Strahan says he’ll still pick the Giants
Tight end Jason Witten said the sight of retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan at practice Friday made him sick. Witten was referring to the Giants beating the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs last season and stealing their Super Bowl dream by beating the New England Patriots for the title.
Strahan, who was at camp prepping for his new job as NFL analyst for Fox, took it all in stride. He said the Cowboys can have the title this season if they can get it.
While Strahan believes the Cowboys have a strong team, he takes issue with all the forecasters who are picking them as the favorites in the NFC over his former team, which is the defending champion.
"When one team is the champ, you have to go with the champ until they’re knocked off,"
Strahan said. "That’s why you have to lean that way. Apparently, there’s a reason that the Giants were the champions last year."
Amendola’s stock rises
Undrafted free agent wide receiver Danny Amendola might not be Wes Welker, but he might be a Dallas Cowboy when the season begins.
Amendola, who starred at Texas Tech, has drawn rave reviews from the media and teammates during the first week of training camp for his precise routes, quick feet and glue-like hands, kind of like Welker. Welker also starred at Texas Tech before becoming a Pro Bowl player with the New England Patriots.
Amendola’s size — he’s generously listed at 5-10 — and average speed still make him an underdog, but he is no longer just a long shot to make the roster.
If the Cowboys keep six receivers, it will be between Amendola and Mike Jefferson, although there is an outside chance he could push Isaiah Stanback for the fifth receiver spot behind the top four of Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.
"I think he’ll be competitive to make the team,"
coach Wade Phillips said. "You can see that right now."
No Barber rule
There is no such thing as the Marion Barber rule. At least that’s the word from NFL official Mark Hittner, who came to camp to give a preview of the new rule changes for 2008.
League officials will flag offensive players for using the stiff arm as a weapon and for grabbing and twisting a defenders face mask.
Barber has a history of striking a defender with his stiff arm. Hittner said that is OK as long as he does it at the shoulder pads or chest. If he strikes a defender in the helmet, he will be flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Briefly
Linebacker Greg Ellis was limited in practice Friday because of a sore back.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who suffered a blow to his head Wednesday and was held out of practice Thursday, returned Friday.
Linebacker Tyson Smith, who got his bell rung in a collision with Marion Barber on Thursday, was held out of practice Friday.
The contracts of Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins were among a number of rookie first-rounders kicked back by the league Friday. However, the Cowboys changed the language regarding incentives in the deals so the rookies would not miss practice.
