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Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Ailing starters worry Barry

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas - Less than two weeks before the Dallas Cowboys open the season, coach Barry Switzer is concerned two starters are questionable for the opener at Pittsburgh.

Five-time Pro Bowl guard Nate Newton hasn't completed a practice since he suffered a sprained foot in a preseason game 11 days ago. Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Anthony Miller has had only three productive practices since he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery eight weeks ago.

"I'm concerned," Switzer said. "I visited with Nate today and his heel is very sore. ... He still does conditioning but he's fighting through the pain of this injury."

Since backup offensive lineman George Hegamin will be sidelined four to eight weeks after suffering a sprained knee at New England, the Cowboys might be forced to play John Flannery at guard Aug. 31 against the blitz-happy Steelers.

"I told Nate, 'We're counting on you,' and he's counting on playing, too. But you never know," Switzer said. "How long can he play? I'm sure he plans on suiting up and plans on playing. Does he last the whole game? I don't know. How long does he play? Sixty minutes. Great. One quarter? We've got to get someone else ready to play."

Clay Shiver and Flannery are competing for the center vacancy. With Hegamin and Newton sidelined, Shiver has been the starting center and Flannery is playing guard.

"We've got some concerns there," Switzer said. "We've got problems. Let's talk about some thing else that's happy."

After he was released by Denver, Miller signed with Dallas and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee June 20. Miller worked with first-team offense on Aug. 10 but experienced pain the following day. He hasn't practiced the past week. Miller was so concerned he underwent an MRI exam on Saturday, which revealed he has a bone bruise.

"It's frustrating. Anyone in this situation would be frustrated," Miller said. "It's just something I have to deal with. Hopefully, it will get better and I can start going."

Miller, 32, has 549 career receptions for 8,503 yards and 59 touchdowns. Quarterback Troy Aikman believes Michael Irvin and a healthy Miller would form the best wide-receiver tandem in the league.

"My biggest concern is Anthony hasn't practiced," Aikman said. "I've maybe thrown three days to him since we signed him. We need time together and he needs time to run these routes."

Even if Miller doesn't play in the preseason finale Friday night at Texas Stadium, Switzer said Miller probably would start the opener as long as he's able to practice next week.

"It's day-to-day and today wasn't a day he could play," Switzer said. "We'll just have to wait and see. It's still sore."

On a positive note, wide receiver Stepfret Williams, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, returned to practice. Williams was the leading candidate to be the third-down, slot receiver but Billy Davis has taken advantage of Williams' injury.

"Stepfret looked good. He caught our eye today," Switzer said. "He was fresh. The leg didn't bother him. He ran well and made some plays. He'll be back in the thick of things. He's not counted out of it."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)