THE SIDELINES : Cowboys Turn to Referees for Help

First-year Dallas Cowboys Coach Jimmy Johnson has become so frustrated by the club’s worst start in 26 years that he has turned to the referees for help.

So while Johnson on Monday was making an assortment of roster moves that now seem commonplace, he also announced the organization would try to hire officials to work practices.

“We are in the process right now of trying to hire officials, possibly retired NFL officials, or if nothing else college officials or high school officials,” Johnson said. “We need someone with a black-and-white shirt to go out and work our Wednesday and Thursday practices, to work with the defensive backfield and the receivers and the offensive line.”

Johnson’s comments came one day after the Cowboys lost 27-21 to the Atlanta Falcons. Dallas, the most penalized team in the NFL last season, has been penalized 18 times for 176 yards in its first two games.