DETROIT (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys can cross off a couple items
on their to-do list in Detroit with a win tomorrow. They can clinch
the NFC East and shut up Jon Kitna.
The 11-1 Cowboys might be equally motivated to do both.
Kitna said last season that Dallas linebackers weren't effective
and ripped linebacker Bradie James by name the Lions' upset win at
Dallas last season.
James said tomorrow's game at Ford Field in Detroit has been
circled on his calendar all year. He called Kitna's comments
"classless" when the team returned from a long break after
beating Green Bay.
In the words of Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett, "in a sense,
we've all been called out."
It might not be the only comment Kitna ends up regretting. He
also insisted before the season that he'd be disappointed if the
Lions didn't win 10 games. That was a bit of bravado for the leader
of a team that lost an NFL-high 72 games over the previous six
seasons.
To avoid disappointment, the quarterback will have to help 6-6
Detroit pull off a stunning string of victories, starting with an
upset over Dallas.