Johnson Blows Cool After 27-0 Humiliation : Cowboys: Coach claims fights started because Eagles had bounties on quarterback Troy Aikman and kicker Luis Zendejas.

Dallas Cowboy Coach Jimmy Johnson and his Philadelphia counterpart, Buddy Ryan, exchanged greetings before their Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium.

But after the Eagles shut out Dallas, 27-0, handing the Cowboys their worst loss in 22 Thanksgiving Day games, Johnson wasn’t in the mood to wish Ryan a happy holiday. Instead, Johnson claimed Philadelphia had a bounty out on two of his players.

“I have no respect for the way Philadelphia played the game,” Johnson said. “An (Eagle) assistant coach told us last night and it was verified by two players today that there was a $200 bounty on (kicker) Luis Zendejas and $500 on (quarterback) Troy Aikman. I will file a protest to the league office.

“I wanted to say something to Buddy but he put his rear end into the dressing room.”

During the game, Zendejas, who was cut by Ryan two weeks ago, was hit in the head by linebacker Jessie Small after a kickoff.

“I told Zendejas it was no big deal and I was just doing my job,” Small said. “Coach Ryan is a good, honest coach and he doesn’t pay anybody for that.”

Eagle defensive tackle Mike Pitts was ejected in the first half for throwing a punch during one in a series of altercations. This one was triggered when Aikman, the Cowboys’ high-priced rookie quarterback, was belted after the Eagles jumped offside.

Ryan laughed when told about Johnson’s charge.

“I don’t play that game,” he said. “That’s ridiculous. Players always talk like that. It’s not even worth responding to.”

Ironically, Ryan and Johnson met at midfield before the game, shook hands and exchanged a few quips. Ryan criticized Johnson after the Cowboys hired the former Miami of Florida coach, warning him that “there are no East Carolinas in the NFL.”

It’s not the first time there have been hard feelings between the two teams. Two years ago, Ryan had Randall Cunningham fake kneeling down and throw a long pass to help run up the score in a 37-20 victory when Tom Landry was coaching the Cowboys.