Cowboys Corner

Tank's take on Pacman

Cowboys cornerback Pacman Jones gave new buddy Tank Johnson a call when he was reinstated on Monday. Johnson has helped Pacman since he joined the team, guiding him with his transition and trying to steer him down the right path, since he has been there himself.

''He said I will be out there tomorrow and I told him I have been looking forward to it for a long time,'' Johnson said. ''We're excited for him and especially me, because I have been down that path.''

Tank on the Cowboys watching Pacman at practice: ''Anytime you have a playmaker like that of
his caliber you've got to watch him, because if you blink your eye he's going to be going the other way. Just like yesterday when he took a pick to the house. They said, 'There's goes that man' -- because he's dang good at what he does.''

Tank on if Pacman can stay out of trouble: ''I'm sure he's going to do his very best. I am pretty confident he will do his best. He knows what's at stake and more importantly he knows what he has to be a part of. The good side of it is he has a chance to be a part of something special and he takes that very seriously.''

- RH

OTA observation deck

Here are a few observations from Wednesday's OTA practice at Valley Ranch....

* Indy Racing League star Helio Castroneves was a guest at Valley Ranch. He played catch with Tony Romo and then caught a few passes while covered by CB Terence Newman, who is a huge racing fan. After Castroneves beat him on a 25-yard go route, Newman buckled down with some press coverage on the next pass. Watch a video of Castroneves' visit here.

* CB Pacman Jones, in just his second practice after being out more than a year, had another interception. That's two in his first two practices and both against third-string quarterback Richard Bartel. Conspiracy theory: They were scripted. Remember, the first day one came on the last play of practice.

* Also, Pacman looked tiny out there. He was never big to begin with but he appears to have lost weight in his upper body. He is listed at 5-10, 185 pounds.

* Safety Roy Williams accidentally plowed over RB Felix Jones on a run knocking him to the ground during team drills. Maybe that was a good sign, Cowboys fans.

* Newman said he ain't going to babysit Pacaman but he did offer him a little 1-on-1 instruction today during defensive back drills.

* Deion Sanders, the mentor to the troubled Dallas stars, was at practice and wearing a gray fedora. Sanders talked after practice about his new project, Pacman Jones.

* Jerry Jones' first stop on the practice field when he arrived was to watch the defensive backs and Pacman.

* WR Isaiah Stanback, whom the coaches have high hopes for, made an impressive leaping catch during practice.

* Not there: FS Ken Hamlin and WR Terry Glenn.

* Back at practice: OLB Greg Ellis.

* Locker room observation: Pacman is one locker (which says Adam Jones, by the way) away from new buddy Tank Johnson. Sandwiched in between is rookie WR Danny Amendola. No word if they have invited Danny to hang out.

* Heard outside the locker room: Pacman touting his bowling ability to some Cowboys officials. Pacman does have some serious game on the lanes.

* One of Pacman's new teammate buddies is the very likable Deon Anderson, the second-year fullback.

- Rick Herrin

Ellis back in action

Linebacker Greg Ellis returned to practice Wednesday.

Ellis was a no-show last week over the diappointment/distrust over how it seems the Cowboys are planning to use him as a pass rush specialist.

Rick Herrin

Julius Jones bitter, talking big

Former Cowboys running back Julius Jones is off to a new start in Seattle but he hasn't forgotten how things ended for him in Dallas. He said he was humiliated by having to sit the bench for the playoff loss to the Giants and will carry a chip on his shoulder in hopes of proving everybody in Dallas wrong about him. Here is the full story: 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3423800

Funny, I don't remember Jones being so quotable in Dallas -- or rather, making himself available to be quoted. He was rarely in the lockerroom to talk to the media during his time with the Cowboys.

-- Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Indy racing star headed to Valley Ranch

Indy Racing Series star and two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will be a guest at Valley Ranch on Wednesday visiting with the Cowboys after their OTA practice session. Castroneves, also a champion from Dancing With the Stars, expects to run some routes and catch a few passes from Tony Romo. Castroneves is in town for Saturday night's IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Castroneves and Romo should hit it off. Castroneves is a big cheese when it comes to having fun. He also knows Terrell Owens after buddying up with him at a pro tennis tournament in Florida earlier this year. Maybe Helio will climb the fence (his trademark in IRL after wins) when he enters the practice field area.

- Rick Herrin

T.O. press conference tidbits

Here's a few things from the T.O. press conference today at the Stadium Club at Texas Stadium...

• Owens missed the OTA practice on Tuesday because he was in New York finishing a media tour for Alzheimer's awareness. He got a text from quarterback Tony Romo that his speed was missed in practice. OLB Greg Ellis also did not practice.
• TO on matching up with Pacman in practice: ''It's going to be competitive.''
• TO is starting to get worried about Terry Glenn, who must sign a $500,000 injury settlement in case his right knee goes before he can start practicing. ''I hate that nothing has gotten done to this point.''
• Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said he expects Glenn to sign the agreement but the club is being patient with him but, ''it's nothing that's on the horizon right now.'' Jones said it is not a problem that Glenn now represents himself after firing his agent.
• Owens says he plans to pay back the money reportedly he owed the Eagles after an arbitrator ruled in the team's favor for more than $750,000. ''I don't mind paying that back. They can have it considering what happened today (signing extension). It's not a big deal.''
• Jerry Jones had the Stadium Club staff put a huge bowl of popcorn on the press conference table when Owens walked in. When he arrived, Jerry told TO it was his signing bonus. The popcorn was freshly popped before the press conference and was warm when it arrived. Jerry, who did some interviews while pounding away the popcorn, was seen still eating some more than an hour later.

- Rick Herrin

Witten part of national campaign

Tight end Jason Witten joined Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, Fort Worth Public Health Director Dan Reimer and the Ad Council’s North Texas Leadership Committee in unveiling a localized multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign in an effort to combat childhood obesity in North Texas.
In partnership with the NFL and Cowboys Play 60 initiative, this localized effort is part of the Ad Council’s national ongoing Childhood Obesity Prevention campaign with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Statistics reveal that more than 12 ½ million kids nationally are overweight, which equates to 17 percent of children (ages 6-18).
"You have to realize that this is a huge problem in our country," Witten said. "As an athlete, it’s good to bring out the awareness like this."
Witten is in a commercial with San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush promoting Play 60, which encourages children to play 60 minutes a day to combat obesity.
Following the news conference, he took active role in the campaign by playing football, soccer, jump rope and hula hoop with about a dozen kids from the Arlington Boys and Girls Club.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Glenn update

Cowboys vice-president Stephen Jones said they expect wide receiver Terry Glenn to sign a $500,000 injury waiver for his surgically-repaired right knee.

Glenn, who has no agent and is representing himself for now, is due $1.74 million this season.

By signing an injury waiver, if he injures his right knee and goes on injured reserve, the $1.74 million would be nullified and he would be paid $500,000.

Rick Herrin

Rosenhaus chimes in

A few years ago Drew Rosenhaus said TO and the Cowboys were a match made in heaven. He credits the Cowboys with getting this deal done because of a commitment to winning.

''I wish I had more players on the Cowboys,'' Rosenhaus said. ''The Cowboys are an organization that is determined to win and part of winning is getting players signed.''

- RH

Popcorn is ready

The Terrell Owens press conference has started, but before it got going a huge bowl of popcorn was placed at the table in front of Owens and Jerry Jones.

In photo sure to be seen everywhere, Jones and TO took a few bites before the press conference started.

"It's fresh,'' Owens said of the popcorn.

Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus is also here at the Stadium Club at Texas Stadium. Owens has signed a three-year extension and will be in Dallas through the 2011 season.

"I am a Cowboy for life and I am happy,'' Owens said.

Jerry just said TO never pushed Rosenhaus to get an extension done. Jerry said the Cowboys initiated the extension talks.

- Rick Herrin