SPORTSDAY

8:50 -- Strange jersey sighting: Drew Bledsoe's No. 11 Bills blue.

8:51 -- Tony Romo just fell flat on his butt while goofing around during warmups. Captain Cool played it off by pretending to stretch. No wonder he's got Carrie Underwood whipped.

8:55 -- Action won't really get going until a little after 9:30, so feel free to fire questions at me until then. Anybody out there?

9:01 -- Good to see the commitment from you folks, logging on bright and early on a Saturday. You're clearly the leaders among Cowboys fans. ... Speaking of leaders, I wouldn't say there are any fiery Michael Irvin type leaders on this team. Tony Romo has emerged as a leader, but he's more by example than in your face. Same with Terence Newman. Bradie James is the most vocal guy. ... Don't think the front seven has dominated the O-line at all. The O-line has done very well, considering Flozell Adams hasn't practiced much and Marc Colombo not at all. Colombo will join us for the first time this afternoon. ... Biggest differences I see with the offense are moving WRs and TEs around to create mismatches and emphasis on the vertical passing game. Expect Jason Witten to have several 20-plus-yard catches this season, which should only open things up for T.O. and Terry Glenn. ...

9:08 -- I'm sure the blitz packages used during the regular season will be a bit more complicated than the basic stuff they've busted out in training camp. Bobby Carpenter has shown the ability to wreak havoc as a blitzer. Roy Williams has been hit and miss. Haven't seen a successful CB blitz yet. ... I would think the addition of Bigg Davis will help a whole bunch of third-and-1 and other short-yardage downs. ... The personnel will probably be the biggest difference between Garrett's system and the Norv Turner scheme from the '90s dynasty. Don't see any Emmitts out there, so I can't imagine Garrett will be as reliant on the run. I'm sure Garrett has added wrinkles he's picked up in other places over the years, but I'm not going to pretend to be that intimate with the playbook. (Was that wording creepy?) ... No discussion of bringing in Godfrey Randall or Randall Godfrey, for that matter. ... Terry Glenn's knee scope went as expected. He'll be held out of at least the first preseason game, but they think he'll be OK for the regular season.

9:16 -- I haven't sampled any of the concession stand fare. I do recommend the BBQ joint across the street. ... Nick "The Kid" Folk has a shot to beat out Martin Gramatica, but he'll probably need a great preseason. More likely way for Folk to make the team is as a kickoff specialist. Wade Phillips was on his daddy's staff when they drafted Morten Andersen and kept him as a kickoff specialist. That dude ended up doing OK. ... I'll go with Joey Thomas as the lesser-known prospect with a chance to make the cut. He was the Packers' third-round pick in 2004 but was out of the league last season. ... Pat McQuistan is more advanced than Doug Free, who is listed as 6-6, 306. Free has to get much better as a run blocker to be a reliable LT. ... Five FB/TE sounds right. They'll keep at least three TEs.

9:22 -- Will keep nagging Archer about the Ware-Spencer rookie comparison. I will tell you that you shouldn't get your hopes up for Spencer to match Ware's rookie stats of eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. ... Way too early to know if the rookie tackles will pan out. Doug Free has to improve as a run blocker and James Marten as a pass blocker. We won't know for probably two years whether they were good picks.

9:26 -- Wade Phillips' defenses are usually good against the run. His Ds have ranked top 10 vs. run in six of the last eight seasons. The Chargers were No. 1 in 2005 and No. 3 in 2004.

9:32 -- Action about to start. Will try to answer more questions later.

9:33 -- Bradie James is a bit eager today, jumping way offsides on first play. Romo might have got him with a hard count. ... Ran Oliver Hoyte right at James the next play. James took himself out of the play.

9:34 -- No Flozell this morning. He's only practicing once per day. ... Fans are excited by Marion Barber running toward the end zone on off-tackle run, but DeMarcus Ware would have made the tackle to stop him after about three yards. Defense is playing two-hand touch.

9:35 -- Forgot to mention they're doing inside run drills and WR vs. DB one-on-ones. ... Patrick Crayton beat Joey Thomas on a post for a TD. Perfect pass from Matt Moore. ... Sam Hurd got great separation from Anthony Henry on a crossing route a minute ago.

9:37 - Drop by my man Mike Jefferson. ... T.O. gives the crowd a thrill by burning Anthony Henry on a deep ball. Nice hesitation move by T.O. to get a step, and Romo hit him in stride. ... Jerard Rabb beat Terence Newman on a deep ball the next play. You can consider that stunning.

9:39 -- Nice leaping catch by Damarius Bilbo, who moved from safety to receiver a couple days ago. ... Sam Hurd is having a nice 7-on-7 session. Quincy Butler tried to hold him on an out route, but Hurd fought him off and got wide open. ... Terence Newman made a pick while tippy-toeing on the sideline. Isaiah Stanback, who is working out over there, called him out of bounds. ... Rookie CB Alan Ball is being helped off the field. Looks like it might be his left knee.

9:41 -- T.O. pushed off on Quincy Butler to make a catch on a curl route. ... Have not been impressed by Bobby Carpenter's work in inside run drills. He's been blocked every time I watched him. He can help this D in passing situations, but he's not an every-down inside LB. ... Another drop by Mike Jefferson, this one on a post route from Tony Romo. The Montana State alum's time with us might be nearing its end.

9:46 -- Boring special teams stuff now, so I'll answer some questions. I should mention that Jerheme Urban made a nice diving grab on a deep ball near the end of the 7-on-7 session. ... No signs of snobby Disney employees yet, but rumor has it one is on I-35. If we make up with an awkward man hug, I'll let you know. ... Only way Tyson Thompson gets significant carries is if Julius Jones or Marion Barber gets hurt. ... Didn't see the brown-shirted rehabber. Might be able to say who it was with better description. If he was tall, white and bald, that's Marc Colombo. Short, black with dreads, that's Jamaica Rector. ... Pretty sure nine O-linemen will be kept -- five starters, Pat McQuistan, Cory Procter and two rookie tackles. McQuistan (tackles) and Procter (guards and center) can back up all five positions. ... I'm not worried about the relaxed tone under Wade Phillips. Practices have been crisp for the most part, though yesterday was an exception for the offense. As T-Cow noted, the Tuna's way didn't look so smart when this team kept wearing down in December.

9:55 -- Defense did work on strip drills at least one day. Wouldn't worry too much about turnovers. If a team gets pressure on QB, their odds are good of forcing some. Last season's Chargers were an aberration, and they didn't have any playmakers in the secondary. ... Team drills now. Will get to more questions later.

9:56 -- Jason Witten beat Bradie James on a quick hitter, which provides further evidence for why Bobby Carpenter will be on the field on a lot of passing downs.

9:58 -- Sack for Jay Ratliff. Not sure whether Pat McQuistan (lined up at RT) or Bigg Davis was to blame.

10:00 -- Brad Johnson isn't the most exciting guy to watch. More boring dump-offs to backs.

10:01 -- Ola "O-Dog" Dagunduro, whose name I have to look up every time I type it, got good pressure on Brad Johnson two straight plays. ... Chris Canty overwhelmed Pete Lougheed on the next play. ... Matt Moore is overmatched against the starting D. Terence Newman should be doing push-ups now, because he dropped a pick.

10:03 -- Nice diving pick by Roy Williams. Not to take away from that moment, but Tony Romo overthrew Jason Witten, who was wide open on a seam route. Williams benefited by being nowhere near the intended receiver. ... Ball went through T.O.'s hands on an out route.

10:04 -- Sam Hurd almost made a spectacular catch on a deep ball, but Jacques Reeves was able to hit him on the arms to break up the play. Tony Romo underthrew the ball. He was under pressure from blitzing safety Keith Davis, who probably would have had a sack.

10:06 -- Akin Ayodele would have had a clean shot on Brad Johnson. Wade Phillips is busting out some of his funky blitzes. CB Nate Jones was also coming on the play.

10:07 -- Nice one-handed grab by Damarius Bilbo on quick hook. He made the catch despite getting hit by Terence Newman. ... Richard Bartel now getting some reps.

10:08 -- Well, that didn't go so well for Bartel. Ken Hamlin could have called for a fair catch on a deep ball that he intercepted.

10:10 -- Punt coverage stuff now, so I'll answer questions if you've got any. ... Bobby Carpenter was a 4-3 OLB at Ohio State and is a tweener in the 3-4. His perimeter pass-rushing skills have never wowed me, but he is a good blitzer as an inside LB. They moved him inside because they think he can make an impact on passing downs and against pass-happy teams.

10:13 -- Sam Hurd is the clear No. 4 WR and Miles Austin is behind him on the depth chart. Still think Isaiah Stanback will be the sixth receiver on the roster. Jamaica Rector's chances are getting slimmer every practice he misses with a sore knee. Jerheme Urban has had a nice camp, but I just can't see him making the cut. ... Don't think O-Dog has done anything to separate himself from Montavious Stanley in the backup NT competition. This one will be a battle for probably the whole preseason, and the Cowboys will keep a close eye on the waiver wire for other candidates.

10:17 -- Mat McBriar shanked one that ended up getting a great roll. His next punt was much prettier -- 50-plus-yards, high with a perfect spiral. ... S L, appreciate the technological advice. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for him, Ola D. hasn't done enough to merit such preparation. Don't have to type his name too often. ... Keep on telling you folks that Sam Hurd has separated himself from the young-buck pack of WRs and can help this team. ... Team drills time.

10:20 -- T.O. tried unsuccessfully to make a one-handed grab on a high pass across the middle. Tony Romo was off target in large part because Bobby Carpenter knocked Julius Jones back into Romo. ... Big gain for Jones on a draw.

10:22 -- Didn't look like T.O. made an all-out effort to catch a flag route in the end zone. He didn't have a late burst, but that might be because he doesn't want to test his hammy. ... Anthony Fasano caught a quick slant over the middle and gained good yardage after the catch. ... Nice cut by Marion Barber. Too bad it's not full contact, because I would have liked to see Pat Watkins try to tackle him.

10:25 -- Tony Romo hit Patrick Crayton on a crossing route in the back of the end zone. Great protection by the O-line against the backup D. Romo was able to sit in the pocket and pat the ball until Crayton got separation from Nate Jones.

10:26 -- That Tony Romo is such a showboat. He scored a 1-yard TD on a bootleg right and celebrated with a spike. The crowd roared its approval, of course.

10:28 -- Brad Johnson would probably be on a stretcher if this was a full-contact practice. Roy Williams came untouched on a safety blitz. ... TE Tony Curtis picked up Williams a couple plays later.

10:30 -- Nice pressure by Marcus Spears on Brad Johnson's rollout to the right. First time I've really noticed Spears this morning.

10:31 -- Bradie James came flying up for a run blitz, but guard Joe Berger handled him pretty easily and knocked him out of the hole. ... Marcus Spears made another play, batting down Johnson's pass after getting in his face.

10:34 -- Bradie James had more success on a goal-line blitz. He got in the backfield and would have had a shot at Jackie Battle.

10:35 -- Matt Moore is getting reps with the third-team O again. Started out with a throwaway after DE Marcus Smith got in his face.

10:36 -- Outstanding job of holding by James Marten against Anthony Spencer. I say that because the refs didn't call it.

10:37 -- Moore hit TE Adam Bergen on a quick out. Anthony Spencer's coverage wasn't terrible, but he'll have to run with a lot faster TEs than Bergen during the regular season.

10:39 -- First-team O back on the field. ... Doug Free at LT and Pat McQuistan at RT.

10:40 -- Ex-Southlake Carroll LB John Saldi picked off Tony Romo, but it's not like Jay's son made a great play. The ball bounced off Patrick Crayton's hand. Crayton looked surprised the ball was thrown his way after he ran a quick route over the middle.

10:42 -- Practice over. Be back with much, much more after Wade's presser. I'm going to find out why the hell Deon Anderson ate a cricket.