I really enjoy all the moves new Head Coach Wade Phillips appears to be making with the Cowboys. There is a new sheriff in town, and right now all his shots are golden.
The latest, involves starting cornerback Terrance Newman and his ailing heel. Phillips has said that they will be keeping Newman out for the rest of the preseason. Newman who has a strained heel, will now be able to focus on getting healthy and making sure he is ready for the games that matter, the opening day game against the rival New York Giants.
“It’s a little worse than we thought it was,” Phillips said of Newman’s heel. “He’s been out for a week anyway, so in and out, it’ll probably be a two-week thing, just into next week. I’ll be surprised if he plays in the Thursday game either.”
Some may see this as catering to the players and even a sign of weakness. During the Bill Parcells’ reign at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys players felt an urgency to get back to the playing field sooner coming off an injury. Not the case anymore.
Fourth round draft pick, rookie WR Isaiah Stanback, missed all of training camp and never felt pressure to rush out onto the field. After only five days of practice, Stanback’s performance last week against Denver shows this was clearly the right approach.
Get them healthy and get them ready for the games that count.
Maybe, just maybe, Phillips’ new style of handling bumps, bruises and injuries will help the Cowboys down the stretch as they make their playoff push in December.
