Hamstring epidemic perplexes Cowboys - Tom Orsborn, Express-News
10 players have missed time so far this season with hamstring injuries. Garrett said it’s difficult to pinpoint one specific reason for the hamstring epidemic, but they will study them to see what can be done to prevent them.
"We have to look at how we’re practicing and some of the things we’re doing in our strength and conditioning program," Garrett said Wednesday at a news conference in Irving. "We always try to evaluate that. We try to do good analysis of that along the way. We’ve had too many of them, no question about that. They happen all around the league – I get that. But we have to keep doing our part and our evaluation to how we can eliminate them the best we can."
"Sometimes it has to do with the workload and how much running we’re doing," he said. "You do look at how we’re warming up on all those days. Some of it is on the player to make sure they continue to warm up and stay fresh over the course of a game, depending on what the circumstances are. I don’t know if there’s anything you can pinpoint and say this is the reason. If there was, we would’ve addressed it and had it cleaned up a long time ago."
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Cowboys Injury Report: Carter, Claiborne & Harris Hamstrung By Hamstrings - Blogging The Boys
Bruce Carter, Morris Claiborne and Dwayne Harris all missed practice with hamstring injuries.
Dallas Cowboys glad to be at home Sunday - Todd Archer, Dallas
You betcha.
Cowboys have run for 449 yards the past three games - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram
The Cowboys have run the ball well over the last three games, averaging 149.7 rushing yards per game. DeMarco Murray credits the offensive line, the tight ends, the receivers for the performance, and newly signed fullback Tyler Clutts for the 8.1 yards per carry Murray had against the Bears:
"It's a different dynamic to the run game," Murray said. "He’s a very smart guy. He knows the game, knows the blocking scheme and things of that nature. He did a great job for us. The offensive line blocked well along with the tight ends and receivers. He’s a good back. He’s been playing a couple of years in the league."
Jason Garrett says Dez Bryant is a better player than last year even if stats aren't showing it - Clarence Hill, Star-Telegram
You'll have to take Garrett's word for it.
Blitzing among steps Dallas Cowboys can try to bolster D; will it help? - David Moore, DMN
The Cowboys have 19 sacks in their seven wins and only eight sacks in their six losses, David Moore writes. Coincidence? Probably not. The Cowboys' biggest issue is getting off the field on third downs - they are ranked 28th in the league with 42.9% 3rd down conversions allowed. Should they blitz more?
"We could definitely blitz a lot more and try to get that quarterback flustered," Church said. "We’re relying a lot on the front four, but sometimes you got to blitz them, so we’ll see what happens."
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones expects team to earn playoff berth and "make a difference" - David Moore, DMN
The Cowboys have not won three straight games this year, but it seems that Stephen Jones is expecting exactly that to happen over the next three games, because he expects the Cowboys to make the playoffs and to "make a difference" once there.
Cowboys players shouldering the blame - Blogging The Boys
There seems to be a consensus between the front office and the players: The Dallas Cowboys have to play a lot better.
Romo, Cowboys have no room to horse around against Packers - FOX Sports
The Dallas Cowboys are helmet-deep in manure going into Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. It looks and smells bad from the outside, but it's a fabulous opportunity for Romo, writes David Whitley.
Witten says it wasn't the cold that beat the Cowboys in Chicago, it was their own poor play - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Tight end Jason Witten said it wasn’t that the cold bothered the Cowboys in Chicago, but that they simply got outplayed by the Bears, in every phase of the game.
DeMarcus Ware says he’s not a player in decline, close to returning to form - Brandon George, DMN
Ware has no doubt whatsoever that he’ll be a disruptive force again over the last three games.
"People can say what they want to say," Ware said.
"Tell them to get in front of me and see if they can block me. Then we’ll go from there."
2014 cap is projected to be $126.3 million - ProFootballTalk
Per multiple reports, league owners were told at Wednesday’s quarterly meeting that the salary cap for 2014 currently is expected to be $126.3 million per team.