Cowboys coach Bill Parcells spotted something unusual on film, pointed it out to a visiting writer and wondered why it was happening.
“This is [Redskins right tackle Jon] Jansen getting pushed back,” Parcells told a New York Times writer. “He doesn’t look like the player he was a couple of years ago.”
It’s what Parcells noticed before the first Redskins-Cowboys game when the Times writer shadowed him for a week for a story that appeared last week.
Wednesday, Parcells said, “In the preseason I don’t know for what reason, whether it was injuries, I saw him get pushed back a couple times. I’ve always thought a lot of [Jansen]. He’s been a good player for a long time.”
Jansen hadn’t yet read the story, but had been told about it by more than a few people. So, too, had Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel.
“I don’t have much to say about it,” Jansen said. “The two things I learned in this league is that you have to have a short-term memory and be thick-skinned. People are going to say things about you. I’ve had people say things about me from the draft and throughout my career. If that’s the way he feels about me, that’s fine. I’m glad he’s not my coach.”
But Parcells is not theonly one who has noticed something different about Jansen. One NFL source said he doesn’t think Jansen is playing as well and said others had told him the same thing.
The Redskins disagree.
“He’s been better because he has two healthy hands,” Bugel said. “He played under a lot of duress last year. He had a near Pro Bowl year. He’s been very steady. He and Chris [Samuels] are steady performers. He hasn’t dropped off.”
Said Jansen, in his seventh season, “I feel I’m playing great. If there was a problem with me, I have a very open relationship with Bugel and Coach [Joe] Gibbs and they’d come talk to me about it and correct the matter. I won’t say I’m playing perfect.”
It didn’t help that Jansen lost workout time in the offseason because of a second thumb surgery. Two years ago he missed the season because of a torn Achilles tendon.
“I don’t even know that I’m caught up now,” he said. “I don’t think it’s affecting my play. One year it’s the Achilles, the next year it’s two broken thumbs and a year later I’m still recovering. I want an offseason where I can train and do the things I need to do.”
Week 9 Notes
» Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Dallas. But he wasn’t sounding optimistic during an open locker room session Wednesday.
Moss is the only player who missed all of practice.
“If you can’t do certain things like walking and getting out of bed,” Moss said, “it doesn’t make sense to go out and run because it’s not ready.
“I want to make sure I’m at the top of my game. I want to be that guy to go out and give them what they expect. I’m not out there to [pretend] if I feel like I’m letting myself down and the team down.”
Moss has started 23 straight regular season games since joining the Redskins.
» Running back Clinton Portis (ankle) and quarterback Mark Brunell practiced Wednesday and are probable for Sunday, as is linebacker Lemar Marshall (ankle). Receiver David Patten (hamstring) was limited Wednesday, but is probable.
» Dallas coach Bill Parcells said he’s not sure if this is his last season, which could make this the last time he would face Joe Gibbs.
“Joe is one my biggest rivals, but he’s also made a very strong contribution to the NFL,” Parcells said. “He’s been one of the innovators. I have nothing but good things to say about him.”
As for winning and losing these days, Parcells said, “Winning is more of a relief now. Of course, losing is probably even worse now that I’ve gotten older. There is not a good deal of satisfactory time when you’re a head coach in this league.”
