Stars, starters sit as Cowboys win
Players will remain to witness Jones’ induction into Hall
CANTON, Ohio — The Dallas Cowboys did their job on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game, beating the Arizona Cardinals.
So now they’re going to stick around for a couple of days becaue their boss is going to get a gold jacket.
With no stars and few starters on the field, Dallas won 20-18. The idea, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said, was to get the young players lots of action, win the game, then get ready for owner Jerry Jones’ induction on Saturday night.
So the team will be off Friday, practice in Cleveland on Saturday, then tour the hall before the evening ceremonies.
“This is a great experience not only for Jerry and the Jones family,” Garrett said, “but for the entire Dallas Cowboys family. We all take ownership in his induction.”
Garrett saw lots of value in playing an extra exhibition game.
“As a player you learn so much more in game situations than in any other environment,” he said. “There’s nothing like putting on a uniform and going on a real football field and playing versus an opponent.”
Rookie Sam Irwin-hill, unlikely to beat out Dan Bailey as the placekicker, made field goals of 23 and 43 yards, the latter providing the winning points in the fourth quarter.
The opening half featured a handful of big plays, with Arizona’s third-string quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, consistently finding open receivers down the middle.
Dallas’ Kellen Moore, who missed last season with an ankle injury, had some success passing down the sidelines, but his second-quarter interception by Brandon Williams in the end zone ruined a drive.
With the likes of Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu sitting it out, Arizona could be pleased with the work of backup running backs Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington, who both scored on short runs.
And with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Jason Witten, Sean Lee and their strong offensive line pretty much inactive, the Cowboys could point to veteran running back Alfred Morris and receivers Brice Butler and Rico Gathers.
Morris showed off a spin move worthy of Elliott on a 25-yard run, Butler had 78 yards on two catches in the first half, and Gathers, a basketball starter at Baylor, made a 26-yard touchdown catch.