressed it would mean nothing if it is followed up by a loss to the Commanders.
The Cowboys, who were 5-3 at the halfway point last season, trail the New York Giants in the division by one game and go to Giants Stadium on Dec. 3. While the Cowboys are in the middle of three games away from home, the Giants are in the middle of a three-game homestand.
Witten benefits when Romo plays: Much was made of Terrell Owens' involvement in the offense in Tony Romo's first start, but tight end Jason Witten also had season highs in catches (six) and yards (80).
Romo and Witten came to the Cowboys together in 2003 and have forged a close friendship.
"I understand what he likes and what he doesn't like," Witten said. "For him, he's throwing to the open guy. I don't think he's thinking, 'Where's Jason?' I don't think our relationship means I'm going to be getting more balls."
Commanders have similar QB situation: The Cowboys made a change at quarterback from a veteran in Drew Bledsoe to an unproven Tony Romo and won last week. Washington coach Joe Gibbs has a veteran in Mark Brunell and an unproven backup in Jason Campbell, but he is not ready to take a chance.
Brunell is the third-rated passer in the NFC. He has seven touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He has been sacked only 11 times, including six against the Cowboys. But the Commanders have scored more than 22 points only twice this year.
With Brunell banged up last week during the bye, Campbell, a first-round pick last year, took turns with the first-team offense.
"He's definitely the future for the Commanders," Gibbs said. "He's done nothing but do all the things we thought he would do when he came in. It just so happens in the situation here, there is a veteran quarterback playing in front of him. At some point, he will get his chance."
Polite returns to roster: With Oliver Hoyte being put on the injury report with an arm injury, the Cowboys re-signed fullback Lousaka Polite and cut running back Keylon Kincade.
Hoyte suffered the injury Sunday at Carolina and struggled in Wednesday's practice, prompting the call to Polite, who was waived Oct. 20. Polite's time could be short because Parcells said Hoyte was much improved Thursday, but the coach is concerned about the lack of runners on the roster.
"If I didn't bring Polite in [Thursday], he wouldn't have been able to practice anything or learn the game plan," Parcells said. "He would have been on the fly. So we just had to do it. He was down in Florida. That's why I didn't sleep last night."
Briefly: Rookie defensive end Jason Hatcher (ankle) practiced for the second straight day, but Parcells is not sure Hatcher will play at Washington.
E-mail tarcher@***BANNED-URL***
08:10 PM CST on Thursday, November 2, 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – It's just one game, but the Cowboys know there is a huge difference between being 5-3 at the midway point of the season, which would be the case if they win Sunday at Washington, and 4-4.
"We need to get on a roll," running back Julius Jones said. "Four-and-four means you're average. Five-and-three means you're a winning team, and we want to definitely be a winning team."
As much as the team has been energized by last week's win at Carolina, coach Bill Parcells has stressed it would mean nothing if it is followed up by a loss to the Commanders.
The Cowboys, who were 5-3 at the halfway point last season, trail the New York Giants in the division by one game and go to Giants Stadium on Dec. 3. While the Cowboys are in the middle of three games away from home, the Giants are in the middle of a three-game homestand.
Witten benefits when Romo plays: Much was made of Terrell Owens' involvement in the offense in Tony Romo's first start, but tight end Jason Witten also had season highs in catches (six) and yards (80).
Romo and Witten came to the Cowboys together in 2003 and have forged a close friendship.
"I understand what he likes and what he doesn't like," Witten said. "For him, he's throwing to the open guy. I don't think he's thinking, 'Where's Jason?' I don't think our relationship means I'm going to be getting more balls."
Commanders have similar QB situation: The Cowboys made a change at quarterback from a veteran in Drew Bledsoe to an unproven Tony Romo and won last week. Washington coach Joe Gibbs has a veteran in Mark Brunell and an unproven backup in Jason Campbell, but he is not ready to take a chance.
Brunell is the third-rated passer in the NFC. He has seven touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He has been sacked only 11 times, including six against the Cowboys. But the Commanders have scored more than 22 points only twice this year.
With Brunell banged up last week during the bye, Campbell, a first-round pick last year, took turns with the first-team offense.
"He's definitely the future for the Commanders," Gibbs said. "He's done nothing but do all the things we thought he would do when he came in. It just so happens in the situation here, there is a veteran quarterback playing in front of him. At some point, he will get his chance."
Polite returns to roster: With Oliver Hoyte being put on the injury report with an arm injury, the Cowboys re-signed fullback Lousaka Polite and cut running back Keylon Kincade.
Hoyte suffered the injury Sunday at Carolina and struggled in Wednesday's practice, prompting the call to Polite, who was waived Oct. 20. Polite's time could be short because Parcells said Hoyte was much improved Thursday, but the coach is concerned about the lack of runners on the roster.
"If I didn't bring Polite in [Thursday], he wouldn't have been able to practice anything or learn the game plan," Parcells said. "He would have been on the fly. So we just had to do it. He was down in Florida. That's why I didn't sleep last night."
Briefly: Rookie defensive end Jason Hatcher (ankle) practiced for the second straight day, but Parcells is not sure Hatcher will play at Washington.
E-mail tarcher@***BANNED-URL***
