Friday, July 31, 1998

Cowboys guard hurt in training camp horseplay; Gailey mum

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) -- Two injured Dallas Cowboys players will miss Friday's exhibition against Seattle.

Starting guard Everett McIver was cut in the neck in an accident at the team's training camp dormitory and wide receiver Macey Brooks was out for several weeks for treatment of testicular torsion.

Coach Chan Gailey was tight-lipped about the Wednesday night incident that injured McIver, which he said stemmed from horseplay among several players.

"It wasn't his fault," Gailey said. "He got caught in the middle of it, and it's a shame for him because he's been having a good camp. I'm disappointed for him and for our whole offensive line that we don't get to play that group together tomorrow night."

Gailey refused to detail the incident or even to say where McIver was cut, saying the matter was being handled internally. He said the guard should return to action next week.

"Horseplay turned into something that could have been a serious accident," Gailey said.

For Gailey, it was the first incident of the type that defined the regime of former coach Barry Switzer. And he didn't look pleased as he addressed reporters Thursday afternoon.

"I'm not going to go into details about it, but it's something I'm upset about and we'll handle it," the coach said.

Dallas signed the 6-foot-5, 318-pound McIver to a five-year, $9.5 million free-agent contract during the off-season. The five-year veteran played last season at Miami.

The Cowboys are hoping the the late-blooming, 27-year-old journeyman from Johnson City (N.C.) State brings stability to a refortified offensive line.

Brooks, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound receiver was a fourth round draft pick in 1997.