AUSTIN (AP) - Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Charles Haley missed another
practice Thursday, causing coach Barry Switzer to say tight end and the
defensive spot are now his top concerns.
Haley is in Dallas getting treatment for his back, which underwent off-season
surgery.
"It's going to be week to week with Haley," Switzer said. "He'll
miss a football game. There's no question about it, and I worry about (Tony)
Tolbert."
Tolbert, an eight-year veteran defensive end, has complained of pain and
swelling in his knees following off-season surgery, but he continues to
practice in contact drills.
"I worry about end," Switzer said. "I'm more concerned about
it now than any other position."
The tight end situation is also bleak. Jay Novacek, Kendell Watkins and
Eric Bjornson are all out right now with injuries.
"We don't know if our one, two or three tight ends can play,"
Switzer said. "We are into our four, five and six tight ends now."
Dallas coach Barry Switzer said defensive end Shante Carver will show
up for practices Monday in Irving.
"I talked to him last night and told him he was traded to Buffalo,"
Switzer said. "He had a heart attack."
Switzer also said Dallas owner Jerry Jones had grown so fond of playing
in the American Bowl preseason games that he expects the Cowboys to be a
part of it next year.
"I think we are going to Venezuela next year," Switzer joked.
Backup offensive lineman George Hegamin says he is ready to help fill
the void created by a knee injury to Pro Bowl tackle Mark Tuinei.
Pro Bowl right guard Larry Allen is replacing Tuinei at left tackle and
Hegamin is taking Allen's right guard spot.
"This is what I've been looking for the entire time I've been here,"
said Hegamin, a third-year player out of North Carolina State.
"Unfortunately with some injuries I'm getting in there, but I'm looking
forward to the opportunity."
Hegamin, who has only played organized football for six years, played for
the Frankfurt Galaxy in the World League of American Football in the spring.
"I had a good time playing football in the World League, but I'm definitely
glad to be back," Hegamin said.
Allen and Hegamin were both drafted in 1994. But Hegamin, who has been inconsistent,
says he doesn't like to make comparisons.
"Larry is a great athlete and I hate to compare myself to him, so I'm
not," Hegamin said. "But George Hegamin is going to do the best
job he can."
Allen missed practice Thursday to return home to Dallas and be with his
family after learning that his newborn son was diagnosed with spinal meningitis.
Friday marks the Cowboys final day of training camp. The team will practice in Austin before heading back to Dallas for a preseason game at home against Denver Saturday. ... Cowboys offensive lineman and resident philosopher Nate Newton said Thursday that the media focused its attention squarely on the team's off-field problems during training camp. "Lately, the media didn't want people to know that we won the Super Bowl because they had other things they wanted to talk about. We did win the Super Bowl. It was a hell of a camp for the media. Y'all's ratings should be up great."