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Usually jovial Newton not so happy this year

By JAIME ARON / AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Proof that the Dallas Cowboys aren't the power they used to be can be found everywhere, from an offense that has yet to rush for a touchdown to a defensive line missing both starting tackles.

But the biggest giveaway that things have changed might be Nate Newton's dulled sense of humor.

Newton is no longer the jovial, wisecracking offensive lineman of old. He keeps his voice lower and he no longer fills reporters' notebooks with funny lines.

"The thing is, now you can't seem like you're having fun and that's a shame," Newton said. "It's just a bad time for the Cowboys. The only way to get through it is to work harder. We've got to crank it up again."

The Cowboys (3-3) will try righting themselves on Sunday against Jacksonville. It won't be easy as the Jaguars are 5-1, with the kind of aggressive defense that has given the Dallas offensive line fits all season.

The line took another hit Wednesday when doctors said left tackle Mark Tuinei will likely be out at least two weeks after spraining a knee in Monday night's 21-16 loss to Washington.

The rest of the offense is banged up, too. Quarterback Troy Aikman missed practice Wednesday with back spasms and a nagging neck injury forced fullback Daryl Johnston to sit out.

Tuinei is 37 and in his 15th year. Newton is 35 and in his 12th year after two seasons in the USFL.

Their age is seen as one of the reasons the Cowboys are crumbling.

"What do you want? We go out there and we try to do our jobs. Sometimes we don't look good, but we're doing our jobs," Newton said.

Still, Newton admits things aren't the same as they were just a few years ago, when Dallas was winning Super Bowls.

"I'm a man who has been realistic all my life," Newton said. "When I was the baddest man in the land, I told you. I ain't the baddest man in the land.

"But, you know what? I'm still better than 80 percent of the guards out there. ... When the coaches and Mr. (Jerry) Jones feel that that's not good enough, they can replace me."

Newton's season got off to a bad start. A sprained right foot limited him in training camp, and he had to fight a rape accusation by a former mistress. A grand jury last month declined to indict him.

"I'm not where I want to be," he said. "Things are just now starting to come around.

"But it doesn't matter how I do. If I play (as bad as) I played in Chicago and we win every game, then we're on top of the world. But if I play good and we lose, then what the hell is that going to do?"

Against Chicago, the Cowboys gained their fewest yards since 1991. They won 27-3, but they were far from dominant against a team that's now 0-7.

Dallas has lost its last two since then and looked bad in the process. The New York Giants won without their starting quarterback and Washington won without its top running back and receiver.

Newton said the team's confidence level is down and that the five-time defending NFC East champs are just hoping to make the playoffs.

But he's not giving up on this season.

"If everyone comes together and does their job, then we'll be a great team," he said. "Big Newt is going to laugh again. I'm not giving up."