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Friday, August 22, 1997

Cowboys' "Just Football" policy could pay off

By BILL BARNARD / AP Sports Writer

The Dallas Cowboys Country Club went out of business this year, replaced by a virtual boot camp.

A talented but troubled team, the Cowboys tried put all their emphasis on football, trying to eliminate the distractions that helped kill their season a year ago.

Owner Jerry Jones would like to have turned training camp into a monastery. He had to settle for something in between and, coach Barry Switzer's gun misadventure notwithstanding, the players behaved until the final day of camp, when they trashed the dormitories at St. Edward's College to celebrate.

On the field, they seem improved over last season, when they finished 10-6 and lost to Carolina in their second playoff game.

"We've had to take a hard look at our team in the offseason, and we've made some positive changes," said Troy Aikman, who reportedly threatened retirement rather than live through another stormy season.

"We kept free agents like Daryl Johnston, Broderick Thomas and Brock Marion. We had a good draft. We've taken steps to correct our off-field problems. I think we are starting this season in a very positive atmosphere."

Dallas still beats its NFC East rivals in talent.

Darren Woodson, Deion Sanders, Erik Williams and Larry Allen all made All-Pro. Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, who all had poor seasons by their standards, still are star quality, capable of dominating any game and any opponent.

Tight end Jay Novacek and defensive end Charles Haley both retired, but they hardly played in 1996.

The Cowboys have to revamp their kicking game with the losses of placekicker Chris Boniol and punter John Jett to free agency, and might start two rookies, tight end David LaFleur and linebacker Dexter Coakley.

They let receiver Kevin Williams go to Arizona, replacing him with Denver's Anthony Miller.

While the Dallas offense has the stars, the defense was the reason the Cowboys won the division again. The defense ranked third in the NFL behind Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Leon Lett will miss most of the season on drug suspension, the linebacking is a problem and injuries could hurt the secondary.

Philadelphia raided the Cowboys for Boniol and linebacker Darrin Smith, added receiver Michael Timpson from Chicago and tried to solidify the offensive line.

The biggest losses were defensive end William Fuller, who led the Eagles with 13 sacks, and offensive lineman Raleigh McKenzie, who both signed with San Diego. Fuller's loss might be sorely felt on an undersized defense.

Ty Detmer will start at quarterback after a solid season in which he completed 59 percent of his passes.

"I feel comfortable in there and I feel confident when I'm in there," said Detmer, who backed up Brett Favre at Green Bay for four years. "You can't worry about if this happens or if that happens. I just have to go out there and play, and if that's good enough, great."

The running game features Ricky Watters (1,411 yards) and Charlie Garner (5.2 yards per carry). Irving Fryar, who had 1,195 yards on 88 receptions, leads the receiving corps.

Washington, which finished 9-7 after a 7-1 start to fall out of playoff contention, added cornerback Cris Dishman to join Darrell Green, and drafted DE Kenard Lang in the first round to bolster a defense that ranked last in the NFL against the run.

A holdout by DT Sean Gilbert also doesn't help, but the defense should benefit from new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who keeps things simpler than the fired Ron Lynn.

"It's sort of a Kentucky Fried Chicken defense," Green said. "Doing one thing, and doing it good."

On offense, QB Gus Frerotte has no one looking over his shoulder with Heath Shuler traded to New Orleans. Terry Allen was third in the NFC in rushing with 1,353 yards, and venerable Henry Ellard averaged 19.5 yards per catch.

Like the Redskins, Arizona made a definitive quarterback decision, releasing Boomer Esiason and giving the job to Kent Graham.

Graham and Esiason passed for nearly 4,000 yards, sixth in the NFL, but most of the credit for that goes to receivers Frank Sanders (69 catches) and Rob Moore (58 for a 17.5 average), and fullback Larry Centers (99 catches), the best receiver out of the backfield in the league.

New coach Vince Tobin would like to upgrade the running game, ranked 25th. LeShon Johnson did OK, starting the last eight games and finishing with 634 yards, but Arizona's hopes for a big improvement probably rests with Leeland McElroy, last year's second-round pick.

Defensively, Simeon Rice was a rookie star with 12-1/2 sacks, but he was slowed by illness in training camp. Eric Swann, once considered among the best defensive linemen in football, has bad knees. Aeneas Williams remains a top cornerback.

The New York Giants have a new coach in Jim Fassel. His first job: determine if the team can continue with Dave Brown at quarterback or start over with Danny Kanell.

WR Ike Hilliard was drafted to ease the way for whoever winds up at quarterback, and No. 2 pick Tiki Barber could add some explosiveness to the backfield.

The running game, a strong point for years, faltered last season as Rodney Hampton slipped to one touchdown and 3.3 yards per carry, and Tyrone Wheatley failed to develop in an offense that ranked last in the league..

The team had no free-agent additions, unless you count 1996 New England draftee Christian Peter, dropped by the Patriots dropped because of accusations of sexual misconduct.

Officially, Peter is a rookie. Unofficially, the Giants are going nowhere.

Predictions: Dallas, 11-5; Philadelphia, 9-7; Washington, 9-7; Arizona 6-10; New York Giants, 5-11.