| | Associated Press
TOKYO -- The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons touched down
in Tokyo on Thursday for a preseason NFL showdown after a grueling
flight that caused some good-natured grumbling.
The two teams meet Sunday in the American Bowl at the
50,000-seat Tokyo Dome for the 35th edition of the annual overseas
matchup. Sunday's game will be the 10th American Bowl played in Japan.
The Cowboys have more American Bowl experience with seven
appearances, against none for Atlanta. But there's something about
playing on foreign turf that seems to have jinxed them: Dallas'
record in the series is 0-6-1.
And some of the players were none too excited about the 13-hour
flight. "When you've been playing 10 years and been through 10 camps,
you just don't want to travel," said veteran Cowboys tight end
Jackie Harris before leaving Texas.
On the other hand, there's plenty of motivation to shine for at
least one member of the Falcons camp: quarterback Tony Graziani.
Not only is Graziani fighting for the spot as Atlanta's
second-string QB, he's become something of a collector of touchdown
passes in far-flung places.
Graziani wants to make Japan the sixth country where he's
connected in the end zone, after the United States, Spain, Britain,
Germany and the Netherlands. The quarterback played last season for
the Barcelona Dragons in the NFL's Europe League.
As part of American Bowl tradition, the teams have invited
Japanese stars to join their roster, but it remained unclear if
they would get playing time. NFL spokesman Pete Abitante said the knowledge of football among
fans in Japan has improved dramatically.
Linebacker Masufumi Kawaguchi and receiver Masato Itai, who have
played in NFL Europe, will suit up for the Cowboys, while tight end
Nachi Abe was on the roster for Atlanta.
Kawaguchi said during practice with the Cowboys that he's eager
to get noticed, even if that means playing on the special teams squad. | |
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