Cowboys’ Barber, Ware expected to play vs. Steelers
Two of the Dallas Cowboys’ best players, RB Marion Barber and DE DeMarcus Ware, both sat out practice Monday with injuries but both expect to play Sunday in a possible Super Bowl preview against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 3-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.
Ware has a sprained knee but is expected to practice with a brace later this week, while Barber said he may wear a plate on the bottom of his foot to stabilize his dislocated toe, but he might be held out of practice as a precaution. They were hurt during the Thanksgiving rout of Seattle.
Their teammates expect both Pro Bowlers to suit up.
“I don’t worry about either one of those guys not being there,” wide receiver Patrick Crayton said. “They’ll be there.”
Said coach Wade Phillips said of the prospects of Barber practicing this week: “It depends on what the doctors say. We want to make sure he can obviously do the things he needs to do. How long that takes and what we have to do as far as practice is concerned, I don’t know. Earlier, [the doctors] said he would have to stay out during the week, but I don’t know if that is the case or not.”
Ware leads the NFL with 15 sacks.
“Having him out there, offenses have to account for him. He affects the game before it starts,” Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said. “People know they can’t do certain things to him and it affects what they do. He is dismantling people on the field.”
If by some miracle Barber doesn’t play, the team would turn to rookie Tashard Choice with fellow rookie Felix Jones done for the year. That would not be promising against the league’s No. 1 defense. Barber is the Cowboys’ leading rusher with 870 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Marion is one of the tougher guys I’ve seen, ever played with,” tight end Jason Witten said. “I’d be surprised if he didn’t go.”
The Cowboys will get CB Adam Jones back this week, and he will return punts and play in nickel packages on defense.
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