Postcard from London: Football worlds collide when Dallas Cowboys, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players share sports

Two different football worlds collided Tuesday during the Dallas Cowboys’ first day in London. And it often wasn’t a pretty sight.

The Cowboys teamed up with soccer players from Tottenham Hotspur F.C. of the English Premier League to teach elementary-aged children from Wembley Primary School about NFL football and soccer in a Play 60 community event on the pitch just outside of Wembley Stadium.

The children were all smiles during the drills. But when Tottenham Hotspur players tried to throw a football and Cowboys players tried to kick a soccer ball, the results weren’t peachy keen.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Dez Bryant laughed from a distance as they watched Tottenham players attempt passes to each other. The soccer players threw the football more like someone pitching in cricket. Their over-the-top, windmill windups didn’t produce any spirals.

Cowboys backup quarterback Brandon Weeden offered his help.

“I tried,” Weeden said. “They got a long ways to go.”

On another pitch nearby, Cowboys defensive players took some soccer lessons from the pros. One of the Tottenham players showed Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick how to kick the soccer ball with the side of his foot instead of using all toes to try to score on Cowboys rookie cornerback Tyler Patmon in goal.

Scandrick’s next few attempts went well wide.

Suddenly, this young boy wearing Nikes takes his shot with Scandrick in goal.

“Come on, little man, I’ll take your Euros,” Scandrick said, taunting the boy. Someone yells at Scandrick, “It’s Pounds. Not Euros.”

The boy, who wasn’t even waist-high to Scandrick, kicked the soccer ball into the corner of the net, right past the Cowboys cornerback who never moved.

All Scandrick could do was smile.

Meanwhile, Cowboys tight end Jason Witten tried to use a local expression with one of the boys when he dropped a “cheerio.” And the boy gave Witten a strange look.

“Either my accent wasn’t good,” Witten said, “or that wasn’t the way to say it.”