This get-together doesn’t count in the standings – not even the preseason ones. It’s just a practice in the morning and a scrimmage at night. Coaches will be focusing on sorting out their depth charts, not upholding territorial pride.
But to some players, there is a bit of pride at stake.
The teams began building ill will last year after tussling in a scrimmage, then meeting again in the opener. Plus, this will be the first chance for all of them to take out their training-camp frustrations against foes wearing a different-colored jersey.
“I think our guys want to go out and prove something,” Texans quarterback David Carr said. “Even though we won that game last year, the scrimmage was a little lopsided.”
Cowboys receiver Antonio Bryant said he thinks many teammates “have a lot on their chests from last year.”
“It’s going to be high intensity,” Bryant said.
Each team will have drives starting at their 20-, 30- and 40-yard lines, midfield and the opponent’s 35. If a team doesn’t make a first down in three plays, it’ll go back to the starting point.
“I don’t really think we’ll go out there with the idea of really trying to attack as much as we’ll go out there with the idea of trying to look at guys doing things more,” Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said.
