Welcome, wilkommen and bienvenue from the press box at Texas Stadium, where I am perched high above a yard-line that I cannot discern because of the massive lime-sherbet-colored tarp that blankets Texas Stadium’s playing surface, protecting it from a spate of thundershowers that doused the northeast quadrant of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex this morning and afternoon.

The rain, however has only served to push the humidity to searing, borderline inhumane levels. I think the air around here is thicker than the renowned mustard on the double-meat Whataburger that I downed at one of the Texas-based burger concern’s outlets hard by Interstate 635 at lunch yesterday. (Good mustard, yes, but the special sauce at Miller Park in Milwaukee remains the best condiment I’ve downed this summer.)

Anyhow, let’s get started with a recap of who will and will not play. I’m probably repeating myself from past entries, but it’s good to refresh nonetheless:

Left tackle Matt Lepsis … will play. He was back on the field this week after missing last week with a groin strain.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall … will play. He saw some substantial first-team work throughout the week, although he is officially listed as a third-teamer on the depth chart.

Tight end Tony Scheffler … will play, although he’ll likely be coming off the bench, with Daniel Graham and Nate Jackson receiving the bulk of the first-team work when the Broncos lined up in two-tight end formations throughout the week.

Wide receiver Brandon Stokley … will not play. He remains atop the depth chart but did not practice all week, although he lightly caught some passes during the Thursday and Friday sessions.

Offensive tackle Adam Meadows … will not play. After ascending to the first team at right tackle mid-week, he strained his right calf and will be out for about two weeks. Erik Pears, listed as the first-teamer there, will start in his place.

Offensive tackles Jacob Rogers and Ryan Harris … will not play. Neither practiced at all this week. Their absences helped force Chad Mustard to slide over from tight end to right tackle, where he will likely play substantially tonight.

Defensive end Tim Crowder … will not play. He suffered an ankle injury on Thursday, but the team hopes he will return by next week.

Running back Andre Hall and wide receiver Marquay McDaniel … likely will not play. Each practiced just once this week.

Wide receiver Glenn Martinez … is expected to play, thus making his Broncos preseason debut.

Other random notes from the week …

… Prior to the first practice Wednesday, a group of us noticed a pair of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers in conversation. And while one shouldn’t be surprised to see ex-teammates warmly reminiscing, the sight of a dreadlocked Nate Webster and curly-haired sprite Martin Gramatica talking inspired media-relations staffer Dave Gaylinn to compare the scene to Perfect Strangers. I’m sure you can guess which one he thought to be Balki Bartokomous …

… and training-camp media-relations intern Brad Gee intends to follow my plastic-cup-collecting lead by saving one of the containers in which sodas are dispensed here in the Texas Stadium press box, which is so high that I swear it’s above the famous roof with the hole in the middle.

… When I lapse into such babble, it’s time to go. Back with more later … until then, vaya con Dios.

Tags: Dallas Cowboys

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 18th, 2007 at 3:26 pm and is filed under Archives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.