Cowboys will play Hall of Fame exhibition game against Bengals

On Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, there will be 2010’s first game to be played between the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. The exhibition game will be played one day after the Cowboys star Emmitt Smith and longtime Bengals coach Dick LeBeau are inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame.

“More importantly, I really believe that having our players share in Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame enshrinement should serve as an inspiration to every man on our roster, whether it be a 10-year vet or a rookie that’s never played in an NFL game,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “I can’t think of a better way to start the season from a motivational perspective than wearing the same uniform as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.”

Smith, who played as a running back in Cowboys jersey from 1990 to 2002, has been NFL’s career leader in yards rushing and was elected along with Jerry Rice, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm and Floyd Little.

LeBeau entered the Hall of Fame as a Detroit Lions cornerback. He continued NFL career by doing coaching job after retiring as an NFL player. He worked with the Bengals as a coach for 18 years and is currently a defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cowboys LB Ware returned to practice

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware wore back his Cowboys jersey and returned practice Thursday, although the team was still unsure whether he could play this Saturday night’s game at New Orleans just less than a week after the linebacker strained his neck in a scary headfirst collision.

On the practice report issued by the Cowboys, Ware was still listed as not participating, but he indeed was involved in some parts of the 90-minute session without pads that resembled a walkthrough. According to NFL rules, the team does not need to indicate Ware’s playing status for Saturday game until Friday.

The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker himself said earlier this week that he wanted to play against the undefeated Saints, the NFL’s most productive offense, and he might be able to keep his promise. Having never missed a game, Ware has started all 77 regular-season games since he was the 11th overall pick in 2005 and is likely to continue with the clean streak.

Feeling better now, Cowboys LB Ware is hopefully to play Saturday

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who sprained his neck during last Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, said Tuesday that he was feeling much better and may return to practice soon after undergoing some more tests.

The team will decide whether to have Ware wear back his Cowboys jersey for this Saturday night’s game against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints after the tests, including some X-Rays and an MRI to be done on Wednesday to see if the swelling is gone and to make sure there are no problems.

“If he’s cleared medically then he could play,” Coach Wade Phillips said. “There’s a possibility that could happen.”

Already playing with a stress fracture in his foot and a chipped bone in his wrist before hurting the neck, Ware still managed to lead the Cowboys in sacks, a category he led the NFL in last season with 20. So I guess it would be the Cowboys’ last choice to rule out him and start rookie Victor Butler instead.

Cowboys QB Romo partied in Vegas to rest sore back

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo should not have had a good weekend because of his sore back which he had before the 24-7 win against the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving and was worsened after the game as Romo was hit hard on the first series.

However, the injury did not keep him out enjoy a weekend. Going to Vegas and partying with his teammate Miles Austin, and that seemed to be a good way for the quarterback to rest his sore back. Romo and Austin had some pictures taken without wearing their Cowboys jerseys by an anonymous photographer during the party in Vegas. Their own explanation for the pictures was that there were there to take part in a private charity event and were there for only 14 hours.

This weekend the Cowboys will have to play against division rival the New York Giants, who won the Cowboys narrowly at 33-31 in week 2. Hope the weekend spent in Vegas will work in improving Romo’s back condition so it won’t affect the quarterback’s performance in the game.

Cowboys safety Sensabaugh will miss a month to repair broken plate in thumb

The Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh will be out up to a month to have a surgery on his right thumb, which was broken while he was still in college. A broken plate needs to be repaired through the surgery.

After breaking the thumb in college, Sensabaugh had a plate implanted, but unfortunately, he cracked the plate Sunday during the game against the Broncos at Denver. Patrick Watkins will replace him during the time he is out.

Sensabaugh played the week after his operation in college, but Coach Wade Phillips said Monday that he doesn’t expect such a quick turnaround this time. They also did not expect running back Marion Barber to be injured in thigh and receiver Roy Williams to injure three ribs during the Denver game. Williams will be re-evaluated this week.

Cowboys RB Barber doubtful for next game with injury

The Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber was limited again in the team’s practice on Friday. A left thigh injury makes his status for next Monday night’s game doubtful, although the running back himself has expected to play.

Friday was the second consecutive day Barber has limited participation in practice since he was hurt on a 35-yard run Sunday night. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Barber has been “doing more every day.” However, Jones also said that he was uncertain whether Barber would be able to play next Monday against the Carolina Panthers.

According to Jones, the Cowboys do not worry about running backs even if Barber will not play. They still have another two good options in Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.

Former Cowboys LB Lockhart was arrested for mortgage fraud

On Thursday, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eugene Lockhart, along with Cowboys Mortgage owner Lendell Beacham were arrested, both facing one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lockhart and the others have made 54 fraudulent loan closings for single-family homes in the Dallas area that totaled about $20.5 million since February 2001. The federal indictment said that the defendants kept the surplus loan proceeds after they obtained loans to buy distressed or pre-forclosure properties and sold them at inflated prices.

Lockhart played for the Cowboys from 1984 through 1990 and for the New England Patriots in 1991-92, recording 16 career quarterback sacks and six interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. In this fraud case, he was involved with several real estate businesses, including America’s Team Mortgage, America’s Team Realty, Cowboys Realty and KLT Properties, and was accused of collaborating with the eight others to devise the scheme and helping obtain inflated appraisals.

Dallas release Coleman, Hawkins

The Dallas Cowboys released two injured players running back Alonzo Coleman and cornerback Michael Hawkins. This move will cut the Cowboys roster to 77, at a time not long before the team playing against the Titans on Friday. But not a pity at all for the two really played so little during the time they were Cowboys.

Coleman was signed by the Cowboys in 2007 as a rookie free agent, but he spent all of that season and the first 13 weeks last season on the practice squad.
He has skipped traning camp for long since he hurt his knee. During the past two seasons he was with the Cowboys, he appeared in only one game.

Hawkins was signed by the Cowboys in January. Before that he has been out of football for two seasons. He also had a knee injury and skipped training camp.

Cowboys RB Jones missed practice for injured toe

Cowboys’ running back Felix Jones did not take part in Monday morning practice. The reason was to rest an injured toe that shortened his rookie season. But he said he would be back later in the day.

Jones is a speedy player, but he always had problems with his toe. Last season, he was out with a hamstring injury after he hurt the toe. That injury made him be put on injured reserve and ended his season. However, he has been still considered to be the best choice to juice up the offense because of the dazzling plays he made in six games last year.

Another Cowboys Monday notes, special teams coach Joe DeCamillis for the first time.ran practice without wearing a neck brace, which he has used since he had surgery to repair a broken neck. That injury was caused by the collapsed practice facility in May.

Cowboys QB Romo does endorsement video spoof

The Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, like Peyton Manning, is possibly to become a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He also resembles Manning by having some similar thespian accomplishments.

The famous Dallas Cowboys quarterback is starring in an online video spoof, endorsing a few tongue-in-cheek items. It smacks of Manning being the tongue-in-cheek pitchman for many products, which earned him a guest-host gig on “Saturday Night Live.” He did not wear nfl jerseys on the vedio.

In Romo’s video, he tells that a lot of people might not know he has endorsed some “50,000” products—including gasoline that tastes like chocolate and chocolate tasting like gasoline. He also says that the only real product he pitches is athletic apparel made by the video’s sponsor, Starter.