Stephen Peterman sighting

"Everything is looking up," the 6-foot-4, 318-pound offensive lineman said. "My first two years have been kind of a struggle. I tore my ACL and MCL, and broke one of my fingers. It's been an uphill battle my first two years as a pro.

"I've got a good shot. We got rid of our Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen. The job is open going into camp. But I've got to compete and win that job.
"They are trying me a little bit at center. I started in the off-season. He told me to start snapping and get used to it."

That is the first time in his football career he had played center.

"It's fun jumping back from position to position," he said. "The NFL only takes 53 guys to the game. The more you can do, the better. Starting or backing up, I have to do as much as I can. You play two positions in case someone else gets hurts."

Brown played three years for Parcells in New England, and they kept in touch through the years. Parcells knew Brown had the itch to coach, but he wanted to make sure he was committed. Brown was active last year when he worked in training camp and remained with the Cowboys until the regular season began.

When Gary Gibbs left for New Orleans this off-season, Parcells called on Brown, who had been an assistant coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Ga. Parcells also moved Paul Pasqualoni from tight ends coach to linebacker coach and believes his experience will help Brown through difficult moments all coaches have early on.

"A lot of coaches can help you with the Xs and Os of the game to start," [LB Ryan] Fowler said, "but what he brings on top of that is having done it and knowing this is the technique he used to beat a guard on a play. It helps."