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[SIZE=+2]This is from last year right before Training Camp. I thought it was the best article as a primer to Camp and would be a fun read to get us ready for this year. I challenged Todd Archer to top this article and I'm really hoping he can. IMO, this was the best article of the pre-camp days last year.
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[SIZE=+2]Cowboys in San Antonio, driving for Arizona
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]11:39 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE] SOMEWHERE ALONG INTERSTATE 35 – On the tiny TV screen inside the Ford Expedition, Journey's Steve Perry is singing "Don't Stop Believin' " from a 1981 concert stop in Houston.
It's a fitting song title for the car's occupants.
In the driver's seat, Jason Witten is belting out the lyrics, while Terence Newman mimics playing the drums in the passenger seat. In one of the back seats, Tony Romo hits the highest of high notes, sounding like a karaoke singer at a local club.
"It's because I think I can sing like him," Romo said of his Journey infatuation. "I'm kidding. I can't."
More than three hours later, Witten, Newman and Romo have arrived at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk, the Cowboys' training camp headquarters, slightly stiff from the drive but full of hope.
In 2003, they arrived in San Antonio with different expectations. Newman came in as the fifth overall pick; Witten arrived as a third-round pick; and Romo was an undrafted free agent.
This year they are among the most important players on the roster as the Cowboys hope to end the season at Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.
"There's a lot of energy around here with Wade [Phillips]," Witten said of his new coach. "I think we're all just excited about where we're headed. There's a lot of work to do, but this is the process."
Cowboys beat writer Todd Archer rode along with Witten, Newman and Romo on their trip from Dallas to San Antonio.
The following is a chronicle of their journey:
10:44 a.m. – Witten's Ford pulls out of the Cowboys' Valley Ranch complex now that Romo has arrived and heads to Newman's Uptown home. Witten's wife, Michelle, has baked some chocolate chip cookies and brownies for the ride.
"Watch, Romo will eat all of them," Witten said.
11:08 a.m. – "We're going to die," Romo says out loud as Witten eases (ahem) his way onto I-35E South. That will be a constant refrain from the quarterback, good-natured teasing of his buddy, although Witten's late braking gets to even Newman later.
11:30 a.m. – The trip begins down an alley where Newman's neighbor, running back Julius Jones, is waiting in his Range Rover.
"Let's ride," Jones says.
"We're just the Griswolds in here," Witten shouts back, referencing National Lampoon's Vacation.
11:34 a.m. – I-35 is filled with traffic thanks to an accident – not a good start to the trip. Newman finds an "I love Mommy" bib belonging to Witten's son, C.J., and quickly hangs it from the rearview mirror.
11:50 a.m. – Romo cracks open his playbook while Witten and Newman discuss the cost of cars. When it's suggested Romo is studying because he knows it will make the newspaper, he's ready with an answer.
"No, I don't want to get yelled at when I get down there," Romo says.
11:59 a.m. – Construction and a convoy of construction vehicles has Witten and Jones stuck. Four minutes later, they exit onto an access road and speed ahead of the convoy as the construction lightens up. Jones, however, nearly gets caught behind another set of trucks but makes it through.
12:14 p.m. – "Tiger right, Jay?" Romo says, quizzing Witten about the playbook. "Tell me where everybody is at."
Witten gets the answer right. The players continue with the questions with Newman giving the defense's reaction to different formations.
12:21 p.m. – Italy is the home of safety Keith Davis, but more important, a McDonald's and Subway. Oh yeah, a gas station, too. Romo quickly makes his way to the Subway for a sub.
Newman and Jones go to McDonald's. Newman goes with a couple of Filet O' Fish sandwiches, and Jones gets the two cheeseburger meal.
1 p.m. – Witten's Expedition becomes a mobile I Love the 80's headquarters with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' " blaring from the speakers. Seamlessly, Romo adds, "Oh, my gosh, we're going to die" into the lyrics as Witten moves onto the highway.
1:11 p.m. – More Journey. Specifically, more "Don't stop believing'." Only this time it comes from Witten's iPod, and Romo, holding onto his hat, sticks his head out the window to sing.
Finally some diversity in the music selection as Witten punches up Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight."
"Best warmup song out there," Witten said.
Newman pulls a blue mouthpiece from his backpack.
"You got me pumped right now," he says.
1:26 p.m. – "Oh, he's got us," Witten says.
A police car appears behind Witten, but Witten is not speeding. Witten moves into the middle lane, and the police car drives by harmlessly.
"Jason might be the only person in the history of the world to pull over before he even gets pulled over," Newman jokes.
1:53 p.m. – Tired of the music, Romo puts Hannibal Rising into the DVD player.
2:05 p.m. – A quick rain storm is a sign of things to come, and Witten keeps the wipers on a little too long.
"I think it's stopped raining," Newman points out.
2:24 p.m. – The rain returns, and they are about 100 miles from San Antonio. Traffic is crawling along with little visibility as the highway floods a little. Three minutes later, pea-sized hail starts to pelt the car but not too seriously.
2:46 p.m. – To the right is the indoor practice facility at the University of Texas. In the distance are the lights to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
"Did it get loud there?" Witten asks Newman, who played at Kansas State.
3 p.m. – In need of a bathroom break, Witten pulls into a Shell station. Romo picks up some water and beef jerky. Newman gets an orange juice and peanuts. Witten goes with some sunflower seeds and a Gatorade. Jones gets a share of snacks too, but he's got another problem: a nail of some kind is in his left rear tire. He wonders if he should take it out but opts against it.
3:14 p.m. – "You ever been in an accident?" Newman asks Witten.
"No."
"How the heck you ever do that?" Newman replies as Witten gets back onto I-35.
3:22 p.m. – Romo calls Bruce Mays, the Cowboys' director of football operations, to tell him they are about an hour from San Antonio. Tiring of the movie, he fast-forwards to the end and decides to lighten the mood with Talladega Nights.
3:38 p.m. – "Thirty-eight miles, boys," Witten said in a mix of relief and anticipation. Soon all three are quoting lines from the movie and laughing.
4:10 p.m. – The Alamodome is finally visible in the distance. Newman, acting as co-pilot, is reading the directions as Witten pulls off the highway onto Commerce Street.
4:13 p.m. – A little boy is wearing a Witten jersey. At a red light, Newman puts the window down and screams, "Jason Witten is right here. That's Jason Witten."
A woman, however, yells back, "Terence, Terence," as Witten turns onto Alamo.
4:15 p.m. – Witten makes the left onto Market Street toward the hotel with his window down, and fans instantly recognize him. He pulls down the ramp into the garage.
One trip is over. Another begins.
