[Buckskin86]

Facing Cowboys more emotional than usual for Redskins' Springs
By Jaime Aron, AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas ? With his father in a coma and doctors offering little hope for recovery, Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs has needed football more than ever the last month.
Practices and games have been the only ways of escape from his sorrow. Until now.

On Sunday, Springs will play at Texas Stadium against his dad's old team, the Dallas Cowboys. Memories of his dad, Ron Springs, will be everywhere, probably dredging up some long-forgotten stories.

"I grew up being at Texas Stadium, being at the locker room," said Shawn Springs, who was 4 when his dad was a rookie in 1979, and 9 when Ron left to finish his career in Tampa Bay. "Tony Dorsett, Everson Walls, all those old Cowboys are our family. I used to wear Cowboys pajamas and stuff like that. So going down to Texas Stadium might be a little tough."

The Springs saga puts a new twist on this old, bitter rivalry. Under these circumstances, Cowboys fans have to be rooting for Shawn and Redskins fans hoping the best for Ron. Of course, that won't have anything to with the scoreboard Sunday.

Facing Cowboys more emotional than usual for Redskins' Springs - USATODAY.com