ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The second day of dual practices between the Cowboys and Broncos heated up in a big way Thursday morning with one of the biggest players right in the middle of the action.
Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams and Broncos lineman Marcus Thomas got into an altercation after a play in team drills. Adams not only ripped off Thomas' helmet but then swung the helmet towards Thomas and the rest of the scrum that immediately developed.
"He just pushed on me and I let it ride like I always do," Adams said after practice. "He pushed it again and it was over. I went after him. It was a little scuffle that happens every now and then."
Unfortunately, that type of altercation involving Adams has also happened before. Adams and then-teammate Ebenezer Ekuban, who ironically was in the play Thursday as well, now a member of the Broncos, got into a training-camp fight in 2001 in Oxnard, Calif. Adams pulled Ekuban's helmet off and also swung it right towards Ekuban, who ducked out of the way with the helmet hitting his shoulder pads.
Like that altercation, no one was injured in Thursday's fight, which was one of a handful of minor scraps between the two teams.
Wednesday's practice had hardly any disputes between the two teams, but that changed on Thursday.
"We had to get used to all that travel and stuff (Wednesday) and I think everybody was getting used to moving around today," Adams said. "We felt a little better as an offense - we handed it to them. We had to look within ourselves to get better instead of worrying about them."
Adams, and right tackle Marc Colombo, sat out the afternoon practice Thursday to rest their veteran legs. Doug Free worked with the first-team at left tackle while Pat McQuistan went to right tackle.
Hog To Hog
While one running back from Arkansas stole most of the attention on draft day, two other Razorback runners were drafted, too. And both are on the field together this week.
Cowboys first-round pick Felix Jones and college backfield mate Peyton Hillis, a sixth-round pick of the Broncos, both took quite a backseat in college to two-time Heisman trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, the fourth overall pick of the Raiders this past April.
Hillis, a versatile fullback who just returned to practice after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury, had nothing but praise for Jones.
"Honestly, I think he was the most underrated player in the nation last year," Hillis said of Jones. "To me, he should've been in New York at the Heisman (presentation) with McFadden. When you look at what we did with the limited touches, he was unbelievable."
Hillis said Jones will have no problems taking a backseat again in the pros, especially having to split carries and play behind Pro Bowler Marion Barber.
"Felix never complained that Darren got all the attention," Hillis said of McFadden. "Darren was the man up in Arkansas and we all knew it. But Felix, he just got his carries, averaged about 10 yards a pop and went about his business. He's a phenomenal player and I think he's going to be great with the Cowboys."
Rotating Linebackers
With Kevin Burnett heading back home to Dallas Thursday afternoon to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove a loose piece of cartilage, veteran linebacker Zach Thomas took the majority of the dime package snaps in the morning practice against the Broncos. Thomas is quite familiar with working on the nickel and dime defenses.
But in the afternoon practice, when the Cowboys went to their dime package facing the Broncos in two-minute drills, it was Bradie James working with the first-team defense and Bobby Carpenter working with the second team. Denver was able to score a touchdown on the Cowboys' first unit with under 20 seconds remaining on a first-and-goal play from the six. The second defense stopped Denver's second offense on downs near midfield.
The Cowboys also had safety Pat Watkins back working with the first-team nickel and dime packages for the first time in several weeks, getting back to the old duties he had temporarily lost to Courtney Brown. Watkins, though, came off slightly limping after getting hit from behind on a punt coverage drill by Denver's Eddie Royal at the end of a play. He did return to complete practice.
-Mickey Spagnola
Setting the Stage
Just one walk-through practice stands between the Cowboys and Broncos preseason game Saturday night, set for 8 p.m. (CDT), and the talk has shifted to who will play, and how long.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he wanted to see more of the team's young running backs than he did in the opener against San Diego, particularly undrafted rookie Keon Lattimore, who didn't play in that game. It will be hard for Lattimore, brother of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, to make the team because of the young depth at running back, but playing time at least means an audition for the rest of the league.
"Practice is one thing," Lattimore said. "But in the game it's all out. I'm a gamer. I practice hard, but I'm so focused when the game comes. I'm definitely looking forward to everybody seeing me. It's going to be my coming out party."
Lattimore said he's especially excited for the chance to torch Denver, after receiving what he deemed a few cheap shots in the four joint practices Wednesday and Thursday.
While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wanted to see cornerback Adam Jones field kicks against the Broncos, he wasn't sure he would get his wish. That decision belongs to Phillips. Not ready to answer the question firmly, Phillips tap danced, saying "Yeah. Maybe - not."
-Josh Ellis
Short Shots
Cowboys' kicker Nick Folk continues on his torrid training camp practice pace, hitting seven more field goals out of eight attempts in Thursday's afternoon practice against the Broncos. Folk hit from 44, 48 and 51 before undercutting his 54-yarder, leaving it short, and then moved up to hit from 33, 37, 41 and 43 yards . . . Kicking buddy Mat McBriar sure must like punting a mile high, booming one in the afternoon at least 70 yards . . . Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips continued to regulate the work for his offensive tackles, once again holding out Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo from the second of Thursday's two practices. But Terrell Owens, who wasn't happy being rested in Wednesday's second practice, must have convinced Phillips he was good to go twice on Thursday, as he was out there for the afternoon practice also in pads . . . Not practicing in the afternoon practice because of injury were the usual suspects, plus one: Terence Newman, Quincy Butler, Anthony Spencer, Marcus Dixon and for the first time Tyler Everett. Phillips was unsure if Spencer (knee bone bruise) would be able to play on Saturday . . . Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall kept up the running sign dialogue in Thursday's afternoon practice, this time having taped to the back of his shoulder pads "Game Over." Marshall did beat Anthony Henry and Ken Hamlin for what would have been a long touchdown reception in 11-on-11, but that came after Greg Ellis, dropping into the flat in coverage, picked off a Patrick Ramsey pass . . . Cowboys guard Leonard Davis practiced in a No. 69 jersey, his usual No. 70 having been ripped Thursday morning . . . The Cowboys will practice at 11:15 a.m. (MDT) Friday at Invesco Field at Mile High, holding a walk-through preparation for Saturday night's preseason game.
-Mickey Spagnola
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