thevalleyranchreport
09-06-2007, 01:34 AM
Cowboys Optimistic On Newman; Unsure About Ellis
Nick Eatman - DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
http://www.dallascowboys.com/images/Newman_lean_330.jpg
Terence Newman could return to practice on Thursday, according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
IRVING, Texas - They enter the regular season with their veteran pass-rusher questionable for the game after missing all of the preseason.
They have another veteran cornerback who might not play because of an injury, but his chances of playing seem to be increasing.
Heading into Sunday's season opener, that team description could fit both the Cowboys and the Giants.
But while New York is still uncertain whether defensive end Michael Strahan or cornerback Sam Madison will play, there also aren't definitive answers in Dallas about the Cowboys' two defensive standouts.
Cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker Greg Ellis both missed practice again Wednesday, as did linebacker Kevin Burnett.
Newman, who missed the last three preseason games because of a partial tear in his plantar fascia, worked with a strength coach on a side field, alongside Ellis and Burnett. Veteran receiver Terry Glenn, who missed all of preseason following an Aug. 1 knee scope, had full participation in practice.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips did not go into detail Wednesday on Newman's chances of playing this week, but team owner Jerry Jones sounded rather confident.
"I really liked his response today," Jones said Wednesday of Newman. "We'll see how he feels in the morning. Those things are sore in the morning. I know he's going to do everything he can to play. We're hoping we can get him out in the actual team (practice on Thursday).
"He was pushing off and then would push off and then come back a little while later and push off again. He did some things today that when he pushed off a little yesterday were a little more sensitive yesterday than today. So it was an improvement from yesterday."
Jones also said he expected Burnett, who underwent surgery last week to remove bone chips from his ankle, to practice with the team on Thursday. But it's a different story for Ellis (sore heel), who hasn't practiced since July 25, the first day of training camp, still rehabbing from the Achilles injury he suffered last November.
Jones would only say Ellis is "working on it," in terms of trying to make a return.
At this point, the Cowboys have to doubt if Ellis can be ready to play against the Giants, despite Phillips saying he doesn't have a policy on players needing to practice to be able to play in games. However, that might apply more to Newman or Burnett than Ellis, considering he has practiced just once the entire off-season, including training camp, OTA practices and two mini-camps.
But if indeed the veteran pass-rusher doesn't play against the Giants, the Cowboys at least have a first-round draft pick to turn to. Anthony Spencer, the 26th overall pick from Purdue, started all four preseason games at outside linebacker.
Phillips has given Spencer plenty of praise during training camp and the preseason and has maintained the rookie would start if Ellis can't go, instead of using Bobby Carpenter, who got some work at outside linebacker in preseason.
Phillips said there's not much the defense can do to overcompensate for Spencer's inexperience.
"I don't know about giving him help - that's why you play with 11 (players)," Phillips said. "He's going to have some help. There's certain things that we can do, where maybe he doesn't have to cover in certain situations and utilize him rushing more. But he's still got to play the game at that position technique- and assignment-wise the way we want it done. He's working at that. I think he'll be all right there. I think he'll be fine."
At least the Cowboys have a first-round pick to throw out there in case Ellis doesn't play. While the thought of using Carpenter on the outside is an idea, the Cowboys can't simply move him completely from inside linebacker, especially if Burnett is banged up, too.
Look for Carpenter to be a primary backup at both inside and outside positions, regardless of who plays Sunday night.
Burnett had been working as the inside linebacker on the dime defense alongside Roy Williams. If he doesn't play, Bradie James will take his spot.
Burnett, who has been injury-prone in his first two seasons, said this latest setback has been more frustrating, considering how well he had performed in the preseason.
"Any injury is tough because it kind of messes with your mind," said Burnett, who has now undergone five surgeries since joining the Cowboys in 2005. "How many more injuries can I withstand? It's kind of disheartening a little bit. But no injury is a good one, but if you're going to pick a surgery to have, it would be this one."
And Burnett can say that knowing he has a good chance to play this week, if not by the second game when the Cowboys travel to Miami. The second-year linebacker now has all of the staples removed from his ankle following his arthroscopic surgery.
While the Cowboys are used to playing without Ellis and can use other proven players if Burnett doesn't play, that's not the case with Newman, which is one reason why his injury seems to be the most concerning.
Newman has established himself as one of the team's defensive leaders, if not one of the NFL's best cornerbacks.
He's also been a staple of durability since arriving on the scene in 2003. Newman has not missed a game in four years, starting all 64 games in his career. The Cowboys are worried less about Newman's streak and probably more about his backup.
Fourth-year pro Jacques Reeves will start if Newman doesn't play and will have a big role in the dime package either way. In that defense, Reeves will likely stay at left cornerback, and either Newman or backup Nate Jones will play in the slot.
Jones, who like Reeves was a seventh-round pick in 2004, was considered a long shot to make this 53-man roster this year. He played sparingly in the last two preseason games, but his experience on defense, along with being one of the team's special teams players, certainly helped his cause.
"I'm just excited about the opportunity," Jones said. "Whatever happens, I'll be ready. If (Newman) can't go, then we've got step up. But it doesn't matter, really. In my position, you've got to get yourself ready for anything to happen."
The Cowboys are ready for all contingency plans. They just wouldn't mind if they go unused this week.
Nick Eatman - DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
http://www.dallascowboys.com/images/Newman_lean_330.jpg
Terence Newman could return to practice on Thursday, according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
IRVING, Texas - They enter the regular season with their veteran pass-rusher questionable for the game after missing all of the preseason.
They have another veteran cornerback who might not play because of an injury, but his chances of playing seem to be increasing.
Heading into Sunday's season opener, that team description could fit both the Cowboys and the Giants.
But while New York is still uncertain whether defensive end Michael Strahan or cornerback Sam Madison will play, there also aren't definitive answers in Dallas about the Cowboys' two defensive standouts.
Cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker Greg Ellis both missed practice again Wednesday, as did linebacker Kevin Burnett.
Newman, who missed the last three preseason games because of a partial tear in his plantar fascia, worked with a strength coach on a side field, alongside Ellis and Burnett. Veteran receiver Terry Glenn, who missed all of preseason following an Aug. 1 knee scope, had full participation in practice.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips did not go into detail Wednesday on Newman's chances of playing this week, but team owner Jerry Jones sounded rather confident.
"I really liked his response today," Jones said Wednesday of Newman. "We'll see how he feels in the morning. Those things are sore in the morning. I know he's going to do everything he can to play. We're hoping we can get him out in the actual team (practice on Thursday).
"He was pushing off and then would push off and then come back a little while later and push off again. He did some things today that when he pushed off a little yesterday were a little more sensitive yesterday than today. So it was an improvement from yesterday."
Jones also said he expected Burnett, who underwent surgery last week to remove bone chips from his ankle, to practice with the team on Thursday. But it's a different story for Ellis (sore heel), who hasn't practiced since July 25, the first day of training camp, still rehabbing from the Achilles injury he suffered last November.
Jones would only say Ellis is "working on it," in terms of trying to make a return.
At this point, the Cowboys have to doubt if Ellis can be ready to play against the Giants, despite Phillips saying he doesn't have a policy on players needing to practice to be able to play in games. However, that might apply more to Newman or Burnett than Ellis, considering he has practiced just once the entire off-season, including training camp, OTA practices and two mini-camps.
But if indeed the veteran pass-rusher doesn't play against the Giants, the Cowboys at least have a first-round draft pick to turn to. Anthony Spencer, the 26th overall pick from Purdue, started all four preseason games at outside linebacker.
Phillips has given Spencer plenty of praise during training camp and the preseason and has maintained the rookie would start if Ellis can't go, instead of using Bobby Carpenter, who got some work at outside linebacker in preseason.
Phillips said there's not much the defense can do to overcompensate for Spencer's inexperience.
"I don't know about giving him help - that's why you play with 11 (players)," Phillips said. "He's going to have some help. There's certain things that we can do, where maybe he doesn't have to cover in certain situations and utilize him rushing more. But he's still got to play the game at that position technique- and assignment-wise the way we want it done. He's working at that. I think he'll be all right there. I think he'll be fine."
At least the Cowboys have a first-round pick to throw out there in case Ellis doesn't play. While the thought of using Carpenter on the outside is an idea, the Cowboys can't simply move him completely from inside linebacker, especially if Burnett is banged up, too.
Look for Carpenter to be a primary backup at both inside and outside positions, regardless of who plays Sunday night.
Burnett had been working as the inside linebacker on the dime defense alongside Roy Williams. If he doesn't play, Bradie James will take his spot.
Burnett, who has been injury-prone in his first two seasons, said this latest setback has been more frustrating, considering how well he had performed in the preseason.
"Any injury is tough because it kind of messes with your mind," said Burnett, who has now undergone five surgeries since joining the Cowboys in 2005. "How many more injuries can I withstand? It's kind of disheartening a little bit. But no injury is a good one, but if you're going to pick a surgery to have, it would be this one."
And Burnett can say that knowing he has a good chance to play this week, if not by the second game when the Cowboys travel to Miami. The second-year linebacker now has all of the staples removed from his ankle following his arthroscopic surgery.
While the Cowboys are used to playing without Ellis and can use other proven players if Burnett doesn't play, that's not the case with Newman, which is one reason why his injury seems to be the most concerning.
Newman has established himself as one of the team's defensive leaders, if not one of the NFL's best cornerbacks.
He's also been a staple of durability since arriving on the scene in 2003. Newman has not missed a game in four years, starting all 64 games in his career. The Cowboys are worried less about Newman's streak and probably more about his backup.
Fourth-year pro Jacques Reeves will start if Newman doesn't play and will have a big role in the dime package either way. In that defense, Reeves will likely stay at left cornerback, and either Newman or backup Nate Jones will play in the slot.
Jones, who like Reeves was a seventh-round pick in 2004, was considered a long shot to make this 53-man roster this year. He played sparingly in the last two preseason games, but his experience on defense, along with being one of the team's special teams players, certainly helped his cause.
"I'm just excited about the opportunity," Jones said. "Whatever happens, I'll be ready. If (Newman) can't go, then we've got step up. But it doesn't matter, really. In my position, you've got to get yourself ready for anything to happen."
The Cowboys are ready for all contingency plans. They just wouldn't mind if they go unused this week.