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Tuesday, November 18, 1997

Norv Turner irked by Cowboys owner Jones

By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Did Dallas owner Jerry Jones intimidate officials by going on the field to protest a call in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' come-from-behind victory over the Washington Redskins?

Washington coach Norv Turner was still angry about Jones' action on Monday after the Cowboys nipped the Redskins 17-14.

Jones, in his customary place on the sidelines, went onto the field at around the 20-yard line when officials decided to wave off an interference call against Darrell Green because a pass to Eric Bjornson was ruled uncatchable.

Later in the quarter, though, as the Cowboys were marching 97 yards to tie the game on the way to the victory, Green was whistled again for interference on a pass to Anthony Miller that also appeared out of reach. Green called it "one of the worst calls" he's seen in his 15-year career.

"It's obviously something we're going to discuss," Turner said of Jones' action. "We play down there every year, and I can't go down to the 20-yard line. Their coach can't go down to the 20-yard line. I think it's wrong."

Redskins General Manager Charley Casserly said he won't make a formal complaint to the league. Even if he did, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said there was "really nothing to review."

"There isn't a rule that applies to owners," Aiello said. "They would be treated as any other club official on the sidelines and subject to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by game officials. It's up to the game officials. In this case, they did not throw the flag."

Turner said the team will send to the league a copy of the debilitating hit by Cowboys rookie safety Omar Stoutmire on Leslie Shepherd, the Redskins only consistent wide receiver this season. Shepherd, who after the game called the blow a "cheap shot," will be lost for the rest of the regular season with a dislocated wrist bone and elbow.

Turner said there should have been flag on Stoutmire, who leveled Shepherd after an incomplete pass on a deep post pattern. Shepherd was wide open, but quarterback Gus Frerotte overthrew the ball.

"After Leslie made the move, you were saying touchdown," Turner said. "Gus stepped up and the ball kind of got away from him. I thought the ball hit the ground, and (then) Leslie got hit."

Shepherd, who has 29 catches for 562 yards and a league-best 19.4 yards per catch, underwent surgery Monday on his wrist. With a cast on his wrist and a splint on his elbow, he would have only a slim chance of coming back if the Redskins make the playoffs.

Shepherd wasn't the only casualty. Fullback Larry Bowie (sprained ankle), defensive tackle Ryan Kuehl (sprained ankle) will probably miss next Sunday's game against the division-leading New York Giants, and receiver Alvin Harper (strained Achilles) is likely out for two weeks.

That leaves the Redskins' receiving corps consisting of the aging Henry Ellard, who has uncharacteristically dropped several passes this year, the temperamental Michael Westbrook, who had trouble lining up in the right position Sunday, and the inexperienced trio of James Thrash, Albert Connell and Chris Thomas.

"I've been waiting all season," said Connell, a rookie with one NFL catch. "I think I'm ready."

The officiating complaints gave the Redskins an outlet for their frustrations after being stunned by the Cowboys' last-minute heroics.

"When you have an opportunity to win it, you have a find a way to win it, you have to make a way to win it," linebacker Ken Harvey said. "It has to be a habit. We're just real close. We have the talent. We just have to get that part down."