FEEL-GOOD VIBE: Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett, in their Cowboys coaching debuts last week in a 23-10 win over the Colts at Texas Stadium, were all smiles and backpats – even during the game. Dallas avoided turnovers and limited penalties. The injury report isn’t lengthy. Peyton Manning’s first-team offense managed just three points. The Cowboys controlled time of possession. Bosses, you see, don’t HAVE to be jerks to get results.

TROY’S NAMETAG: Last week’s FOX telecast featured analyst Troy Aikman, who sat in a booth positioned directly above the Ring of Honor entry that reads. … “TROY AIKMAN.’’

KEITH GETS A SHOT: For safety Keith Davis, getting a shot is better than GETTING shot. A lot has changed in a year. He’s no longer in any immediate danger of gunfire. And he’s no longer a starter. But Ken Hamlin’s backup continued his fine summer by intercepting a third-quarter pass and returning it 41 yards for a TD and a 13-3 Dallas lead.

ARROWS IN THE QUIVER: Like multiple offensive weapons? Observers sometimes make too much of a QB’s ability to “spread it around’’; what difference does it make if two receivers each catch three passes or six receivers each catch one? But it was nevertheless encouraging to witness Dallas’ multi-faceted offense flex its muscles against a real live opponent. From Terrell Owens (who caught the first pass of the game for an eight-yard gain) to Anthony Fasano (who was bullish in moving downfield) to Julius Jones (the starter at running back) and Marion Barber, the Cowboys certainly seem to have a lot of arrows in their quiver.

Said Owens: “I envision myself getting a lot of catches early and often. But as you saw throughout the course of the game, the ball was distributed well.’’

T.O. VERSUS: There is this idea of “T.O. vs. Somebody’’ being an inevitability. Folks, we know the world anticipates a problem. We know maybe Owens has earned some of the cynicism. But the Cowboys – Romo, Wade, Jerry, Jason – are handling Terrell just right. If you saw Tony and T.O. talking on the sidelines, it simply felt nothing like Donovan and T.O. on the sidelines. There is no problem in sight.

HOT AND NOT AT QB: Some guy you never heard of named Matt Moore is hot. And no, we’re not suggesting the kid should leapfrog the old man on the depth chart. We’re just saying. … Brad Johnson, you’ve heard of. And he’s “not.’’ Again.

FAVE FIVE: Against Denver, the Cowboys plan on using their starting five O-linemen together for essentially the first time. Adams, Kosier, Gurode, Davis and Colombo. Lots of bulk. Lots of money. Lots of patience waiting for this thing to come together.

PASSING THE QB TORCH: Aikman raved about Garrett, as you might expect. Less expected: The obvious chemistry between the new O-coordinator and his quarterback Romo. Moments before the game, they were joshin’ and hand-shakin’ and grinnin’ and they came across like a couple of guys who’d known each other for years, who’ve enjoyed each other’s company for years. … and who might enjoy each other’s company for years to come.

Does somebody need to belittle Romo, to whip his ass, to get him to perform? His two possessions, resulting in a 15-play drive and a 13-play drive, plus his numbers (10 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a QB rating of 103.4) suggest that hugs and handshakes and smiles might work just as well.

BUCK-NAKED: Joe Buck is said to be one of the best in the business, but the FOX play-by-play guy was trying to serve too many masters in his Game 1 coverage. While saying nothing but nice things about the present Cowboys management (and even nice things about Terrell Owens and his “100-miles-per-hour work ethic) he made sure to note that former coach Bill Parcells was “a good guy.’’

Oh, right. They don’t come any gooder than InfalliBill.

JUNIOR MINTS: Relative unknown defender Junior Glymph is, for the second straight year, this team’s Mr. August.

CRISPY, TIMES TWO: No turnovers? And just five penalties for 40 yards? In a first preseason game? Almost unheard of. Said Phillips: “We didn't have any turnovers, I thought that was important. And we didn't have many penalties. So those two things were real positive for us."

DAS BOOT: Kickers Martin Gramatica and Nick Folk have created no real separation yet, each guy making his Game 1 field goals (two for Martin, one for rookie Nick). Joe Buck pointed out that Gramatica has been especially good at kickoffs during training camp, which WOULD be a separation. … except it ain’t true.

To Gramatica’s credit, though, in the game his kickoffs were solid goal-line reachers. Martin said something after the game about the fine work he’s been doing in the weight room. Or something like that.

KICKING THEMSELVES: This is certainly an “it’s-too-early’’ thing, because the guys covering Cowboys kickoffs in Game 1 might not even be NFL players. But Dallas did allow a 37-yarder to T.J. Rushing and a 40-yarder to Craphonso Thorpe.

MAMAS, DON’T LET. ..: Parents are forever trying to be clever in naming their babies. “T.J. Rushing’’? What a cool name for an NFL ball-carrier. “Craphonso Thorpe’’? Mamas, let your babies grow up to be Cowboys or Colts. … but please do so without naming them “Craphonso,’’ OK?

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