12-20-2019, 08:11 AM
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tony Romo hasnt taken a snap in a game since he played through a back injury to lead a drive that kept Dallas in playoff contention late last season. The 34-year-old quarterback has eased his way back in since surgery to repair a herniated disk, staying out of competitive situations during the off-season and taking frequent days off at training camp. Romo wont play long in the Cowboys preseason home opener against Baltimore on Saturday night, but he will be the starter after skipping the first exhibition game last week in San Diego. He led the offence in two joint practices with Oakland this week. Dallas broke camp in California on Friday. "I felt like this was a big week for Tony," tight end Jason Witten said. "I felt like this was a really big week for our team and felt hes done a really great job setting the tempo for us." Romo finished a winning drive after the injury to beat Washington last December but had to watch from home when the Cowboys lost to Philadelphia with a playoff berth on the line. He gets his first chance to run the offence with new play-caller Scott Linehan. It will be Joe Flaccos second game with first-year Ravens offensive co-ordinator Gary Kubiak. He brings the West Coast offence to coach John Harbaughs staff after being fired in the middle of last season with the Texans on their way to 14 straight losses after a 2-0 start. Linehan and Kubiak had strong debuts last week. Romo backup Brandon Weeden completed 13 of 17 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, while Flacco led an 80-yard scoring drive in his only possession against San Francisco. And Linehan should have several more toys to play with after Witten, running back DeMarco Murray and receiver Dez Bryant sat against the Chargers. He also seems to think a lot of Murrays backup, Lance Dunbar. The 2012 undrafted free agent was a healthy scratch in San Diego along with the stars, so the Ravens game will be his first under Linehan as well. "He has a really good way of finding what his players do well and highlighting them and featuring them and also attacking maybe some matchups," coach Jason Garrett said. "Weve always tried to do that. The transition has been really smooth for us." It will be Kubiaks second game with running back Ray Rice, who had three carries for 17 yards against San Francisco. Rice will miss the first two games of the regular season after being suspended following his arrest for domestic violence. "John and I talked about what he wanted to be on the offensive side of the ball, but we havent spent any time talking about what happened last year," Kubiak said. "Everybody has bought into what were doing. We have to go take another step this week." Linebacker Rolando McClain is expected to make his Dallas debut against the Ravens after Baltimore traded him for a late-round pick before training camp. The Cowboys are trying to replace middle linebacker Sean Lee, who tore a knee ligament in the off-season and is out for the year. McClain never played for the Ravens, twice retiring after they picked him up when Oakland gave up on the former top 10 pick after three seasons. "He just needs to play," coach Jason Garrett said. "He needs to keep coming out here and practicing well and understand what were asking him to do from a defensive standpoint. Gain the trust of his teammates and coaches." Both defences have work to do. While the Cowboys struggled to stop the Chargers, the Ravens let the 49ers march to a field goal on Colin Kaepernicks only drive. Because of injuries, Baltimores focus is on the defensive line and secondary. "We have to start faster now," defensive co-ordinator Dean Pees said. "I think we were a little hyped up because there were a couple times where we ran up field on a running play and the ball gashed us." Fake 49ers Jerseys . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant. Stitched 49ers Jerseys . -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring. https://www.49ersjerseysale.com/.com) - Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called Joe Flacco the NFLs best quarterback last week. San Francisco 49ers Store .com) - Scott Parel carded a 5-under 65 on Thursday and he grabbed a 1-stroke lead after one round of the season-opening Panama Claro Championship. San Francisco 49ers Pro Shop .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.SYDNEY - Australia qualified for the Asian Cup quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Oman on Tuesday, ensuring the hosts advanced along with two-time champion South Korea from Group A.The Socceroos set up the win with goals from Matt McKay and Robbie Kruse and a penalty from Mark Milligan in the first half. Tomi Juric added a fourth after the break, Australias eighth goal in two games after a 4-1 win over Kuwait in the tournament opener.South Korea and Australia will meet on Saturday in Brisbane, where top spot in the group is at stake. Oman plays Kuwait, both out contention, will play in Newcastle.Oman had proved to be a troublesome opponent for Australia since their first meeting at the Asian Cup in 2007 — where only an injury-time equalizer by Tim Cahill salvaged a point for the Socceroos. The Oman lineup started brightly again, with Raed Salehs fierce volley from 25 yards acrobatically saved by Mat Ryan after three minutes.Australia made the first breakthrough, though, when Massimo Luongos corner kick was headed toward goal by defender Trent Sainsbury, and Matt McKay bundled the ball past goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi in the 27th minute.Winger Robbie Kruse added another three minutes later after he took a Luongo chipped pass in his stride and slid a shot under the advancing Al Habsi.Oman was lucky not to be reduced to 10 menn after midfielder Ahmed Mubarak lunged at Australia stand-in captain Tim Cahill, with Japanese referee Ryuji Sato opting to only issue a yellow card.ddddddddddddAustralia made it 3-0 in first-half injury time when Kruse crossed to the far post for Milligan to volley powerfully home, only for referee Sato to disallow the goal and instead give Australia a penalty for a foul on Cahill during the same play.Milligan scored from the resulting penalty to the delight of the 50,276-strong crowd — the highest attendance of the tournament.Australia coach Ange Postecoglou withdrew Cahill and Luongo in the 51st minute, keeping his promise to rotate players during the tournament and bringing in striker Juric and veteran Mark Bresciano.Australia played at a slower tempo after the substitutions, but Juric added a fourth in the 70th after receiving Leckies curling cross and volleying his shot past Al Habsi.Juric had two more good chances, but hit the post and had another shot brilliantly saved by Al Habsi from a header.Postecoglou made three changes to the team that opened the Asian Cup, with Mark Milligan replacing injured captain Mile Jedinak.West Bromwich Albion defender Jason Davidson came in for Aziz Behich at left back, while McKay also got his first start of the tournament for attacking midfielder James Troisi . 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