IRVING – The depth chart says Drew Bledsoe is the backup quarterback for the Cowboys.
But when Bill Parcells asked Bledsoe if he wanted to play in a 38-10 victory over Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving Day, the quarterback said no.
On Wednesday, Parcells said he was OK with that and knows if starter Tony Romo goes down with an injury or has a terrible performance, Bledsoe would play.
"I would do that if I felt like Romo was in jeopardy," Parcells said. "I would do it, sure. And I don't think he would have any problems with that, either. I would understand that."
The Cowboys have no choice, because when the team benched Bledsoe for Romo, it never signed another quarterback with experience.
Matt Baker, the only other quarterback on the roster, is on the practice squad.
Parcells has churned the bottom half of the roster for most of the season in search of depth at several positions.
Yet, Parcells wants Bledsoe to remain sharp and stressed that to him last week.
"I talk to Drew in that manner because I know that there's a chance that I'll need him again," Parcells said.
■ Owens takes on Burress: Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress are at it again. The two receivers exchanged barbs after Burress said Owens was a coward following the Giants' win Oct. 23.
"It was very disturbing to me," Owens said of Burress' comments. "Like I said, it was funny, we worked out this summer. We never had a war of words or any type of animosity toward each other, and it came out of thin air."
Owens had slipped while cutting during a pass route. Burress said Owens was trying to avoid a hit.
Days later, Owens said on his radio show that the Giants receiver "couldn't carry my jock."
"T.O.'s gonna be T.O.," Burress told New York Newsday. "He kind of made himself a Class A celebrity with some of the things he's done. He's gonna be him, I'm gonna be me and we'll go out and play, see what happens."
Said Owens: "All I know is that the defense has been hitting some people. I'm sure they have been watching the film, so he better watch out."
■ Strahan chastises reporter: Giants defensive end Michael Strahan did his best to intimidate an ESPN reporter who attempted to question him about comments he made on radio Monday about Burress quitting on plays.
Strahan, who has been sidelined the last three weeks with a foot injury, called out Kelly Naqi, ESPN's New York-based reporter, as she stood behind about three dozen members of the media trying to question him.
■ Romo honored: Tony Romo received the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week award. It's the second time in the last three weeks Romo has received it. Romo completed 75.9 percent of his passes for 306 yards and a franchise record-tying five touchdowns in a victory over Tampa Bay.
■ Briefly: Dallas has no player on the injury report for the second consecutive week. ... The Cowboys will probably fill their vacant practice squad spot with kicker Carlos Martinez. ... Parcells said he expects FS Patrick Watkins to play more Sunday. ... P Mat McBriar and SS Roy Williams lead their respective positions in the Pro Bowl voting with two weeks remaining. McBriar has 243,324 votes, and Williams has 177,041.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
25
The Cowboys have intercepted 14 passes and recovered 11 fumbles, giving them 25 takeaways on the season, third most in the NFL. They are on pace for 36 takeaways on the season, which would be the most by a Dallas defense since 1987 when they intercepted 23 passes and recovered 20 fumbles.
— Jean-Jacques Taylor
Any chance the Cowboys extend Andre Gurode's contract before he hits the open market in the off-season?
Absolutely. Dallas will try to get him signed soon after the season, if not before, because the Cowboys think he has a bright future. He has played well this season, and the Cowboys expect him to continue to improve.
— Jean-Jacques Taylor
