four weeks away on Aug. 26. Merriman says he's playing, and that nothing will keep him out of this game. We'll see . . . .
Wonder how many games this year will have three quarterbacks named Drew in uniform, including both starters, Drew Bledsoe and Drew Brees, along with Drew Henson as the Cowboys inactive third quarterback? . . . . Also how many openers will pit two teams having changed from a 4-3 defense to the 3-4? So whatever boat the Cowboys are in playing this new alignment, the Chargers will be fishing right next to them . . . . The tight end with nine lives, Landon Trusty, who was signed and cut by the Cowboys six times from the summer of 2004 though through May of 2005, lives on. He made the Chargers' 53-man roster, and actually has a real number now, having traded in that lame 46 for 80 . . . .
How 'bout another parallel between these two teams? Both have safety issues. You know the Cowboys' issues. The Chargers list two-year starter Jerry Wilson as the starter on the depth chart, but began the week practicing Bhawoh Jue with the first team . . . . Eric Dickerson, owner of the NFL's single-season rushing record (2,105 yards), stopped by the Chargers' training camp as he did the Cowboys' in Oxnard, Calif., and you can just imagine he was asked if LaDainian Tomlinson was the best running back in the NFL. Said Dickerson, who averaged 5.6 yards a carry during his record-setting 1984 season, "I'd say there is no doubt about that." . . .
Former Cowboys on the move. The Steelers didn't take long to sign wide receiver Quincy Morgan to their 53-man roster (one-year deal) on Tuesday, one day after he was released by the Cowboys. The Raiders have signed running back Erik Bickerstaff to the practice squad. The 49ers have signed offensive guard Sam Wilder to the practice squad . . . .
Not sure of the NFL's logic moving the New Orleans Saints' home opener Sept. 18 against the New York Giants to Giants Stadium. Granted the Saints were in dire need of a place to play, but were the Giants in dire need of a ninth home game? You kidding me? Like this was the only stadium in the country they could play the game? And it's not as if there wasn't a conflict, the game being moved to Monday night, Sept. 19, the same night the Cowboys are scheduled to play the Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium, where the Triplets will be inducted into the Ring of Honor. Maybe the Giants will hand the Saints the home gate so they can in turn donate the money to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund. Certainly the displaced Saints can't be happy about this, and for sure the rest of the NFC East isn't dancing in the streets. "I don't think any of us really understand why," Saints head coach Jim Haslett said told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram of the league's decision. "If I was Dallas, Philadelphia or Washington, I'd probably be more upset than I am, because that gives the Giants nine homes games." If saying nothing says everything, then Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells is none too happy with the decision, saying, "Id be smart not to comment on that."
'Nuff said.
