Cowboys’ cornerback Newman has sideline confrontation with secondary coach Campo

Cowboys’ Newman and Campo have confrontation

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman and secondary coach Dave Campo had a brief physical confrontation on the sideline Sunday, though Campo and head coach Wade Phillips both downplayed the incident after Dallas’ 7-6 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Newman was coming off the field after a series in the first quarter when Campo tried to stop him. Newman pushed away from the coach and they exchanged words.

“I was trying to stop him from keeping going and he thought I grabbed him. He just kind of bowed up,” Campo said. “We were a little upset. It was between family. No harm, no foul.”

When asked what happened, Newman refused to explain or even comment, other than saying, “I have no idea.” When other reporters approached, he repeatedly said, “Nothing here fellas.”

Phillips, who is also the team’s defensive coordinator, described it as a “heated moment in the game, and we don’t count any of that.”

Campo wouldn’t say why he was trying to stop Newman, who had only one tackle in the game.

The incident occurred after Washington’s second offensive possession of the game. Jason Campbell completed a 26-yard pass to Devin Thomas to convert a third-and-13 on that drive before the Redskins were stopped on another third-and-13 and forced to punt.

Newman was penalized for illegal contact on the first play of the next Redskins drive, a penalty that wiped out a sack by Keith Brooking.