Cowboys Corner

Jerry says roof, doors will be open

If nice weather appears Sunday as it is forecast, Jerry Jones said Friday that the roof and doors will be open at Cowboys Stadium.

Jeff Caplan

Felix Jones will return kickoffs

There’s an argument that it’s too risky to use Felix Jones as a kick returner because of his injury history.

 

The Cowboys don’t think so.

 

When newly signed return specialist Allen Rossum went down in the first quarter last Sunday, Jones replaced him on kickoff returns. Had receiver Miles Austin not have joined the starting ranks, he might have gotten the call.

 

It will be Jones, recovered from a strained posterior cruciate ligament, who will return kickoffs Sunday against Seattle, coach Wade Phillips said Thursday. Jones wants the job despite the risks.

 

“This is a physical game,” Jones said. “You can get hurt walking a straight line. You’re just playing football, there’s no way around getting hurt.”

 

The Cowboys could also use rookie receiver Kevin Ogletree. Active in one game this season, Ogletree has four kickoff returns for an average of 23.5 yards, similar to Jones (23.0) and Austin (24.7).

 

“That’s all you really want to do is help the team win,” Ogletree said. “That’s what I’ve been here for. That’s been my motto. When I get in there, I believe it’s going to be trying to make a play or do something to help us.”

 

Jeff Caplan

Felix Jones will return kickoffs

There’s an argument that it’s too risky to use Felix Jones as a kick returner because of his injury history.

 

The Cowboys don’t think so.

 

When newly signed return specialist Allen Rossum went down in the first quarter last Sunday, Jones replaced him on kickoff returns. Had receiver Miles Austin not have joined the starting ranks, he might have gotten the call.

 

It will be Jones, recovered from a strained posterior cruciate ligament, who will return kickoffs Sunday against Seattle, coach Wade Phillips said Thursday. Jones wants the job despite the risks.

 

“This is a physical game,” Jones said. “You can get hurt walking a straight line. You’re just playing football, there’s no way around getting hurt.”

 

The Cowboys could also use rookie receiver Kevin Ogletree. Active in one game this season, Ogletree has four kickoff returns for an average of 23.5 yards, similar to Jones (23.0) and Austin (24.7).

 

“That’s all you really want to do is help the team win,” Ogletree said. “That’s what I’ve been here for. That’s been my motto. When I get in there, I believe it’s going to be trying to make a play or do something to help us.”

 

Jeff Caplan

Crayton's effort rewarded

Of all ironies, Patrick Crayton, demoted as punt returner when the Cowboys acquired specialist Allen Rossum during the bye week, was selected the NFC special teams player of the week.

 

Crayton returned an Atlanta fourth-quarter punt 73 yards for a touchdown, the first of his career.

Rossum tore his hamstring on his first kickoff return, putting Crayton back in business.

 

It was the first punt return for a touchdown for the Cowboys since Terence Newman returned one 56 yards against Detroit on Dec. 31, 2006, and the longest since Deion Sanders took one back 76 yards at Indianapolis on Oct. 31, 1999.

 

Jeff Caplan

D-Ware gets paid

The Cowboys will announce DeMarcus Ware's new contract at 4:30 p.m. today. It is a six-year extension, through 2015, and includes some $40 million in guarantees. Ware was in the final year of his rookie deal and would have become a restricted free agent in the off-season.

His contract compares to some of the recent contracts paid to the NFL's best defenders, including Washington's Albert Haynesworth (seven years, $100 million, $41 million guaranteed), Baltimore's Terrell Suggs (six years, $62.5 million, $38.1 million guaranteed), Pittsburgh's James Harrison (six years, $51 million, $20 million guaranteed) and Minnesota's Jared Allen (six years, $74.5 million, $31 million guaranteed).

Ware, 27, was the runner-up to Harrison for defensive player of the year last season. He has four sacks this season -- two in each of the past two games -- and 57.5 in his career.

"I've been lucky to be around a lot of good ones," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Monday. "He’s at the top of the class, and it doesn’t take long to call the roll. ...He’s very special that way. But he’s an all around player, and he plays the run well too. That’s what you really like about him."

 

Ware's deal continues the Cowboys' trend of wrapping up their best players. In recent, seasons they have signed to long-term deals: Tony Romo (six years, $67.4 million, $30 million guaranteed), Marion Barber (seven years, $45 million, $16 million guaranteed), Flozell Adams (six years, $43 million, $15 million guaranteed), Roy Williams (five years, $45 million, $20 million guaranteed), Terence Newman (six years, $50.2 million, $22.5 million guaranteed), Leonard DAvis (seven years, $49.6 million, $18.75 million guaranteed) and Ken Hamlin (six years, $39 million, $15 million guaranteed).

-- Charean Williams

Cowboys wrap up D-Ware

The Cowboys have called a news conference for around 4:30 this afternoon to make a player personnel announcement. That player would be defensive end DeMarcus Ware. The announcement is the finalization of a long-term contract. Ware's rookie deal expires at the end of this season and the Cowboys and Ware's representatives have been in talks for months. Break out your calculators and stay tuned for further details.

Jeff Caplan

Brooking loving this

Any doubt that Keith Brooking would be up for this one? He obviously wanted to get back at his former team, and he talked about that a little after the game:

"The last thing I was told by the (Atlanta) coaches was that it was a young man’s game. I guess an old man can still play in this league. But this isn’t what this is about. This is just me talking. It’s a huge win for our football team. It's such a pivotal moment."

And about the physical factor: "I know Atlanta prides themselves on being physical. They didn’t out-physical to us today. We bloodied their noses and then we stepped on them and kicked them to the ground. That’s a good feeling."

Romo's fun time

Tony Romo was having a ball in the post-game press conference. He said he's fine, that the hit he took early in the first quarter is just part of football. Someone asked something about a concussion (didn't get the whole question), but he had fun with it:

"I don’t remember," he said, before really breaking up the crowd with, "I just broke up with a girl recently..."

Anyway, more Romo:

On Austin: "Miles has been doing good things for a long time and has been waiting for his opportunity. Now that he has it he’s making the most of it. He’s a good guy and he deserves what he gets.:

On his scramble and finding Crayton for that late first-half TD: "When I broke the first (tackle), the first thing that goes to your head is, 'I need to get rid of the ball.' I thought it was a high-percentage chance to wait and get it to Patrick. You have to do something out of the ordinary once in a while."

And in closing... "We’re learning what team we’ve got, and I think any time you have people consistently give you bigger windows, that’s important. I think we have some guys like that. It definitely makes it easier not to have to be perfect."

-- Tracey Myers

Some Wade quotes

Not surprisingly, he's happy with this one. Should be. Here are some of his thoughts:

On Crayton reacting to changes: "He reacted pretty well. He’s the kind of guy you want on your football team. He’s going to work at it, make plays when he has the opportunities. He certainly did that."

On Miles Austin: "Austin had another big game to back up the one he had before. He needed to establish he’s a legitimate threat, and I think he did. That was an important step for us, obviously."

About this game being a shot in the arm: "We needed to get to 4-2, and we had a big obstacle in front of us in Atlanta. They are a good team, no doubt about that. We looked solid in all areas ourselves."

Not too shabby

Hey folks,

We're waiting for quotes, and I'll post some as soon as I get them. But let's take a quick look back at this 37-21 victory:

Happy overall with it?

Does it renew your optimism with this team?

Still skeptical?

Will the 'Boys use this as a confidence builder?

Discuss.

-- Tracey Myers