Thursday, July 20, 2000

Erik Williams still absent

By Clarence E. Hill Jr. and Ray Buck
Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT)

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Offensive tackle Erik Williams' holdout//retirement continued to hover over Cowboys training camp Wednesday at Midwestern State University.

Another day only resulted in more questions.

If Williams indeed plans to retire and has contemplated this for more than a year, as his agent Alan Herman has said, why would he wait until the week of training camp to spring the news on the Cowboys?

Doing it now puts the Cowboys in a bind, as they formulated their plans for the season with Williams part of the mix. They now are limited in what they can do to replace him.

Considering the way the Cowboys have stood by the 10-year veteran Williams during his troubles earlier in his career, didn't he owe them more notice?

And if Williams told the Cowboys about his plans to retire, as Herman has also said, then why don't the Cowboys totally believe that he's done.

“We are waiting for him to announce something,” a Cowboys official said. “He's got to say something.”

The Cowboys hesitancy to believe Williams' decision is final was embodied by the fact that second-year offensive lineman Solomon Page, who has been tabbed to someday replace Williams at tackle, is practicing at tackle and guard, the position he would play if Williams was here.

“I think you need to work the guy there,” Cowboys coach Dave Campo said. “There's a possibility . You never know.”
Regarding his off-season conversation about the four-time Pro Bowl pick's supposed loss of desire, Campo said a lot players go through things during the off-season and change their mind. He said Williams' work ethic in the weight room didn't show that he was ready to quit.

Williams had no problems with rehabbing from off-season surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow and was cleared by the doctors to practice in training camp.

“Erik has to be an emotional player in order to be good,” Campo said. “That's something we are going to find out about in the near future. But I thought during the whole off-season he was going to be a factor. Now he's not here, I'm disappointed.”

A Cowboys official spotted Williams at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch Headquarters on Monday getting work out gear.

And then there are the money issues? Of course, Herman said Williams is set financially for the rest of his life.

However, if he walks away from the game now, he would be walking away from roughly $5.4 million over the next two years — $1.9 million in each of the next two years in salary, while also repaying the Cowboys $1.6 million in already paid signing bonus money.
“Those are all good questions,” Campo said. “But you asked them, not me.”

WILLIAMS' SPOT CLEARED

The Cowboys officially placed Erik Williams on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, thus freeing a roster spot.
Though the Cowboys have not given up hope that Williams will return, they are going to take advantage of the situation and bring in another player to evaluate.

Free-agent receiver Darren Hall, a Colorado State product, could be on the field as early as today. He was expected to come to Wichita Falls last night and sign a contract.

ZELLNER SPRAINS KNEE

The Cowboys' already thin defensive end spot took a hit Wednesday when Peppi Zellner, who is subbing for Greg Ellis (fractured leg), left the afternoon practice with a sprained knee.

Zellner underwent an MRI last night. Results of the test won't be known until today.

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

The Cowboys got more than just a pass-catching tight end when they signed Jackie Harris away from the Tennessee Titans this past off-season.

Harris, beginning his 11th NFL season, is judge and jury of a new Kangaroo Court that has been started among the offensive players. It is meant to heighten their level of concentration by lightening their wallets.

The fine schedule, as imposed by Harris:

Throw an interception — $10
Fumble the ball — $5
Drop a pass — $1
Bobble a catch — $1
Miss an assignment — $1

Coach Dave Campo is an enthusiast of the court because it enables the players to concentrate on eliminating mistakes while at the same time having some fun among themselves.

After throwing an interception yesterday morning in which the ball whistled throw Joey Galloway's hands, quarterback Troy Aikman jokingly made an appeal that maybe Galloway should be fined $11 for the drop “and” the interception.

The motion was denied.

SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY CHRIS AKINS

Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 195 poundsCollege: Arkansas-Pine BluffExperience: Second yearScouting Report: Is one of the team's top players in terms of athletic ability. Combine that with a hard-nosed attitude, and it's little wonder Akins is considered a demon on special teams. The only concern is his pass defense and whether he can show enough progress to contribute in nickel situations. He is battling Jason Kaiser for playing time behind starters George Teague and Darren Woodson.

Did you know? Akins is a second cousin of Cowboys tight end Jackie Harris.

WHO'S HOT

Cowboys coach Dave Campo got hot tempered during the middle drill yesterday morning. After a couple of penalties, he called the team together and erupted into a profanity-laced tirade about the importance of being focused in practice.

Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and tight end Jackie Harris showed quickly they are bonding with each other — while rudely introducing rookie linebacker Orantes Grant to the NFL — when the two hooked up on a deep sideline pass in the morning practice. Harris, split out wide right, just ran by Grant and hauled in a perfect aerial from Aikman.

WHO'S NOT

Guard Jorge Diaz was helpless competing in pass rushing drill against defensive tackle Alonzo Spellman, who easily drove him back one time and then tossed him aside for a quarterback sack the next time.

Defensive end Peppi Zellner likes the idea of replacing Greg Ellis (fractured leg) in the starting lineup. However, he might not like going up against offensive tackle Flozell Adams, who thoroughly dominated Zellner in a pass rushing drill.

INJURY REPORT

Today's Injuries:

Defensive end Peppi Zellner (sprained knee) — underwent MRI last night.
Tight end Jackie Harris (heat exhaustion) — should return today.
Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (sick) — should return today.
Running back Phillip Rogers (hip flexor) — day-to-day.

Other Injuries:

Wide receiver Morris Anderson (strained left hamstring), punter Barry Cantrell (strained left hamstring) and safety Izell Reese (strained right calf) — all are day-to-day. Wide receiver Jeff Ogden (sprained right foot) and cornerback Charlie Williams (tendinitis, left knee) — one-to-two weeks. Defensive end Greg Ellis (fractured left tibia and fibia) — out indefinitely.

CAMPO'S CORNER
On his enthusiastic coaching style: -To be motivated, there has to be some inner-motivation somewhere along the line, but I also believe it can be cultivated. I don't think there's any question if I'm tough enough or if I can make a business decision. I told the team, `You've got one of the family as your head coach now. I'm not going to change a whole lot. I like being around the players. But I've worked 30 years to get to this spot, and if you don't think that I'll make a business decision ... you're making a mistake.' “ — Dave Campo

JERRY'S MEANDERINGS

On off-season moves in keeping up with the Redskins: “We might not have gotten some of the visibility that some other teams have gotten in what they did in the off-season, but I believe we were very aggressive in getting the players at the positions we needed. It has really created competition at wide receiver, secondary, linebacker and defensive line. It also gives us a chance to have depth ... maybe superior depth to anything we've enjoyed over the last four or five years.”

name: — Jerry Jones

WHAZZUP?

The Cowboys have issued 259 media credentials in the first three days of training camp, including 215 on the first day (compared to 185 on the first day a year ago).

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