star-telegram.com: Dallas Cowboys

T.O. offers counsel to latest wayward Dallas Cowboys player

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:46 CDT

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

IRVING -- Count wide receiver Terrell Owens as a Dallas Cowboys teammate who plans to welcome suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones with opens arms and a clean slate.

And if and when Jones is reinstated to the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell, Owens offers this advice: Don't try to repair your image all in one day and with one big play.

Jones was suspended before last season for repeated violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans. He was acquired by the Cowboys in a trade last month.

"Don't go out and try to do too much right away," Owens said. "It's understandable. You want to come in and try to erase people's mind-set and play fantastic. But that can get disastrous if you try to overdo it."

Owens, in addition to playing a counselor in the Cowboys' locker room, will make his sitcom acting debut on the MyNetworkTV show Under One Roof Wednesday night.

He said he is qualified to offer the word of warning to Jones because Owens has been through it, coming to the Cowboys two years ago after being unceremoniously dumped in Philadelphia and accused of being a locker room problem. He came to Dallas focused on proving he was a better person and better teammate while also making superstar plays on the field. Although he led the Cowboys with 85 catches and 13 touchdowns, his season was marred by injuries, a controversial accidental overdose and a league-high 17 dropped passes.

Owens shared his story last season with former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Terry "Tank" Johnson. Johnson was in the midst of an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy when he signed with the Cowboys.

"Tank was the same way," Owens said. "I talked to Tank last year after he got frustrated because he wasn't playing like Tank and like everybody expected. I said, 'I understand. I had to check myself.' You start pressing and you know people know you can make plays, and you are not playing like yourself. You have to be patient."

Owens believes Jones will be a good addition to the Cowboys because of his outstanding skills as a cornerback and return man.

He also believes Jones when he says he has a new appreciation for the game and has learned from his mistakes.

"With the year off from the football field and them taking away his livelihood, that will help a person put things in perspective," Owens said. "You hope he will be a better person."

Owens said there are going to be people who will question Jones' character and his every move, but he can't let that get to him. Owens said Jones just has to keep his mind on taking care of his own business.

"Nobody can question him as a football player and what he does on the field," Owens said. "Whatever the situation is, it's going to take care of itself. I was the same way. There are some things he needs to do to correct the mistakes he made off the field. We have people at the complex and guys on the team who can correct, guide and move him in the right direction. On the field, he can only help us."

Owens quieted his doubters last season with an All-Pro performance -- catching 81 passes for 1,355 yards and a team-record 15 touchdowns.

He also seemingly quieted critics by making huge strides as a teammate. His emotional defense of quarterback Tony Romo after the NFC divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants is one of the most memorable images of the season.

Owens is splitting time between Miami and Dallas during the off-season. He comes back to Dallas for throwing sessions.

And while he is enjoying the off-season -- considering his other projects such as the television show -- Owens said he is looking forward to a big year in 2008 for himself and the Cowboys.

"Just talking to [offensive coordinator] Jason Garrett and [receivers coach] Ray Sherman about the new wrinkles they have put in the offense, I am excited," Owens said. "As far as the team, we know what could have happened last year. I know everybody is going to want to fast forward through the season and get to the playoffs and get this out of our mind. We are going to be ready."

T.O. on TV

Terrell Owens will make his sitcom acting debut on the MyNetworkTV show Under One Roof, starring Flavor Flav, Wednesday night at 7.

Former Dallas Cowboy Troy Hambrick gets 5 years for drug sales

Tue, 13 May 2008 11:59 CDT

TAMPA, Fla. -- A Tampa judge has sentenced former NFL running back Troy Hambrick to five years in prison for selling crack cocaine.

The former Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals player was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday.

Hambrick pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Court documents show Hambrick sold the drugs in 2007 to a confidential informants near his home in Lacoochee, about 40 miles north of Tampa.

Hambrick's NFL career spanned five seasons. His best year was 2003 when he rushed for 972 yards and five touchdowns for Dallas.

Cowboys Corner: Romo sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:08 CDT

Gil LeBreton: Roy's loss of heart leaves him a misfit with Dallas Cowboys

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:25 CDT

By Gil Lebreton

The Roy Williams that I remember cast an intimidating defensive presence.

He terrorized quarterbacks. He stopped ball carriers in their tracks. He could single-handedly dominate even an Oklahoma-Texas game.

Whatever happened to that Roy Williams?

His name came up on Sirius Radio's NFL channel last week, and it wasn't the kind of blurb that you print out and show your mom for Mother's Day.

According to teammate Greg Ellis, speaking to Sirius, "Roy told me in training camp, 'Greg, this defense does not fit me. I don't fit in well with this defense at all.'"

The 2007 season, Ellis said, proved Williams correct.

Gee, we hardly noticed.

Don't shoot the messenger on this. Ellis has always tried to be a good teammate and a cooperative interview. His own job insecurities cost him some fan support, but Ellis worked hard to reinvent himself and again become a valuable contributor on the Cowboys' defense.

He wants Williams to remain a teammate, Ellis told the Star-Telegram by phone later that day. He said he was trying to defend Williams, not find him another job.

The Roy Williams that I remember, however, didn't need any teammates to defend him. The Roy Williams that I remember intimidated pass receivers. He didn't run away from them.

If he thinks the Phillips 3-4 defense doesn't fit his skill set -- limited as it has become -- he's stuck, because Jerry Jones isn't going to fire Wade Phillips to accommodate Roy Williams. Not this Roy Williams.

Besides, Williams confessed to not being comfortable in the previous head coach's defense. So what's the deal?

Good, unselfish football players find a way to adjust. Has Williams even made the effort?

He blames the media for poisoning the fans' minds, but let's go to the videotape. The whole league now knows that Roy Williams can't cover anyone man-to-man.

Which would be excusable, sort of, if he wasn't getting beat over the top in zone coverage so often, too.

Williams wants a new defense. Cowboys fans would prefer the old Williams.

The one who actually made tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. The one that wasn't always trailing plays, so that he could make his signature horse-collar tackle. The one who used to take on opposing blockers and bury them.

Williams' new signature move? The turned shoulder. Quickly followed by a running back racing past.

What happened? He used to be a great football player. Now, he's the opposing quarterback's favorite target.

In the radio interview, Ellis revealed that Williams has been working out on his own at Valley Ranch, early on weekday mornings before most players arrive.

Will of a winner

Sun, 11 May 2008 04:37 CDT

By Lori Dann

Everything about Daniel Polk's football background suggests he's a long shot to make the Dallas Cowboys' roster.

First there's the small school -- Midwestern State.

Then there's the experience. Polk started only one full season at the Division II school in Wichita Falls, although he still managed to set 14 school records.

And, of course, there's the switch to wide receiver. Before last week's rookie minicamp, the dual-threat quarterback said he hadn't run pass routes since his junior season at Dallas South Oak Cliff High School.

Add all of those factors with the limited roster spots available, and the chances of making the NFL might appear to be, in Polk's own unflinching words, "slim to none."

But all he wants is a chance, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was happy to give it to him after his solid performance at the team's Dallas Day workouts.

"I think I'm good enough to play in the NFL, and I want to prove it," Polk said. "I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I'm no stranger to hard work."

When Polk wants something, in fact, he's willing to work around the clock to get it.

That's exactly what he did at Midwestern State when he decided to major in respiratory care. He was the first varsity athlete ever to tackle the program's rigid demands, including clinicals that required three 12-hour shifts per week at a local hospital.

"I was a little bit skeptical when I heard he wanted to come into the program because I didn't see how he could do it with all the demands of football and the travel involved," said Patrick Helton, clinical chair of the respiratory care program at Midwestern. "But he's been able to juggle everything pretty well. It requires a lot of motivation to do what he's done."

Balancing act

Former Midwestern offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas vividly recalls his first reaction when Polk told him about his plans to major in respiratory care.

"I thought it was absurd," he said. "We were obviously extremely worried about how much of a toll it would take on him."

The most difficult aspect was structuring Polk's schedule during clinical weeks to fit in all of his academic and athletic responsibilities. As a quarterback, that was quite a challenge.

While most respiratory care students do their clinical training during the day, Polk was allowed to work his shift at night. Still, it took some trial and error for the coaching staff to fit in all the meetings and film study their quarterback needed.

"At one point, we were meeting at 6 a.m. a couple of mornings a week to try to catch up," Thomas said. "But he was pretty much spent by then, and I was pretty worthless at that hour. Eventually, we came up with a schedule that would work."

The schedule provided little sleep and no breaks for Polk, even during football season, but he never complained. He would spend two weeks doing clinicals, then two more doing regular classwork.

During clinicals, he worked at a local hospital from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the early part of the week, slept until about noon, then reported for meetings, film work and practice at 1 p.m. That lasted until about 5:30 p.m., giving him just enough time to shower and get back to the hospital for another 12-hour shift.

With an 18-hour course load, Polk said non-clinical weeks were sometimes just as difficult, with four tests scheduled each week.

"There were times when I was pretty exhausted," Polk admitted. "One time I got sick and I had three tests to study for and a big game coming up. It was the worst week of my life. I think I threw up seven times at practice."

NFL NOTES: Ravens serious about battles in minicamp

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:18 CDT

The Baltimore Ravens are doing more than merely fighting for jobs at their first mandatory minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh. They're fighting with each other.

Nearly all 85 players in camp were involved in a squabble Saturday that began when offensive tackle Oniel Cousins and defensive tackle Amon Gordon threw punches after running back Allen Patrick was taken down hard on a burst up the middle. All the players surged toward the middle of the field, and it was nearly two minutes before peace was restored.

Briefly

Jets: The older brother of New York Jets safety Abram Elam was fatally shot, the third sibling in the family to die by gunfire since 1987. Donald Elam, 33, was shot to death in Riviera Beach, Fla., on Friday, police said. The Palm Beach Post reported that Abram Elam's brother, Donald Runner, was fatally shot in 1987. He was 17. Christina Elam, his sister, was shot in 1999.

Giants: Receiver Mario Manningham and quarterback Andre' Woodson were sidelined by injuries during the Giants' minicamp. Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side and Woodson pulled a quad muscle in his left leg. Neither injury was serious.

Falcons: Quarterback Matt Ryan, the team's first-round draft pick, shared snaps with holdovers Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and D.J. Shockley.

Jerry is happy, but Cowboys may suffer

Sat, 10 May 2008 04:41 CDT

By Newy Scruggs

Owner Jerry Jones is allowing his massive ego to undermine his football team. The Cowboys are going back on HBO to be featured in the reality show Hard Knocks.

The last thing this club needs is cameras and microphones following everybody around at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. The Cowboys need focus.

General Manager Jones needs to go curse out Owner Jones, because this organization needs to worry about winning football games instead of allowing training camp to become a distraction.

He has tricked himself into believing it's a positive. "We like to have the show at training camp," Jones said at a joint news conference with NFL Films president Steve Sabol and HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg. "I think it prepares the team."

I called up former Cowboy and Hard Knocks alum Randal Williams for his take on the show. Six years ago, he was trying to make the team. Williams became one of the story lines of the training camp.

He backs up Jones' assessment that the NFL Films cameras are good for the players. "True. Like Monday Night Football, when you know the nation is watching, you want to perform," Williams said. "Guys are trying to make the team. The cameras make you play better."

Williams, now retired, made that 2002 club and remembers the NFL Films crew always being courteous and not getting in the way of his training camp routine.

The last time we saw Jones' football team, it was being upset by the New York Giants in the playoffs at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys didn't look focused for the second season. So why begin the 2008 season with a distraction?

Playing on national TV five times is not enough publicity for Jones. Call the man "Hollywood Jones" -- after all, he was born in El Segundo, Calif., which is a 20-minute drive to the Sunset Strip and all those movie studios.

"The Cowboys are the No. 1 viewed team in the NFL," Hollywood Jones boasted. "It's because of that interest, on a personal basis...I want HBO, I want them to tell the these stories, to see behind it all."

NFL Films big boss Sabol knows that cameras in front of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and maybe his squeeze, Jessica Simpson, can bring in ratings that he expects to be "through the roof." T.O. likes to make himself a show. Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton should all find camera time in Oxnard.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Dallas Cowboys premieres Aug. 6, with weekly one-hour episodes leading up to the Sept. 3 finale.

DESPERADOS NOTES: Inconsistent Desperados aim to build momentum

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:57 CDT

By Rick Herrin

The Dallas Desperados are trying to fight out of a funk.

The Desperados have the league's second-best record, but winning games isn't coming as easy as it did last year. Dallas barely survived last week at two-win Columbus and needed a touchdown pass by Clint Dolezel with 15 seconds left to avoid a two-game losing streak.

Dallas (8-1) will try to find some remedy for its slight struggles as it returns home tonight against Grand Rapids (3-6). Surprisingly, the Desperados haven't found the high level of play consistently on offense. Dallas is one of two teams not to score 60 points this season but is the only team that hasn't allowed 60 points. The defense has been steady, aside from a blowout loss to Philadelphia.

Dolezel is still trying to regain a rhythm, which he had when he returned from a separated shoulder but has since lost. He has thrown six interceptions in the past two weeks.

The Desperados, who are Arena Bowl contenders, haven't scored 50 points in the past two weeks and have yet to dominate inferior teams.

"[We're] very fortunate to win," Dallas coach Will McClay said.

"But if you don't expect more out of yourself, then you're going to continue to do things that way. What we have to do is expect more out of ourselves and expect better based on what we have and what we're doing."

Shaking up roster

Will McClay shook up the roster this week by releasing leading tackler and defensive back Johnnie Harris, a former NFL player who started eight games this season.

"Johnnie Harris is a good football player, and any decisions we make are based on trying to improve the football team," McClay said. "If we can do that, we'll do that."

Harris will be replaced by defensive back Donvetis Franklin, who was activated off the practice squad Friday.

The Desperados also placed OL/DL Cyron Brown (high ankle sprain) on the injured reserve, leaving the team with one open roster spot this week.

Milestone watch

Last week Clint Dolezel became the AFL's all-time leading passer, surpassing Andy Kelly on the career yards list.

Dolezel has 42,793 career passing yards. He is the league's leader in career touchdown passes and is seven shy of reaching 900.

Desperados vs. Grand Rapids

7 tonight, American Airlines Center

Records: Desperados 8-1, Rampage 3-6

TV: Time Warner Cable

Channel 185

Does Roy Williams fit in Dallas Cowboys defense?

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:22 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

Cowboys Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams has told a veteran teammate that Wade Phillips' defense does not fit him.

That's what linebacker Greg Ellis said Williams confided in him at the start of last year's training camp when the new staff installed Phillips' 3-4 scheme. Ellis made the remarks Thursday afternoon on Sirius NFL Radio.

"Roy told me in training camp, he said, 'Greg this defense does not fit me. I don't fit in well with this defense at all,'" Ellis said. "Obviously, it came to be true just like he said. He doesn't fit what's going on here in Dallas right now. Maybe this year, if they decide to keep him for this season Wade and them would kind of adjust some things to fit him better."

Ellis said Williams loves Dallas and owner Jerry Jones. It has troubled Ellis to see Williams working out alone during the off-season. Ellis said when he arrives at 7:30 a.m. to train at Valley Ranch, Williams is often already leaving from working out alone.

"The bothersome thing for me as Roy's friend and his teammate, I hate the criticism he is getting," Ellis said. "I hate the fact how he is kind of isolating himself from the team."

When reached by phone late Thursday evening, Ellis stood by his statements made on Sirius radio and said he participated in the interview because he was tired of all the criticism Williams has received. Ellis offered more perspective while making sure his words weren't taken out of context.

"It bothers me when people criticize Roy," Ellis said by phone.

"I was trying to give Roy the benefit of the doubt and let everyone know that he told me before the season that the defense didn't fit the type of player he was. Roy is not going to say anything. Roy doesn't want people to think he was crying and complaining."

Williams' role in the defense diminished last season as Phillips implemented multiple sub-packages to create better matchups in the secondary. Williams is expected to primarily play on first and second down this season because of his coverage limitations. His impact has decreased in the past few years along with his trademark game-changing hits.

Williams is looking for a new start this season and has changed his number from 31 to 38, which he wore at the University of Oklahoma.

"Everybody is saying they need to get rid of him, they need to trade him. I think he gets a bad rap," Ellis said by phone. "One thing you can't say I said about Roy is that he should be traded or let go. I think he should stay my teammate.

"When someone asks me a question, it's my job to be on Roy's side and that's what I was doing.

"I don't think he should go anywhere," Ellis said. "He should stay here."

Rookie money

The Cowboys have a rookie pool cap of $4,095,120 to sign their six draft picks, including first rounders Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. A team's rookie pool is based on the number and position of draft picks.

It must fall within the overall 2008 salary cap of $116 million. The Cowboys have a little less than $5 million in cap space available.

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin, who counts $4.396 million against the cap. Running back Marion Barber received a one-year tender of $2.56 million. New deals could lower both figures.

Staff writer Clarence E. Hill Jr. contributed to this report.

COWBOYS NOTES: Slow start dooms Romo's Open bid

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:23 CDT

By RICK HERRIN

Looks like football is getting in the way of Tony Romo's golf game.

The Dallas Cowboys' Pro Bowl quarterback shot a 75 Wednesday and failed to make the cut in a U.S. Open local qualifier at The Golf Club of Dallas. Romo was one of 107 golfers vying to advance to a sectional qualifier. The cutoff was 71 (par 70), and Romo lost his bid after struggling on the front nine.

The U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Romo said he has been focused on training at Valley Ranch and preparing for the upcoming season, which cut into his practice time on the course.

"I found a good rhythm on the back [nine], but it just took too long to get started," said Romo, who had five cameras and 25 people following him.

"I just haven't been able to practice or prepare. I've got a lot of football stuff. That's part of it."

Romo has a busy golf schedule before training camp. He will compete in a Celebrity Long Drive competition Friday at Trophy Club Country Club. He will play in the Colonial Pro Am on May 21 and is one of three celebrities (along with Justin Timberlake and Matt Lauer) participating in the Golf Digest U.S. Open contest at Torrey Pines on June 6.

Another Garrett

Although it is not yet official, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Judd Garrett will join the scouting department as the team's assistant director of pro personnel.

The position has been open since Brian Gaine left take a similar position with the Miami Dolphins.

Garrett brings the total number of Garretts in the Cowboys organization to three and continues a family connection to the team.

Garrett is the younger brother of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and tight ends coach John Garrett. His father, Jim Garrett, was a scout for the Cowboys from 1987-2004.

Judd Garrett comes to Dallas after spending the past two years as tight ends coach with the St. Louis Rams. He was given a leave of absence from St. Louis in February to deal with the death of his wife.

Garrett's wife, Kathy, died Aug. 19 at age 38 after a brief illness. The couple has four children, ages 9 to 15. Judd Garrett, 40, returned to coaching Sept. 4 and remained on the job throughout the season.

Upon announcing Garrett's leave of absence, Rams coach Scott Linehan acknowledged the need for Garrett to spend more time at home and be with his family.

Linehan also said Garrett was free to look for another job.

Staff writer Clarence E. Hill Jr. contributed to this report.

ONLINE: dallascowboys.com