11/21/11 Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Redskins-Cowboys notebook
Redskins notes: Choice’s chance ends in loss
By Aaron Bracy
Special to the Star-Telegram
LANDOVER, Md. — It was just a 9-yard gain, but you would have thought it was a touchdown the way Tashard Choice reacted.
Choice, signed by the Washington Redskins on Oct. 31 after being released by the Dallas Cowboys, celebrated the run and appeared to give a stare toward the Dallas sideline.
“It felt good to get my feet wet a little bit,” Choice said following the Cowboys’ 27-24 overtime win. “It was cool, but I wish we would’ve won the game.”
The 9-yard run was Choice’s first as a Redskin after sitting out Washington’s loss against Miami last week with a nagging hamstring injury. An early-season shoulder injury also hampered Choice and, along with the emergence of DeMarco Murray, he was limited to just 75 yards on 28 carries in six games for the Cowboys.
Thus, he was cut by Dallas but quickly picked up by Washington, which was in need of help in the backfield.
“I’m just really thankful to be out there and be back on the field,” said Choice, who amassed 1,139 yards and 8 TDs on 250 carries in three-plus seasons for the Cowboys.
Choice finished with 7 yards on six attempts. He was called upon twice in crucial spots, on the Dallas 2-yard line in the second quarter and again on the final drive in regulation. He was stopped for losses each time, although Washington eventually scored on both drives.
“I just wish I could’ve got it in right there,” he said of the final drive.
The big miss
Redskins kicker Graham Gano hurried one more warm-up kick as the teams were taking the field to start overtime. He moved back to about 55 yards and smoothly kicked it through the uprights, just as the Cowboys were lining up for the kickoff.
Gano likely wishes the practice kick counted, because he got a chance for real from nearly the same spot. He missed wide to the right from 52 yards in overtime on a kick that would’ve won the game.
“Missed it, that’s it,” Gano said. “It felt good, but obviously it wasn’t.”
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Gano’s consistency in practice made the decision to attempt the game-winner, rather than punt, an easy one.
“I love those opportunities and to not pull through is very disappointing to me,” Gano said. “The odds of making those aren’t good anyway, but I feel I’m more than capable of making those, so I’m definitely disappointed.”
It was the second miss of the day for Gano, who was wide right on a 49-yarder early in the third quarter.
Bowen gets sack
Former Cowboys lineman Stephen Bowen continued his strong first season in Washington, sacking Tony Romo for a 4-yard loss early in the third quarter.
Bowen, signed as a free agent in the summer, has a career-best season total of 41/2 sacks.
He had 51/2 sacks in a mostly reserve role in five seasons in Dallas.
Bowen also had one tackle.
Briefly
Donte’ Stallworth, who was signed last week after being cut the week before, had four catches for 51 yards. The highlight was a 4-yard TD catch on a fade route with 14 seconds left in regulation.
In his second game back in the starting lineup after being benched for three, Rex Grossman passed for 289 yards with two TDs and an interception.
