As reported by the Associated Press, wide receiver Antonio Bryant reportedly fought with head coach Bill Parcells during practice and was ejected by club security.

Witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity told both the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the confrontation began when Bryant complained about his role as the team's third receiver and the number of repetitions he was getting during a drill.

Bryant got into separate arguments with receivers coach Todd Haley and Keyshawn Johnson. When Parcells told Bryant to stop, the third-year player took off his pads and jersey, slammed them to the ground and began to leave the practice field.

Sources told the Star-Telegram that Parcells picked up the jersey and threw it back at Bryant, who then threw it in the face of the approaching coach.

Bryant was then escorted out of practice by security personnel after several players jumped in to intervene.

Bryant's agent, Lamont Smith, said he was aware of the incident and "it's being worked out internally with the team."

But the confrontation has clouded the player's future with the team, one day after the conclusion of the team's three-day mini-camp and was part of a series of on-field activities Parcells is conducting until the end of the week.

The Cowboys were scheduled to report to training camp Jul. 30.

Although Bryant has often complained about his role in Dallas and had other practice-field and sideline blowups, he was expected to be a key member of the Cowboys' receiving corps.

Taken in the second round of the 2002 draft, Bryant earned all-rookie honors in 2002 after catching 44 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns. Bryant caught 39 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns last year as the third receiver behind Joey Galloway and Terry Glenn.

This year, Bryant was set to be the third receiver behind Glenn and Johnson, who was acquired from Tampa Bay in a trade for Galloway.

Also of interest. ...

According to Star-Telegram staff writer Jennifer Floyd Engel, while discussing areas in need of improvement this season, Parcells said, "Score more points, throw less interceptions, create more turnovers."

Parcells, however, said he was not implying the Cowboys needed to be better at quarterback to be better overall.

"I don't want the onus to be on the quarterback position," he said. "We have to be better offensively. We've got to score more points and turn it over less, and most of our turnovers were in the interception area."

The quarterback who shows he can take care of the football the best is likely to win the starting job -- and it is becoming more and more evident there is a competition for the job, with no front-runners. Parcells said Monday he intends to keep rotating snaps equally between Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Tony Romo, during the three-day mini-camp.

"Probably so for a little while, and then I don't have enough time," Parcells said. "I will say, and don't hold me to this because I reserve the right to change my mind, I will try to keep it pretty status quo maybe into the first two preseason games and then after that. ..."

In an article published Monday, Morning News beat man Jean-Jacques Taylor advised readers that Testaverde has been promised an opportunity to compete with Carter for the starting job.

Testaverde, who was solid in seven starts with the Jets last year, still has a powerful arm but lacks mobility.

Taylor added: "If he doesn't get the starting nod, Testaverde will do everything to help Carter and the other quarterbacks improve."

Well, maybe not all of them. ...

According to the Sporting News, the Cowboys are expected to cut Chad Hutchinson after June 14th. After the date, the Cowboys get a roster exemption for sending Hutchinson to NFL Europe.

And finally. ...

Parcells won't be fined by the NFL for calling surprise plays used in practice "Jap plays," a remark for which he later apologized.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday that no action would be taken by the league against the Dallas Cowboys coach.

Parcells made the remark, an apparent reference to Japan's 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, while talking to reporters during the Cowboys' mini-camp Monday.

Later in the day, Parcells issued a statement apologizing.

"I made a very inappropriate reference, and although I prefaced it with the remark, 'no disrespect to anyone intended,' it was still uncalled for and inconsiderate," he said. "For that I apologize to anyone who may have been offended."