Notebook: Emmitt Smith says he was 'a diamond surrounded by trash'
Hixon, James I., 68Boynton Beach, Fla.11 a.m. Mon.Pearce, Pitcairn
SAN ANTONIO -- Emmitt Smith, who became the NFL's all-time leading rusher last season, told Sports Illustrated that accomplishment was the only highlight of the 2002 season.
Smith, now with Arizona, said last season, "was the worst year I ever went through playing football. Too much damn drama. Too much selfishness by too many guys on the team. Too much media frenzy around the team," Smith said.
"People always looking to me for answers, and I didn't have the answers for them about why we were so bad. It felt like being a diamond surrounded by trash."
Apparently, Smith did a good job of hiding his feelings from owner Jerry Jones.
Jones said he never realized the depth of Smith's frustration as the Cowboys went through a third consecutive 5-11 season.
"He never showed his frustration, he just tried to do anything he could to help us win ball games," Jones said after Thursday afternoon's practice. "That's the way he has always been.
"If you can have a highlight when you win five games, he certainly was the highlight and arguably the highlight of the last 14 years."
Last season, Smith finished with 975 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with a 109-yard performance in Texas Stadium against Seattle.
"It was just a mental grind," Smith said of the season. "When I got the record, it was like God said, 'I'm going to give you one moment this year.' "
The Cowboys released Smith in February, and he signed a two-year deal worth about $8 million to play for Arizona.
NFL ON THE LINE
The NFL will have one of its two officiating supervisors available every week this season to instantly answer rules questions from the television networks.
Mike Pereira or Larry Upson will be on duty in the league office for assistance, NFL spokesman Joe Browne said.
Browne said the system has been in effect for years with ABC on Monday night and ESPN on Sunday night. He said that in response to questions, the league reminded Fox and CBS that they can also get quick answers from Pereira or Upson.
The issue became more urgent with the networks after the confusion on the final play of last season's playoff game between the New York Giants and San Francisco. After the game, Pereira acknowledged the officials blew a call that would have given the Giants a second chance at a winning field-goal attempt in their 39-38 loss.
EASON RETURNS
Rookie defensive tackle Nick Eason returned to the Denver Broncos' training camp Friday after a three-day disappearance, saying the stress of his first pro camp and personal issues became too much to bear.
"I've been going through some things," Eason said after the morning practice. "I've always been a guy that gave 110 percent and got stressed out with a lot of different things. I kind of felt like I was letting the team down. I had a lot of different things going on in my life and just needed to get away."
Eason, a fourth-round draft pick from Clemson, was with the team for the first four days of camp, but didn't show up for practice Tuesday.
HAYWOOD DEATH ACCIDENTAL
Dallas Cowboys running back Ennis Haywood died accidentally from a mixture of drugs and ethanol complicated by his asthma, the Tarrant County medical examiner's office has ruled.
"Although the mixed ethanol and drug ingestion was the primary cause of death, a significant condition contributing to the death was bronchial asthma," the office said in a statement.
Haywood, 23, died during May minicamp at Medical Center of Arlington, where he was taken after he began vomiting in his sleep. Paramedics were called after family members were unable to find a pulse.
Further tissue and toxicology tests were conducted after an initial autopsy failed to show the cause of death.
MCDOUGLE ARRIVES
He was late, but Jerome McDougle finally got to training camp.
The Eagles' first-round draft choice agreed to a contract Thursday, ending a six-day holdout. He missed a scheduled flight to be at camp in time to practice but arrived for afternoon practice.
"Having signed my contract and getting everything behind me, I can start playing football. It's good for me," the defensive end said, "I just want to stay humble and get to work and show them what I can do."
McDougle agreed to a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $12.6 million over the first five years with incentives. He received a $6.1 million signing bonus.
McDougle, 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds, is expected to replace three-time Pro Bowl selection Hugh Douglas. The Eagles traded up 15 spots to select McDougle with the 15th pick in April's NFL draft.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Broncos offensive left tackle Ephraim Salaam is expected to be out two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. ... The Cleveland Browns got another of their holdout rookie draft picks into training camp, signing cornerback Michael Lehan to a five-year deal. The Browns have also agreed to terms on a five-year contract with defensive lineman Antonio Garay. ... The New England Patriots signed running back Frank Moreau and released cornerback Ben Kelly. ... Raylee Johnson joined fellow defensive end Marcellus Wiley on the sideline at training camp, not a reassuring sight for a team trying to rebuild the NFL's worst pass defense. Johnson experienced pain in his right knee, while Wiley has been out with a strained left hamstring.
