AUSTIN - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has scheduled a news conference
for this afternoon to make an announcement regarding Texas Stadium.
Jones last year used training camp to announce a multimillion-dollar corporate
sponsorship with Pepsi and Texas Stadium, which Jones owns. The deal preceded
other such sponsorships with Nike and American Express.
Those deals later became the subject of a lawsuit filed by the NFL and a
countersuit filed against the league by Jones.
Jones has also said he would like to expand the stadium, add a retractable
roof and put in a grass field as well as build a theme park around the stadium.
The press release announcing the news conference said Jones "will make
an important announcement regarding Texas Stadium ... and discuss the long-range
implications of the announcement."
The Cowboys and Oakland Raiders saved their best for last when it came
to scuffling on Wednesday.
After relatively minor skirmishes broke out on Monday and Tuesday, some
serious blows were exchanged after Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett head-slapped
Oakland quarterback Jeff Hostetler long after the play had finished.
The teams had just separated when, one play later, Dallas' defensive end
Haywood Simmons and Oakland offensive lineman Rick Cunningham grabbed each
other's face masks and started swinging. Both teams dumped onto the field
in a free-for-all. At one point, Simmons was on the ground being held by
one Raider, while Cunningham punched and kicked him.
Dallas defensive tackle Mike Harrison and Oakland offensive tackle Pat Harlow
also wrestled onto the ground before coaches finally broke up the melee
and ended morning drills between the two squads 10 minutes early.
Afternoon practices were cut short because of injuries and the fight.
"We held Leon out of the afternoon practice for his health and the
health of others," coach Barry Switzer said, referring to Lett's swipe
at Hostetler.
The Cowboys' depleted defense didn't prove much of a challenge against
the Raiders.
At one point, Oakland threw four consecutive deep passes that would have
gone for touchdowns.
Oakland's Rocket Ismail burned Alundis Brice. Orlanda Truitt beat the Cowboys'
Reggie Reser.
Oakland rookie tight end Rickey Dudley burned Darren Woodson, and Tim Brown
beat Dallas' John Rushing.
When the Cowboys were on offense, Troy Aikman threw the ball with precision
to Kevin Williams and Stepfret Williams.
But the play of the day may have been a long bomb from Wade Wilson to Ed
Hervey who was well-covered down the left sideline.
Herschel Walker says he doesn't mind if the Cowboys want to put him
at tight end every once in a while, but he's hoping it won't be a full-time
job.
With starter Jay Novacek recovering from a back injury, Dallas coaches have
toyed with the idea of putting Walker at tight end.
"I am not big enough to be one of those tight ends that's going to
be in the game all the time," Walker said. "But I can do it off
and on and in different sets. They are not going to put me in a situation
where I'm going to be uncomfortable because that will put me in a negative
position."
Walker says he feels great and believes the fact that he didn't play much
last year with the New York Giants or for three years when he was with the
Minnesota Vikings has helped preserve him.
"You take those four years off my career and I'm just as healthy as
some of these young guys out here," said Walker, 34.
Deion Sanders rejoined the Cowboys in practices Wednesday after suffering
a minor left hamstring pull.
He caught several passes and told Dallas coach Barry Switzer that he wanted
to play in Monday's preseason game in Mexico against Kansas City.
Switzer said he would like to see Sanders play in the four remaining preseason
games.