Survial of the Fittest
"I was just trying to make a play on the ball so, just another day at camp. I just hope the little boy was alright. He looked a little upset. I checked with him afterwards but he was looking for his mother. He wasn't looking for me," Witten said jokingly.
As for Roy Williams... "I never keep my helmet buckled because I never expect to get hit during practice. He just hit me and my helmet came off. If it were buckled it wouldn't have came off. It looked bad but it was a good play by him. I'm going to have to get him back."
TEXAS LOTTERY® AND DALLAS COWBOYS ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF NEW INSTANT GAME
The Texas Lottery® and the Dallas Cowboys joined together today to announce that August 17 will be the official launch date for the Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket from the Texas Lottery.
As the clock counts down to the start of the 2009 NFL season, Cowboys fans and lottery players alike can get in on the action off the field by playing the Dallas Cowboys scratch-off game.
The $5 Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket will offer players a chance at cash prizes up to $100,000. In addition to cash prizes, players will also have the opportunity to win exciting Cowboys merchandise and once-in-a-lifetime experiential prizes to be awarded in the second-chance drawings. Players can return non-winning tickets by mail to participate in the five second-chance drawings to be held throughout the run of the game. Prizes to be awarded include gift certificates, signed jerseys, pairs of season tickets and some very special trip packages, as shown below.
o 5 Dallas Cowboys "Wild Weekend" Packages, which include
§ One suite for 20 guests at a Dallas Cowboys home game
§ Private tour of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility
§ Private tour of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium
§ Pre-game party for 20 guests at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium
§ Round-trip airfare or ground transportation and hotel accommodations for 20
o 10 Dallas Cowboys Draft Weekend Packages for two, which include
§ An inside look at the War Room on Draft Day
§ Transportation on Dallas Cowboys Luxury Bus to the official Dallas Cowboys Draft Party
§ VIP Passes to the Draft Party
§ Round-trip airfare or ground transportation and hotel accommodations for two
o 5 Away-game trips for two, which include
§ Two game tickets to one away game of the prize winner's choice
§ Round trip airfare and ground transportation
§ Hotel accommodations for two for one night at the team hotel
"We are thrilled to be able to announce this partnership with the Dallas Cowboys," said Texas Lottery Commission Deputy Executive Director Gary Grief. "Cowboy fans will be thrilled with the unique football-related prizes this game has to offer."
"Not only are the Dallas Cowboys among the elite teams in the National Football League, but the team has a strong history of working in their local community through organizations such as the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Dallas Cowboys Charities and numerous other non-profit organizations," said Grief. "The Texas Lottery is extremely proud to partner with the Cowboys' organization to generate funding for the school children of Texas."
"We are thrilled about our new partnership with the Texas Lottery," said Jerry Jones Jr., the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Dallas Cowboys. "This game will give our fans an exciting new way to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys. Just as importantly, this program will dramatically help the youth of Texas by supporting education."
In fiscal year 2008, approximately 95 cents of every dollar spent on lottery products by Texas Lottery players was returned to the people of Texas in the form of contributions to education, prizes, retailer commissions and other state programs, with over $983 million going directly to the Foundation School Fund. The Foundation School Fund is a dedicated account that is administered by the Texas Education Agency and helps pay for public education in the State of Texas.
Nine other teams beat Jerry to the Lottery business..but he's all in now!
To entice you, they have teamed up with the Texas Lottery to create a brand new Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket which will cost you five bucks a shot starting on August 17th.
If you don't win a cash prize, you can send in your ticket to a second chance drawing which will include five Dallas Cowboys "Wild Weekend" packages which include a suite for 20 at a Cowboys home game, tours of both the new stadium and the practice facility at Valley Ranch, and pre-game party's for 20
If you've always wanted to go on the road with the Cowboys, five drawings
will provide trips for two including air fare, hotel and tickets to the game.
There will also be 10 drawings for Cowboys Draft weekend which include a trip inside the War Room on draft day, a ride on the Cowboys bus to the draft party and VIP tickets to the event.
Usually Jerry Jones leads the way with corporate partnerships but the Cowboys are actually the 10th NFL team to team up with a state lottery and not even the first in Texas. The Houston Texans have a scratch off game but will only print 4.5 million tickets. The Cowboys will print 12 million. Other NFL teams that have teamed up with local lotteries include the Ravens, Browns, Redskins, Jets, Saints, Patriots and Seahawks.
My grandfather would always come out of the 7-11 after buying his lottery tickets and tell me..."It's for a good cause, the money goes to the schools." That's the angle Jerry Jones, Jr. is taking today by saying today, "This game will give our fans an exciting new way to be part of the Dallas Cowboys. Just as importantly, this program will dramatically help the youth of Texas by supporting education."
I think for every five dollars we pay in school taxes, we should get a Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket as well. C'mon Jerry...work that one out!
Sam Hurd... Odd Man Out?
Meanwhile receiver, Sam Hurd continues to impress by making a number of eye brow raising catches. Many have already penciled Miles Austin in at that number 3 receiver spot, but Hurd says he's never felt like the odd man out.
"I don't feel that way. I feel like we're all out here having fun. My coaches are telling me to keep up the good work. I got God blessing me. I don't feel like I'm forgotten. What everyone else thinks, I can't worry about that. I just got to focus on what I'm doing on the field," says Hurd.
Be sure to catch our feature story on Linebacker Anthony Spencer tonight. With Greg Ellis gone, it's now Spencer's turn to shine. Catch that story on The 33 News @ Nine!
Bittersweet day for Cowboys Draft Pick Robert Brewster
Brewster tore a pectoral muscle in the weight room after mini-camp in June and had to have surgery to repair it which will take the entire season to heal. Right after the Cowboys signed him today, they put him on the physically unable to perform list. He was the last of the 12 draft picks to come to terms with the team.
Brewster never missed a game at Ball State where he won MAC Conference honors for his work on the offensive line. He spent the off season backing up Marc Columbo at right tackle.
Cowboys Feel Red Hot in the Red Zone
Flimsy special teams coverage along with turnovers by the offense helped put the opponents in the Dallas red zone 56 times, a dozen more than 2007, that's quite a weight to lay on the shoulder pads of the defense and that's why they brought in Joe DeCamillis to lighten load.
and has returned the special teams intensity to a special kind of level.
"He's all about playing fast and physical" said Bobby Carpenter who has stayed on this roster with solid play on the special teams the last three years. "His style is don't worry about making a mistake, go out there and be aggressive down the field and make them react to us instead of them reacting to our return" Carpenter said.
"We really want to establish a sense of urgency" said DeCamillas. "We want to put the importance on it, every single play out. The players have responded to that, trying to practice at a little faster pace during those periods. We're trying to upgrade the personnel, we have speed and competition at all positions."
That's music to the ears of the defense which overcame the short fields to turn in the NFL's sixth best percentage of holding teams out of the end zone when they got inside the 20.
"If the guys get 7 points hard to bounce back" said linebacker Bradie James. "When you hold them to field goals it's always good. In the red zone, the antennas go up and you have to stop them, so they don't put seven on the board" James said after drawing loud applause for stopping Marion Barber in his tracks near the goal line.
"When we're on the goal line we really gotta put our hard hats on" said Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware. "Having a guy, #56 , Bradie James, the hammer, laid the hammer down on Barber and stopped the touchdown."
James received congratulations from nearly every defender out there and took pride in pushing Barber bakwards. "MB is known for scoring, I had to stick my head in there before he hits me back."
It's not Barber that James should look for. He's got some linemen upset they couldn't create the hole for the touchdown. "As a linemen you take pride in it " said center Andre Gurode. "You know what, you take pride in it, and I'll look for next shot, a free shot at the linebacker" Gurode said with a smile.
He will get several opportunities because built into many of the 11-on-11 practices are red zone sessions, and since there's no hitting allowed, it's as close to a live drill as you'll get until the first pre-season game on Thursday.
Ware plans on showing off some of the red zone intensity in that game agaisnt the Raiders. "With us being aggressive, getting on the other side of the line and making sure that we're there instead of letting them lean into the touchdown and make big plays, we have to stop them on the other side of the ball."
The key of course is not having to get into that jam and field position should improve leaps and bounds this year. The addition of DeCamillis along with kickoff specialist David Buehler who is expected to force touch backs nearly every kick. Mat McBriar says he feels great, so getting his punting yardage back should be a major plus.
Then there's the offensive turnovers in enemy territory. This this team has focused on that as well and this time it includes the green, fines. Nothing like getting the point across by being hit square in the pocket book.
Much more from Cowboys Training Camp tonight on Inside Sports at 9:30pm on The 33.
Cowboys "Commissioner" Williams fines teammates for errors
We're talking about fines, that always seems to speak the loudest. The Cowboys had 33 turnovers last year, the most since 2004 when the Bill Parcells led team went 6-10. So in an effort to nip that in the bud...the receivers are leading the way by laying down the law and taking in the cash.
During a routine passing route at training camp, while nearly everybody in the stands is watching the play, the coaches behind the line of scrimmage are looking for something else, any sign of the football.
"You get in trouble if they can see the ball from the back" said receiver Sam Hurd. "Instead of going to the meetings and getting yelled at over and over, you try to do it right. Everybody is doing it right and everybody is holding it across their chest so we're working on a lot of ball security" Hurd said.
Part of their financial security also depends on it. Miles Austin knows all too well.
"Receivers have fines for mental errors, missed assignments, failing to convert on a route
if you block the wrong guy. It all adds up" Austin said. But there is a way to cancel out some of the fines. ""Get a touchdown, the more you get the more you can mess up."
Of course, that defeats the purpose. Who is keeping track of all these errors anyway? It's none other than Roy Williams who instituted the system and named himself "Commissioner." Roy adds up the errors as he sees them, writes them on his hand or on receiver coach Ray Sherman's play sheet.
Maybe that's why Roy Williams keeps changing his jersey from 4 to 11 and back to 4, in an attempt to stay anonymous but instead, he's become, notorious.
"He's worse then Goodell" said receiver Patrick Crayton. "He tries to rule with an iron fist, and it's been bad, very biased, it's been ridiculous so far" Crayton said with a smirk on his face.
Shaking his head, Crayton said, "he writes it down on Coach Sherman's play sheet to keep track but he never writes things about himself. It's always something else when it comes to him. We don't worry we've got it on film, we make sure to mark it down but he's corrupt!"
Roy's response: "They think I'm a little biased toward myself but when you're commissioner you can do that."
When I told him that Crayton said he was corrupt, Roy promised retaliation.
"Well you know he's the Vice President so he thinks he's second in command" Williams said. "I'm going to fire him because he's given leeway to too many guys."
Williams continued the light hearted barbs claiming that he has fined himself $110 so far. In the twelve days of training camp the receiving corps has racked up $960 dollars in fines and they're only halfway through camp. The receivers who make the team all plan to spend the proceeds dining out in Dallas when camp breaks.
The receivers have set a little trend with their kangaroo court, now the kickers are getting into the act, but they're focusing on making it more of a hazing for rookie kickoff specialist David Buehler. He hasn't done anything wrong in the kicking department but his fellow specalists have had to find a way to shrink his ego
"We're doing fines" said punter Mat McBriar. "He's a rockstar, this rookie from USC, Mr. Hollywood, he's over there yelling to the crowd. We see him doing stupid things so we fine him for that" said McBriar in his thick Australian accent.
Buehler has taken it all in stride. "I mean hey, you gotta become a fan favorite quick" Buehler said. "So you gotta make a good first impression quick get the fans on your side, I'm doing all I can!"
Having fun at camp is a must or the or the repetition of the routine will drive you crazy. The Cowboys will go hard here again on Monday with the last two a day of the week. There is one practice Tuesday, a walk through on Wednesday and then it's game on with the kickoff of the first pre-season game on Thursday night in Oakland against the Raiders.
Be sure to tune in to Inside Sports tonight at 9:30pm for more Cowboys coverage.
Wade's "new guys" are having an impressive training camp
"He's a real strong guy man, a big ole strong Russian guy" said Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher.
The new Cowboys defensive end bench pressed 505 pounds in college, and at the NFL combine he put up 225 pounds, 41 times.
"He's not real pretty, but we like him" joked Hatcher. Wade Phillips likes him too after coaching the defensive end in San Diego.
"I played with Wade for three years and we ranked in the top five against the run and had a 30 sack season and won a lot of games." said Olshansky who'se family immigrated to the United States from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine when he was seven years old. "We won 3 AFC championships (in San Diego) and I have confidence in him as a coach, coordinator and as a person and I hope he has confidence in me to play right defensive end for the Cowboys" Olshansky said.
"He's a very good technician" said Wade Phillips. "He can run, has good speed and is very flexible for as big and strong as he is. He's a good solid player that can get better and one that I know a whole lot about in crucial situations. He'll come through for you, when you lose players at positions try to replace as good as can" Phillips said.
While Igor will replace Chris Canty, Wade filled Zach Thomas' linebacker spot with a player he coached in Atlanta, Keith Brooking is a 12 year veteran that's been to the Pro Bowl five times and has been working out all camp with the first teamers.
"The top agenda for the guys on this team is to win games and I admire that" said Brooking
One player that Brooking has impressed, plays across the line from him every practice, During his rookie season, Cowboys offensive tackle Marc Colombo played against Brooking in a game and loves his passion for the game.
"He's just a leader, a vocal leader goes out there and plays hard and does his job" Colombo said.
And you can't have too many of guys on the field like that.
Much more from Day 13 of training camp tonight on The 33 News at 9:00pm
Reason For Concern
So off the field distractions may not be a concern, but injuries sure are. Today, Running back Felix Jones and Tight End Martellus Bennett, two guys who the offense will be counting on heavily, suffered what the team is calling minor injuries. Felix missed some practice time this morning after banging up the same toe that shorten his rookie season. He did dress out for the afternoon session. Meanwhile Martellus, did not dress out for The Cowboys second practice of the day after twisting his knee this morning.
Saturday, cornerbacks Terence Newman (groin) and Mike Jenkins (ankle) suffered injuries. The Cowboys play their first preseason game of the year this Thursday against The Oakland Raiders. The Cowboys have yet to announce if the injured players will suit up for the game.
Cowboys Injury Report
CB Terence Newman (groin)
CB Mike Jenkins (ankle)
FB Deon Anderson (knee)
LB Steve Octavien (groin)
LB Stephen Hodge (knee)
CB Michael Hawkins (knee)
RB Alonzo Coleman (quad)
LB Brandon Williams (shoulder)
Cowboys Stadium to open doors for practice on Thursday
The Cowboys are thrilled to get back indoors for a workout after baking in the sun for the last three days at Valley Ranch.
The team is planning quite a show around the two hour practice. You can get into the building for free but parking will cost $10.00.
Here's the schedule of events
3:00pm-Plazas Open
5:00pm-Cowboys Stadium Doors Open
5:00pm-Alumni Autographs at Miller Lite Plaza
5:30pm-Rhythm & Blue Dancers at Miller Lite Stage
8:00pm-Post Game Concert at Miller Lite Stage
Here are former Cowboys who say they will be there to sign autographs:
Larry Brown
Tony Casillas
Dixon Edwards
Walt Garrison
Charles Haley
Drew Pearson
Preston Pearson
Charlie Williams
If you can't make it out there, we'll have complete coverage of the practice Thursday night on The 33 News at 9:00pm
