Friday, November 20, 1998

Cowboys' Clay Shiver missed 'center's dream': teams with no nose guard

By Kevin Lyons

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys center Clay Shiver said the worst part of being injured is that the games he has missed have been against teams he figured he could excel against. In Shiver's 1-1/2-game absence, 31-year-old rookie Mike Kiselak has faced defensive formations that Shiver believes do not put extreme pressure on NFL centers.

"Mike's a good player, he had a good game last week," Shiver said. "But playing against those open fronts without a nose guard is a center's dream. So obviously, those games are ones I'd enjoy being in. It frees up people more for you to get on their players, to double-team, and allows me to run with their linebackers."

Kiselak has played so well against the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals that Cowboys coach Chan Gailey is not certain Shiver will regain his starting job when he returns from a sprained right big toe. Shiver has missed all practices this week, and is listed as questionable for the game.

Gailey's uncertainty regarding Shiver is a 180-degree turn from his stance on another position on the offensive line. Gailey said Everett McIver, who has been out since Oct. 4, will regain the starting right guard position from Flozell Adams when he is healthy.

Shiver said he does not worry himself about the status of other players. He said he wants to be the starter, but seemed to indicate that he would not become disruptive in the locker room if Kiselak kept his job.

"I want to be there," Shiver said. "But the team comes before me. Whatever decision they may make will ultimately be the right decision for the team. So that's my concern."On Wheaton's mindThese are tough times for reserve defensive back Kenny Wheaton.

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of Wheaton's brother, Derrek, who was a 19-year-old freshman cornerback at Phoenix Community College when he was shot to death while making a pay phone call.

Kenny Wheaton said last week was particularly tough because his family was in the stands watching him play against the Cardinals. Kenny, who has the program from Derrek's funeral hanging in his locker, added that this week has been even more mentally challenging as the Cowboys have asked him to work more at cornerback.

"Everyone was in the stands except for him," Kenny said of Derrek. "It gets tougher now as the days go on. And then, having to learn the safety and the cornerback position adds more pressure. But I feel like I can do it, like I'm a strong enough person where I can deal with the hurt of my little brother and continue to do my job."

Briefly

McIver practiced again on Thursday, and Gailey is optimistic that McIver's surgically repaired right knee will hold up against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. "Everett practiced fairly well, and he could be ready for the ballgame," Gailey said. ... Deion Sanders (sprained big toe) was held out of practice again Thursday, but he expects to be ready. "It's coming along fine," he said.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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