Wednesday, September 11, 1996
MRI shows Novacek's rehab safe
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
Dallas Morning News
(Sept. 11, 1996)
(KRT) -- Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek had an MRI on Tuesday
that showed the degenerative back ailment that threatens his
season has not changed.
"That means we can continue to proceed with the rehabilitation
work we've been doing," trainer Jim Maurer said.
Maurer said he was confident Novacek would return this season.
Novacek has not played since Super Bowl XXX, when he caught a
touchdown pass.
Novacek spends three to five hours a day several days a week
doing conditioning and rehabilitation work, including pool therapy,
exercise bike and massage. He recently started to jog on flat
ground, which usually causes soreness for the next day or two.
The Cowboys would like Novacek to be able to do conditioning
work with the team, but Maruer said that was not imminent. A
return date, he said, had not been set.
Switzer said he talked to Novacek in the locker room before Sunday's
game against New York.
"Jay has been up and down like a yo-yo, and his emotions
have been that way," Switzer said. 'He makes you very concerned
because I don't think he knows if he can come back this year."
Helping Haley and Tolbert
Coach Barry Switzer said he's thrilled so far with the defensive
end rotation the Cowboys have been using because it has allowed
the Cowboys to limit the playing time of defensive ends Charles
Haley (back) and Tony Tolbert (knees).
The Cowboys have been rotating rookie Kavika Pittman and veteran
Hurvin McCormack in their places. Tolbert played 29 snaps and
Haley 30 against the Giants.
"Charles is at the twilight of his career. He's hanging
on, and as we go through this season, we hope he can hang on,"
Switzer said. "You know what? We're helping Charles this
season because we're playing Kavika Pittman.
"And I'm not playing him for player personnel director Larry
Lacewell; I'm playing him because he's a good football player,
and he's making some plays.
"Pittman doesn't know how to use his hands yet or bullrush,
and he isn't nasty yet, but I wish he was. We're trying to help
both of those guys out because they can play 30 snaps. That's
probably the least amount of snaps Tony has played here in years."
Tolbert said he's for anything that lengthens his career because
he still expects to be on the field for the most important plays.
Don't count your chickens
Coach Barry Switzer said he doesn't feel comfortable taking
out starters unless he has a 28-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The reason: NFL games can change in a hurry.
Emmitt Smith, coming off knee and neck injuries, was not removed
until midway through the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 27-0
victory against the Giants.
"Emmitt wasn't hurt. He wanted to play, and he wanted to
get 100 yards, and he wanted to play himself into condition,"
Switzer said. "Troy had a similar reason. We were playing
well, and everyone felt comfortable, but I've seen chicken salad
turn to chicken feathers in five minutes."
(c) 1996, Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Information Services.
All content copyright 1996, KRT, The
Abilene Reporter-News and Reporter OnLine
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