OXNARD, Calif. - To say Cowboys linebacker Bradie James didn't like rooming with cornerback Terence Newman wouldn't be true. The two were part of the same 2003 draft class and have built up a bond through years of training camp hotels and cafeteria food.
But James did have one problem with his former roommate. A problem he's glad he doesn't have to deal with anymore.
"One thing I'm going to tell you that he does funny is he sleeps with his mouth open," James said of Newman. "He breathes in and out with his mouth, so he whistles when he sleeps."
With the players returning for another summer of training camp, the time of year has come when players are thrown into cramped hotel rooms and forced to live with each other for the duration of camp. In years past, these dorm-like living quarters have been a staple of training camps and just part of the NFL experience.
But at Oxnard's Residence Inn, however, there are enough single rooms to save most of the Cowboys players from the discomforts of having a roommate.
James, a five-year veteran, is one of the lucky ones to be upgraded to the single-room lifestyle. Gone are the days of sharing TV's, staying up late and most importantly, the fights over the thermostat.
"It's really good not to have a roommate," said James, sixth-year veteran. "I can come in; turn the air down as low as I want to, drink water, watch TV - whatever I want to do I can do."
The roommate assignment process is a fairly simple one. There's a certain amount of single rooms available and players with the longest tenure fill those rooms until there aren't any left. From that point, roommates are selected based on draft class, player relationships and positions.
Bryan Wansley, the director of player development, is in charge of pairing up the players and says he can tell which players have strong friendships. He knows linebacker DeMarcus Ware and defensive end Marcus Spears came into the league together in 2005 and have a relationship most suited to be roommates. And, for the most part, Wansley has done a great job with his selections.
"We haven't had a problem yet," said Wansley, who gave three big knocks on his wooden desk. "Not one time."
While the Cowboys have been fortunate enough to avoid any major catastrophes with roommate situations, there are some inevitable problems that come with the process. Problems like Newman's whistling, or players snoring, or the always hated player who stays up until dawn.
"Man, when I first got here I didn't think I could deal with it," running back Alonzo Coleman said of his roommate situation with rookie Deon Anderson. "But we were talking and we got real close; he's one crazy dude. He stays up all night, that's all you need to know, he stays up all night long. If you aren't used to it, you might be a little scared."
Some players get assigned single rooms and don't want them, and are willing to try their luck with a roommate. Last year, when the Cowboys held their training camp in San Antonio and were housed in a high-rive downtown hotel, safety Roy Williams requested a roommate after he found out he'd be living in a single.
"I was so used to having a roommate I was a little shocked," Williams said. "I just asked 'Can I have a roommate?' (I wanted) someone I could talk to and laugh with or something."
But, for the most part, players prefer to have their own rooms. Even Williams says now that he's older, he enjoys his privacy more. Plus, he can avoid any roommate hazing that might happen with some of the more flamboyant players.
"We put some shaving cream in somebody's hand," said Bradie James, who wouldn't reveal the teammate he pranked. "He was sleeping and he had some shaving cream in his hand and we had a feather and we were playing with his nose and he slapped himself."
Even though Wansley wouldn't say it, it's pretty easy to see why veterans get their own rooms now.
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