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By Paul Tenorio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 25, 2007; Page E06
The Dallas Cowboys, who hold home-field advantage for the playoffs, may or may not rest their starters this weekend in the regular season finale against the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders, however, say they will not let speculation about who is playing affect their approach. "We're going to prepare for this game just like we prepare for all of our other games," safety Pierson Prioleau said. "We'll leave it up to [the media] to talk about who will play and who won't play. We don't do this in our locker room or in our team. We prepare every week the same."
Wide receiver Santana Moss agreed.
"I expect them to come out here and play us. The rivalry speaks for itself," Moss said. "I think they're going to be smart, but at the same time we're going to be smart. We've got to go out there and try to win regardless of the situation."
Coach Joe Gibbs said he isn't sure what the Cowboys' philosophy will be but said the Commanders must prepare to face a Dallas team that will "go hard."
"People's mind-set, you don't know what it is," Gibbs said. "I know ours always was we weren't going to lose momentum. I don't think they will. I think they'll go hard. . . . I would have to say they'll come after this as hard as they can."
Seen From Above
During his news conference Monday, Gibbs joked that he was handing out game balls to two staff members he said alerted coaches to the fact that Minnesota had 12 men on the field on a crucial fumble in the second half. Gibbs challenged the play and won, reversing the play. Clinton Portis scored a touchdown seven plays later to seal the victory.
"Billy Khayat [the quality-control coach-offense, who is in the booth upstairs] . . . is always kind of looking at their personnel and everything, he initially said, 'Hey, there were 12 guys on the field.' And then Todd Davis is upstairs with us and he's the one responsible . . . for getting the video shots of each play. And he immediately when he heard that he took the shot that we had, flipped it over and circled everybody and there were 12 guys on it. So the combination of Billy and Todd, a great job on their part," Gibbs said, then joked about the rest of the staff's reaction. "Of course, everybody else up there was screaming," Gibbs said, laughing. "They don't get anything. They don't get any credit and I don't get any credit for throwing the flag. That was easy."
Injury Updates
Fullback Mike Sellers suffered a concussion Sunday but should be cleared to play this weekend, according to Bubba Tyer, the team's director of sports medicine.
After taking a hit on the opening kickoff of the second half against the Vikings, Sellers initially lay motionless on the field and was stabilized by the medical staff while a cart was brought out. He jumped to his feet and jogged off, later saying he could have reentered the game, but NFL rules prohibit a player diagnosed with a concussion to return to a game.
On Monday, Tyer said Sellers showed no signs of problems after the flight home Sunday night and will be evaluated later in the week as called for by the NFL's concussion policy.
"He'll be monitored throughout the course of the week, and a decision will be made at the end of the week if he's going to play or not," Tyer said. "But we expect him probably to play as good as he was doing [Sunday] night." . . .
Lineman Lorenzo Alexander (bruised shoulder), linebackers H.B. Blades (knee), and Khary Campbell (finger dislocation), wide receiver Keenan McCardell (calf), and safeties Pierson Prioleau (hamstring) and Vernon Fox (thumb) all have minor injuries but should be fine for Dallas. . . . Offensive lineman Mike Pucillo (back) is still out, and tight end Todd Yoder (knee) will continue to be evaluated and hopes to run by the end of the week. . . . Safety LaRon Landry did not re-injure his quadriceps Sunday and should continue to get stronger this week, and safety Reed Doughty (shoulder) suffered a pinched nerve, but the injury was "not that big a deal" and shouldn't limit him against Dallas, Doughty said.
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Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 25, 2007; Page E06
The Dallas Cowboys, who hold home-field advantage for the playoffs, may or may not rest their starters this weekend in the regular season finale against the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders, however, say they will not let speculation about who is playing affect their approach. "We're going to prepare for this game just like we prepare for all of our other games," safety Pierson Prioleau said. "We'll leave it up to [the media] to talk about who will play and who won't play. We don't do this in our locker room or in our team. We prepare every week the same."
Wide receiver Santana Moss agreed.
"I expect them to come out here and play us. The rivalry speaks for itself," Moss said. "I think they're going to be smart, but at the same time we're going to be smart. We've got to go out there and try to win regardless of the situation."
Coach Joe Gibbs said he isn't sure what the Cowboys' philosophy will be but said the Commanders must prepare to face a Dallas team that will "go hard."
"People's mind-set, you don't know what it is," Gibbs said. "I know ours always was we weren't going to lose momentum. I don't think they will. I think they'll go hard. . . . I would have to say they'll come after this as hard as they can."
Seen From Above
During his news conference Monday, Gibbs joked that he was handing out game balls to two staff members he said alerted coaches to the fact that Minnesota had 12 men on the field on a crucial fumble in the second half. Gibbs challenged the play and won, reversing the play. Clinton Portis scored a touchdown seven plays later to seal the victory.
"Billy Khayat [the quality-control coach-offense, who is in the booth upstairs] . . . is always kind of looking at their personnel and everything, he initially said, 'Hey, there were 12 guys on the field.' And then Todd Davis is upstairs with us and he's the one responsible . . . for getting the video shots of each play. And he immediately when he heard that he took the shot that we had, flipped it over and circled everybody and there were 12 guys on it. So the combination of Billy and Todd, a great job on their part," Gibbs said, then joked about the rest of the staff's reaction. "Of course, everybody else up there was screaming," Gibbs said, laughing. "They don't get anything. They don't get any credit and I don't get any credit for throwing the flag. That was easy."
Injury Updates
Fullback Mike Sellers suffered a concussion Sunday but should be cleared to play this weekend, according to Bubba Tyer, the team's director of sports medicine.
After taking a hit on the opening kickoff of the second half against the Vikings, Sellers initially lay motionless on the field and was stabilized by the medical staff while a cart was brought out. He jumped to his feet and jogged off, later saying he could have reentered the game, but NFL rules prohibit a player diagnosed with a concussion to return to a game.
On Monday, Tyer said Sellers showed no signs of problems after the flight home Sunday night and will be evaluated later in the week as called for by the NFL's concussion policy.
"He'll be monitored throughout the course of the week, and a decision will be made at the end of the week if he's going to play or not," Tyer said. "But we expect him probably to play as good as he was doing [Sunday] night." . . .
Lineman Lorenzo Alexander (bruised shoulder), linebackers H.B. Blades (knee), and Khary Campbell (finger dislocation), wide receiver Keenan McCardell (calf), and safeties Pierson Prioleau (hamstring) and Vernon Fox (thumb) all have minor injuries but should be fine for Dallas. . . . Offensive lineman Mike Pucillo (back) is still out, and tight end Todd Yoder (knee) will continue to be evaluated and hopes to run by the end of the week. . . . Safety LaRon Landry did not re-injure his quadriceps Sunday and should continue to get stronger this week, and safety Reed Doughty (shoulder) suffered a pinched nerve, but the injury was "not that big a deal" and shouldn't limit him against Dallas, Doughty said.
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