Cowboys Corner

Austin on a run

 

Miles Austin took a knee to his right arm on a first-quarter play initially ruled a fumble but later reversed on a replay challenge by the Cowboys. X-rays were negative, and he returned to catch two more passes and to score on a 60-yard end around run.

Austin’s arm was red, and he said it was sore.

“I just know something banged it,” Austin said. “…After they said there was no break, I just went back in.”

Austin’s 60-yard touchdown run, with springing blocks from Roy Williams, Jason Witten and Felix Jones, was the second-longest run by a receiver in team history. Kelvin Edwards had a 62-yard touchdown run against Philadelphia in 1987.

It was Austin’s first career rush.

“Just got to the corner, and guys were blocking out there,” Austin said. “I just had to keep running.”

-- Charean Williams 

Bryant shut out

Jon Kitna targeted Dez Bryant six times, but Bryant was shut out for the first time this season. He did have one run for zero yards and returned one punt for 13 yards and two kickoffs for 60 yards.

Bryant refused comment after the game.

Bryant, who is in the running for offensive rookie of the year honors, has 44 catches for 547 yards and six touchdowns. He also has returned two punts for touchdowns.

-- Charean Williams

 

Buehler laments miss

David Buehler sat at his locker, still in his uniform, for a long time. He needed some time.

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis patted him on the shoulder and shouted encouragement as he headed out the door. Other players came by to do the same.

It didn’t help.

“It sucks,” Buehler said after he had showered, which was after most of the team had left the locker room. “You put yourself in my shoes. You know how I’m feeling.”

Buehler was wide left on a 59-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining. It would have tied the game at 30.

“I missed it,” Buehler said. “If I made it, we go to overtime, and I give them another opportunity. That’s what the game came down to. It came down to me, and I’ve got to make that. I’ve made it plenty of times in practice, and I thought I had it. But obviously I didn’t.”

It was Buehler’s fourth miss of the season on his longest attempt of the season.

Buehler had been good from 53 earlier in the game. He also made a 21-yarder. He had four touchbacks in five kickoffs.

But the miss is what stuck with him.

“I was having a good game up to then, but I’ve got to make that kick,” Buehler said. “Even though it’s long, I’ve got to make it.”

-- Charean Williams

Roy takes responsiblity

Roy Williams has received a lot of criticism since arriving in Dallas and he will undoubtedly be blasted on talk radio and other outlets. But the impressive thing about Williams is he never runs from the scrutiny.

He’s not one of the players who shows up for the TV cameras when he’s doing well and hides when he’s not. Williams is always there.

He was again Thursday after a disappointing fumble led to the Cowboys losing to the Saints 30-27.

With Dallas leading New Orleans 27-23 late in the fourth quarter, Williams caught a short pass over the middle from quarterback Jon Kitna and gained 47 yards to the Saints 11-yard line. But at the end of the play, New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins managed to get both hands wrapped around the ball and was able to pry it from Williams.

Jenkins recovered the fumble with 3:03 left, and the Saints promptly moved 89 yards in five plays to score a touchdown and win the game.

“I lost the ball game,” Williams said bluntly. “I will say that. Let my teammates down.

“I know it’s a team game. I know the defense had a chance to stop them and all that stuff. But it wouldn’t even have to come down to that if I’d just fallen down or just get tackled and hold on to the football. Who knows what would have happened? But it’s on me.”

The late flub ruined what had been a good day for Williams, who had five catches for 83 yards.

“We played hard,” Williams said. “It should have been a come from behind victory. Pretty sure [the media] already had it written down for the ‘W.’ And this football team fought. We rallied behind our head coach. We had it but we just didn’t finish. I didn’t finish.”

-- Jan Hubbard

 

Score another for the Alley Dogs

Players on the Cowboys practice squad refer to themselves as the “alley dogs,” which captures their status. They’re not members of the 53-man roster and are paid lesser salaries, but they are always hungry and fighting for the scraps, which in this case are spots on the roster.

Wide receiver and special teams player Jesse Holley spent all last year and part of this season on the practice squad. He was joined this year by defensive back Bryan McCann.

In the last two weeks, Holley watched as McCann made two big plays in Cowboys victories. It was Holley’s turn on Thursday.

In the third quarter, Holley chased Reggie Bush on a punt return and hammered the ball out of Bush’s hands. That cause a fumble, which was recovered by the Cowboys’ Leon Williams. The Cowboys quickly scored a touchdown to close within three of the Saints at 23-20.

“You got to catch up with McCann,” Holley said of the big play. “He had a 101-yard interception for a touchdown, he had the punt return back for the touchdown. When you’re lead alley dog, you’ve got to do your part. I’m the lead alley dog so I’ve got to make sure I’m still relevant to those guys.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Exactly what are you doing, mate?

Growing up in Australia, punter Mat McBriar played Australian Rules Football. In that game, players kick and punch the ball to move it downfield. Early in the fourth quarter, McBriar reverted to his roots.

Punting from the Saints 35, McBriar said because he had so little room to punt, he started thinking about the punt instead of the snap and took his eye of the ball. He dropped the snap and ball bounced in front of him.

McBriar kicked it. That’s not allowed in the NFL.

“I can’t believe I did that,” McBriar said. “That was more instinctive.”

McBriar was called for a penalty on the kick, but the Saints declined it, not wanting to give McBriar a chance to pin them close to the goal line. They took over at their own 16.

-- Jan Hubbard

Dragon pride at Cowboys Stadium

 How often is it that a high school has four alumni in a game? And how many in history have had three players from the same high school on a special team?

The Saints signed long snapper Justin Drescher this week. He will snap field goal and extra point attempts to backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who will hold for kicker Garrett Hartley.On the Cowboys sideline, Scott Chandler will be watching.

“I was going to invite [former Southlake coach] Todd Dodge to be on our sideline,” Saints coach Sean Payton joked. We’re excited about it and it’s probably a first that that’s ever happened.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Felix is questionable

Felix Jones (right hip) was limited in practice and is listed as questionable on the official injury report. If Jones is unable to play, or is limited, Tashard Choice could see his first extended action of the season.

Choice has had only 13 carries for 37 yards this year. He has caught nine passes for 45 yards. He has had few opportunities the past seven games.

-- Charean Williams

 

Felix is at practice

The Cowboys are holding a walk-through practice, without helmets, and running back Felix Jones is on the field. Jones missed Monday and Tuesday's practices with a sore right hip. He played through the injury in Sunday's game after X-rays were negative.

The only players not at practice are quarterback Tony Romo (clavicle) and defensive end Sean Lissemore (ankle), neither of whom will play in Thursday's game.

-- Charean Williams

McCann is 2-for-3

Cowboys rookie cornerback Bryan McCann is two for three in his career. He has played three games. He has won two NFC player of the week honors.

Against the Giants, McCann had a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown. It earned him NFC defensive player of the week honors. On Sunday, he had a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown. The NFL announced Tuesday that McCann has earned NFC special teams player of the week honors for this week.

It is the first time since 2007 that a player has won awards on both defense and special teams. Then-Chargers cornerback Antoino Cromartie won the AFC special teams award in Week 9 of the 2007 season, and he was named AFC defensive player of the week a week later.

-- Charean Williams