Business As Usual For Dallas Harried Cowboys Stick Together, Keep Pointing Toward Sunday’s Playoff Game With Carolina

Distractions. What distractions? The Dallas Cowboys practiced Thursday like they weren’t caught up in the swirl of a police investigation that has the potential to damage their Super Bowl run.

Wide receiver Michael Irvin and offensive tackle Erik Williams, the subjects of the police sexual assault inquiry, worked like nothing was going on.

Irvin left Valley Ranch during the middle of the day but was back for the afternoon session only 5 minutes late.

“Our game preparation has been the same,” tackle Mark Tuinei said. “I talked to Erik and Michael about this just for my own satisfaction. Erik is part of the offensive line family and I was curious. I won’t say what he said. I just feel for those guys.”

Tuinei said sensational sideshows don’t bother the Cowboys, who are seeking a record fourth Super Bowl in five years and play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Charlotte.

“We’re a pretty darn close team,” Tuinei said. “This team has handled adversity well through the whole year. That’s why we’ve had so much success. This team is accustomed to it (adversity).”

Linebacker Darrin Smith said “everything is going smooth as usual in practice. We’re having fun. Nobody is down.”

Smith said nobody should blame coach Barry Switzer for the Cowboys off-the-field problems.

“Each person is responsible for himself,” Smith said. “We’re all grown men. Coaches and management can’t be with a player 24 (hours a day) and 7 (days a week).”

A team source told The Associated Press that Irvin has been relaxed and laughing this week in practice as opposed to being down and disheartened during his previous problems with cocaine charges when he was placed on four years probation and suspended for the first five games of the NFL season.

“Mike has been joking and telling his teammates to take it easy on the media,” the source said. “He’s been very upbeat, not like some person who is under police investigation.”

Defensive tackle Tony Casillas said “the team is focused and doing what it has to do to win. A lot of you guys (media) can do your circus act. We’ll play football. We’ll be focused. All the guys on this team are great guys and the bottom line is that we’ll do our job.”