Originally Published: August 28, 2009

Tip Sheet notes: Stoic Cowboys

Ziggy's ripple effect on Steelers' roster; Jackson an end to Chiefs' "errors"

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Pasquarelli By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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When the biggest controversy over the past few weeks has been the height of the scoreboard at their new, billion-dollar stadium, you know the Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed a pretty quiet preseason.

In fact, the silence surrounding from the Cowboys is golden, even to some of their own players.

"The way last year ended was a humbling experience for everyone," tight end Jason Witten said. "Losing to a division opponent, with a playoff spot on the line, and being blown out like that … it takes a while to get over that. We've really tried hard to make it a motivational thing."

By most accounts, this was the most physical, workmanlike and detail-oriented training camp ever under coach Wade Phillips.

"What it's done," linebacker DeMarcus Ware said, "is force some of the younger guys to take more of a leadership role. Right now, we're flying below the radar. It's a talented team, for sure, but no one knows what to expect from us. We like it that way."

To read the rest of Tip Sheet -- the gap between the Cowboys and DeMarcus Ware on a contract extension, why Tampa Bay is ending the Jermaine Phillips-at-linebacker experiment, and which starting QB this season might be on the market next spring -- you must be an ESPN Insider. Insider

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