IRVING, Texas - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has promised the Cowboys will know whether suspended cornerback Adam Jones will be reinstated or not by Sept. 1, and Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he believed that decision would come down before the team makes its final cuts on Aug. 30.
But despite Pacman's status still being up in the air as of the completion of practice here on Tuesday, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said the team has begun preparing for the season opener at Cleveland as if he will be available.
"All along, maybe it's just hoping, but I thought we would have him," Phillips said. "That's the way we've been approaching it."
If Jones is not reinstated, still a possibility despite having seemingly behaved like a choir boy since he's joined the team, the Cowboys may find themselves in a bind as to who fills in for what he might be doing come Sept. 7. The next guy on the cornerback depth chart, first-round draft pick Mike Jenkins, has no NFL experience, but could be expected to come in on nickel downs if Jones still isn't eligible to play.
The Cowboys also seemingly are counting on Jones to return punts, and possibly even kickoffs with returners Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback nursing injuries.
"We've worked him, getting him ready for the season, and then getting him working with our first group, especially our sub-group and any sub-package that we have," Phillips said of Jones. "He's the guy that goes in."
Two weeks ago, Adam Jones formally mailed a letter to Goodell requesting reinstatement. Goodell already partially reinstated Jones, allowing him to practice with the team and play in the preseason.
Coupled with Terence Newman's nagging groin injury, the Cowboys could theoretically find themselves down two top-notch corners come the Sept. 7 opener, although that scenario seems highly unlikely. Newman practiced with the team for a second day in a row, taking part in every phase of practice.
But Phillips doesn't want to even consider that situation, rather hoping for the best.
"That's the way we've been approaching it," Phillips said of Jones being reinstated. "Now, if it doesn't go through, then we'll have to make adjustments."
Stay tuned.
Trying To Divide And Conquer
Divergent agendas have dominated this week's two practices and film study.
First things first, there's a game to play Thursday. Most of the starters probably won't play so some of the "down the line" roster guys, as Wade Phillips called them, are taking the same dress-rehearsal approach to Minnesota that the starters took to Houston last week. The idea is to give the guys trying to make the team the best chance to show their stuff.
Meanwhile, the first units are focusing on Cleveland. Last year in the preseason finale only a handful of the Cowboys' starters played. Wade Phillips said the Cowboys starters were taking Browns-intensive practice reps and studying them in film sessions.
"I want (the reserves) to be ready to play against Minnesota," Phillips said. "I want them to be able to play without having to think, to know what's going on rather than just throwing them out there. You kind of throw the whole team out there the first preseason games and then you get specific the third one like we did.
"And this game we got specific with these guys on kind of what to look for . . . not the gameplan where we take advantage of everything."
If much of this week's work focuses on young guys trying to make the team, some of the more proven players are focusing on their own business. And that can include some much-needed rest.
"It's not boring for me because I'm doing stuff to prepare myself for the season opener," receiver Terrell Owens said. "I think for a lot of guys, this is obviously an opportunity for all of us, especially the starters and guys that are going to go into the season full steam ahead. It's really a time to get our legs back, get refreshed and be ready to go next week."
-Josh Ellis
Long Time Coming
For Cowboys third quarterback Richard Bartel, it sure has been a long time since he's actually started a football game of any kind. Like 21 months.
But that will likely come to an end Thursday when he is expected to start the Cowboys final preseason game, 7 p.m. at Texas Stadium against the Minnesota Vikings.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said he expects to sit the majority of his starters, and for sure that means quarterback Tony Romo.
"They told me I was playing the whole game," Bartel said, which would mean the Cowboys certainly have no intention of playing backup quarterback Brad Johnson either.
The last time Bartel started a football game was Nov. 11, 2006, when in his final game at Tarleton State, the Texans were beaten by West Texas A&M, 21-16. In that game, Bartel completed 31 of 45 passes for 370 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Bartel will likely need a mighty impressive performance for the Cowboys to keep him on the 53-man roster or for another team to claim him off waivers if the Cowboys try to get him on the practice squad a second year.
- Mickey Spagnola
Another Possible Returner
With injuries to Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin, rookie Mike Jenkins will get a chance to return kickoffs Thursday night.
"I did it in college," said Jenkins, who returned seven kickoffs his final year at South Florida, averaging 30.4 yards a return and taking one back 100 yards for a touchdown. "On Thursday I'm starting, hope to get a return, do good back there and hopefully they'll keep me back there."
It is just one more place Jenkins hopes to make an impact on the field, either at his usual cornerback position or wherever the Cowboys need him.
"Anywhere possible that I can help the team out," Jenkins said. "I've played pretty much every position on the field from offense to defense, so whatever goes."
Phillips has said he might be forced to turn to either Felix Jones are Adam Jones for kickoffs with Austin and Stanback sidelined. The Cowboys also have been working rookies Orlando Scandrick and Danny Amendola back there.
- Mickey Spagnola
Short Shots
Minnesota coach Brad Childress said none of the Vikings starters will play Thursday. They will give quarterbacks John David Booty and Brooks Bollinger a half each to finalize their battle for the No. 3 job . . . Phillips said he expected Marcus Dixon (back) to play against Minnesota, though he wasn't sure how much. The defensive end has missed much of camp and likely isn't in playing shape . . . Terence Newman practiced for a second straight day, and Phillips said he made an interception. He will not play against Minnesota, however . . . Texans receiver Harry Williams, who injured his neck and spine in Friday's preseason game at Texas Stadium, will probably never play football again, team doctors said.
- Josh Ellis
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