“Bill’s all about comfort and what he feels good with,” tight end Jason Witten said.

“I don’t know what message (Parcells) is trying to send. I just think he wants to win,” said Tony Romo, who has led Dallas to a 4-1 record since replacing Drew Bledsoe as the starting quarterback. “Any position in this room needs to play well and needs to perform well on Sunday, and prove it to Bill.”

Gramatica was out of the NFL last season and cut by New England in the preseason when the Patriots decided to go with rookie Stephen Gostkowski.

When Adam Vinatieri was injured earlier this season, Gramatica played three games for the Colts. He attempted only one field goal, making a 20-yarder.

“That really doesn’t show much, but physically I feel good,” Gramatica said. “I had surgery a couple of years ago, and I think I fixed the problem that I had in my leg.”

Vanderjagt became dispensable when the Colts signed Vinatieri, who had two game-winning Super Bowl kicks for New England. Vanderjagt’s last kick for Indianapolis was a badly missed field goal that kept the Colts from forcing overtime against Pittsburgh in last year’s playoffs.

The Cowboys gave Vanderjagt a three-year, $5.4 million contract that included a $2.5 million signing bonus.

Gramatica was a third-round pick by Tampa Bay in 1999. He made the Pro Bowl in 2001, helped Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl in 2002 and then was so accurate that he was nicknamed “Automatica.”

But since that Super Bowl, Gramatica has been slowed by injuries and is only 28-of-46.

“That’s the past, I don’t really want to talk about that,” said Gramatica, who turned 31 Monday. “All I’m really focusing on is on the future, and I feel great right now.”

So what about stepping in late in the season for the Cowboys in the playoff chase?

NFL What’s on tap for Week 15’s matchups?

“I hope I can help the team,” he said. “It’s not as easy as starting in the preseason, getting warmup games. I have to be ready for whatever comes.”

Gramatica said he has been working out, and that it was hard being at home when he still felt he could play.

Parcells certainly hopes he can still play.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

“I know what his track record is. And I know in 2003-2004, I know why he had some problems kicking and I know why he was out of football in 2005, and I know where he was this summer,” Parcells said. “I have good information from the people that had him this summer; they were very positive about it. I looked at everything.”

Including Gramatica’s postseason success, making 11 of 12 field goals.

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Thanksgiving games are just turkeys Live: Follow Texans vs. Titans on Monday Night Football ‘Rogue tweeter’ hacks account of Jets’ Clowney PFT: Batch out — Steelers start to make calls PFT: Roethlisberger ‘appears well enough’ to play Rosenthal: Steelers’ playoff future slipping away PFT: Belichick says Saints are best team in football PFT: Lions coach takes issue with Mangini’s comments PFT: Bills contact Cowher, who says no ... for now PFT: Rams’ Bulger out 3-6 weeks with fractured knee NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: