Cowboys Corner

Interesting Observations From Belichik

The greatest coach in the history of organized sport, Patriots boss Bill Belichick, offered this anaylysis about the Cowboys one day after their blowout win in Irving.
"Well, look, (Marion) Barber is a great back. Julius Jones is a good back too," Belichick said.
He used the word "great" to describe Barber several times during the week leading up to the game, too. And he used the word "good" to describe Jones as well.
When asked if he would start Barber against the Vikings, Philips said, "They were both productive in this game and that's what we were looking for."
When asked the same question a second time he said, "They were both productive in this game. I don't think that would make a difference in our game overall."

-- Mac Engel

Fox meets Romo

Former president of Mexico Vicente Fox met Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo before the game. Romo gave Fox an autographed football and they shared a few words during warmups.

_ Rick Herrin

Former president makes it in

It's not easy to get into Texas Stadium right now. But, it looks like Vicente Fox made it. The former Mexican president is a guest of the Cowboys at today's game against the Patriots. He's drawing a nice crowd on the Cowboys sideline.

He's got a crowd with him, too. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker are making a hit as a Texas couple. Kate Hudson and Billy Ray Cyrus are also under the roof.

Cowboys-Pats pre-game news

- Cowboys special teams captain Keith Davis, who has been out with a slight pectoral tear, will play today against the Patriots.

- Patriots running back Laurence Maroney (groin) is inactive and will not get to play against former Univerity of Minnesota teammate Marion Barber. Maroney, who has missed the past two games, will be replaced by Texas Tech-ex Sammy Morris.

- Cowboys fullback Oliver Hoyte (pinched nerve in neck) is inactive. Rookie Deon Anderson will start his third consecutive game. Cornerback Anthony Henry, as expected, will not play because of a high ankle sprain.

_ Rick Herrin

Two Boys Fined

The NFL fined safety Roy Williams $15,000 for his horse collar tackle during the Cowboys’ 25-24 victory against the Bills on Monday night. How ironic.

The NFL made the type of tackle illegal, almost entirely because of Williams. His tackle on then-Eagles receiver Terrell Owens late in the 2004 regular season put the horse-collar and drag down in the spotlight. Owens ended up with a bad leg injury, and didn't return until the Super Bowl.

Also, cornerback Terence Newman was also fined $5,000 for “impermissible” use of his helmet during a tackle against the Bills.

- Mac Engel

Wade Clears the Air; Denies Report

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips went out of his way to make sure that he does think believe in any way shape or form that he said to SI/HBO NFL Insider's Peter King that he think the Patriots Super Bowl titles under Bill Belichik are tainted because of "spy gate".
King on the HBO weekly NFL show that said "Wade Phillips this week told me something that I think a lot of coaches around the league and a lot of people around the league are still thinking and that is, 'Hey, New England was caught cheating and it is a black mark on their success.' There is no doubt in my mind that it is and more and more people around the league are starting to say, "Why did this thing just go away? Why didn't it get more traction?'"
Phillips denied he ever said that to King.
"The writer evidently got it wrong," Phillips said Friday morning. "If you know anything abaout me ... to quote me as saying 'black mark', that's an Eastern term. That's a Connecticut term. I might use smudge or something like that, from Texas. If you do any investigative reporting you know I didn't say that.
"I'm sure he misconstrued what I said. It was certainly his agenda. He went on and on, this was a Watergate thing. It was his feelings on it and I guess, for some reason, he felt like I agreed with him, which I absolutely do not."
HBO stands by the story.

- Mac Engel

T.O. not talking

Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens has zipped his lips. He will not talk to the media this week leading up to the showdown with the New England Patriots on Sunday. By not talking, he still draws a ton of attention to himself.

   Owens had a big laminated sign posted on his locker that read the following:

Dear Reporters,

``Due to the magnitude of this week's game and high volume of questions for the Original 81 about the other 81, I will be taking all questions immediately following Sunday's game.''

                                                                                              Sincerly,

                                                                                              Terrell Owens, 81

p.s. Getcha popcorn ready.

   The other 81 is Patriots star Randy Moss.

_ Rick Herrin

Cowboys are the best team in the ... ever

Patriots coach Bill Belichick just concluded his conference call with the Fort Worth-Dallas area reporters. And after listening to him talk for about 10 minutes, it's obvious the Dallas Cowboys should not only go undefeated this season, but every season.
"They've been impressive in every phase of the game," the coach said. "Great offensive line. Tight ends are good. Running backs are good. Receivers are good. Quarterback is athletic. They've been able to throw the ball down the field. They have a lot of catch and run plays. Good on third downs. Good running the ball. They've been able to run out the clock on a couple teams. They keep the ball away. Running when they had to run it. Good inside close to the goal line been able to get the ball in. Think they're an outstanding offensive football team."
Then without missing a beat he continued,
"They're just as good on the defensive side of the ball. Haven't given up anything the last couple of weeks. They can rush the passer. They can stop the run. Turn the ball over. Got a lot of interceptions. Play sound defense. They are well coached. Tough, strong on the line of scrimmage. They pursue well. They have a lot of great players. They are well coached. They've got a good football team. They do eveyrthing well. That's why they are 5-0."
This is typical of Belichick; he's known to avoid saying much of anything except to heap Lou Holtz-type praise on every opponent he's prepares for.

- Mac Engel

Bradie James explains himself

Linebacker Bradie James was visibly upset after Tony Romo's sixth and final turnover of the game.
After Romo lost a fumble with 9:58 remaining in the game, James could be seen yelling at the offense as the unit walked off the field.
What did he say? He wouldn't specifically answer that.
"Somebody had to get a spark. I don't know what I was trying to do," he said. "It was an emotional game, so you've got to express some kind of emotion. You just can't go by like nothing has happened. That's all it was, but we pulled it off."

- Mac Engel

Terrell Owens' thoughts from Monday night

Immediately after the game in a jubilant Cowboys' locker room, receiver Terrell Owens shared his thoughts on his two-catch night that included one near disastrous drop in the waning moments.
On his involvement in the offense: "It didn't bother me. I was open a lot of times. For whatever reason, we had some long shots. There were balls long and out of bounds. I tried to do whatever I could all night. It was tough. I felt like I had opportunities. It was a lot of tight, close coverage."
Owens nearly caught a 2-point conversion that would have tied the game with 20 seconds remaining. Tony Romo's pass to the corner of the endzone was a little short, and Owens nearly caught the ball but Bills defensive back Jabari Greer broke it up with his helmet.
"It was just a situation where I tried to adjust to it," Owens said. "The ball was kinda under thrown. It was on (Greer's) helmet and I tried to reach over."
But easily the biggest moment of the night that could have put Owens in the headlines for the wrong reasons was his dropped pass immediately after the Cowboys' recovered the onside kick. Owens appeared to catch the ball at the 25-yard line, but replays showed he dropped it and the play was over turned.
"I felt like I was underneath it. It was one of those plays," Owens said.
Overall, a frustrating night for Owens until the very, very end.
"It was frustration a little bit," he said. "I felt there were some opportunities there when I was open and it just didn't happen. The game is over. We won the game. It's something we can obviously correct."

- Mac Engel