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• On Sunday, Bill Parcells wore a shirt that read, "Who's all in?" On Monday, he had one that read: "Every day is hump day," which included a picture of a camel.
• Players hate the Gauntlet, this rubber-foamed contraption they have to run through. Drew Bledsoe skipped his turn, running on the outside before heading to position drills. A veteran can get away with that.
• Linebacker Rocky Boiman is wearing a shin pad on his right leg. Nothing serious. He didn't miss any time.
• Rookie Demetris Summers better pick it up in the pass-blocking department. He whiffed on at least two attempts and was thrown out of the drill by running backs coach Anthony Lynn.
• The offensive line had a very good workout, especially in the running game. It actually carried over from Sunday's practice. Julius Jones was all smiles after practice. It was hard to pinpoint one player because they all took their turns. Jason Witten was especially strong on the outside, and Terrell Owens even blocked Greg Ellis, prompting a low-five from receivers coach Todd Haley.
• Mike Vanderjagt missed two field goals Monday, giving him three in two days. Before his last miss even hit the ground, he groaned, "Oh, my God." It was like a golfer knowing he hit a bad drive before he finished his follow-through.
• Rookie Pat Watkins is turning some heads. He intercepted Tony Romo on a fleaflicker pass to Terrance Copper, covering a ton of ground after he got sucked up into the run. Watkins' 6-5 frame is odd for a safety, but he can gobble up space with his long strides.
• Keep an eye on undrafted receivers Sam Hurd and Miles Austin. They might be keepers.
• Receiver J.R. Tolver and safety Keith Davis got into a brief skirmish. Parcells hates those dustups because he doesn't think it's part of the game. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer got on Davis for it, too.
Posted by Todd Archer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 3:20 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
The man behind Petitti...
Just spent 45 minutes with Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek, who has agreed to do for me what he did for offensive tackle Rob Petitti.
Actually, Juraszek explained to me why Parcells has labeled Petitti the most improved player on the team.
Juraszek was at the Senior Bowl before the 2005 draft when Petitti showed up at 363 pounds! Bill Parcells turned to him and said, "There's your project!"
No one on the Cowboys' staff has spent as much time with Petitti as Juraszek. In fact, he's planning to "light a fire under" Petitti this afternoon because he hasn't been taking his workouts to the field so far in camp.
My column on Petitti and his massive body overhaul will show up sometime tomorrow evening.
OK, back in a moment with my practice report.
m
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 3:01 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Let's clear something up in the kicking game...
The signing of Cal punter Tyler Fredrickson does not mean Mat McBriar has serious competition.
Parcells just doesn't want McBriar's leg to get tired. And yes, I know that sounds ridiculous.
Fredrickson will also get a shot at being a kickoff specialist if Mike Vanderjagt's not up to the task. At this point, Vanderjagt hasn't even worked on kickoffs.
For those of you suggesting that Fredrickson's ability to punt and kick off would free up a roster spot, you're heading down the wrong path.
Parcells thinks his Australian Rules punter (McBriar) could emerge as one of the best punters in the game. McBriar hasn't always been consistent, but he has a huge leg. He's also very effective on placement kicks.
Unless McBriar gets injured, he's here to stay. Fredrickson is an emergency player in case Vanderjagt can't kick it past the 20-yard line.
m
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:59 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Big crowd a practice
A huge crowd showed for this morning's practice. Especially for a weekday.
OK, now I'm going to bang out my daily practice report, which will include at least two fights and some breaking Sam Hurd news. I'm serious.
This free-agent rookie wide receiver out of Northern Illinois turned some heads this morning. The Cowboys continue to have success with players from directional schools in Illinois (see Tony Romo).
Stay tuned!
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:51 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Time for Romo to step up
This nugget from Bill Parcells' news conference stuck out: It's time for backup quarterback Tony Romo to step up.
Parcells said Romo is going to play a lot in the preseason and from the looks in practice, he's getting way more reps than No. 3 QB Drew Henson and No. 4 Jeff Mroz, whom Parcells calls "Genius" because he went to Yale.
"I will play Tony a lot in the preseason," Parcells said. "I have to decide where he is in this room. Our plans are to play him a lot."
When asked what happens if Romo fails to produce, meaning establish himself as the No. 2 QB, Parcells said: "What do you think? You go to a different school. That's a possiblity for every player on the field."
Parcells was also asked if the Cowboys would sign another quarterback if Romo were cut. "We're always looking, and we would go with what we had in the meantime," he said.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:49 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Jean-Jacques Taylor book signing
Just got back from Jean-Jacques Taylor's book signing.
You know the book: "Game of My Life," a story of some of the best games in Cowboys' players history.
Taylor is sitting here with former Cowboys defensive back James Washington at the book signing.
It's been a long, long day for Taylor.
In the morning practice, former Cowboy Calvin Hill asked Taylor: "Are you creole?"
I guess Mr. Hill thought with Taylor's first name meant he was from New Orleans.
And no, Jacques is not creole.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:30 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
T.O. with two drops; defense playing well
Terrell Owens has three dropped passes in the past two days of camp. He dropped a low throw from Drew Bledsoe on Sunday and he dropped two more in the morning practice today.
Both throws were off the finger tips.
No biggie. Owens and Terry Glenn are still the two best receivers on the field.
Owens, by the way, wore black tights and black shoes during practice.
The running game is still kinda slow in practice, and Bill Parcells said the defense is ahead of the offense right now.
Roy Williams, Patrick Watkins, Aaron Glenn and Keith Davis are very active among the secondary players. Williams is knocking guys down with shoulder.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:10 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
• Players hate the Gauntlet, this rubber-foamed contraption they have to run through. Drew Bledsoe skipped his turn, running on the outside before heading to position drills. A veteran can get away with that.
• Linebacker Rocky Boiman is wearing a shin pad on his right leg. Nothing serious. He didn't miss any time.
• Rookie Demetris Summers better pick it up in the pass-blocking department. He whiffed on at least two attempts and was thrown out of the drill by running backs coach Anthony Lynn.
• The offensive line had a very good workout, especially in the running game. It actually carried over from Sunday's practice. Julius Jones was all smiles after practice. It was hard to pinpoint one player because they all took their turns. Jason Witten was especially strong on the outside, and Terrell Owens even blocked Greg Ellis, prompting a low-five from receivers coach Todd Haley.
• Mike Vanderjagt missed two field goals Monday, giving him three in two days. Before his last miss even hit the ground, he groaned, "Oh, my God." It was like a golfer knowing he hit a bad drive before he finished his follow-through.
• Rookie Pat Watkins is turning some heads. He intercepted Tony Romo on a fleaflicker pass to Terrance Copper, covering a ton of ground after he got sucked up into the run. Watkins' 6-5 frame is odd for a safety, but he can gobble up space with his long strides.
• Keep an eye on undrafted receivers Sam Hurd and Miles Austin. They might be keepers.
• Receiver J.R. Tolver and safety Keith Davis got into a brief skirmish. Parcells hates those dustups because he doesn't think it's part of the game. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer got on Davis for it, too.
Posted by Todd Archer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 3:20 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
The man behind Petitti...
Just spent 45 minutes with Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek, who has agreed to do for me what he did for offensive tackle Rob Petitti.
Actually, Juraszek explained to me why Parcells has labeled Petitti the most improved player on the team.
Juraszek was at the Senior Bowl before the 2005 draft when Petitti showed up at 363 pounds! Bill Parcells turned to him and said, "There's your project!"
No one on the Cowboys' staff has spent as much time with Petitti as Juraszek. In fact, he's planning to "light a fire under" Petitti this afternoon because he hasn't been taking his workouts to the field so far in camp.
My column on Petitti and his massive body overhaul will show up sometime tomorrow evening.
OK, back in a moment with my practice report.
m
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 3:01 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Let's clear something up in the kicking game...
The signing of Cal punter Tyler Fredrickson does not mean Mat McBriar has serious competition.
Parcells just doesn't want McBriar's leg to get tired. And yes, I know that sounds ridiculous.
Fredrickson will also get a shot at being a kickoff specialist if Mike Vanderjagt's not up to the task. At this point, Vanderjagt hasn't even worked on kickoffs.
For those of you suggesting that Fredrickson's ability to punt and kick off would free up a roster spot, you're heading down the wrong path.
Parcells thinks his Australian Rules punter (McBriar) could emerge as one of the best punters in the game. McBriar hasn't always been consistent, but he has a huge leg. He's also very effective on placement kicks.
Unless McBriar gets injured, he's here to stay. Fredrickson is an emergency player in case Vanderjagt can't kick it past the 20-yard line.
m
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:59 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Big crowd a practice
A huge crowd showed for this morning's practice. Especially for a weekday.
OK, now I'm going to bang out my daily practice report, which will include at least two fights and some breaking Sam Hurd news. I'm serious.
This free-agent rookie wide receiver out of Northern Illinois turned some heads this morning. The Cowboys continue to have success with players from directional schools in Illinois (see Tony Romo).
Stay tuned!
Posted by Matt Mosley http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:51 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Time for Romo to step up
This nugget from Bill Parcells' news conference stuck out: It's time for backup quarterback Tony Romo to step up.
Parcells said Romo is going to play a lot in the preseason and from the looks in practice, he's getting way more reps than No. 3 QB Drew Henson and No. 4 Jeff Mroz, whom Parcells calls "Genius" because he went to Yale.
"I will play Tony a lot in the preseason," Parcells said. "I have to decide where he is in this room. Our plans are to play him a lot."
When asked what happens if Romo fails to produce, meaning establish himself as the No. 2 QB, Parcells said: "What do you think? You go to a different school. That's a possiblity for every player on the field."
Parcells was also asked if the Cowboys would sign another quarterback if Romo were cut. "We're always looking, and we would go with what we had in the meantime," he said.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:49 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
Jean-Jacques Taylor book signing
Just got back from Jean-Jacques Taylor's book signing.
You know the book: "Game of My Life," a story of some of the best games in Cowboys' players history.
Taylor is sitting here with former Cowboys defensive back James Washington at the book signing.
It's been a long, long day for Taylor.
In the morning practice, former Cowboy Calvin Hill asked Taylor: "Are you creole?"
I guess Mr. Hill thought with Taylor's first name meant he was from New Orleans.
And no, Jacques is not creole.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:30 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
T.O. with two drops; defense playing well
Terrell Owens has three dropped passes in the past two days of camp. He dropped a low throw from Drew Bledsoe on Sunday and he dropped two more in the morning practice today.
Both throws were off the finger tips.
No biggie. Owens and Terry Glenn are still the two best receivers on the field.
Owens, by the way, wore black tights and black shoes during practice.
The running game is still kinda slow in practice, and Bill Parcells said the defense is ahead of the offense right now.
Roy Williams, Patrick Watkins, Aaron Glenn and Keith Davis are very active among the secondary players. Williams is knocking guys down with shoulder.
Posted by Calvin Watkins http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:10 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)
, so we can thank Roy Williams for saving us fans from seeing that disgusting sight!! 
