Down In The Big-D

Anybody out there heading to the new Cowboys Stadium for Sunday night should be aware of a couple of things. Tales about construction-snarled traffic already have taken on legendary proportions. And I just read in the Dallas Morning News that the team-owned parking lots are charging $75 smackeroos, and they're still a hike away from the stadium.

Speaking of playing the first regular-season game in a new stadium, Tom Coughlin said he's not going to prepare his team any differently. He had thought about taking them in there a day early to get the feel of the place, but discarded the idea.

"It's gonna be a long ride and we've got some work to do," Coughlin said. "I don't think so. We thought about it."

And the aura?

"We know there's going to be an excitement about opening a new stadium," Coughlin said. "I'm sure there'll be opportunities for the players to see it. Once we do that, we'll be all right."

If the Giants were smart, they'll adopt the same mindset as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys have had two preseason games in the new joint, so they're used to the new surroundings. Then again, once you're playing the game, it's not unlike the old place, or any other place, for that matter.

"When you get out there, it's just like the movie 'Hoosiers.' The goal is still 10 feet, it's still 15 feet to the free throw line. The field's still 100 yards long, and if you go out there and understand that, you can still do the same stuff."

Romo, by the way, said the ankle he injured during the Tampa Bay game was doing fine.

EP