BUMPS AND BRUISES
Let’s start with the good news. RB Mike Bell practiced fully on Wednesday, apparently having recovered from a sore knee that kept him out of the Falcons game last week. Also back on the field going through a full practice was receiver Lance Moore who’s been out over a month due to ankle and hamstring injuries.
Linebacker Scott Fujita practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. It’s the first time Fujita has worked after missing the last two weeks following surgery to remove a staph infection in his knee.
A total of six players did not participate, with one of those injuries being a bit of a surprise but also explaining a lot. TE Jeremy Shockey (toe), RT Jon Stinchcomb (knee), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), DE Bobby McCray (back), CB Jabari Greer (groin), and kicker Garrett Hartley (hip).
Hartley apparently injured himself prior to kickoff in Atlanta, explaining why during the telecast FOX commentators talked about how bad Hartley was kicking during warm-ups. “We think by the end of the week he’ll be fine. It was just something he had done in his warm-up prior to the Atlanta game, but nothing significant.”
Players that practiced on a limited basis were RB Pierre Thomas (hip), G Jahri Evans (foot), G Carl Nicks (back), OT Jermon Bushrod (thumb), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), CB Tracy Porter (knee), S Usama Young (hip), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee) and LB Marvin Mitchell (hamstring).
ROMO SAYS THE ‘BOYS WILL BE READY
Since the final seconds ticked away Sunday in Dallas to yet another December loss, the Cowboys have been hearing the “oh no, here we go again” talk from their fans and media. Nationally, all week NFL pundits have openly said Dallas has no shot at a victory Saturday night. Wednesday to New Orleans media, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said he believes his team can and will weather the storm of scrutiny.
“I think it’s part of when you’re losing, you come up with different statistics. We just have to pick up steam. That’s what happens when you lose a couple games in a row. There needs to be reason, accountability and different things of that nature. That’s part of the game itself,” says Romo adding that even a win over the Saints won’t likely put the naysayers to rest. “You have to go through all this stuff, ups and downs during the regular season. I think even from the perspective of the Saints, they’re undefeated, but I’m sure there are plenty of weeks that you still have gotten things locally about what they’re not doing right or something they’re not doing that could haunt them or something like that. That’s part of playing the game and having to deal with all that stuff is part of the internal stuff you have to get over week to week and just continue to maintain and grind it out and get better and improve.”
The Cowboys with three games left are fighting for the NFC East Division title and for simply their playoff lives. Distractions aside, the Saints believe Saturday night they will be in for a fight. ““We’re expecting them to come in and play a real good football game. We don’t really get caught up in all the other things. Hopefully Roger Staubach isn’t able to play,” said Saints head coach Sean Payton following practice on Wednesday.
“I think it will be a very, tough, challenging game for us. I promise you our team, we have blinders on as far as going out there. We’re committed to our approach this week,” says Romo. “We’re working hard and coming out with a game plan that we feel will give us a great opportunity to play our best game on Sunday and we feel as though if we’re playing really well, we have a great chance to be there.”
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