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00:00:00The Dallas Cowboys face the New York Giants on the season premiere of ABC's Monday Night Football.
00:00:12Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from New York City.
00:00:17Giants Stadium sold out, of course, 76,000 plus.
00:00:20A beautiful night for football. Temperature in the low 70s will drop into the 60s.
00:00:25Very little wind to affect this game. And a great matchup, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants.
00:00:30Hello again, everyone. Frank Gifford with Al Michaels and Dan Deardorff.
00:00:33Welcome to the Giants and the Cowboys here at Giants Stadium.
00:00:37As we kick off our 26th year of Monday Night Football.
00:00:41This is my 25th year in the booth, and I can honestly tell you there's still the magic, the excitement,
00:00:45that goes with a Monday Night Football game, particularly when it matches somebody like the Cowboys and the Giants.
00:00:50The Giants, 9-7 a year ago. They did not make the playoffs, but they feel from the top of this organization to the bottom
00:00:56that they have closed the gap somewhat on the Dallas Cowboys.
00:00:59We'll be finding out more about that as tonight moves along.
00:01:02Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, 12-4 last year.
00:01:05They won two Super Bowls, then gave up their Super Bowl shot last year to the 49ers.
00:01:09But they feel now that they have the players back.
00:01:12They feel they have the talent to get back in there once again.
00:01:14And in this era of the salary cap, they've done an amazing job in keeping all these people.
00:01:18They have a happy silver anniversary.
00:01:20Oh, thank you. Where's my silver cup?
00:01:23It's coming to you at halftime.
00:01:25The one thing about the Cowboys, it's become fashionable to say this is finally Barry Switzer's team.
00:01:31He's in his second year.
00:01:33In reality, it is Switzer's team, because of the 46 men they'll dress tonight,
00:01:3719 did not even play for Jimmy Johnson two years ago.
00:01:40There's been that much turnover.
00:01:42But the key components are still there.
00:01:44Troy Aikman at quarterback, Emmitt Smith at running back,
00:01:46Michael Irvin at wide receiver.
00:01:48Eight pro bowlers on offense from last season.
00:01:51They're a great team, but like all of us, the Cowboys like to look to the future.
00:01:56They're looking to November 12th when they meet San Francisco in Dallas during the regular season,
00:02:00and then to January 14th when they might meet the 49ers again in the NFC Championship game.
00:02:05But it's a long time between now and January,
00:02:08and the Cowboys would be well advised to think about tonight's game first,
00:02:12is they're playing a team on the road that figures to give them their most competition in the NFC East.
00:02:18The New York Giants, Dan, who last year were 9-7 and were up and down all over the joint.
00:02:23What kind of a Giant team do you expect in 95?
00:02:25Well, I don't know what to expect, and I'm not sure Dan Reeves does either, Al,
00:02:29because it's been a wild preseason for the New York Giants.
00:02:32They've had lots of people hurt.
00:02:34Now, the defensive team is the strength of this team.
00:02:36They've lost some free agents, but I think replaced them very effectively with other free agents.
00:02:41It's a hard-hitting, aggressive unit, and for the Giants to have a chance to win tonight,
00:02:45they're going to have to play very, very well.
00:02:47The problem for the New York Giants is on offense.
00:02:50Offensive line, they have not had any continuity this entire preseason.
00:02:54They're finally going to field a starting unit tonight.
00:02:56Both their starting receivers have been hampered with hamstrings,
00:02:59and the biggest problem, quarterback Dave Brown has only played five quarters this preseason
00:03:04and thrown only 32 passes.
00:03:06You have to wonder whether he's ready.
00:03:08Dan Reeves, though, their head coach is ready.
00:03:10He's 10-4 on opening day.
00:03:12Let's hope some of that magic rubs off on the Giants.
00:03:16And the crowd is ready, and so are the Cowboys and the rookie John Baker to kick off.
00:03:21And he sails one down to three, and the new Giant, Herschel Walker,
00:03:26sees immediate action and runs it back to the 18-yard line.
00:03:31And the Giants will start from there.
00:03:32Bill Bates makes the tackle, and what else is new?
00:03:36Bill Bates still with the club in his 13th year.
00:03:39Dave Brown, a supplemental pick out of Duke in 1992, assumed the number one role last season.
00:03:46He has Rodney Hampton behind him, the rookie Charles Way from Virginia, the fullback.
00:03:51Sherrard and Calloway, the wideouts, and Cross, the veteran tight end.
00:03:54And the Giants banged up during preseason up front.
00:03:58Elliott, Bishop, Williams, Smith, and Riesenberg,
00:04:02with Williams and Riesenberg seeing very limited action during the exhibition season.
00:04:08Here's Rodney Hampton on first down, across the 20 to the 21-yard line.
00:04:13A gain of a couple, it'll be second and eight.
00:04:15Let's take a look at the quick, the very sweet, Cowboy defense.
00:04:19Tolbert, Maryland, Lett, and Haley up front.
00:04:22Remember, Charles was talking about retiring, but not seriously, last year.
00:04:26Edwards, Jones, and Godfrey Miles for the unsigned Darren Smith at outside backer.
00:04:31Kevin Smith and Larry Brown on the corners.
00:04:34Darren Woodson and Brock Marion, the safeties.
00:04:36Marion taking the place of James Washington, who opted to sign with the Redskins.
00:04:42Second down and eight.
00:04:43Calloway in motion.
00:04:45Brown's first pass of the season, caught by Aaron Pierce.
00:04:49He's tackled a little shy of the first down.
00:04:51Nice tackle by Godfrey Miles to save a first down and create a third and a one.
00:04:59Well, I think everyone in the stadium and everyone watching this game
00:05:02knows what the Giants would like to do, and that is control the ball,
00:05:05control it with short passes like this.
00:05:07They want desperately, Dan, to run the game, what you touched on earlier.
00:05:12This line has not played that much together in preseason.
00:05:15It's going to make it very difficult.
00:05:16Unfortunately, none of them have played very much together.
00:05:18It's a feeling process for all 11 of these guys.
00:05:22Double tight end set on third and one.
00:05:25They give it to Hampton, and Hampton is hit by Robert Jones in the middle.
00:05:30He had to get to the 29.
00:05:32Appears to be a little shy.
00:05:34The Dallas Cowboys hold the Giants on the first series, hold them on a third and one,
00:05:39and Switzer fired up at the outset.
00:05:42Boy, really the body lean that time favors Rodney Hampton.
00:05:45He's the low man.
00:05:46Robert Jones is kind of high, but look how Jones is able to hold his ground.
00:05:50Frank, you don't see that all that often where the guy is that straight up
00:05:53and able to stand straight still and hold his runner from getting across the line.
00:05:59Great play by Robert Jones.
00:06:01The punter, Mike Horan, the line of scrimmage is the 28.
00:06:03Kevin Williams back to accept it.
00:06:05It's a low snap, but he gets off a good kick, good deep kick,
00:06:09and he angles it, and he angles it out of bounds at the 25.
00:06:13Horan is known as a directional punter.
00:06:15He had direction and distance, 47 yards, a beauty.
00:06:20So Dan Reeves watches his defense go out on the field right now,
00:06:24and for the Cowboys, Troy Aikman, first man picked in the draft in 1989.
00:06:30Super Bowl ring, seventh year out of UCLA, the brilliant career, and behind him,
00:06:35the great Emmitt Smith with Daryl Johnston, Irvin and Williams, the wideouts.
00:06:39Harper is now in Tampa Bay.
00:06:41Novacek is the tight end, 2 and A, Newton, Donaldson, the new center,
00:06:45Allen and Eric Williams in a near-fatal auto accident last October,
00:06:49played one preseason game last week in the lineup at right tackle tonight.
00:06:55From the 25-yard line, Aikman will go right to the air with good protection
00:06:59and fires to the tight end, Jay Novacek.
00:07:02Up at the 39-yard line, it's a game of 14 and a Cowboy first down.
00:07:07The Giants now defensively.
00:07:10The 4-3, Harris comes in from Minnesota.
00:07:12Hamilton moves to the middle.
00:07:13Agnew, the former Patriot, and Strahan on the outside.
00:07:16Kroll, the former Bronco, as is Brooks, and Cory Miller, the other outside backer.
00:07:21Sparks and Thomas Randolph, the corners.
00:07:24Campbell and Vincy Glenn, the ex-Vikings, safeties in the revamped secondary.
00:07:29Moose Johnston in motion on first down from the 40-yard line.
00:07:33Aikman up top again.
00:07:34Aikman has it dropped by Michael Irvin,
00:07:37who begins his season in a most inauspicious and unexpected fashion.
00:07:42That will not happen frequently, and I would look for Michael Irvin
00:07:45to try to get himself lined up against Thomas Randolph.
00:07:48Randolph at the right corner for the Giants, only goes 5'9".
00:07:51Their left corner, Sparks, is only 5'11".
00:07:53Michael Irvin can fight for the football better than any outside receiver,
00:07:57I think, in the game today.
00:07:58He looks just mishandled. He didn't keep his eye on it.
00:08:01He looked at his hands after the play like,
00:08:03how could you have betrayed me like this?
00:08:07A rare sighting, an Irvin drop.
00:08:09Second and ten with Irvin wide left and Williams in the slot to the left,
00:08:13and Emmitt Smith's first carry of the season.
00:08:15He's gone for the books. He's gone.
00:08:17Emmitt Smith out in front. Touchdown, Dallas.
00:08:22Ooh.
00:08:28Untouched, I believe, wasn't he?
00:08:30I was just going to say, I thought the Cowboys would be going back to the running game.
00:08:36Two straight passes.
00:08:38I don't believe that Emmitt left a trail of broken tackles on his way to the end zone.
00:08:44I believe when we watch the replay of this,
00:08:47we will see textbook blocking by the Cowboy offensive line.
00:08:51Just zone blocking, too. That simple.
00:08:54Pretty good job of Jesse Campbell getting picked off by the umpire,
00:08:57but still superbly blocked by the Cowboy offensive line.
00:09:02A disheartening opening series for the Giants on defense.
00:09:05They're big and they're powerful, and they just did that straightaway.
00:09:08Nothing fancy at all.
00:09:09Chris Bonio for the extra point.
00:09:13We have played three minutes, four seconds.
00:09:16Jay Novacek to hold.
00:09:22It's a cliche of the 90s to say one team would like to send the other a message.
00:09:27The Cowboys just sent the Giants a message in all caps.
00:09:30Yeah, that's a greeting card taped to the end of a sledgehammer.
00:09:33That's what that is.
00:09:34Look at that.
00:09:36Happy New Year to the Cowboys. 7-0.
00:09:46You think they're going to figure something new out, Dan?
00:09:50They're not getting yelled at, I'll guarantee you that.
00:09:52These guys might be.
00:09:55Jesse Campbell, they're number 37.
00:09:57You see him tapping himself on the chest.
00:09:59He got picked off by the umpires.
00:10:01He tried to come in and make the tackle on Smith.
00:10:03John Baker, the barefooted kickoff specialist.
00:10:07Herschel Walker takes it at the 6-yard line,
00:10:12and Walker is met after a run back of only 11 yards.
00:10:15Tackled by David Lang.
00:10:17ABC's Monday Night Football is being brought to you by Windows 95 from Microsoft.
00:10:23Where do you want to go today?
00:10:25Beechwood Age Budweiser, the king of beers.
00:10:27This Bud's for you.
00:10:29And Jeep, maker of the new Jeep brand Cherokee.
00:10:33Well, here's where Dave Brown really doesn't have to try to do it all by himself.
00:10:38He got knocked out of the first preseason.
00:10:40He hurt his elbow.
00:10:41Then he had a concussion in last week's game.
00:10:43He's only had a chance to put the ball in the air 32 times during the preseason.
00:10:48He has got to play conservatively to start this ballgame, I think.
00:10:52Play fake.
00:10:53Deep throws.
00:10:54Catch made up at the 37-yard line.
00:10:57Chris Calloway, who saw so little time during preseason
00:11:01because of a hamstring pull, makes the catch at 18-yard reception.
00:11:05Fine catch it was.
00:11:06That ball thrown high in the air over Calloway.
00:11:09He only goes about 5'10".
00:11:10Watch him now working against that deep safety zone.
00:11:14Breaking back to the inside.
00:11:16Breaking away from Kevin Smith and taking a shot from Kevin Smith, the new millionaire.
00:11:21He signed a four-year deal with Dallas yesterday.
00:11:24Fine catch.
00:11:26It would be news if we could find a non-millionaire.
00:11:29Off the play fake.
00:11:31Brown throws.
00:11:32The wobbly pass is caught by Cross up at the 46-yard line,
00:11:35and that's close to a first down.
00:11:37He is wrestled down by Kevin Smith.
00:11:39Wobbly out, but a well-thrown ball going that back across his body,
00:11:43and Cross doing a fine job uncovering to give Brown the target.
00:11:47How about the fake he put on Tony Tolbert before he ever got rid of the football?
00:11:51Dave Brown came out and there's Tolbert right in his face,
00:11:53and he jukes him big time to buy some extra time.
00:11:56Right there.
00:11:58That's a nifty little move he puts on Tolbert to make that completion possible.
00:12:04Back-to-back first downs on successive plays,
00:12:07and Rodney Hampton, the heavy-duty one, struggles for a minimal gain.
00:12:11He is tackled by Leon Lett, another sign of a long-term deal.
00:12:15Dan Reeves beginning his third year now as the coach of the Giants.
00:12:19You'll recall he was their third choice.
00:12:21They opted for Tom Coughlin first, and he chose to stay at Boston College.
00:12:25Now he's at Jacksonville. Dave Wongstead could have had the job,
00:12:28and they wound up with Dan Reeves.
00:12:30He's not a bad guy to wind up with.
00:12:32No, it's not often the third strike ends up being so productive.
00:12:35He coached for 12 years at Denver, three Super Bowl teams,
00:12:39over 600 winning percentage.
00:12:44Second and nine from the 48-yard line.
00:12:48Brown flings one. It is caught. There's a flag down.
00:12:53Chris Calloway is the receiver,
00:12:55and the initial indication is that it's going to come back.
00:12:57Bob McElwee is the referee. It'll go against New York.
00:13:00Illegal motion. Number 30.
00:13:03Oh, that hurts.
00:13:05Charles Way from Virginia illegally in motion
00:13:08negates a first down and a good effort on the part of Chris Calloway
00:13:12hooking up once again with Dave Brown.
00:13:14And there is Charles Way, a sixth-round draft pick
00:13:17out of the University of Virginia. Surprise the Giants.
00:13:21He is a superb blocker and a good receiver,
00:13:24and was scouted by most teams as a runner,
00:13:26and consequently went in the sixth round.
00:13:29Nobody really projected him as that fullback, Frank.
00:13:32He's actually even put on some weight.
00:13:34He's listed there at 236.
00:13:36Dan Reeves telling us he actually goes closer to 245.
00:13:39He's a real load at that fullback spot.
00:13:41Needs to get it going in the right direction.
00:13:43Second and 14 after what would have been a 12-yard game.
00:13:46Calloway in motion. Rodney Hampton, he had a hold,
00:13:49but then he runs into Way, and he stopped at the 46-yard line.
00:13:53Robert Jones makes the tackle.
00:13:55Rodney had room except for his teammate.
00:13:57Way was feeling his way. Yes, he was.
00:13:59He got in the way.
00:14:01Way is making the highlights.
00:14:03He will have some coaching come Wednesday.
00:14:06And the Giants return.
00:14:08He got into the hole, and it looked like he maybe should have kept on going
00:14:11instead of stopping it. He can't stop it.
00:14:13He kind of got hung up right there on Russell Maryland
00:14:16working against Lance Smith.
00:14:18Had to be a little more nimble and skip past that thing
00:14:21and continue to be a lead blocker.
00:14:23Third and 11. Cowboys leading 7-0.
00:14:26Six minutes into the game.
00:14:29And we've got a whistle and a flag before the snap.
00:14:37And Bob McAlee.
00:14:39False start. Number 80 offense.
00:14:42Five yards. Third down.
00:14:44That's Chris Calloway and two penalties now on the Giants.
00:14:47You know, again, we've talked about the offensive line not playing that much together.
00:14:50The wide receivers have both been out for a long time.
00:14:53Mike Sherrard and Chris Calloway.
00:14:55They just have not had the work you need in preseason
00:14:58to get yourself toned up to play a game.
00:15:00And we're going to see a lot of early errors, I think.
00:15:02That starts with the very basics, though, because a wide receiver,
00:15:05he's not going on the snap count.
00:15:07His responsibility is just to look in at the football.
00:15:13Cowboys go with seven defensive backs on third and 16.
00:15:16And the Giants set up a middle screen to Herschel Walker.
00:15:19But he has tackled Charles Haley, read it beautifully, smelled it.
00:15:23And he's right there to make the stop.
00:15:26That's just a spectacular play by Haley.
00:15:29He is just all over this middle screen.
00:15:32Reads it, drifts to the inside.
00:15:34He might as well have been in the Giants' huddle.
00:15:37It's just not rushing passers that Charles Haley contributes so much.
00:15:40He makes plays like that half a dozen times in a game.
00:15:43And they're big plays, forcing the Giants
00:15:45to go into the front formation.
00:15:47He's just a big play man all over the field.
00:15:49He's a killer is what he is.
00:15:51Absolutely right.
00:15:52As penalties stymie the Giants, fair catch is called for
00:15:55and made by Kevin Williams at the 20-yard line.
00:15:58So the Cowboys take over there.
00:16:00With 7.46 remaining in the first quarter, it's Dallas 7, New York nothing.
00:16:05Dallas on top.
00:16:067 to nothing on a 60-yard Emmitt Smith touchdown run.
00:16:10And it's Emmitt Smith through the middle.
00:16:13Every time they limit him to 8.
00:16:16Knocking his average down to 34 yards a carry tonight.
00:16:19Vincy Glenn makes the tackle.
00:16:21I wonder what kind of a positive spin you were trying to put on an 8-yard pickup.
00:16:27Emmitt with 72 rushing touchdowns, tying Tony Dorsett's team mark.
00:16:31And he has four as a pass receiver.
00:16:33And he's only in his sixth year.
00:16:35Just starting his sixth year.
00:16:37He's had four consecutive 1,400-yard-plus seasons.
00:16:41Off to a pretty good start, working on number five.
00:16:44Second and a yard and a half.
00:16:46And Emmitt Smith up to the 33.
00:16:48You think of a Walter Payton mark as being one of those unapproachable records,
00:16:52especially the way running backs are pounded these days.
00:16:55But if anybody would have a chance to get close to it, it's Emmitt Smith.
00:16:58He's about halfway to Payton.
00:17:01Cowboys scoring on that first series.
00:17:03That's the first time the Giants have allowed a touchdown
00:17:05on the first drive of a game in the last 38 games.
00:17:09So that technically was a drive, I guess.
00:17:11Right. Almost two and a half years' worth.
00:17:18On first down, the workhorse Smith behind a Johnston block.
00:17:21It's taken down by Corey Miller as he crosses the 35.
00:17:25It's a game of three. It'll be second and seven.
00:17:27You look at the Dallas Cowboys running the football.
00:17:30First of all, they have the largest offensive line in the National Football League.
00:17:33All these guys in excess of 300.
00:17:36Three of them in excess of 320.
00:17:38They've got the great Eric Williams back,
00:17:40and it'll take him a while to get back to full swing.
00:17:42But maybe the most dominating offensive lineman in the league.
00:17:45Maybe the best blocking fullback in the league in Daryl Johnston.
00:17:49And maybe the best power running back in the league in Emmitt Smith.
00:17:53In some ways, it's almost not fair.
00:17:55Second down and seven, and there's movement on the right side as Williams splints.
00:18:02The only thing the Cowboys don't have...
00:18:05And it doesn't hurt them because J. Novacek is so adept at the passing game.
00:18:11But he's not a very good blocker at the tight end position.
00:18:14But they are so dominant from tackle to tackle,
00:18:17and so dominant at the fullback position from a blocking standpoint,
00:18:20that they have the luxury of having really just a receiving tight end in the game at all times.
00:18:25You talk to Danny Reeves about that right side with Eric Williams back at .322,
00:18:30and Larry Allen at .325.
00:18:32Man, there's no sunshine over there at all.
00:18:34It's just darkness on the right side.
00:18:36It's a good way to put it.
00:18:37And they are...
00:18:38And, Frank, as we all know, they're not only big, but they're outstanding.
00:18:41Second and eleven.
00:18:42Aikman guns one, finds the open man at the .47, and that's Michael Irvin,
00:18:47who found the seam and picks up the first down.
00:18:50Vancey Glenn makes the tackle, and he's hurt.
00:18:52If you see Irvin look that ball into his hands, he went right back to the bases.
00:18:58And Vancey Glenn, who came to the Giants here in a draft day trade,
00:19:02he works the middle of the field.
00:19:03Look at the loft on that ball.
00:19:06There's Glenn number 25,
00:19:08and it may have been the hit from his own teammate Buckley that caused the damage.
00:19:12Injury, timeout.
00:19:15Going out to the Giants' team position,
00:19:18Dr. Russell Warren checking them out on the sidelines.
00:19:21Tito Houlton comes into the secondary,
00:19:24Tito Houlton comes into the secondary,
00:19:27as Emmitt Smith gets tackled by Mike Cole and Corey Miller
00:19:32after a pickup of two up to the 49-yard line.
00:19:35Five minutes remaining.
00:19:36First quarter, gorgeous Labor Day night.
00:19:39The Goodyear Blimps stars in stripes.
00:19:41Piloted tonight by Larry Chambers,
00:19:43providing a spectacular view of Giants Stadium,
00:19:46now in operation for the 20th season in the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
00:19:52Good force on that last play by Felipe Sparks,
00:19:55who during that injury timeout actually got into a pushing and shoving match
00:19:58with Michael Irvin.
00:19:59They had to be separated, almost had a Donnybrook during a timeout.
00:20:04Second and eight.
00:20:05Here's Emmitt Smith.
00:20:06He picks up about three to the 48.
00:20:08Ray Agnew makes the tackle,
00:20:11and there are the two of them.
00:20:14They're trying to make up.
00:20:15That's a live shot there.
00:20:17Whatever had happened, I guess they're trying to bury the hatchet.
00:20:20I see a lot of each other tonight.
00:20:22You never want to make too much of an early drive in a game,
00:20:25but Dallas leads seven to nothing.
00:20:27The Giants are not the type of team with an explosive enough offense
00:20:32to afford to fall behind that much that quickly.
00:20:35It's a pretty critical series for the Giant defense here.
00:20:38It seems strange to say that in the first quarter,
00:20:41but, Al, you're absolutely right.
00:20:43Third down and four from the 47-yard line,
00:20:46and it's thrown behind Irvin,
00:20:48and he can't make the catch, and Dallas has to kick.
00:20:51That one was not a drop.
00:20:52It's one that could have been caught.
00:20:54It would have been spectacular,
00:20:55but that was a bad throw by Troy Aikman.
00:20:59Right at the first down mark.
00:21:02So the Cowboys will be forced to punt.
00:21:05Let's take a look again.
00:21:07Little motion.
00:21:08He'll look inside, set up for the first down.
00:21:10He's right on the mark there, and the ball is thrown behind him.
00:21:15John Jett to punt now,
00:21:17and back to receive Gary Harrell,
00:21:19the 5'7", 170-pounder from Howard University.
00:21:27Harrell calls for a fair catch at the 18-yard line.
00:21:353.42 remaining in the opening quarter.
00:21:39The Dallas Cowboys on top, seven to nothing.
00:21:45Michael Irvin as the Giants take over at their own 18.
00:21:51Herschel Walker is in the backfield behind Dave Brown,
00:21:56and Herschel, who used to play here with the New Jersey Generals
00:21:59in the USFL, gets ridden out of bounds by Kevin Smith
00:22:03and pushing and shoving on the far sideline.
00:22:06We've seen a lot of that early in the evening,
00:22:08but this is what you cannot do to Dallas.
00:22:10It's almost impossible to get outside of them.
00:22:13They are a great speed team.
00:22:15They don't have a linebacker that goes 240 pounds,
00:22:18but what they are quick and fast,
00:22:20they are fast in the defensive line.
00:22:22It's just almost impossible to get to the outside.
00:22:25And Herschel is not the kind of back you send to the outside.
00:22:27He can't cut back.
00:22:29He has a lot of talent, but that's not one of them.
00:22:31He cannot cut back, and that's not a good place to send him.
00:22:34You're right. Any defensive coordinator will tell you,
00:22:36get Herschel going parallel to the line of scrimmage,
00:22:38the battle's been won.
00:22:40Walker out, Hampton in, second and ten.
00:22:43It's Leon Lett who comes across the line,
00:22:45and the pass is incomplete, intended for Calloway,
00:22:49but the Giants will advance five yards.
00:22:53Offside, Leon Lett.
00:22:56Boy, that's when they could have got a big completion on two.
00:23:02Calloway turning Smith around.
00:23:03Offside, number 78, defense.
00:23:06Five yards, second down.
00:23:10Just taking a guess, second guy up.
00:23:12That's just anticipating the snap count
00:23:15and trying to all good defensive linemen do it.
00:23:18The times you get caught, not normally a back-breaking situation.
00:23:23The great ones all cheat and fudge a little bit
00:23:26and periodically get caught.
00:23:28That's the one thing a quarterback does is call the snap number,
00:23:31and they get into patterns.
00:23:33Second and five, they line Aaron Pierce up in the backfield
00:23:35to provide blocking for Rodney Hampton.
00:23:37He's up to the 25.
00:23:39It'll be third down and three,
00:23:41and we will take our show next week to Chicago
00:23:45where the Bears come off a victory against the Vikings yesterday
00:23:49to face the Packers who were stunned by the St. Louis Rams.
00:23:53It's the oldest rivalry in the league.
00:23:55It's a beauty, the Packers and the Bears.
00:23:57Soldier Field next Monday night.
00:24:00Big day for Eric Kramer who's got that quarterback job back at Chicago.
00:24:04Hopefully it'll be better weather than the last time
00:24:06we were doing the Packers and the Bears in Chicago.
00:24:09Guaranteed.
00:24:10Third and three, and this play is dead before the snap.
00:24:14Refresh your memory, those of you that were with us last year.
00:24:16Remember, that's when they retired Dick Butkus
00:24:18and Gale Sayers' numbers at halftime.
00:24:21The rain, it was coming in parallel to the ground.
00:24:25It's Halloween night, and it was frightful.
00:24:27Yes, it was.
00:24:28John Elliott was whistled there.
00:24:29On the subject of retirement, you see a lot of banners tonight
00:24:32and several of the shots we've had as tributes to Phil Sims.
00:24:36And Phil is here, and the great giant quarterback
00:24:39who spent 15 seasons in a giant uniform
00:24:42will have his number 11 retired at halftime
00:24:44and will bring it to you.
00:24:46Last year, Lawrence Taylor, and Lawrence is here tonight
00:24:49giving an owner Bob Tish's box.
00:24:53What a combination they were.
00:24:56Third down and eight after the penalty.
00:24:58Callaway in motion.
00:25:00Cowboys rush four on a stunt.
00:25:02Brown throws over the middle and up at the 27.
00:25:05He hits Mike Sherrard there, but he appears to be shy of the first down
00:25:08and is, so they complete the pass but don't get the first down.
00:25:11Well, kind of a cardinal rule.
00:25:13You're going to take that drive upfield.
00:25:16You've got to set up for yardage to pick up the first down.
00:25:19He set up short of the first down, got hit.
00:25:23The Giants have to bring the punting unit up.
00:25:25Just drive that defender back, get your first down yardage.
00:25:30Mike Horan to kick.
00:25:31Kevin Williams back to receive it.
00:25:35132 remaining in the opening quarter with the Cowboys on top.
00:25:407-0 on an Emmitt Smith 60-yard touchdown run.
00:25:43Fair catch pulled for and made at the 34-yard line.
00:25:46Marker down, back at the line of scrimmage.
00:25:51Joe Avezzano, the hyperactive Dallas special teams coach.
00:25:57Going to say that an ineligible receiver was downfield early for the New York Giants,
00:26:02so the Cowboys will have the option.
00:26:04Ineligible downfield on the kick, number 34.
00:26:08That penalty is declined.
00:26:10First down, timeout.
00:26:12Herschel Walker, who plays on the special teams, still does.
00:26:17His 10th year in the league.
00:26:18127 left in the quarter, 7-0.
00:26:20I'm sure Notre Dame wants to go back into the Big Ten for another game.
00:26:24We're losing to the Northwestern Wildcats in a colossal upturn.
00:26:28Here's Aikman on first down from the 35.
00:26:30Underneath to Novacek, and he's in the Giants' territory.
00:26:34Chased down by Tito Wooten at the 46-yard line, a 19-yard gain.
00:26:39Oh, does he make it easy for the outside receivers of the Cowboys.
00:26:42He plays that tight end almost like a wide receiver.
00:26:45That time, juking around.
00:26:47Let's watch him off the line of scrimmage.
00:26:49Looking, watching the linebacker to the inside.
00:26:51Makes a little step around, right around Michael Brooks.
00:26:53Just hangs in there, knows he's the open man.
00:26:56And then after he catches the football, he can run with the football.
00:27:00Cardinals cut him a few years ago, back in 1990.
00:27:04Dan, he's caught over 300 balls since they released him.
00:27:07He's actually a plan B free agent, but you have to wonder, how could he be unprotected?
00:27:12Final minute of the quarter, Aikman throws.
00:27:14There he is again.
00:27:15Novacek tackled at the 25-yard line.
00:27:18Mike Kroll gets him from behind.
00:27:21Another first down.
00:27:22Jay Novacek is Troy Aikman's version of a teddy bear.
00:27:26Just his security blanket, his whenever I don't see what I'm looking for,
00:27:31I instantly go to number 84.
00:27:34Cory Miller doing his best to hang with him, grabbing his jersey, doing everything else.
00:27:38But still, Jay Novacek is fast.
00:27:41He's lean.
00:27:42He's fluid.
00:27:44Not a threat to blow a linebacker off the ball,
00:27:46but a threat to run around one and get open downfield every time.
00:27:50One second left in the quarter, and they don't get the playoff.
00:27:54Time expires before the snap.
00:27:56It'll be first down at the 25-yard line for the Cowboys when we start the second quarter.
00:28:01So after one, thanks to Emmitt Smith, it's Dallas 7 and the Giants nothing.
00:28:06And back we come with Monday Night Football after this message in a word from our ABC.
00:28:11Tish, who is the co-chairman, along with Wellington Mara of the Giants,
00:28:16and LT, Lawrence Taylor, in your shot right there, enjoying the game from the owner's box.
00:28:21Second quarter begins with an Emmitt Smith carry through the middle to the 19-yard line of the Giants
00:28:27with Dallas on top, 7 to nothing, Strahan and Agnew making the stop.
00:28:32Billy Bedwell ever bite you up to the owner's box, Dan?
00:28:35I'm not sure Billy had a box that pushed at him.
00:28:38He might have just roved the old press box, making sure that everything was in order there.
00:28:43No, I never had that opportunity.
00:28:46Of course, not long after I retired, the team was so devastated, they left town.
00:28:54Second down and 4 from the 19-yard line.
00:28:57Aikman, who is 4 for 6 throws, he's 5 for 7.
00:29:00It's Michael Irvin with some nifty moves, and his niftiness almost took him out of first down range
00:29:05as Michael Brooks makes the tackle.
00:29:07He had it, circled back, and now it's going to be very close at the 9-yard line.
00:29:11Another good look at Jane Novacek coming off the line of scrimmage.
00:29:14Michael Irvin just went down, hooked up at about 7 yards.
00:29:17Now watch Novacek bottom of the screen.
00:29:19He will take the defender with him.
00:29:22See number 37, that's Jesse Campbell.
00:29:2557 is Corey Miller going out, clearing the gap, and Michael Irvin setting up in the hole.
00:29:32Irvin almost makes it look like he's trying to run a pick when he goes in there,
00:29:36almost backing into the guy, trying to gain some separation.
00:29:39There's not a more physical wide receiver in the league than the guy that plays for Barry Switzer,
00:29:44Michael Irvin.
00:29:45Whether it's pushing off, whether it's putting one hand on a corner
00:29:49and then swimming over the top, backing into them,
00:29:52this guy will use any part of his body to hit a guy with to get open.
00:29:55He gets flagged for it very seldom.
00:29:59It's because he's so good at what he does.
00:30:02The Cowboys averaging almost 12 yards a play.
00:30:06And they have a first down at the 14-yard line
00:30:09as you look through the face mask of Emmitt Smith.
00:30:11And now he has the ball, but there's a flag down.
00:30:15Brooks is there on the tackle, shoving going on with Eric Williams involved there
00:30:20and Robert Harris.
00:30:23Offside against the Giants.
00:30:26Well, you touched on it, Al, the last time the Cowboys had the ball,
00:30:29and it's the same situation that we will see from here on out
00:30:34until the Giants do something offensively,
00:30:37and that is it is a crucial series every time that the Giants' defense
00:30:40is on the field against the Cowboys' offense.
00:30:43They cannot fall very far behind.
00:30:46And we talked about Jay Novacek not being too good a blocker
00:30:49from that tight end, not very big.
00:30:51They drafted Kendall Watkins out of Mississippi State,
00:30:54a rookie 305-pound tight end.
00:30:56He's in there now in a double tight end set for the Cowboys.
00:31:01First and five, Vincy Glenn, who was shaken up earlier.
00:31:04The Giants' safety is back in the game.
00:31:06Smith swings to the outside and knifes to the 8 1⁄2-yard line.
00:31:11He's tackled there by Mike Kroll.
00:31:14And they also drafted another tight end who's sitting this game out
00:31:17because he's got a bad shoulder, that guy right there, Eric Bjornsson,
00:31:21who is more of the Jay Novacek type.
00:31:23He's more the receiver, and boy, are they high on this guy here.
00:31:26They think he'll be back next week.
00:31:28There's Watkins, 83.
00:31:32The Cowboys just keep on keeping on.
00:31:35They had a good draft this year, a lot of guys that can play.
00:31:37Bjornsson was out of Washington, was a combination quarterback,
00:31:41running back, receiver, superb athlete,
00:31:44and has done really well in camp for the Cowboys.
00:31:47Second and three, Emmitt Smith.
00:31:51Russell back as he reaches the 7-yard line, setting up a 3rd-and-2.
00:31:55Michael Brooks leads the charge, the middle linebacker.
00:31:58Good, stout work there by the Giants defensively.
00:32:01That's the best they've looked so far,
00:32:03jamming the middle and knocking everybody back.
00:32:06There's Michael Brooks, 94, the middle plugger, as they call him.
00:32:10Little cross-blocking, Nate Newton comes across.
00:32:13Look how nicely Brooks falls off to the inside, though,
00:32:16gets in on the play along with Ray Agnew.
00:32:18What a fine read on the part of Brooks.
00:32:20Pulling guard, stepped right into the hole.
00:32:22Agnew was there as well, and look at this, Emmitt Smith approaching 100 yards.
00:32:27And we're just barely into the second quarter.
00:32:30The New York crowd with that throaty roar,
00:32:32they know this is a big play early in the game,
00:32:34and the Dallas Cowboys have another touchdown, Aikman to Irvin.
00:32:38On a 3rd-and-2 from the 7-yard line,
00:32:41Michael Irvin takes it into the end zone.
00:32:44Simple little pattern, Irvin,
00:32:46and you have to play those receivers so much tighter down around the goal line,
00:32:51and the Giants not doing that, Irvin just setting up there in the gap,
00:32:55and Troy Aikman firing it right into the numbers.
00:33:01Irvin just working his way along until he got a little bit of a gap.
00:33:07Aikman with a fine shot, and Irvin does the rest.
00:33:10You've got to play him a lot tighter when you get down around that goal line.
00:33:13Brooks was the closest guy to him and tried to make the tackle,
00:33:16but didn't even get a piece of him.
00:33:20Chris Bonio taps on the extra point.
00:33:2311-58 left in the first half.
00:33:25Opening night, the Cowboys 14, the Giants nothing.
00:33:32This time he'll have his jersey, number 11,
00:33:35retired after a distinguished 15-year career,
00:33:38and it's part of our halftime coverage tonight.
00:33:41What year was it, Frank, that they retired number 16?
00:33:46John Baker to kick off, and down to the nine-yard line,
00:33:49this is Herschel Walker.
00:33:51Back up to the 26.
00:33:54As long as they don't retire with you in it, Frank.
00:33:57ABC's Monday Night Football is being brought to you by Bud Ice and 96 Calorie Bud.
00:34:04I guess that means they haven't retired number 16 yet?
00:34:07No, we're not going to get into that on a Phil Simms night.
00:34:12When I talked to him for the game, I said,
00:34:14could I change one of those ones to a six?
00:34:18Well, they should.
00:34:19Giants at the 26-yard line as Brown throws,
00:34:23and it is incomplete.
00:34:24Chris Callaway couldn't make the play,
00:34:27and Kevin Smith is over there covering on the play.
00:34:29Kevin Smith almost made the play, and it would have been six.
00:34:33But a good delivery by Dave Brown.
00:34:35He has a real strong arm.
00:34:37Big man, 6'5", 224-pounder.
00:34:41Can't throw it any better than that.
00:34:42No, you can't.
00:34:43Callaway missed a lot of the preseason with a bad hamstring,
00:34:46along with Mike Sherrard.
00:34:48It's going to happen, Frank.
00:34:50These guys aren't ready.
00:34:51Look how close Kevin Smith was to that ball,
00:34:53and yet he was completely turned around.
00:34:55He's a fine cornerback.
00:34:57That was Brown's first incomplete pass.
00:34:59Fake draw.
00:35:01Good protection.
00:35:02Wobbly pass.
00:35:04Almost picked off by Smith, the floater.
00:35:07Callaway, the intended receiver.
00:35:10Flag down.
00:35:11Flag down at the line of scrimmage.
00:35:13Callaway on the wrong page there.
00:35:15Callaway started to pull up,
00:35:16and Dave Brown threw that down the middle of the field.
00:35:19Kevin Smith was going to be a free agent at the end of this season,
00:35:22and he just got big bucks yesterday.
00:35:25Number 61, offense.
00:35:28Ten yards, second down.
00:35:30Goes against Lance Smith, the right guard,
00:35:32but Kevin Smith rewarded with a monster contract,
00:35:35something along the lines of a $5 million signing bonus
00:35:39going to Kevin Smith,
00:35:41and that's one less free agent that Jerry Jones and the Cowboys
00:35:44have to worry about defensively.
00:35:46They still got Darren Woodson, Russell Maryland, Dixon Edwards, Robert Jones.
00:35:50All these guys will still be free agents,
00:35:52but they've solidified the corner.
00:35:54One corner.
00:35:55And they still think they'll get Deion Sanders,
00:35:57and in the second half tonight we'll detail the latest on Deion.
00:36:02Second down as Brown throws,
00:36:06and Smith rocks in complete charade the intended receiver,
00:36:10and he heard Larry Brown coming up from behind.
00:36:12Another fine cornerback, too.
00:36:14Larry Brown, a 12th-round draft pick in 91,
00:36:16but the Cowboys' defense puts so much pressure on these two corners,
00:36:20the two safety men, Brock Mary and Darren Woodson.
00:36:23They play the run so tough.
00:36:24If they read run, they're up there to make the tackle.
00:36:27You go play action, and these cornerbacks are both expected
00:36:30to pick up man for man and play without support from either safety,
00:36:34and they do a great job with it.
00:36:35But with the great heat from the defensive line in their favor, Frank,
00:36:39they don't get hung out there for five and six seconds at a time.
00:36:42It's a great combination.
00:36:43Yes, sir.
00:36:44Third and 20 from the 16, 11 and a half to go in the half.
00:36:4814 to nothing, Dallas, and that's incomplete.
00:36:51The coverage is great.
00:36:52Brown was throwing off his back foot and gets decked in the process.
00:36:55Dan Reeves is incensed over on the—
00:36:57He's unloaded on Dave Brown.
00:36:59Well, I think he's arguing that Larry Brown had some contact over there
00:37:04along the sidelines.
00:37:05What was he upset?
00:37:07Right in front of Dan Reeves.
00:37:11He's going to try to find anybody he can to yell at.
00:37:15Let's watch Larry Brown here working on Sherrard.
00:37:18Now, see right there, he's jamming him and not looking back at the ball at all.
00:37:22That should have been called.
00:37:24Mike Horan having a very active night.
00:37:27That's always a bad sign when your punter's in the game a lot.
00:37:30Moves a beauty down to the 35-yard line,
00:37:32and Kevin Williams brings it back out to the 40.
00:37:35Reeves still livid.
00:37:36Well, you know, he's got reason to be upset.
00:37:4011-17, left in the half.
00:37:43He's right.
00:37:45Probably the greatest in the game, a native of Brazil,
00:37:47but he grew up in Brooklyn, and he's the star of Murder 1,
00:37:50which premieres Tuesday night, September 19th, here on ABC,
00:37:53and then eventually moves to Thursday nights.
00:37:56Stephen Boczko created it.
00:37:57It is a sensational show.
00:37:59Daniel Vanzali looking on tonight at Giants Stadium.
00:38:03And a rabid Giants fan.
00:38:05He is a big Giants fan.
00:38:06He's in the booth a while ago.
00:38:07Quite a guy.
00:38:09Dallas from the 41-yard line.
00:38:10Aikman throws.
00:38:11Michael Irvin makes the catch, and that's a first down in Giant territory
00:38:17at the 48-yard line.
00:38:1911-13 to go.
00:38:20Dave Brown has that look.
00:38:23His team down 14 to nothing.
00:38:25Again, it's 23, Thomas Randolph.
00:38:27We talked about it earlier.
00:38:28He's 5'9", and you're putting a 6'2", Michael Irvin on him,
00:38:31who has the great move you saw right there to separate himself from Randolph.
00:38:36He also has the ability to take it away from him.
00:38:38He is a battler.
00:38:39And Randolph, another one of those guys who's been hurt most of the preseason
00:38:42and has gotten very little quality work in.
00:38:45Emmitt Smith finds a hole next to the 36-yard line.
00:38:49Corey Miller makes the tackle.
00:38:51Right over the right side, Eric Williams,
00:38:53who came back last week to full contact in the final preseason game
00:38:58and looked good in doing so, but still a little bit rusty.
00:39:01One of the great tackles ever to play this game over the right side.
00:39:04Larry Allen, who had filled in for him last year,
00:39:07played 10 games at that spot, has moved to the left guard.
00:39:11This is one huge good offensive line.
00:39:15Emmitt Smith now over 100 yards.
00:39:17Five straight games against the Giants in triple figures.
00:39:20End of round.
00:39:21Kevin Williams, room to roam.
00:39:23Tackled at the 25-yard line.
00:39:26Caught from behind to say what would have been another 10-yard pickup.
00:39:29Thomas Randolph with a stop.
00:39:3112-yard game and another Cowboy first down.
00:39:34And what the Giants lose when they lost Elvin Harper was the leaping ability,
00:39:39the threat of him going deep.
00:39:41But what they've gained with Kevin Williams replacing him
00:39:44is that maneuver right there.
00:39:45He is a very fine broken field runner.
00:39:48Good when he catches the football.
00:39:49He won't go up, of course, like Elvin Harper did.
00:39:52Few people have ever done that.
00:39:54But once he gets his hands on the football, he is a threat to go all the way.
00:40:00First down from the 25-yard line.
00:40:03Over the middle, they set up the screen.
00:40:05Not a particularly good-looking screen,
00:40:07but it becomes a lot better looking when you have Emmitt Smith on the other side of it.
00:40:10I mean, that was ugly, and he turned it into a thing of beauty.
00:40:15Isn't it funny the way it works?
00:40:17Mike Kroll has a lot of speed.
00:40:19He's a good tackler.
00:40:20Former number one draft pick for Reeves at Denver.
00:40:23But he was just catching air.
00:40:25He thought Emmitt was going to be there.
00:40:26Watch this.
00:40:27Number 51 is Mike Kroll.
00:40:29He has a good shot at this, but forget it.
00:40:32Emmitt's out of there.
00:40:34Sherman Williams comes into the game, the rookie from Alabama.
00:40:40On second down and 10 at the 24-yard line.
00:40:44So, Williams in the backfield.
00:40:46Here is Sherman's first NFL carry.
00:40:49And it's a good one.
00:40:51To the 12-yard line and a Cowboy first down.
00:40:55Bencie Glenn makes the stop.
00:40:57There is a whole lot of staring going on at one another
00:41:01taking place right now in the Giants' defensive huddle.
00:41:05They have the look of a squad that is just back on their heels
00:41:09and trying to figure out how they can stop the damage
00:41:12and stop the bleeding.
00:41:13Over 100 yards already.
00:41:15Over 10 yards per carry.
00:41:17It was nice of Emmitt to give Sherman a carry or two.
00:41:20Emmitt must have went for a chin strap or something.
00:41:23This has the makings of a big-time rout
00:41:27if the Giants don't settle down.
00:41:31Emmitt threading and picking and finally upended at the 8-yard line.
00:41:35Thomas Randolph in on the stop.
00:41:37But not until Emmitt had picked up another five.
00:41:41107 yards already tonight for Emmitt Smith
00:41:45in just 22 minutes of play.
00:41:48And this is nothing new for the Giants.
00:41:50They have seen this act before.
00:41:52There it is. Last five games against the Giants.
00:41:55120, 117, 168, 163
00:41:59in the Monday night game last year.
00:42:01And 107 already tonight.
00:42:04They didn't play the final game last year
00:42:06because the Cowboys clinched everything they could.
00:42:09Second and five, the glitch is on and the pass is high.
00:42:13The Giants were able to come sprinting through Michael Brooks
00:42:16able to deck Aikman and create the errant throw.
00:42:19And the crowd seems a little hope in that.
00:42:22That's one of those deals where even though
00:42:25it was nothing more than an incomplete pass
00:42:28the fact that Michael Brooks knocked Troy Aikman on his keister
00:42:31excited everybody here.
00:42:32Dangerous splits in this area
00:42:34and Michael Brooks was able to carry it off.
00:42:40Third and five at the 8, 740 left.
00:42:42First half, Giants trailing Dallas.
00:42:45This is where the Giants can happen.
00:42:47Defense has to attack.
00:42:48The secondary has to be with the receivers all the way.
00:42:51Third and five.
00:42:53Johnston and the Moose takes it to the half yard line.
00:42:58He didn't get in but it's a first and goal.
00:43:03So the Moose who's been quiet tonight.
00:43:05The blocking back and occasional ball carrier
00:43:08and occasional receiver.
00:43:10All of a sudden the minute you forget about him
00:43:12picks up a key first down.
00:43:14There's just so many different things
00:43:16that Daryl Johnston brings to the table.
00:43:18The blocking, the leadership, but really the pass receiving.
00:43:2244 catches last year.
00:43:24A good spot by the officials.
00:43:25He did not get in.
00:43:27It's on the 6-inch yard, the 6-inch line
00:43:30and this is where the Giants are outmanned
00:43:33by the bulk of the Cowboys.
00:43:34Emmitt Smith, untouched.
00:43:45Emmitt found a few cameras in the back of the end zone.
00:43:48Well it's the only time they'll play Broadway all year
00:43:51and he's going to make the most of it.
00:43:53And they are a smash hit.
00:43:55The reviews are in.
00:43:57Look at that line explode off.
00:43:592 and A. Watkins.
00:44:02It's really not supposed to be that easy.
00:44:06That's the 77th touchdown of his career in his 78th game.
00:44:10Only Jim Brown has more touchdowns than Gaines played
00:44:14in the history of the Cowboys.
00:44:16And the Cowboys with John Baker.
00:44:18He's the kickoff specialist only.
00:44:20Boneo kicks the field goals.
00:44:22And that's why they have him.
00:44:23He sends one sailing down to the three.
00:44:26Thomas Lewis picked it back up at the goal line.
00:44:29And the Cowboys win the game.
00:44:31And the Giants win the game.
00:44:33And the Cowboys win the game.
00:44:35And the Giants win the game.
00:44:37And the Cowboys win the game.
00:44:39And the Giants win the game.
00:44:41And the Cowboys win the game.
00:44:43Thomas Lewis picked it back up at the goal line.
00:44:46No coverage at all or no protection at all for him.
00:44:49The coverage was good.
00:44:50A flag is down.
00:44:52Charlie Williams makes the stop at the 11-yard line.
00:44:54And you say, how can it get any worse?
00:44:56Well, it's about to.
00:44:59Bad field position is now going to become worst field position.
00:45:03Well, how can it get any better for Jerry Jones?
00:45:05His team leads 21 to nothing.
00:45:07And Jerry.
00:45:08Illegal block in the back.
00:45:10Seeking.
00:45:11The return.
00:45:12Number 20 of the return team.
00:45:15Prime exposure.
00:45:16At the distance to the goal line.
00:45:18Has picked this time to announce that he and Nike are joining forces
00:45:24announcing a seven-year exclusive sponsorship agreement
00:45:27between Nike and Texas Stadium.
00:45:29He, along with Phil Knight, who is the CEO of Nike,
00:45:33a mysterious and somewhat reclusive man.
00:45:35And that's Phil Knight in a cowboy hat.
00:45:37Some think he is the most powerful man in sports.
00:45:40Running the Nike empire.
00:45:42And the two have linked up in a deal exclusive to the Cowboys.
00:45:46Though Knight has said in the press release, along with Jones,
00:45:49he still seeks a licensing agreement with the NFL.
00:45:52This is a major, major story.
00:45:55We know it has a business ramification for the most part as Brown throws.
00:45:59And Walker makes the catch and goes out of bounds at the 12-yard line.
00:46:04But it will send shockwaves throughout the National Football League.
00:46:08Well, what this does is that, again, it's just another Jerry Jones deal
00:46:13where he's branching out and creating and extending his own marketing arm.
00:46:19He, again, wants to stress that he's just talking about creating excess revenue.
00:46:24He doesn't want to do away with the shared revenue concept in the NFL.
00:46:28But this, Al, you're right.
00:46:30This has shock tremors that are going to be felt in all the other 29 NFL cities.
00:46:36Second and two as Hampton takes it up to the 14-yard line.
00:46:39This is a right-in-your-face maneuver.
00:46:41The commissioner is here tonight.
00:46:43And the press release released by Jerry Jones, the headline is,
00:46:46Cowboys owner bucks NFL again.
00:46:49So, if that's not an in-your-face, well, I've never seen one.
00:46:53As of right now, Nike does not have a licensing agreement with the National Football League.
00:46:58So, again, Jerry is kind of going outside the family,
00:47:02as he did with the Pepsi-Cola deal, where they became the official soft drink of Texas Stadium.
00:47:07On third and one, Rodney Hampton fights his way for a first down
00:47:11as the Giants get out of the shadows of their own goalpost.
00:47:14And the crowd responds as they take it up to the 29.
00:47:17A couple good plays here by the Giants.
00:47:19Boy, did they need to get out of the shadow.
00:47:21Superb play by Herschel Walker.
00:47:23That was a great pass by Dave Brown.
00:47:25Almost took a safety in the end zone two plays ago.
00:47:28Got the ball out to Herschel Walker and it was just a great effort.
00:47:31And watch this. Hampton almost breaks this one.
00:47:37Something good happening for the Blue.
00:47:39First and ten at the 29-yard line.
00:47:41Brown throws and something bad happens as Charles Way drops the pass.
00:47:46What will this mean?
00:47:47The average fan, it's very difficult, I know, to comprehend all of these numbers and salary cap figures.
00:47:52It does not mean that the Cowboys have any more money under the salary cap.
00:47:57But they will have a lot more money going into their coffers.
00:48:01Remember, they've made the Pepsi deal.
00:48:03When the Coca-Cola company is the official sponsor of the NFL.
00:48:07And apparently there are other deals that Jones is working on and is prepared to announce.
00:48:14I've got a follow up to that after this play.
00:48:16Second down and ten at the 28-yard line.
00:48:23And that's incomplete.
00:48:25And a flag is thrown.
00:48:28And the Giants are acting like this will go against the Cowboys.
00:48:32Dixon Edwards.
00:48:35Was the defender on the play.
00:48:39And it does indeed go against Dallas.
00:48:41So some good things here are happening for the Giants.
00:48:48This partnership with Nike that Jerry describes.
00:48:51The question I think that a lot of people are going to ask.
00:48:54As we watch this replay of Dave Brown going across the middle.
00:48:56And boy, you can see it cleanly.
00:49:00Edwards all over Aaron Pierce.
00:49:03But the question is going to be.
00:49:06Nike represents so many athletes.
00:49:09They have so many athletes tied into endorsement contracts.
00:49:13Are those athletes going to be funneled towards the Dallas Cowboys?
00:49:17And Sherrod makes the catch.
00:49:18And among those athletes, that's a nine-yard gain.
00:49:21And among those athletes, one Dion Sanders.
00:49:24Another athlete under contract to them is here tonight.
00:49:27And she's busy across the city.
00:49:31Is Monica Sellis still alive in the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament?
00:49:36She's a hard hitter.
00:49:37But I'm not sure that she's really a suitable candidate for the Dallas Cowboys.
00:49:42But you know my point.
00:49:44There are so many guys in this league that have endorsement deals with Nike.
00:49:47What happens when they become free agents?
00:49:49Is there a natural funnel towards the Cowboys?
00:49:52Second and one.
00:49:55Brown going deep.
00:49:57Contact. But they're going to rule incidental contact.
00:50:00Sherrod and Darren Woodson.
00:50:02Bumping and banging, but incidental.
00:50:09So it'll be third down.
00:50:11In any event, that's the business story of the night.
00:50:13And we'll talk about Dion and what this might mean for Dion in the second half.
00:50:17All right, let's get back to this game, Frank.
00:50:18Kevin Smith on the outside.
00:50:21He covers more ground after he gets turned around.
00:50:23On the inside, he's going to get help from Darren Woodson.
00:50:26As Dave Brown tried to force it into the coverage.
00:50:29No chance.
00:50:33And as you see, the ball wasn't even in the frame there.
00:50:37It was still a good six yards away.
00:50:39Third and one.
00:50:40And Rodney Hampton, with a good second effort, picks up the first down.
00:50:44He was initially stopped.
00:50:45But he broke out of the tackle, would-be tackle, of Dixon Edwards.
00:50:48And then was able to move forward, pick up the first down of the 44.
00:50:52With 4.05 to go in the half.
00:50:54And the Cowboys on top, 21 to nothing.
00:50:56And the Giants looking for any spark.
00:50:59Well, they have certainly enjoyed the best drive of the game so far.
00:51:03Here in the waning moments of the second quarter.
00:51:05They started back at their own five-yard line.
00:51:08And have driven all the way out here with some good, solid football.
00:51:15Hampton tackled back of the line.
00:51:16A scrimmage penetration by Robert Jones.
00:51:18And a flumble.
00:51:19You saw Dave Brown come sprinting over.
00:51:22And the Giants were able to retain possession.
00:51:26So tough to break back against the grain of these Cowboys.
00:51:30They pursue laterally so quickly.
00:51:33With the defensive line, Russell Maryland, Leon Lett.
00:51:36And real swift linebackers.
00:51:38Russell Maryland, one of those Cowboys that could become a free agent after this season.
00:51:43There will be a lot of people who would like to get their hands on him.
00:51:45Darren Woodson is shaking up the Cowboys' safety.
00:51:483.26 to the hand.
00:51:50Three-touchdown lead for Dallas.
00:51:54Number 26, defense.
00:51:57Automatic first half.
00:51:58Well, just as you talked about Jumbo Elliott on the left side.
00:52:01He gave Charles Haley some shot.
00:52:04And allowed this completion.
00:52:06You can't do this five yards.
00:52:07You can't do that period.
00:52:08That was bowling that you cannot chuck after five yards.
00:52:11That sloppy play by Kevin Smith.
00:52:13That's just really sloppy play.
00:52:15This Giant drive began at their six-yard line there at the Cowboys.
00:52:1915, it's first and 10.
00:52:22That was a 24-yard penalty.
00:52:25And Hampton can't get outside because Leon Lett bear-hugged him.
00:52:35Leon Lett stopping him.
00:52:36Second and 10.
00:52:38Two-minute warning.
00:52:39Cowboys 21.
00:52:41Giant snubbing.
00:52:43Swan, Swanee.
00:52:44Thank you, Alan.
00:52:45Congratulations on the win tonight.
00:52:46You just seem to be steamrolling the field over at the U.S. Open.
00:52:49I played some great tennis.
00:52:51I played a very tough match today.
00:52:53So, it's just so much fun playing at the Open.
00:52:56It's so exciting.
00:52:57And I'm just having a great time.
00:52:59So, it's just football game tonight.
00:53:00A little diversion for you just to take your mind off the competition?
00:53:03Definitely.
00:53:04I had a tough match today.
00:53:05So, I wanted to do something funny.
00:53:07I love to watch football.
00:53:08So, I want to come out and watch the game.
00:53:10Okay.
00:53:11Let's go back upstairs to Al for a second.
00:53:12All right.
00:53:13Thank you, Lynn.
00:53:14As the Giants have it.
00:53:15Second down and 10 from the 15-yard line.
00:53:17Brown under pressure.
00:53:18Look out.
00:53:19Sack fumble.
00:53:20Giants recovered.
00:53:21Riesenberg recovers it.
00:53:23But Tony Tolbert came in from the rear for the sack.
00:53:28And that pushes the Giants all the way back to the 24-yard line.
00:53:34Tolbert has now picked up at least one sack in each of his last seven games
00:53:41against the New York Giants.
00:53:43And that's a hustle sack because he's coming all the way across the formation.
00:53:47He's the left end.
00:53:48And he's the farthest defensive lineman from where Dave Brown ended up.
00:53:52And yet, he covered the ground, hustled over there, and got the hit.
00:53:56And it was a smart play and an alert play by Riesenberg to cover up the ball.
00:54:00After he had beaten Riesenberg.
00:54:02It was good coverage downfield.
00:54:04You're exactly right on being coverage sack.
00:54:07So timeout is taken now by the Giants.
00:54:10And let's go back to Lynn Swan for a moment.
00:54:12The Cowboys have something in common.
00:54:14Yeah.
00:54:16All right.
00:54:17Swanee, we're ready for you.
00:54:19No rehearsal.
00:54:21I was asking Monica, Monica, your favorite football team.
00:54:24Well, as a person living very close to Tampa,
00:54:27I support a lot of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because I'm hometown.
00:54:30But otherwise, I love the Cowboys.
00:54:32And I saw them two weeks ago in Toronto.
00:54:35And I'm here to watch them tonight also.
00:54:38So, I mean, they're just great.
00:54:39Is that because they're playing football tonight the way you play tennis?
00:54:44Probably a little bit has something to do with that.
00:54:46But they're just a great team.
00:54:47And there's steam rolling tonight.
00:54:49So, what can you say?
00:54:51Okay.
00:54:52Monica, we wish you well.
00:54:53Everyone's glad to see you back in tennis.
00:54:56All right.
00:54:57Thank you, Lynn.
00:54:58She's back and playing as well as she is.
00:55:00And she continues her pursuit of the U.S. Open title.
00:55:03The Giants continuing their pursuit of trying to get back into the game.
00:55:06It is third and long as Brown goes to the end zone
00:55:11and overthrows the intended receiver, Mike Sherrard.
00:55:16Again, throwing in the double coverage.
00:55:18Kevin Smith was there with Brock Marion and Kevin Smith.
00:55:23Woodson was shaken earlier.
00:55:25Now Kevin Smith.
00:55:27He's grabbing his right heel.
00:55:32Let's take a look at it again.
00:55:33He's got outside coverage.
00:55:34Brock Marion's got the inside.
00:55:40I didn't see him take a misstep or anything, and he is in agony.
00:55:46Maybe we could carry that replay just a little further.
00:55:49Well, you don't want to speculate on anything,
00:55:51but they're grabbing the back of it, back in that Achilles region.
00:55:57Let's take it all the way now.
00:55:59Kevin Smith is 26.
00:56:01Let's follow him on through here.
00:56:04He's looking at the ball there, and all of a sudden, right there.
00:56:08Right there.
00:56:13He did not want to put any weight on that right foot.
00:56:19Also, Kevin Smith, shaken.
00:56:21Phil Sims, meanwhile, walking through the catacombs of the stadium,
00:56:24and this crowd will go wild when he comes out.
00:56:28At halftime tonight, we will have the retirement ceremony
00:56:31and then check in with Brent Musburger
00:56:33for the other news around the National Football League
00:56:35on this first weekend of the regular season.
00:56:41The funny thing is they had to wait a year for Phil's retirement ceremony
00:56:44because he had thought about playing last season,
00:56:47and then he, during the off-season, had gone to Cleveland
00:56:50to talk to the Browns about possibly signing with them,
00:56:53and then opted to retire from football and left ESPN to go with NBC.
00:56:57I talked to him before the game, and I was congratulating him
00:57:00on the retirement, and I said,
00:57:02Phil, aren't you glad you're not with Cleveland?
00:57:04Because he seems happy in broadcasting.
00:57:06He really seems to enjoy it.
00:57:07Kind of a whimsical look came into his eye.
00:57:09He's an old war horse.
00:57:10One of the greats ever to play this game.
00:57:12He had the good years, the bad years, the ups and downs,
00:57:14and he always gave it 100%.
00:57:16And you see now Kevin Smith is getting the golf cart treatment,
00:57:20and we'll try and get a report on him.
00:57:21Again, without speculating, if the Kevin Smith injury
00:57:25is the type of injury as the Mara family gets ready to honor Phil
00:57:29along with the Sims family,
00:57:32if Kevin Smith is out for any length of time,
00:57:37how much more important would that make the signing
00:57:40of one Deion Sanders to the Dallas Cowboys?
00:57:44I think you already know the answer to that question.
00:57:48It makes it a great deal more important,
00:57:50and we're not going to speculate as to how long Kevin Smith
00:57:52might be out, but those are always the ones you worry about
00:57:56when you see somebody that goes down like that.
00:57:58And, of course, there's a guy who just invested millions
00:58:04and millions of dollars in Kevin Smith.
00:58:0742-yard field goal attempt by Dallas.
00:58:09We saw he's blocked.
00:58:11It is blocked by the Cowboys, and it might be Leon Lett
00:58:17who's blocked a few in his career.
00:58:20That's a shame for Dan Reeves and his ball club
00:58:22that they drove it the length of the field,
00:58:24that they really showed something being down 21 to nothing,
00:58:28putting together by far and away their best offensive drive
00:58:31of the game and still have a goose egg on the scoreboard.
00:58:34Now, we so had made 12 straight over the last two years.
00:58:37David Treadwell was their short field goal kicker last year,
00:58:40and we saw taking over the job exclusively this season.
00:58:44How many times have we seen Leon Lett go up like that,
00:58:46timing it out beautifully, number 78, gets that hand up.
00:58:50He's 6'6 going up, but he times it so beautifully.
00:58:53And here are the Cowboys with plenty of time, 1.06,
00:58:55and don't expect them to sit on the football at the 33-yard line.
00:58:59No, sir, as Aikman will go to the air.
00:59:02Aikman comes back this way and throws it at the feet
00:59:04of Moose Johnston.
00:59:06The way they've been going, they could call the sit-on a play
00:59:08and they'd still get in the end zone.
00:59:10Well, they haven't been on the field in a while.
00:59:12The Giants held the ball for a long time.
00:59:15The big cat relaxes over there,
00:59:17jaws a little bit with Charles Haley and Russell Maryland.
00:59:20What an extraordinary player he has developed into.
00:59:23He is the all-time Monday night football field goal blocker.
00:59:28Last year, remember, he had two in that overtime game
00:59:31against Detroit.
00:59:33He had one in our preseason game in Denver a couple of weeks ago.
00:59:37And now tonight, and this is Sherman Williams
00:59:41taking it up to the 39-yard line.
00:59:43It helps to be 6'6", but there are a lot of players 6'6".
00:59:46They do not time their leap like Leon Webb.
00:59:49He gets the surge across the line of scrimmage.
00:59:51He goes up, and somehow or other, there's a clock in his head.
00:59:55The timing is perfect.
00:59:57He's teamed over on that side with Charles Haley,
01:00:00and what a combination they are.
01:00:01It's that eye-hand coordination, Frank,
01:00:03and a lot of the great ones had it.
01:00:04You know who he's really good at?
01:00:05It was Too Tall Jones.
01:00:06Blocking passes, he had this wonderful feel
01:00:09of exactly when to put that arm up in the air.
01:00:12Sherman Williams gets taken down by Ray Agnew,
01:00:15the former Patriot.
01:00:17The Giants are now going to take a timeout
01:00:19to conserve some time and get the ball back,
01:00:21but only 21 ticks remain.
01:00:23You're right, Frank. You make a valid point.
01:00:25There's always been big people.
01:00:26There's always been tall people.
01:00:27There's always been this guy that could run fast.
01:00:30Why is it some guys just have the knack of doing things?
01:00:33Regardless of the sport,
01:00:34some people just have a presence that other people don't.
01:00:38Look at this guy.
01:00:39Speaking of a presence, talking to his offensive line.
01:00:43Just one of the great competitors that's ever played.
01:00:46One of the great people.
01:00:47He is some fine gentleman.
01:00:52He's a classy man.
01:00:54And I'd be talking to my offensive line, too,
01:00:56if I'm Evan Smith.
01:00:57I'd be taking them to dinner.
01:00:58I'd be buying them cars.
01:01:00I'd be whining and dining them in any way I could.
01:01:04Hit him with a few Rolexes, all that sort of stuff.
01:01:06Oh, man.
01:01:07I'd do anything but feed them.
01:01:08I'm not sure.
01:01:09When I played me.
01:01:10I want to strap that on.
01:01:11Afford a Timex.
01:01:13Look, I played with a couple of guys
01:01:14who couldn't spell Rolex.
01:01:16And a couple of guys who couldn't read a watch.
01:01:19Jon Jett to the 15-yard line.
01:01:22Gary Howell up to the 32-yard line
01:01:27as he runs it back there.
01:01:28And only 10 seconds remain in the half.
01:01:30I played with a couple of guys who wrote with crayons.
01:01:34Conrad.
01:01:35The big fat ones.
01:01:36The big fat ones.
01:01:37You work right now with a couple of guys
01:01:39who write with crayons, I think.
01:01:41Goodyear Blimp, Stars and Stripes
01:01:43hovering above Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
01:01:47Oh, we need rain back here desperately in the Northeast.
01:01:50But it has been such a beautiful few days.
01:01:54You're right about that.
01:01:55It's been New York at its very best.
01:02:01So the Giants with 10 seconds left
01:02:03come up for one or two plays as Dave Brown
01:02:08attempts to get them into field goal range,
01:02:10which is going to be very difficult to do
01:02:12and stop the clock in the process.
01:02:16Slides.
01:02:17The other has stopped at the 39-yard line.
01:02:19So nothing happened in downfield.
01:02:21And Brown has to eat it.
01:02:23And that's the end of the first half.
01:02:26Not a good one for the Giants.
01:02:28But the Cowboys were in mid-season form.
01:02:30Halftime.
01:02:31The Cowboys leading the Giants 21 to nothing.
01:02:34Crowd booing as the Giants leave the field.
01:02:37But they'll be all cheers in a few minutes
01:02:39for the Phil Simms retirement ceremony.
01:02:42Part of our halftime activity.