Sports Watch
Sure, they're going to miss Michael Irvin for the first five games of the season. Sure, they've looked bad in one-sided preseason losses to Kansas City and New England. Sure, Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek might not be able to play this season.
And, sure, Tuinei is sidelined with a knee injury that'll probably keep him out of action until the Cowboys season opener Sept. 2 against the Bears in Chicago.
What else can go wrong for America's Team? They're sure a troubled lot right now.
"Tell me about it," said Tuinei from the Dallas training camp in Austin, Texas. "It's been a rocky road with all the injuries and kind of a circus with the Michael Irvin deal going down. But we'll be OK."
And the long exhibition hasn't helped, Tuinei said.
Since 1992, the Cowboys have played five exhibition games a year. "It's a price you pay for being a Super Bowl team," Tuinei said. "Everybody wants you."
With that kind of an early season grind, the Cowboys aren't out to impress anybody early,
Tuinei said. "Once we start playing guys who are going to play for us when it counts, we're going to be all right."
Also, coach Barry Switzer's no dummy. He knows the games you win during preseason ain't worth a hill of beans.
SO when it comes down to crunch time, expect to see a lot of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Irvin, when he becomes eligible. They're the heart and soul of the Cowboys' offense.
And, of course, the massive offensive line with 300-pounders Tuinei, Nate Newton, Larry Allen and Erik Williams.
"I should be ready," said Tuinei, who'll be entering his 14th season with the Cowboys.
He strained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in Monday's 31-7 exhibition loss to the Patriots when someone rolled over it in a pile-up after a running play.
"I was blocking my man and Sherman Williams cut it back on a play on my backside. It felt like somebody hit me on the knee with a bat," Tuinei said. "I thought it was my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) but fortunately it wasn't. There was no damage to the ACL."
Tuinei, a former University of Hawaii standout, said he suffered a similar injury to the same knee five or six years ago during the regular season that caused him to miss four games.
"I've had it stretched that side before. It's already loose so I don't think it'll be that bad. I've had it worse," he said. Of course, at 36, he's not as young as he used to be.
"I'll definitely wear a brace when I return," said Tuinei, who played without one for the last two years.
For now, though, it's rehab, icing it down and strengthening exercises.
"I can walk on it. So I'm confident that I'll be able to come back from this," he said.
ALLEN is expected to move from right guard to take Tuinei's spot at left tackle in the meantime.
"It was something that the Cowboys were thinking of eventually," Tuinei said. Plans called for Tuinei, who's signed through the 1998 season, to possibly move to center.
It's not a move the 6-foot-5, 314-pound Tuinei is looking forward to. "There's more traffic in there with bigger guys."
For now, though, Tuinei still considers himself to be the Cowboys' starting left tackle where he has earned three Super Bowl rings.
"We'll see how the first month of September goes," he said. "But right now, I'm not worried. It might look dismal now. But there's too much talent on this team to count us out."