IRVING, Texas – Struggling Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne didn't sound like a player lacking confidence on Wednesday.
"I don't know why everybody keeps saying that," Claiborne said at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch practice facility. "It's just one of those things. Guys catch balls in the NFL every day. It's just the way you take it. You have to bounce back and keep playing."
Perhaps people are saying that because Claiborne himself said he was struggling with the transition to playing more zone coverage on a Dallas radio station Tuesday night.
And then there's head coach Jason Garrett, who said Claiborne's struggles are a combination of lack technique and confidence.
"That's the head coach," Claiborne said. "Whatever he says, he thinks what's going on, you have to try to fix that. On one play I think my footwork and technique could have been better and that's the play that he was pointing out."
Claiborne said his injured shoulder is not the reason for his struggles, although he said he continues to take a painkilling shot before games.
"It's not much of an issue," Claiborne said. "It's one of those things, if I hit it, it will probably hurt for a while. In the circumstance of it coming out and coming back in, I haven't had that yet."
But the circumstance of Claiborne giving up big plays will likely continue, especially with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos coming to town.
"I think it's ridiculous to say, 'I'm going to go out today and nobody's going to catch a ball on me.' That's ridiculous," Claiborne said. "Everybody gets balls caught on them, each and every day, I don't care who you are, playing corner. It's what you do after. You have to bounce back from that, try not to let it happen again."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
