AUSTIN (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up a walk-through practice Saturday
afternoon and then headed back to Dallas to prepare for Monday night's preseason
game against New England.
Dallas coach Barry Switzer said his starters would likely play a couple
series Monday night and then sit.
But Emmitt Smith and several veterans coming off injury, such as Charles
Haley, Tony Tolbert, Ray Donaldson and Erik Williams won't play, Switzer
said.
Switzer said he will leave it up to cornerback Kevin Smith to decide if
he could play Monday night. Smith, who is battling back from a torn right
Achilles' tendon, said he probably would remain on the sidelines.
However, defensive tackle Tony Casillas will play for the first time of
the preseason, Switzer said.
Monday night's meeting with the Patriots is only the second preseason game
between the two clubs. Dallas won the only previous match-up, 36-21 in 1982.
The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Rookie receiver Stepfret Williams, who showed a lot of promise early
in camp, took a few steps backward in Switzer's eyes by dropping several
passes in practices Friday and Saturday.
"I am disappointed," Dallas coach Barry Switzer said Saturday.
"He's kind of hit a wall out there. He dropped three yesterday and
dropped four today."
Williams, who is 6-feet and 170 pounds, dropped two passes on Friday on
routes over the middle. Teammates told him to be more aggressive.
Switzer said Williams may be getting tired from the two-a-day practices
in 100-plus degree heat.
"In camp, you're not fresh. You're tired, and when you feel that way
mentally, it basically moves in the same flow as your body. But players
have got to mentally overcome that and fight through that," Switzer
said.
The great mystery seems to be how much Deion Sanders is going to play
on both sides of the ball this season.
Defensive players and coaches say Sanders has told them he wants to play
cornerback in the big games against teams like San Francisco and Miami.
Offensive players and coaches say he has every intention of playing as much
receiver as possible.
So which is it?
"I think Deion thinks he can play every down on defense and offense,"
Dallas coach Barry Switzer said Saturday. "We don't believe that.
"I don't think it's humanly possible. Deion has the attitude that he
can. But he's just not going to be able to do that.
"Down and distance, score and receivers will be among the variables
as to when Deion plays defense.
"Obviously, against the great teams, our defense feels like Deion's
worth seven points when he's playing on defense," Switzer said.
Offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese, one of the most softspoken coaches
on the Dallas staff, unleashed a minute-long, expletive-laced tirade at
the top of his lungs Saturday.
Zampese was outraged at backup offensive lineman George Hegamin for missing
a block in team drills.
"There are six (expletive) guys on offense to block six (expletive)
guys on defense," Zampese yelled. "Now figure out which (expletive)
guy you're supposed to block."
Hegamin has had an inconsistent camp while trying to win the position as
the Cowboys' sixth offensive lineman. That spot was vacated when Ron Stone
signed a $10 million free-agent contract with the New York Giants.
With Michael Irvin not taking snaps away from younger players being evaluated
on offense, the Pro-Bowl receiver has been helping out on the scout offense,
which serves as a sparring partner for the defense in team drills.
Rather than lining up with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Kevin Williams
on the first team, Irvin now finds himself along side players like tight
end Derek Ware, guard Kenneth McDaniel, guard Tony Hutson, center Kevin
Dogins and running back Harold Morrow.
Who?