ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones might have known what his comments would stir up after Wednesday morning's practice, but he took the bait anyway.
When asked how Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, nicknamed "Baby T.O.," compares to the Cowboys' Owens, Pacman didn't mince words, saying "Nah, he's nowhere near T.O. . . . T.O. is 10 times faster than Brandon Marshall. He's 10 times stronger than Brandon Marshall."
Just as he tried to cover Owens each chance he had in Oxnard, Calif., Jones made sure to line up on Marshall Wednesday. Maybe his "10 times" comment is an overstatement, but Jones is right, Marshall is not Owens. Marshall's response was dead-on as well. For the afternoon practice, the back of his jersey featured a piece of tape that read "21's no Champ" - referring to the Broncos all-world cornerback Champ Bailey.
"I don't take it personally," Marshall said. "I'm actually reading this book called 'The Four Agreements' and chapter two talks about not taking things personally. If you take it personally, then it's true."
Marshall revealed he and Jones are actually friends, having hung out together in Atlanta, the cornerback's hometown. He said the talk was all fun and games, though both players were being truthful in their statements. And, it's not over.
"I believe he was serious, and I was serious in what I said too," Marshall said. "Football to me is just like Pop Warner - halftime, Pop Tarts and Kool-Aid. That's all I'm doing is out here having fun. I've got a good one for him tomorrow - a nice little saying."
The Broncos receiver wore one of Owens' "iScore" shirts during practice. Owens also gave his trademark t-shirts to the Broncos corners, Bailey and Dre' Bly.
Pacman Also Writes
With his reinstatement still up in the air, the suspended cornerback Jones wrote and mailed a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to personally ask to be allowed to play.
"I'm feeling pretty good about it," Jones said. "It's just a letter why I feel I should be reinstated. It's my chance to respond, and we'll see how it goes."
Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season after a string of arrests. While Jones has kept his name out of the police blotter for more than a year, there is still the specter of the trial of Arvin Kenti Edwards, the man accused of the Las Vegas strip club shooting that ultimately led to Jones' suspension. Jones' story led to Edwards' arrest, although Edwards' attorney has said Jones' story is "completely fabricated." Goodell may be considering the possibility of information damaging to Jones and the league being revealed in the Edwards' trial.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wasn't aware of Pacman's letter. He wasn't completely sure when Goodell would make his decision, though the commissioner had promised the Cowboys he will let them know before the final roster cuts, Aug. 30.
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"I don't know that will be the case, but it should be." Jones said. "But all along here, it's been what Roger decides."
Healthy Advice
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler found someone he could lean on this morning in an unlikely place - the opposing sideline. Cutler said he spoke to Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson about playing with Type I Diabetes.
Cutler was diagnosed with the disease in April. Like one million other Americans, he now tests his blood sugar daily and relies on insulin. Last season, the effects of the disease led to a decrease in strength and weight. After weighing in at 235 pounds at the start of the season, he was down to 202 pounds by week 17. He had spells with dry mouth, fatigue, frequent urination and hunger.
In Wilson, the Broncos passer found a fellow quarterback who played his entire career with the disease - reason for inspiration.
"I talked with him before practice," Cutler said. "He said it was manageable, just like I have been doing for the last four or five months. He went through his career with it, and I don't see any reason why I can't.
"There have been a lot of people that have played with diabetes. Even now, athletes have diabetes, especially Type I, and they are playing. There are people that play with pumps on, so it definitely can be done. I am managing it right now and it is going well."
Last season Wilson became the NFL's first coach suspended for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy. He was given a five-game suspension for purchasing Human Growth Hormone (HGH), attempting to improve his quality of life in treatment of the disease.
Cowboys, Broncos Shorthanded
Though Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens had his pads and helmet on ready for Wednesday's second session, coaches forced him to take the afternoon off.
"T.O. wanted to practice," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "I told him, 'I wouldn't like you as much if you weren't mad about it.'"
Owens spent the afternoon encouraging his fellow Cowboys receivers and offering them technique advice. But he wasn't the only Pro-Bowler out of action.
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Denver's Champ Bailey is out with a hamstring injury. The Broncos sat out eight players Wednesday, including former Cowboys defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (Achilles) and lauded veteran center Tom Nalen (knee).
The Cowboys were missing linebacker Kevin Burnett in the afternoon session. He underwent an MRI on his knee. They were also without outside linebacker Anthony Spencer (bone bruise), though Phillips said Wednesday morning he thought Spencer would be returning soon, possibly tomorrow. The Cowboys gave cornerback Quincy Butler the afternoon off as well. Butler practiced with the team Wednesday morning for the first time since July 27.
Also out for the Cowboys were cornerback Terence Newman (groin) and defensive end Marcus Dixon (back).
Short Shots
The Denver media took the opportunity to relive Tony Romo's decision to sign with the Cowboys over the Broncos back in 2003, immediately following the draft. Romo, who went undrafted out of Eastern Illinois, said he nearly signed with the Broncos to join coach Mike Shanahan, an EIU alum. Instead, he went to Dallas, joining then-quarterbacks coach Sean Payton, also a former EIU quarterback . . . During the afternoon practice, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones raved about second-round pick Martellus Bennett, particularly pointing out his blocking. On the next two plays, Bennett sealed off the left side with a clearing block on a defensive end and then caught a pass over the middle for a 15-yard gain in team drills . . . Rookie running back Felix Jones certainly has the speed and quickness, but his upper-body strength isn't too bad either. Ask Broncos cornerback Dre' Bly, who was sent to the ground by a Jones' stiff-arm to the chest during an outside sweep in a team drill . . . Wade Phillips was a guest on two Denver radio shows, back in the town where he had his first head-coaching job . . . Broncos defensive end John Engelberger blew up a reverse to Patrick Crayton on the first play of the afternoon's 11-on-11 drills, stopping the receiver for a loss of eight.
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