Parcells will keep striving for playoffs

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Bill Parcells isn't worried about the long-term future and the Dallas Cowboys are still in playoff contention in the miserable NFC. So the coach's decision was easy and expected.

Rookie Drew Henson, whose starting debut lasted only a half, is going back into watch-and-learn mode. And 41-year-old Vinny Testaverde is the starting quarterback again for the Cowboys (4-7).

"He gives us the best chance to win," Parcells said Tuesday. "That's what I'm interested in doing, if we can."

Henson got his long-awaited first start against Chicago last Thursday after a sore Testaverde was limited in practice. But Testaverde returned after halftime in a tie game, and the Cowboys won 21-7.

While Henson is the quarterback of the future, Parcells remains focused on winning now.

"My mind only works basically this week, this season," he said. "That is what my responsibility is, to try to get the most out of this team this year. You don't necessarily set things up in the future by altering that. You might do things that act as a deterrent for the future."

By beating the Bears, the Cowboys snapped a three-game losing streak and became one of seven 4-7 teams in the NFC.

Even while trying to avoid playoff talk, Parcells made it clear he's aware of his team's standing, even though the Cowboys have already lost more games than in his 10-6 debut last season.

Take out the four division leaders, and there are just three other teams with more wins than Dallas in the chase for two wild-card spots. The Cowboys play Monday night at NFC West leader Seattle (6-5).

"I've been around long enough to have seen teams recover," Parcells said. "I think someone in this NFC, and I could be wrong, could make a run at this that doesn't appear to have had a chance."

A .500 record may just be enough to get into the NFC playoffs this season. So Parcells figures why not the Cowboys?

"We have an opportunity," he said. "If we play well Monday, a lot of things will have changed probably in our favor."

Gramatica was replaced by Arena Football League kicker Jay Taylor, who will make his NFL debut Sunday against Atlanta. Taylor played in the AFL for the Orlando Predators and coach Jay Gruden, the younger brother of Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden.