Jerry's backpedal comes too late...

I couldn't believe my ears or eyes when I saw and heard the Jerry Jones comment to Chris Mortenson on the Dez Bryant ankle injury.

On Friday, following Bryant's injury, Jones brought up the possibility the receiver may have been worn down from heaving training camp work, making him susceptible to an injury.

What?

How about throwing your coaches under the bus and then pampering a rookie before he's ever caught a pass.

I guarantee you some coaches did a double-take when they heard those comments.

I know Bryant is a great talent and a first-round pick, but---come on, he's still a rookie. Overworked, are you serious?

On Saturday, didn't change his comments but tried to clarify that he wasn't questioning his coaches.

"I'm not being critical," Jones said after Saturday morning's practice. "What I'm being is analytical, or trying to be analytical.

"This is when you all sit down and look at everything you're doing and see if there's some things you can do to help protect your team better, especially during this time five to six weeks away from the opening game."

Jerry, you jumped the gun, you jumped your coaches, and you're pampering another wide receiver.

David Smoak
smoaky@1660espn.com

Back from Camp, ready for the long and fun stretch...

Drove back from Cowboys Training Camp on Friday, co-hosted a remote with Butch Henry from Gatesville promoting their Rodeo and now catching up from being gone for a few days.

Got a lot done around my place this weekend, trying to actually make it look like someone lives here, pictures, etc. Not sure my neighbor has been thrilled with a little hammer noise here and there, but I did everything during the afternoon.

I spent most of Saturday night visiting, prospecting and talking with potential and current sponsors, including my first trip to Diamondback's, a very nice steakhouse.

Account Executive Terry Tacker served as my host for 3-4 stops...I think we made progress on a few additional on-site appearances.

Right now, we're pushing three specific sponsorships, including the Cowboys game broadcasts, our weekly analyst segments (Brad Sham, Jay Ratliff, Mickey Spagnola, Tim MacMahon, Jennifer Floyd-Engel, Big 12 Hour), and of course---our high school football broadcasts and scoreboard show.

I got a full night sleep on Friday night, watching SportsCenter right now, another very nice win for the Rangers, winning 2-1 in Anaheim and it was so nice to see Rich Harden put a good outing together.

If he gets it together with Lee, Wilson, and Lewis pitching well...no one will catch the Rangers in the AL West. They may not do that even if he doesn't pitch well.

I'm contemplating a round of golf on Sunday, but might just chill out throughout the day.

Smoaky

Wrapping up Cowboys Camp Coverage

I think we're coming back for another day or two in San Antonio next week, but we're done for the first week. Been here since last Thursday, enjoyed the time, I hope everyone enjoyed the coverage.

These are the kind of special events we want to do, and do them quite frequently.

Thanks again to our sponsors of this coverage:

Salty Dog
Fuddrucker's
First National Bank of Central Texas
Mercedes-Benz of Waco
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Boozer's Jeweler's

Special thanks to those who helped along the way, including Butch Henry, Producer-Tony Loomer, Beth Richards for all the work on the podcast link and the photo gallery and Marcel Van Es for his work with the professional photography, Zach for his work with all the promos, production and putting up with me learning----yes, I learned how to use Adobe Audition.

Also, Graham-Man from 104.9TheBeat and his partner "Sanchez."

And, Paul Catalina has been out on vacation in California, but he busted it before he left so I wouldn't have a lot of the tedious paperwork to deal with while gone or when I return.

Here are just some of the players we interviewed throughout the week:

Bradie James, Terence Newman, Anthony Spencer, Jay Ratliff, Stephen Bowen, Sean Lee, Alan Ball, Marcus Spears, WR Coach Ray Sherman, OC Jason Garrett, and the daily Wade Phillips press conference audio.

Smoaky

Baylor Football Single-Game Tickets on Sale, August 2nd

Baylor Football Single-Game Tickets On Sale Aug. 2

Waco, Texas – Single-game tickets for Baylor’s six-game 2010 home schedule will go on sale Monday, Aug. 2, at 8 a.m. Fans may purchase tickets online at baylorbears.com, in person at the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office in the Ferrell Center or by calling 254.710.1000.

Baylor will host six home games this fall at Floyd Casey Stadium beginning with Sam Houston State on Sept. 4. Other games include: Buffalo (Parents’ Weekend, Sept. 11), Kansas (Oct. 2), Kansas State (Homecoming, Oct. 23), Texas A&M (Nov. 13) and Oklahoma (Nov. 20).

Kickoff times for the Bears’ games against both Sam Houston State and Buffalo have been set for 6 p.m., while start times for the remaining contests will be established as the Big 12 television partners make their selections six to 12 days in advance of the game.

For the first time on baylorbears.com, fans looking to purchase tickets to all Baylor Parents’ Weekend and Homecoming activities will be able to do so when purchasing their football tickets for those games. Parents’ Weekend activities include After Dark and Dinner on the Grounds, while Pigskin Revue is always a Homecoming highlight each fall.

Tickets to the 2010 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shoot at the historic Cotton Bowl, Oct. 9, between Baylor and Texas Tech, are also still available. Tickets are priced at $90, $60 and $40 each, and groups of 20 or more may take $10 off the $60 and $40 price-points. Baylor students may purchase two tickets for this game for $25 each. All tickets include admission to the State Fair of Texas on both Oct. 8 and 9.

While single-game tickets go on-sale Aug. 2, there is still time for Baylor fans to purchase their 2010 season football tickets, too. Super Fan season tickets for sections A, K and Q may be purchased for $150 each for adults and $115 for youth (age 18 and under). The ever-popular season Family 4 Pack is available for $320, and includes four tickets in the North End Zone to every Baylor home game, which works out to $80 per person for the season or $13.33 per person, per game.

Baylor Athletics also offers groups of 15 or more the ability to purchase tickets to home games for as little as $20 each (Texas A&M and Oklahoma games are excluded). Questions about group tickets may be directed to Baylor Athletic Marketing at 254.710.8110.

In 2009, Baylor recorded its best season football ticket sale since 1999, and 2010 sales are running 2,000 ahead of this same point a year ago, according to school officials.

TPC San Antonio

Channel 8 sportscaster Joe Trahan invited me to play a round of golf at the TPC-San Antonio where they hosted the Valero Texas Open earlier this year.

It's a J.W. Marriott property and it's absolutely beautiful.

Joe, R.J. Choppy of ESPN Radio in Dallas, Channel 11's Steve Dennis and I all teed off this morning at 7:35am and we all want another piece of the course.

It was fantastic, but very difficult. Greens were as fast as I've played on and the hardest part were the subtle, but deadly undulations around the greens.

I'm a 5-handicapper but I didn't have much of a chance today, shot 87 and I was proud of it.

Steve Dennis had the best score, 85....and he's very good, so are Joe and R.J. but we all had our problems.

We should have known when the starter off the #1 tee box told us, "Gentlemen, just a couple of things to think about...don't over-read the breaks on the greens, and be careful if you're just off the fairways in some of the higher grass."

We all asked, "Why?"

He answered, "Well, we have a lot of snakes, scorpions and tarantulas, so be careful---but have fun!"

I think it took us about 5-6 holes to get over the fear...had a great time, but want to get another shot at the course down the road.

David Smoak

A little down-time on Thursday morning...

About to leave the 'Dome after another good day.

I loved today's show because we had several calls, great guests----and even Butch noticed where the calls were coming from---throughout greater-Central Texas.

I'm going to relax tonight, about to try and catch the Rangers at some sports bar.

I have a 7:35am tee-time at TPC San Antonio with R.J. Choppy, Joe Trahan and Steve Dennis.

I better hit 'em straight, those guys can play.

Smoaky

High School Football Workouts begin on Monday...

I'm already lining up some coaches for the show on Monday and throughout two-a-days.

Already confirmed, China Spring's Mark Bell, Monday, August 2nd, 5:15pm.

Monday, August 9th, Midway's Terry Gambill, sometime between 3pm-6pm.

Smoaky