Cowboys Corner

Cowboys Friday practice report

Did Not Practice

C       Andre Gurode       Knee

WR    Terrell Owens       Ankle

DT     Jay Ratliff             Knee

Limited Participation in Practice

CB     Terence Newman    Knee

S       Patrick Watkins    Ankle

Full Participation in Practice

WR    Terry Glenn             Knee

Non-Romo MVP candidate Write-In Ballot

In Friday's edition of the Star-Telegram, we asked you to vote for this season's Cowboys' MVP candidate not named Tony Romo.

Your choices were Ken Hamlin, Terrell Owens, Jay Ratliff, DeMarcus Ware and Jason Witten. Not happy with any of those selections? Then this is the place to cast your write-in ballot.

Post a comment below with your choice.

Crayton gets extension

Wide receiver Patrick Crayton has become the next Cowboy to agree to a contract extension.

Crayton, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to terms on a new four-year, $14 million deal, according to a source. The deal includes a $6 million signing bonus.

Crayton said Thursday he was hoping to reach a deal by the end of the week. He defused any speculation that he might be interested in signing with Miami and reuniting with Bill Parcells.

“This is exactly where I want to be,” said Crayton, who is from DeSoto.

Crayton has produced career numbers this season while replacing the injured Terry Glenn as a starter. He has 48 catches for 689 yards and seven touchdowns.

Crayton will make $1 million in 2008, $1.5 in 2009, $2 million in 2010 and $2.5 in 2011 with a $1 million escalator. Crayton could have possibly received a bigger contract by testing free agency. But he had a strong desire to stay in his hometown area and signed now for the security in case of an injury.

-- Rick Herrin

Injury updates

Safety Pat Watkins, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. Center Andre Gurode, who missed the most recent game with a sprained knee, did not practice; instead, he rode the exercise bike. Gurode does not appear likely to play against the Redskins and Cory Procter will start again.

Receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) did not practice.

Cornerback Terence Newman was held out of practice along with nose tackle Jay Ratliff. The two suffered minor injuries against Carolina, but both returned.

Coach Wade Phillips said if there are players who are hurting he is inclined to keep them out against the Redskins.

“Anybody banged up we’re going to be cautious about,” he said.

Phillips said players who are nursing injuries now and would miss the game against the Redskins should be OK to play in the playoff opener.

Romo wants to play complete game vs. 'Skins

IRVING -- Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wants to play the entire game Sunday at Washington.

That’s not likely, but it remains unclear how much Wade Phillips is willing to risk putting his franchise quarterback on the field with nothing riding on the outcome. Romo is still nursing a bruised right thumb, which didn’t seem to bother him against Carolina. Phillips has not yet indicated his plan of how much other key personnel will play against the Redskins.

"I definitely anticipate playing some," Romo said. "To what extent, it’s up to the coaches, but I definitely want this team to get better and the only way we know how to get better is to compete throughout the week and to compete when the game starts."

Phillips said basically the only reason for Romo playing would be to reach individual goals, ones which don’t seem too important to the quarterback. Romo needs six completions to tie Danny White’s franchise record of 334.

"Besides individual goals, not a whole lot," said Phillips of Romo. "But some of those things are important -- and just to finish off the season and being ready for playoffs."

As far as the thumb, "it’s getting better," Romo said. "It will take time for it to get back all the way. I played with it last week, so it’s fine."

-- Rick Herrin

Glenn in full pads

Wide receiver Terry Glenn, who has been rehabbing from two knee surgeries, practiced in full pads Wednesday.

Also, safety Patrick Watkins returned to practice. Watkins missed last week's game at Carolina with an ankle injury.

There was no sign of center Andre Gurode, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Rick Herrin

Your Turn: Start or sit?

Wade Phillips isn't tipping his hand as to what players might sit out the final regular-season game against the Redskins on Sunday. But we know that you have an opinion.

Your Turn: Play head coach for a day and tell us who you would start and sit on Sunday. Leave your lists in the comments below, and be sure to include your name and where you're from. We might just run your lists in the Star-Telegram's Daily Ticket page.

Grade the Cowboys

The Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night, but lost T.O. to a high ankle sprain. However, Green Bay's loss to Chicago clinches home-field advantage in the playoffs for the 'Boys. So how do you feel about the 13-2 Cowboys?

Post a comment below with your grades for the following positions:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Offensive Line

Defensive Line

Linebackers

Safety

Special Teams

Coaches

Overall

Romo plays joke on media

During the post game interview Saturday, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo finally addressed the Jessica Simpson questions of the past week.

He admitted it was hurtful that people tried to link Simpson's presence at Texas Stadium in the loss to Eagles to his career worst performance.

He said it was disappointing because Simpson was hurt and chided the media for what he called poor journalism in blowing her presence out of proportion.

When asked if he saw all the blonde wigs and Simpson masks from Panthers fans in an attempt to mock the distractions of the past week, Romo confirmed that he did.

But then he added a twist by saying the controversy should die since Simpson was in attendance Saturday night and the Cowboys won.

The problem however is no one saw Simpson at the stadium. And its highly unlikely she would have made it near Bank of America Stadium without someone noticing.

But when asked to clarify his remarks and confirm Simpson's presence, Romo said he didn't want talk about his personal life.

Say what?

It was Romo who announced that Simpson was there and now he doesn't want to talk about it.

So now the media has to speculate and/or  investigate Simpson's presence.

Was he serious or pulling our collective legs?

Only Romo knows.

But consider it payback for the controversies of the past week.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Owens will not return

Receiver Terrell Owens suffered a left ankle injury and will not return.
Jay Ratliff has a right knee injury but he's coming back.

But this means for the offense that the Miles Austin and Sam Hurd - both rookie free agents last season - will be counted on heavily.

- Mac Engel