Cowboys have had ZERO players miss camp.

[Everlastingxxx]

Interesting read...for those who are narrow minded to their own personal team...skip this thread.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news_80...FCA56ECDFDEF1F


By MICKEY SPAGNOLA
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
Aug. 18, 2004, 5:45 p.m. (PDT)

OXNARD, Calif. - Knock on wood. Come on, do it. Knock. Hard.

Cool. Now I'm off the hook.

Now I can tell you without any fear of jinxing this team that with only one real practice remaining here at River Ridge before we pack our bags and 18-wheelers to head home, not one Dallas Cowboys player has missed even one training camp practice because of an injury.

Not one.

"It's unbelievable," says Sean Payton, assistant head coach.

No, it's more than that. It's a darn miracle.

Oh sure, now three guys have not even set foot on the training camp practice fields, Erik Bickerstaff (Achilles), Gennaro DiNapoli (stress fracture) and Darren Woodson (back surgery) all coming with pre-existing conditions. But that's the extent of this team's injury report.

You know how we do here on DallasCowboys.com, providing you with a daily injury report from training camp. Well, it's got to be the most useless sub-head we have. There is never anything there.

Oh, I take that back. We forced the issue a couple of days just to qualify having the category. We placed defensive tackle Leo Carson on the injury list. He's had some swelling on his knee, mostly residue from off-season surgery to repair some damaged articular cartilage. At most, he was limited in what he did. But he did something every day.

And not until Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells grounded him for last weekend's trip to Houston did he finally accept any respite - and a lot of that decision had to do with avoiding consecutive three-hour plane rides as much as anything.

Then there's rookie Stephen Peterman. He broke his right ring finger last week. Basically had a splint put on it, taped up, and on he went. Didn't miss a practice, and certainly didn't miss that first preseason game.

There was this rumor Daleroy Stewart sprained his ankle against the Texans, but no mention. The only evidence was seeing Stewart walk through the parking lot Monday morning with one ankle taped. He practiced that afternoon. So did Carson. And don't even ask about Peterman.

But again, that's it.

Why I can remember in past years the Cowboys' injury list being as long as a grocery list. By this time in camp, we're talking double digits. Broken legs. Torn ACLs. Torn Achilles. Broken kneecaps. Sprained knees. Stab wounds. Sprained ankles. Strained hamstrings and groins. Stomach virus. Dehydration. Hell, who will ever forget testicular torsion?

"I was talking to an NFL head coach today and they had 13 players out with injuries," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the other day.

Not here. None.

"Don't even talk about that," said Bryan Broaddus, assistant director of pro scouting, a veteran now of 14 NFL training camps. "I'm serious, don't."

He was. He walked off.

But to better understand what a rarity this is, take it from special teams coach Bruce DeHaven, having coached for 34 years and in his 17th NFL training camp. He, too, has never seen anything like this.

"For a special teams coach, this is nirvana," DeHaven said.

Especially him. DeHaven figures when he works all his teams two deep, he can have 293 combinations of players. Now add in not knowing if guys are working or not . . . .

"There's been times I've seen 15 or 20 guys on the injured list for a practice," DeHaven said, leaving the specials team coach in a quandary.

Again, not here. At least, not this year.

So what's the deal?

"Knock on wood," Payton says.

Sure, there is a measure of luck involved. Doesn't matter how hard you train, how well you stretch, how you structure practice, none of that prevents, say breaking your knee cap, as wide receiver Anthony Lucas did two years ago. Or Al Johnson suffering cartilage problems under his knee cap, as he did last year. Or Jeff Robinson tearing his ACL in a pass-blocking drill that summer of '02.

Stuff happens.

But nothing has happened here so far. (Better give me another knock.)

How come?

Woodson points into the tent, where strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek works, along with his assistants Tony Ollison and Lance Walker.

"A lot more core training," Woodson said.

He means a lot more attention being paid to strengthening midsections and lower backs through the use of medicine balls and balance lifting.

"I've never seen anything like this," Woodson says, and he's been here now 13 years.

Payton points to the off-season conditioning program, not only run by Juraszek, but monitored heavily by Parcells, who knows everything that goes on in that weight room as if he has a web-cam installed in there.

Jones makes mention of the idyllic weather out here on the West Coast, eventually saying, "No question Tex Schramm and Tom Landry had it right. The weather is very appealing out here."

He means players aren't being drained by 100-degree temperatures. He means his guys are working on natural grass. He means his players aren't as tired as they'd be working in intense heat, so less susceptible to those nagging pulls and strains.

And that is a huge reason why it appears the Cowboys will be returning here to River Ridge next summer for another training camp.

But veteran wide receiver Dedric Ward makes two other good points: Guys knowing how to practice and Bill.

"These guys know how to practice hard and take care of each other," said Ward, who recalls other camps where young guys so rabid to make the team overzealously taking cheap shots at other players. "Guys really understand that to be ready for the season you got to take care of your own."

So he speaks to the limited amount of all-out tackling in practices. He speaks to guys not cut-blocking. He speaks to this coaching staff's insistence of staying off the ground. He's speaks to the defensive linemen not running stunts, which normally create tangled pileups.

And then there is simply the Bill Factor.

"You know, Parcells' philosophy, you can't make the club in the tub," Ward said. "Guys fight through the nicks and bruises."

Yeah, even the big nicks, like Peterman practicing with the broken finger, and even going back to last summer when Antonio Bryant had the hand surgery in the morning and was practicing by that afternoon. Or how about Jason Witten coming back from surgery to repair his busted jaw to play two weeks later?

But more than that, you don't see guys taking what we call "a veteran day," meaning an older player deciding in the middle of a grueling camp he just needs a day off, and convinces everyone he has a sprained ankle or a tight hamstring or whatever. That just doesn't happen.

"Parcells is not a coach who will put up with that," Wards says, "sitting because you're just sore."

Please. These guys wouldn't even think of that. Not with this guy.

So yeah, (come on, starting knocking again) the Cowboys have been blessed with a double coat of serendipity this training camp. But as Juraszek points out, sometimes you also make your own luck through hard work and preparation.

Then combine that with the weather, natural grass and knowing how to practice, viola, all hands on deck morning in and afternoon out, every time the Big Guy has blown his whistle since we've arrived here at River Ridge. Not an injury to speak of, or at least not one bad enough to sit somebody down.

Amazing, truly amazing, especially when dealing with 80-some guys.

Maybe even miraculous.

But please, for my sake, pull up some wood. Man, if anything happens after this, Broaddus might never speak to me again.

Knock . . . knock.

too bad they are going to suck this year.


Good Defense


But with Vinny Testerverde and Yankees Minor League 3B at the helm, they aren't looking good.

I guess they can hand the ball off to george and jones all the time.


George needs about 350 carries to get to 1000 yards, so hey all is not lost in Dallas. May finish 3rd in division, but still have a good defense, good coach, and a good fb in richie anderson.

[RTyme]

Stab wounds?

[BucShot]

I think it's pretty obvious by now (even for those wearing Star blinders) that Tuna is the main ingredient in a short term recipe for chaos. Shouldn't this be his last season in Dallas..??

Seriously who care's about the cowboy's non holdouts. Whats that have to do with tampa?

[MarleyMon81]

Who in Dallas has the right to hold out? Besides Roy Williams and Newman, JJ would laugh his tail off if any Cowboy demanded an extension or they would hold out.

[Bucko40]

And the Cowboys will still finish last in their Division this year. LOL

No seriously. the Cowboys will actually finish 3rd with an 8-8 record is my prediction.

[Phantom2k4]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict a wildcard playoff spot for the Boys

[Everlastingxxx]

Originally Posted by Bucs40etrain

Seriously who care's about the cowboy's non holdouts. Whats that have to do with tampa?

Maybe you should have read the article first, because you make zero sense.

[Everlastingxxx]

Originally Posted by MarleyMon81

Who in Dallas has the right to hold out? Besides Roy Williams and Newman, JJ would laugh his tail off if any Cowboy demanded an extension or they would hold out.

You responded without even reading the freaking article, lol, you guys make me wonder

[CaptainCT]

guess they really need the practice

[MarleyMon81]

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

You responded without even reading the freaking article, lol, you guys make me wonder

No, your right, I didn't read the article. My bad. I was taking the opinions of the other posters. Just didn't have the time to read it.

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

Maybe you should have read the article first, because you make zero sense.

Maybe i shouldnt because i could care less about the cowboys situation. All i care about is what our team does with its own. Since this is tampa bay buccaneers message board, i think i can read the thread without reading the print. Make sense ?

[Digital_Damage]

I'm trying to figure out why a Bucs Team Discussions board is being disgraced with content about the Cowboys. That is like going on a BWM message board to talk about your 1970 VW Beetle...

It just does not belong here...

[Everlastingxxx]

Originally Posted by Digital_Damage

I'm trying to figure out why a Bucs Team Discussions board is being disgraced with content about the Cowboys. That is like going on a BWM message board to talk about your 1970 VW Beetle...

It just does not belong here...

Yea, im starting to realize most of you guys are snobs and only look at the NFL through Pewter colored glasses.

[CaptainCT]

XXX, ill give your team this, they are eager to learn Tuna's system and the fact that all players are reporting to camp shows the comfidence they have in him and his way of coaching. If i were the rest of the league, id look closely at whats going on in dallas. THEY REALLY NEED A QB though.

Take a look around you're in buccaneers territory. No one really cares for cowboy chat in a bucs forum. Not to be rude but its true.
Pewter is a classy color dont hate.

[Everlastingxxx]

Originally Posted by Bucs40etrain

Take a look around you're in buccaneers territory. No one really cares for cowboy chat in a bucs forum. Not to be rude but its true.
Pewter is a classy color dont hate.

Its jerks like you that give a bad name to buc fans.

[DragnSlayrF31]

Well, they say that you have to buy what you are being sold by a coach before your team can perform. I guess this is an indication that the players are buying. Except for the Bryant and Carter thing there's not really been much ado here in Dallas. However, I'm sure that the Tuna is spending a bit of his worrying on a QB. He has said in a press conference that Dallas is in desperate need of a QB - well...DUH! LOL Other than that - I'm really sick of MeShawn already. Somebody please unplug his mic. PLEASE????!!!!

Cowboys have a good defense, and their offense doesn't look bad on paper, (minus the qb)

But the QB makes things click. Now i know Quincy was no Joe Montana, but he is 10x the qb 41 year old testerverde is.


You saw in your preseason shut out loss to the TEXANS.


Your offense will need to step it up.

ALL IN ALL, the Bucs will finish better then the boys this season.

[Everlastingxxx]

I really believe that the Cowboys are a better team...even without INT Carter!
This entire training camp the Cowboys have had no injuries in training camp and no one has missed any practice. I think that is a huge upside. (article is not about holdouts! lol)

I think this week against Oakland, you will see how improved the Cowboys are.

Jerks like me giving buc fans bad names? Again take a look at what forum you are in. You are talking cowboy football in tampa's forum. Tell me what does this article have anything to do with tampa? I dont wanna come out as rude, but isnt cowboy chat for cowboy forums?

Tampa fans dont come out as jerks as other teams fans have been known for. We arent like philly fans where we cheer micheal irvin as he lay not knowingly paralyzed. We have class. But because the topic you wrote in a bucs forum doesnt appeal to me and i spoke out on it. Dont hate or take it personal. I just dont think that its an exciting thread.

[CaptainCT]

check out the cheerleader thread, thats an exciting thread

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

I really believe that the Cowboys are a better team...even without INT Carter!
This entire training camp the Cowboys have had no injuries in training camp and no one has missed any practice. I think that is a huge upside. (article is not about holdouts! lol)

I think this week against Oakland, you will see how improved the Cowboys are.

Now on to the cowboys, i think alot of people are taking shots thinking dallas is out cause of quincy. Well for the blind squirels who dont know better know this. Dallas won alot of games in the same fasion the buccaneers have won over the years, based on defense. Vinny isnt a great qb anymore but he isnt the worst. Dallas key to a good season and making the playoffs will rest on the run game and offensive line. We all know what a failed offensive line can do to a team. Ours cost us our post season last year. Looking at the schedule boys schedule isnt all that bad. What i do like about the cowboys team is their defense resembles tampa's alot of speed. Same style. But if it comes down to us both meeting i like our team over the boys. We are healthy again and have new faces and more speed on defense.

[DragnSlayrF31]

Originally Posted by Bucs40etrain

Now on to the cowboys, i think alot of people are taking shots thinking dallas is out cause of quincy. Well for the blind squirels who dont know better know this. Dallas won alot of games in the same fasion the buccaneers have won over the years, based on defense.

I think you make a valid point. I think people make the mistake of getting into a time machine when they start talking about the Cowboys and think of the offensive giant the Cowboys were when they had Aikman et al. Those days are gone and they are a more defensive team now. However, they still need a QB. I think they will make it to the playoffs but not deep into them. JMOT.

[Everlastingxxx]

Originally Posted by DragnSlayrF31

I think you make a valid point. I think people make the mistake of getting into a time machine when they start talking about the Cowboys and think of the offensive giant the Cowboys were when they had Aikman et al. Those days are gone and they are a more defensive team now. However, they still need a QB. I think they will make it to the playoffs but not deep into them. JMOT.

Cowboys O-line is much improved. Parcells is so negative about everything, but has nothing but good things to say about the improvement of the men up front.

[STASS]

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

Yea, im starting to realize most of you guys are snobs and only look at the NFL through Pewter colored glasses.

They r pweter blind. Even players that are TAMPA BAY. once there gone they can't play anymore. Jokes jokes

God forbid the players respect the coaching staff so much that they don't make up injuries to get some practise time off.

Goes to show u, what a real coach can do. Demands total respect. Simple as that.

[CaptainCT]

players that leave tampa bay cant play anymore after they are gone. Is that what you are saying?

[DragnSlayrF31]

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

Cowboys O-line is much improved. Parcells is so negative about everything, but has nothing but good things to say about the improvement of the men up front.

Improvement is a good thing but they still need more improvement. I don't think that's Parcells being negative. I think it's Parcells being a realist. Seems to me he tells it like it is in his press conferences. Last year he told everybody not to be making a big fuss about the record. It was better than he thought it would be but they still had some good teams to face. He was very realistic. But Dallas fans are very fickle. Worse than most franchise fans if you ask me. Case in point, at the beginning of last season very few (I'll change that since my best friend has never waivered from her favorite team) admitted to being a fan until they went on a winning streak and then I started seeing Cowboys' stuff all over the place. Brand new jerseys ran amok at the sports bars where we went to watch the Bucs' games. If you talk to people about the Cowboys around here they talk about the Oline the most - forgetting that the boys are a very defensive team now. I don't think Boys' fans are used to it but me being a Bucs fan noticed and thought that was great for them. It took them into the playoffs. It's the new blue and silver. Afterall, if the 'Boys were an offensive team - surely they would have been able to put some points on the board against a 7-9 decimated Bucs.

[nhbucsfan]

Originally Posted by STASS

They r pweter blind. Even players that are TAMPA BAY. once there gone they can't play anymore. Jokes jokes

God forbid the players respect the coaching staff so much that they don't make up injuries to get some practise time off.

Goes to show u, what a real coach can do. Demands total respect. Simple as that.

Demands total respect?
I believe that was the problem between Key and Gruden. Key had none, and he was gone!