might be generous. Yet he wants to get back to 212, he says, the weight he was when he arrived in the league as a first-round pick back in 2004 with the Lions. Sounded as if he has just a few pounds to go.
That's good, because in order to move forward, Williams, who doesn't have to be T.O., must at least do enough to neutralize his memory instead of allowing it to grow into revisionist proportions. And Phillips responded somewhat testily when asked a looking-back question, someone wanting to know what the Cowboys will do without the selfish receiver.
"T.O. is gone, we are not going backward," Phillips somewhat snapped. "We're going forward. Our offense hasn't been just one guy. We have a lot of options, and we still do."
Forward march, and I'm guessing Romo didn't think twice when throwing the first pass of OTAs during team session to tight end Jason Witten, nor was there anyone in the vicinity promoting some sort of brother-in-law system for the reason why.
Then there was Mike Jenkins at first-team right corner in place of the traded Anthony Henry; Jon Kitna backing up Romo instead of Brad Johnson; Gerald Sensabaugh at strong safety instead of Roy Williams or Pat Watkins or Keith Davis, take your pick; Keith Brooking at the weak inside 'backer spot instead of Zach Thomas; and Igor Olshansky at the right defensive end spot instead of departed free-agent Chris Canty.
There were encouraging signs with Felix Jones back at running back, doing more than previously anticipated during this first workout since last year's toe surgery; Patrick Crayton, the projected No. 2 receiver, beating the defense on a deep go route; last year's practice squader Marcus Dixon playing behind Marcus Spears at left defensive end; newcomer Jason Williams right behind Brooking at linebacker.
Even saw a healthy again Sam Hurd making a diving catch, and with the bevy of young safeties - Sensabaugh, Watkins, Tra Battle, Michael Hamlin, Jerome Carter and soon DeAngelo Smith - to join Ken Hamlin, there was converted safety Courtney Brown back working at cornerback, though because the Cowboys are looking for a swing guy who can play both corner and safety, corner Alan Ball will be getting some work at safety, too. And no, not Orlando Scandrick at safety, not now. He was lining up behind Jenkins at right cornerback and is sure to be back in the slot when the team works on the nickel defense.
Actually saw Mat McBriar punting again, so that's progress from where the club left off last year, and a healthy Marion Barber lining up with the first team at running back, no more limping.
No wonder the Cowboys don't want to look back, because when they do that view only reminds them Barber was unavailable, really, for the final four games; McBriar didn't punt again after OT in Game 6; Kyle Kosier, still working off to the side with trainers, played in only three games; Hurd played in only three games; safety Roy Williams, now with Cincinnati, played in only three games; and Felix Jones played in only six games.
And to top that off, Romo finished the season with separated rib cartilage; Terence Newman needed foot surgery, and would not have played in a playoff game had the Cowboys qualified, and at that previously missed six games; Jason Witten had a shoulder cleanup after the Pro Bowl; Jason Hatcher had a knee scoped to remove lose debris; and now we discover Nick Folk all along had a torn labrum in his right hip.
No need, I'm guessing, to remind you of the Pacman ordeal, too.
Man, who indeed wants to remember all that?
Now is the time to do something about where you're at, sort of like DeCamillis trying to do as much as he can; sort of like paralyzed scouting assistant Rich Behm learning how to operate his life from a wheelchair; sort of like the Cowboys working to make The Ranch more wheelchair friendly for when Rich returns.
And exactly like PGA golfer Rich Beem deciding to turn the Nelson and Colonial stops these two weeks in Texas into a fundraiser for Rich Behm, the two with homonyms for last names if you will, announcing how he will donate $100 for each birdie he records at the stops this week in
