John Flannery gets job at right guard
By Jean-Jacques Taylor and Bart Hubbuch / The Dallas Morning
News
DALLAS -- Coach Barry Switzer said Thursday that John Flannery
has beaten out George Hegamin for the starting job at right guard.
The news surprised offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who
said he preferred to have a little more time before making a
final decision.
"Flannery is our right guard," Switzer said. "He
has experience because he has played a lot of snaps at that position
and seen a lot of different fronts at that position.
"George shouldn't be discouraged because he's a young
player, and Larry Allen is the best player on our offensive line."
The Cowboys created an opening on the offensive line when
Switzer said Allen, a Pro Bowl guard, will start the rest of
the season at left tackle.
Hegamin had started at left tackle in place of Mark Tuinei,
who has missed the past seven games with a partially torn anterior
cruciate ligament. At various times, though, the Cowboys have
replaced Hegamin with Allen on obvious passing downs, and when
Hegamin faces a defensive end who relies on speed instead of
power.
Houck said he's still trying to determine which player will
fit best at guard, but said the final decision rests with Switzer.
Houck said he can't consider personal feelings.
"All I'm looking at is the best way to win this particular
game," he said.
Left guard Nate Newton's sore knee kept him from practicing,
but Houck said he expects Newton to play against Carolina.
---
AIKMAN, SMITH PRACTICE:
Quarterback Troy Aikman, suffering from back spasms and a
bruised index finger and thumb on his right hand, practiced for
the first time this week, and Switzer said he threw the ball
well.
Aikman injured the fingers when he banged his hand against
a helmet last Thursday against Tennessee.
"Troy didn't appear to have any problems throwing the
ball," said Switzer, "but I'm sure he still had a little
pain."
Emmitt Smith practiced, but he is still being bothered by
a bruised right shoulder. Switzer said he doesn't know how much
Smith will play, although he expects him to start.
---
TUINEI OUT FOR YEAR:
Offensive tackle Mark Tuinei said he won't play the rest of
the season because of a partially torn knee ligament that has
been slow to heal.
There is speculation the 15-year veteran won't play the final
year of his contract in 1998, particularly since the Cowboys
have moved Larry Allen full-time into Tuinei's spot at left tackle.
But Tuinei said he would return as a backup if the Cowboys are
interested.
"If I'm physically able, I would love to come back,"
he said. "I'll come back at any position they want me to."
---
TICKETS AVAILABLE:
A few hundred tickets, which were returned by Carolina, are
available for Monday night's game.
The tickets, which are $34 and $35 can be purchased by calling
the Texas Stadium ticket office at 214-579-5000 or Ticket Master
at 214-373-8000.
---
COAKLEY COMES AROUND:
Cowboys' rookie linebacker Dexter Coakley has had a change
of heart.
Coakley, a native of Mount Pleasant, S.C., revealed Thursday
that he was a big Carolina Panthers' fan the past two seasons
and rooted loudly when they upset the Cowboys, 26-17, in the
NFC playoffs last January.
Coakley's allegiance was called into question because the
Cowboys face the Panthers on Monday at Texas Stadium.
"Being from the states (the Carolinas), of course I was
a Carolina fan," said Coakley, a third-round pick from Appalachian
(N.C.) State. "But I'm a Cowboy now. I've got to work on
my relatives to bring them over to the Cowboys' side, because
they still like the Panthers."
---
PLAYOFF TALK:
The Cowboys' suddenly rejuvenated playoff hopes have Switzer
in a gambling mood.
Beaming at losses suffered Sunday by NFC East rivals Washington
and the New York Giants, Switzer called a team meeting Monday
to remind the Cowboys that they still have a chance at the post-season,
despite a 6-7 record.
Every scenario requires the Cowboys to win their final three
games, something Dallas hasn't done since last season. But that
didn't dampen Switzer's enthusiasm.
"I told them I would take $100,000 of Jerry Jones' money,
go to Las Vegas and take the 3-1 odds right now that we're the
ones who get it done, because (East rivals New York, Washington
and Philadelphia) all have to play each other," Switzer
said. "It's a mix-master for them."
Jones noted that Switzer made sure to say that he wouldn't
be betting his own money on the Cowboys -- a serious violation
of NFL guidelines on gambling.
"I'm just glad he was mindful of the rules," Jones
joked.
---
(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.
Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/
Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
|
