Alan Ball News

At the conclusion of last season's 44-6 loss at Philadelphia, the first order of business for the Cowboys was to fire special teams coordinator Bruce Read , who had failed miserably in his two seasons with the club.

As soon as the ball is snapped, you've got four hands in your face. You turn right, go left and even cut back to the middle, but there're still two players hitting you with everything they've got.

Perhaps lost in the Cowboys' important win against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons this weekend was the quietly stellar performance of starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh.

Getting to Matt Ryan was one of the Cowboys' keys going into the game and by the fourth quarter the second-year quarterback was seeing ghosts.

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR. IRVING - The Dallas Cowboys have yet to make an official announcement, but the writing has been on the wall since wide receiver Miles Austin's record-setting day against the Kansas City Chiefs.

SHARON, PA: When was the last time we blocked two field goals in one year? Boy, the special teams have seen a world of change.

Roaring at teammates, screaming at his own sideline, pleading with officials, even jawing at the opposing coach - and all in the first quarter - was not how Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten planned for his 100th career game to go down Sunday.

I seemed to remember a 10-6 yawner over Buffalo in 2003. And, of course, there was the 9-7 classic over the Redskins on Monday Night Football in 2001 when both teams entered 0-4. I'm sure there are others, but yesterday's Cowboys 26, Chiefs 20 was pretty damn hideous.

The Cowboys had a season-high 13 penalties for 90 yards. "I'm surprised they're that small," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said.

Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh broke his right thumb while making a tackle in the second quarter of Sunday's loss to the Broncos and did not return.

By JEFF CAPLAN  IRVING - Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips follows a philosophy of no-tackle practices to avoid injuries.Defensive players concentrate on technique and reading angles to get in position to make the tackle without wrapping up their teammates.'No, it's not easy,' cornerback Orlando Scandrick said of going from non-tackling ...

Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins breaks up a pass intended for Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall on Sunday during Denver's victory.

The Dallas Cowboys' practice facility collapsed last May in winds it should have been able to withstand, according to a draft report released Tuesday by a federal agency that investigated the accident that injured a dozen people.

The mystery over Tony Romo's ability to count to four has been solved. A Fox 4 video sparked speculation Tuesday that the Cowboys quarterback may have been unaware that his incomplete pass in the final seconds of the loss to Denver came on fourth down.

The Dallas Cowboys signed cornerback Cletus Gordon to fill the roster vacated by running back Chauncey Washington, who was released on Monday.

Chauncey Washington's time on the 53-man roster did not last long. Called up from the practice squad on Saturday, he was waived on Monday.

By JEFF CAPLAN TAMPA, Fla. - The defensive highlight of the day came from the X-ray film: negative.'I should be OK,' said Dallas Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh in the locker room Sunday an hour or so after engaging in a rib-crunching, mid-air collision with Tampa Bay receiver Michael Clayton.

The Cowboys are saying that CBs Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick are "co-starters" opposite LCB Terence Newman .

The Cowboys have signs around the locker room encouraging players not just to do things right but to do them "exactly right." The Cowboys returned to practice at Valley Ranch on Monday, down to their last few days to get things "exactly right" before Sunday's season opener at Tampa Bay.

The Cowboys claimed a safety off waivers Sunday and set their practice squad. Marvin White was acquired to complete the 53-man active roster.