Jerry Jones Weighs In On The Cowboys' Week One Collapse

Being the owner and all of the team, Jerry Jones is more than entitled to speak his mind about his team and how they’re performing. The Dallas Cowboys owner has never been shy about doing just that in the past. On Monday, Jones joined Jagger & Barsky on KRLD in Dallas to talk about his team’s 13-7 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday night. Here’s a few choice excerpts from the interview about Jones’ reaction to the botched play at the end of the first half.

On the play call at the end of the first half:

“That was a bad call, but one of the things that Wade (Phillips) does the best is his game calling. He’s one of the best. That was one that wasn’t. Other than that, that was about it.”

On what was going through his head watching that play:

“First of all, Romo, if you look at his skills and the thing that he does, he will from time to time make an impromptu play. That’s what I call the Favreish factor in him so he’ll do that. Again the mistake was all the way through the play and not going to the knee and just killing the play. But again, that doesn’t happen very often with Wade.”

Colombo And Kosier Expected To Practice Wednesday

There’s not many happy faces amongst the legions of Dallas Cowboys fans around the globe. Despite seemingly winning just about every significant statistical battle against the Washington Redskins, the Cowboys fell short in the only one that matters – the final score.

It’s hard to make the claim that Dallas lost because of atrocious offensive line play, but let’s face it, they played without two of their premiere O-linemen, Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo. And Colombo’s replacement, Alex Baron, had drive-killing penalties on more than one occassion, including on the final play of the game that negated what would have been a game-winning touchdown grab by Roy Williams.

The good news is both Kosier and Colombo are expected to return to practice on Wednesday, which in my mind at least, signifies that they should be available for next Sunday’s game against the Bears barring any setbacks. Fingers crossed.

Penalties Doom Cowboys, Lose 13-7 To Redskins

(Sports Network) – DeAngelo Hall returned a fumble for a score and Graham Gano kicked two field goals, as the revamped Redskins held on to edge the Cowboys, 13-7.

Washington made its debut under new head coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Shanahan was hired by the Redskins in January to replace Jim Zorn, who was fired after a 4-12 season, while Washington acquired McNabb from NFC East rival Philadelphia in April.

McNabb spent his first 11 NFL seasons with Philadelphia, leading the team to five NFC Championship Games and becoming the franchise leader in many categories. The six-time Pro Bowl selection completed 15-of-32 passes for 171 yards Sunday to help the Redskins (1-0) win their season-opener for the first time since 2007.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw for 282 yards and a touchdown, and led Dallas (0-1) on a potential game-winning drive with under two minutes left. On the final play of the game, Romo completed a pass to Roy Williams in the right corner of the end zone, but a holding call on tackle Alex Barron negated the score as Washington held on.

Roy Williams Motivated By Michael Irvin's Recent Comments

He probably shouldn’t need any extra motivation heading into the 2010 season, but Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams got one more reason to elevate his game and prove his doubters wrong when Hall of Famer Michael Irvin said the Cowboys were essentially playing ‘10 on 11’ when Williams was on the field.

``That lit my fire,‘’ Williams said on Friday. ``It just lit me up. … That got me going.’’

``I’m going to do my job and let it happen,‘’ Williams said. ``I put in the work and the time. It’s going to happen. … I was on the top of the drops list (in 2009). I promise you that I won’t even be close to that.’’

Talk is cheap, and we’ve heard plenty of it from Williams since he arrived in Dallas from Detroit. But to his credit, Williams has also put in lots of work this offseason. It may just be his time to return to form and again play like the talented force he showed flashes of earlier in his career.

Wade Phillips Talks Weight Loss, Remains Mum On Colombo's Status

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips joined KRLD in Dallas for what I presume will be his last interview before the team kicks off their 2010 season Sunday night against the Washington Redskins. During the interview, Phillips was one part candid and funny, and one part coy.

First, the candid parts of the interview, beginning with Phillips talking about his weight loss regiment this spring and summer:

On how much weight he’s lost this offseason:

“I actually lost about 40 pounds. I was a little too heavy obviously, but I think it’s about 40 pounds.”

On how he was able to successfully shed so many pounds:

“Well, Diet Dr. Pepper, you know? I used to drink a lot of Cokes and stuff, and when I went to Diet Dr. Pepper, that helps some. Obviously working out, and I actually did NutriSystem some. So a combination of things.”

You go Wade!

Now, to football. Phillips was asked about injured tackle Marc Colombo:

On how close he thinks Marc Colombo is to returning if ‘he had to make an educated guess’:

“Well, I’m not educated on that. I really…it’s so hard to tell on injuries, and it really comes from the doctors first and our athletic trainers as to where they feel the player is. And the player himself. All the players want to get better and want to say they’re ready. And sometimes our trainers overrule it, and sometime the players overrules it and says really, I’m not ready. So, we just have to see where they are.”

Not surprising that Phillips continues to be furtive about the subject. All NFL coaches do.

Cowboys Name Team Captains

The 2010 NFL season got underway last night in New Orleans. The remaining 30 teams in the league kickoff the new campaign on Sunday or Monday. The Dallas Cowboys, who square off against the Washington Redskins on Sunday Night Football, have named their team captains.

Offensive Captains: Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Marion Barber
Defensive Captains: Bradie James, DeMarcus Ware, Keith Brooking.
Special Teams Captain: Sam Hurd

Of the seven, only Barber, Brooking and Hurd have never been designated as captains previously.

Congratulations!

Dallas Cowboys Injury Report: Three Offensive Linemen 'Out' Against Redskins

The Dallas Cowboys submitted their last injury report for the week after Friday’s practice, though there weren’t many surprises on the official report.

Marc Colombo will not play against the Washington Redskins due to his injured knee, but the report noted that Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips indicated that the team is optimistic Colombo will practice next week. Alex Barron will get the start at right tackle.

Kyle Kosier, a fellow starting lineman, has also been declared out due to a knee injury he suffered during training camp. The team is optimistic that he will practice next week, but Montrae Holland will get the start at left guard until Kosier is healthy.

Gerald Sensabaugh is listed as probable with a shoulder injury, though he is expected to start at strong safety Sunday.

The only other player listed on the injury report is rookie T Sam Young, who is rehabbing his sprained knee at Valley Ranch.

Dez Bryant, Roy Williams, Keith Brooking, Marcus Spears and Josh Brent were all left off the week’s final injury report, indicating they will all be available against the Redskins.

ESPN Source: Marc Colombo Will Not Play Sunday

Tim McMahon relays information from a Cowboys source that starting right tackle Marc Colombo will not play in the team’s opener Sunday night after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Colombo injured his knee during training camp but was expected to be ready to play in time for the opener. Dallas is now likely to start two backups in their offensive line Sunday, with guard Kyle Kosier also expected to miss the game.

Wade Phillips has expressed confidence in backups Montrae Holland and Alex Barron.

“It gives me a lot of confidence in those two guys,” coach Wade Phillips said of the reserve linemen’s experience. “Holland and Barron both have started and played and played well in a lot of games. That gives us confidence. And they’ve worked well in our system and worked hard. I don’t think it’s going to be perfect for them, but we have confidence that they’ll do a good job for us.”

Kyle Kosier, Marc Colombo Miss Practice Wednesday

Starting offensive linemen Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo missed practice Wednesday, sparking speculation that both will miss the season opener in Washington.

Kosier was thought to be a long shot for Week One all along, but Colombo’s absence was a disappointing development and creates a scary situation. Offensive line is regarded as the team’s achilles heal even with the starters healthy. Montrae Holland provides passable cover for Kosier, but Colombo’s health and Alex Barron’s preseason struggles make the tackle position a big concern.

Wade Phillips claims that the pair of backups would not be a big concern.

“They [Barron and Holland] have worked well in our system,” Phillips said. “I don’t think it’ll be perfect for them, but we have confidence they’ll do a good job.”

Phillips has also learned that he won’t be able to lean on Colombo’s self-evaluation.

It’d be stunning if Colombo, who hasn’t practiced since undergoing surgery, actually volunteered that his knee didn’t feel well enough to play in Sunday night’s season opener.

“You have to gauge those things,” Phillips said. “You go more with the medical people, because they’ve worked him out. They run him, change direction. [Associate athletic trainer] Britt Brown does a great job of that. He can tell me a lot.”

NFL Week One: Dallas Cowboys At Washington Redskins Game Week

Matchup: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
Game time: Sunday, 7:20 CT
Location: FedEx Field (open air) in Landover, Maryland
Forecast: 75 degrees, partly cloudy
TV/Radio: NBC/105.3 locally

Last matchup: WAS 0 - DAL 17

2009 Unit Rankings (DAL / WAS):

Yards -- 2 / 22
Points -- 14 / 26

Yards allowed -- 9 / 10
Points allowed -- 2 / 18

COACHES

Cowboys: 

Head Coach -- Wade Phillips (4th year)
Offensive Coordinator -- Jason Garrett (4th year)
Defensive Coordinator -- Wade Phillips (2nd year)

Redskins:

Head Coach -- Mike Shanahan (1st year)
Offensive Coordinator -- Kyle Shanahan (1st year)
Defensive Coordinator -- Jim Haslett (1st year)

EXPECTED STARTING LINEUPS

Cowboys:

QB -- Tony Romo
RB -- Marion Barber, Deon Anderson
WR -- Miles Austin, Roy Williams
TE -- Jason Witten
OL -- Doug Free, Montrae Holland (for Kyle Kosier), Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo

DL -- Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, Igor Olshansky
LB -- Anthony Spencer, Bradie James, Keith Brooking, DeMarcus Ware
DB -- Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman, Alan Ball, Gerald Sensabaugh

K/P -- David Buehler, Mat McBriar

Redskins:

QB -- Donovan McNabb
RB -- Clinton Portis, Mike Sellers
WR -- Santana Moss, Joey Galloway
TE -- Chris Cooley
OL -- Trent Williams, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Artis Hicks, Jammal Brown

DL -- Adam Carriker, Ma'ake Kemoeatu (for Albert Haynesworth), Kedric Golston
LB -- Andre Carter, London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh, Brian Orakpo
DB -- Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall, LaRon Landry, Kareem Moore

K/P -- Graham Gano, Josh Bidwell

INJURIES

Cowboys:

Kyle Kosier (knee) will probably miss the game.
Marc Colombo (knee) missed practice Wednesday and is uncertain for the game.
Marcus Spears, Keith Brooking, Dez Bryant, Roy Williams and Gerald Sensabaugh all should play.

Redskins: 

Donovan McNabb (ankle) will play.
Albert Haynesworth (fitness) will not start but should play.