Cowboys Corner

Texans sign ex-Cowboy Alan Ball as well as Arlington Grace Prep product

The Houston Texans signed former Cowboys cornerback Alan Ball on Saturday. They also signed former Arlington Grace Prep running back Justin Forsett.

Ball, 27, made 18 starts for the Cowboys. He has three interceptions the past two seasons. The Cowboys did not try to re-sign Ball after getting former Kansas City cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency and trading up to draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Forsett, 26, spent the past four seasons with the Seahawks, making seven starts with 1,287 rushing yards.

-- Charean Williams

Cowboys cut kicker Jake Rogers

The Cowboys released kicker Jake Rogers. Rogers was claimed by Dallas via waivers on May 8 from Tampa Bay. Rogers signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent last year but was released on Aug. 3, 2011. He spent a month with Tampa Bay after signing with the Bucs on Aug. 5. Rogers spent the remainder of the 2011 season out of football before re-signing with Tampa on Jan. 5, 2012.

Cowboys rookie Tyrone Crawford says he got here by playing hard, never noticed murmur

Defensive end Tyrone Crawford said he’s gotten this far by playing as hard as he can, despite the heart murmur that was detected at the NFL Combine.

“It’s something they said wasn’t as serious as it sounds,” the third-round pick out of Boise State said after an OTA practice this week. “So it’s something they’re going to check every three to four years, just monitor it. But I’ve gotten this far going as hard as I can every day, doing everything that I’ve done so far, and I’ve never noticed it. I never knew I had it until the combine, so I’m good with it.”

Heart murmurs are an unusual sound or rhythm in the heart beat. They are not diseases, and largely harmless. But they can signal the presence of a problem.

The Cowboys were confident enough to draft Crawford, however, so what he feels bad about more is not being able to practice right now. He has a calf strain that is holding him back.

“Not being able to participate like I want physically with everyone else is another mental challenge I’ve got to get over,” he said. But it’s easy to come in here with the guys we have and be positive every day, learn a lot from my coaches, learn a lot from the guys I’ll be playing behind.”

Asked if he was afraid the injury is setting him back, Crawford said, “It’s gone through my head. But I’m just ready to rehab it and get going and get back on the field.”

Crawford said he couldn’t say yet when he’d be 100 percent.

The Cowboys have another four days of OTAs next week, then a three-day minicamp the following week. There are three practices for rookies and selected veterans July 25-27 at Valley Ranch before training camp starts July 30 in Oxnard.

“It’s definitely different to be in the training room, not out there practicing, missing practices,” Crawford said. “But it happened. I just have to come in here positive every day and get it better.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Garrett expects Tyron Smith to develop at left tackle like he did at right tackle

The Cowboys got what they expected last year when they put their No. 1 pick, Tyron Smith, at right tackle and let him go.

He learned, got better and survived.

Now they expect the same thing this year when they move him to left tackle.

That he’ll learn, get better and survive.

“If you remember, Tyron last year was a Minute 1 starter for us when we started training camp, a young kid, 20 years old at the time, no offseason and stepped in and just said, ‘OK, I’ll fight my way through these mistakes. I understand what’s going on. I can play at the level they need me to play at.’ And he got better and better every day. We expect him to take the same approach when he moves over to the left side.”

Smith started every game at right tackle last year after being taken with the ninth pick out of USC. He was so young last year, he’s still the youngest player on the team this year – including this year’s draft class.

But he’s mature mentally, which is one thing the Cowboys liked when they evaluated him.

“He’s a pretty serious-minded guy,” Garrett said. “There’s no question about that. One of the things that we felt like we knew about him when we drafted him was he was tough. He was tough physically, and he was tough mentally, and he was willing to work. That was every report we got from the people at USC. We’ve been given no indication that the report from college is any different from what we’ve seen. He’s been that way since Day 1.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Jerry Jones says Garrett can both learn on the job and take Cowboys where they want to go

The Cowboys want their players to perform up to their potential, but not only them.

Owner Jerry Jones said that includes head coach Jason Garrett.

“We need him to be coaching at a level that can get us where we want to go next year,” Jones said this week at an OTA practice at Cowboys Stadium. “If he can do that, and I think he has the potential to do that, it’s almost unthinkable of what he could become over the years as a head coach.”

Garrett will be entering his second full season as Cowboys’ head coach.

He took over in mid-season in 2010 for Wade Phillips, who was fired after a 1-7 start. Under Garrett – a first-time head coach – the Cowboys finished that year 5-3 and went 8-8 last season.

“I think Jason is just in the first steps out of the box,” Jones said. “With his intellect and with his passion and his temperament – he’s an overachiever, but a smart one – I think the sky is the limit for him. Lou Holtz told me he’s got a real challenge, talking about Jason. He said, ‘I made my early head coaching mistakes at Appalachian State. Nobody cared.’ With all due respect, nobody cared. When Jason makes one it’s with the Dallas Cowboys. Big difference.”

Garrett drew criticism down the stretch, when the Cowboys lost four of their last five games, including the season finale that would have given them the NFC East title and a playoff berth.

Against Arizona, Garrett used a timeout that interrupted a field goal that would have won the game. The next week, in a home game against the Giants, Garrett was late with a timeout that could have saved time for a last-minute drive.

Garrett said Wednesday he knows improvement is important, and that there is no area where he cannot improve.

“Every phase of my job, I have to get better at,” he said. “I have to get better at the leadership phase. I have to get better at the organizational phase. I’ve got to get better at what we’re doing on offense, how we’re doing things on defense and in the kicking game. I never look at any part of my job and say, “Boy, I’ve got that down.”

Garrett said he judges his success like everyone else in professional sports – by winning.

“Everybody who is in our business knows it’s a bottom-line business,” he said. “You have to win. If you don’t win, you’re not going to be here for very long. I understood that early on as a player. I certainly understand that as a coach. Having said that, if you’re so focused on the bottom line or the result in what you do, in or out of football, you’re not going to be your best, in my opinion. I think you have to focus on the process. I think you have to focus on whatever you’re doing, doing it to the best of your ability and doing it with the best people you can do it with and then constantly evaluating what you’re doing and improving upon on what you’re doing. That’s the approach that we take in this organization.”

Garrett, 46, played 12 years in the NFL, was an assistant coach for five years and is the son of a 21-year veteran scout for the Cowboys, Jim Garrett.

But even with that background, he must learn on the job as a head coach and yet deliver results.

“That’s the challenge for him,” Jones said. “He’s up to it. He’s got the right stuff to effectively learn as he goes and, at the same time, coach at a level that will get us to where we want to go next year. He’s very up to it. I don’t know of anybody else in the country that has that upside potential, yet is capable as he is to get the job done this year. That’s why I’m excited about him being our head coach.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Jerry Jones wants Dez Bryant to gain a sense of when to go for punts and when not to

Dez Bryant spent part of Wednesday’s OTA working on punt returns, which is fine with owner Jerry Jones.

He just wants his receiver to get a feel for when to go for the ball and when not to, perhaps as a chance to reduce the risk of injury. Bryant suffered a thigh bruise returning a punt in Week 1 last year at the New York Jets.

“I have no issue with us making business decisions relative to him returning punts,” Jones said to reporters watching the practice at Cowboys Stadium. “What I do want him to do is to get enough repetitions so he can have a sense of fielding them and when to field them and when not to field them and make those kinds of judgments. But I like him back there to use him when we’ve got a long field or a chance for a return. He’s quite a weapon and I’m for using him.”

Bryant said last week that the early-season injury a year ago limited him all year.

Jones said he knew it did, but he still wants Bryant to get chances to make an impact in every game possible.

“I know that he did deal with that throughout the year,” Jones said. “I don’t know that it impacted some of the things that he needs to work on, and we need to work on as a coaching staff, to get him the ball and get him into plays."

Bryant averaged 14.3 yards on 15 punt returns as a rookie and 6.9 yards on 15 returns last year.

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Jones: Cowboys, Bryant working on him being more impactful late in games

 

Wide receiver Dez Bryant only missed one game last year but everyone knows he was limited throughout the season because of a deep thigh bruise he suffered in the season opener.

Bryant has admitted as much and owner Jerry Jones understands as much.

Still, according to Jones that doesn't fully explain Bryant's penchant for disappearing late in games. Whether it was because of a lack of conditioning or lack of concentration, Jones said those are things Bryant and the Cowboys are working on this offseason because he needs to be a factor when it matters most late in games.

“Well, I know that he did deal with that throughout the year," Jones said of the thigh bruise. "I don’t know that it impacted some of the things that he needs to work on, and we need to work on as a coaching staff, to get him the ball and get him into plays. When he would lose concentration in the last part of the game, I don’t know if that was because of conditioning. I suspect it could’ve been. That’s not be critical, but I suspect that, rather the injury had anything to do with that or not, those are the things that we’re working on so he can be more impactful in the latter part of the game and we can do the kinds of things we need to do to get him the ball. Now, Miles Austin being out there is going to help that tremendously.”

Clarence Hill 

 

Rob Ryan: Free Agent CB Brandon Carr is better than expected, can cover anybody and is truly special

 

Forget the fuss about cornerback Mike Jenkins' holdout and first round pick Morris Claiborne, considering that neither are currently healthy and on the field.

Free agent signee Brandon Carr is out there for OTA workouts and he is the one turning heads. Carr, who signed a five-year/$50.1 million contract, has defensive coordinator Rob Ryan gushing with praise cause he's better than expected. 

"He’s actually better," Ryan said of Carr. "He’s outstanding. I knew he was great, but the guy is special."

Why?

"Just because he shuts down everybody," Ryan said. "He can cover anybody. He’s got long arms, great length and he’s a great person who works his tail off. He takes coaching, and I’m really impressed with him."

Ryan said he likes all of his cornerbacks but he said if they need to shut somebody down, he will go with Carr. He will be the one who takes on the top receiver on the opposing team. 
 "I would think so," Ryan said. "But obviously we’ve got several corners that can play. so we’ll see how it goes, but if we need to shut somebody down, or put him on a bigger guy, I’m sure brandon will be up to the challenge."

Clarence Hill 

 

Rob Ryan on Morris Claiborne: We didn't move up in the draft to get a guy who's not going to play

The Cowboys have yet to see Morris Claiborne in action. He still is recovering from left wrist surgery and is not expected to be practicing until training camp in July. Still, the Cowboys like what they have seen enough to all but hand him the starting job.

They drafted Claiborne sixth overall to shore up their secondary. The Cowboys have been among the team's all-time worst pass defenses the past two seasons. They gave up 3,906 passing yards in 2011 after allowing 3,891 in 2010.

"In my opinion, everybody earns however many reps they get or their starting spot," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "Obviously, this guy’s a unique talent. We didn’t move up in the draft to get a guy that’s not going to play. We’ve got an outstanding guy here."

That leaves Mike Jenkins as the odd man out, considering the Cowboys signed Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal. Orlando Scandrick, whom Dallas signed to a five-year, $20.5 million extension last summer, is the nickel back.

"The biggest thing with Mike is, he’s a fine football player, but he’s got to get well," Ryan said referring to Jenkins' shoulder injury. "To compete with this young man, he’s going to have to get better, to get healthy and then go out and play against Morris Claiborne."

It could be that the Cowboys' refusal to trade Jenkins has to do with Claiborne not being healthy yet. The Cowboys had injuries to Jenkins, Scandrick and Terence Newman last season that got Alan Ball and Frank Walker on the field far too much.

"We know in this league you need guys who can cover, and you need a lot of them," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "Anybody who watched our team last year understood the injury situations that we had, and we were getting down to our third, fourth and fifth corner really quickly. So when teams are putting three receivers out there, four receivers out there and sometimes five receivers out there, you have to have an arsenal of guys who can cover. We think that’s an important thing. We think we made a lot of moves to help us in that area. The specifics of how we use those guys is yet to be determined."

-- Charean Williams

 

 

QB Rudy Carpenter has an oblique strain that is keeping him from throwing

Rudy Carpenter's bid for the No. 3 quarterback job has become a pain in his side. Carpenter strained an oblique muscle and has not been able to throw much during OTAs.

Carpenter said he was injured during one of the quarterbacks' throwing sessions before the organzied team activities started.

"It was kind of random," Carpenter said. "I've never done it before."

Carpenter, who will compete with Stephen McGee for the third spot behind Tony Romo and Kyle Orton, hopes to be 100 percent -- and participating fully in the OTAs -- next week.

"They just want me to be 100 percent before I throw," Carpenter said.

The Cowboys signed Carpenter as an undrafted free agent in 2009, the same year they drafted McGee in the fourth round. In the end, Dallas kept McGee over Carpenter on the active roster, even though Carpenter outplayed McGee. The Cowboys signed Carpenter to the practice squad that season before Tampa Bay signed him to its active roster.

Having been here before, Carpenter said he is very comfortable in the Cowboys' offense.

"When I was here before, I felt like really comfortable as far as knowing what's expected of me, and I felt really comfortable in knowing the offense and knowing how to execute the offense, which is why in the only chance I got to play I was able to play pretty well," Carpenter said. "But I just think the circumstances were different then. So I feel like this time around, I really know what I'm doing. I think the learning curve is a lot less. I feel like I can run the offense when I go in there now."

Carpenter, 26, got into one regular-season game with the Bucs last season, although he didn't throw a pass. In the 2011 preseason, Carpenter completed 24 of 42 passes for 388 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 104.1 passer rating.

-- Charean Williams

 

Mike Jenkins' agent says he'll be at mandatory mini-camp, according to Jerry Jones

Mike Jenkins hasn’t made an OTA workout yet, but Jerry Jones said the veteran cornerback will be at the mandatory mini-camp in two weeks.

At least that’s what he’s heard.

“I haven’t talked to him about those kinds of things, but I do know his agent said he will be here, for sure,” Jones said Wednesday at Cowboys Stadium, where the Cowboys conducted their fifth OTA practice of the offseason. “And he’s never not been to anything mandatory.”

Jenkins is in Florida rehabbing from shoulder surgery. The Star-Telegram reported last week that he requested a trade following the Cowboys’ moves to acquire free agent cornerback Brandon Carr and draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Jones said Jenkins’ absence from the voluntary OTAs is not an issue.

“I understand why it would be an issue,” Jones said. “But there is nothing that I can see – no draft pick that I am interested in, no draft pick that I am interested in – that could help our team more than Jenkins can.”

Asked if he is afraid Jenkins is pouting, Jones said no.

“I just think he’s probably getting in shape, getting ready to play,” Jones said. “There is no question that he wants to play. And he can come in here and maybe be a part  of something very special, a concept that is very special. We have that kind of talent, that kind of size in corners. And he could have a year that would put him in great shape for his future, and certainly done what he was contracted and paid to do and what he should be doing. And that’s help the Dallas Cowboys win a world championship.”

Jones said he is not listening to offers for Jenkins.

And he said he hasn’t shopped him.

“Not at all,” Jones said. “There is nobody who can need Jenkins more than the Cowboys.”

Cowboys QB Tony Romo on Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett and Terrell Owens

Tony Romo met with reporters after throwing out the first pitch at Rangers Ballpark. He addressed a variety of topics, including playing for Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett wanting to get better and Terrell Owens getting released.

Romo on Jerry Jones wanting to win: "As badly as I want to win and I feel like sometimes I need to -- it’s hard because I’m so competitive -- feel like you want to do anything possible to get there. I love Jerry just for the fact he has the same approach. I think every owner wants to win, but Jerry’s decisions are going to do whatever gives us the best chance to win right now, right at this moment and I love that. That’s all that you play for, what’s going to happen right now? And this upcoming season is the most important season we’ve ever had, and that’s the approach that you take."

On Jerry Jones' passion: "I’ve always felt it from him and I love the passion that he has because usally the same stuff he feels or says is the exact same way I feel. That sense of urgency is absolutely there and I love having an owner like that who knows it’s about right now. To me, that makes it fun to know that our team is going to be better this year. And I really firmly believe that we’re going to be an improved ball club, and that’s exciting for me. The way the guys have come to work and way the OTAs and the offseason have gone, it’s been great to see."

On coach Jason Garrett wanting to improve: "If you’re not improving, you’re getting worse so I feel like that’s just part of being good at your job. You have to want to improve. If you think you’ve arrived or gotten there, then you’re just waiting to be obsolete and move on. ... Its’ exactly the approach that everyone should have on our football team. Everyone has to get better and I think guys have done a good job of that this year."

On Terrell Owens getting released: "No comment on that stuff."

On Rangers/ Mavericks success: "It’s great. I think it’s exciting. Hopefully we can follow suit with what the Mavericks and Rangers have been able to eaccomplished, continuing to raise the bar around here. Hopefully it’s our turn going forward."

On pressure to perform: "There’s always pressure to perform. That’s part of playing in the NFL and at the highest level. You’ve just got to go out and be committed to being the best you can be and you’ve just got to do it."

-- Drew Davison

Fourth-round pick Kyle Wilber has pins removed from his finger

Outside linebacker Kyle Wilber had the pins removed from his right index finger Wednesday. He now can start conditioning, even though he will wear his plastic cast for another week.

Wilber, a fourth-round draft pick, was injured during the rookie minicamp earlier this month. He said he could return for the team's mandatory minicamp in two weeks while wearing a club on his hand to protect his finger. Veteran linebacker Sean Lee played part of last season while wearing a club to protect his dislocated left wrist.

Wilber said he has experience playing with a club on his hand, having briefly done it in high school.

"It's definitely frustrating," Wilber said. "All I can do is get mental reps, but phsyical reps are the most important things. You get muscle memory from it and get in condition. Just knowing different things on the field when it happens. So it really hurts not to be out there." 

Wilber said the hardest part has been trying to take notes in meetings. He is right-handed.

"I've been getting my left-handed signature down," Wilber said. "Eating is pretty easy. The hardest thing actually is just taking notes during meetings and stuff, because everybody is writing fast,and I'm just kind of scribbling words down on paper. They just gave us these Ipads, so now I can just use my fingers."

Wilber, who played 2 1/2 seasons at defensive end at Wake Forest before moving to outside linebacker, will compete for time at strongside linebacker behind Anthony Spencer. He also is expected to play special teams.

-- Charean Williams

Cowboys won't fight their $10 million cap penalty

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn't believe his team did anything wrong in 2010 when they signed receiver Miles Austin to a six-year, $54 million deal that included $17.078 million in base salary for that season. The NFL and then an arbitrator ruled differently, and Jones said the fight is over.

The Cowboys will take a $10 million cap hit, with the deduction split over the next two seasons.

"We were very emphatic that there was no deal among the owners about anything to do with a cap, and that was our position," Jones said during Wednesday's OTA at Cowboys Stadium. "We honor the arbitrator. The ruling was that the place to hear this was not in his jurisdiction, the place to hear it was over in federal court, which we're not interested in getting involved like that."

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank upheld the league’s penalties against the Cowboys and the Redskins, who lost $36 million in cap space for overloading contracts during the uncapped season of 2010.

Jones would not elaborate on why the Cowboys won't take the league to court, though the NFLPA filed a collusion case last week.

"I just don't want to," Jones said of not pursuing the fight.

But it could be that the Cowboys would love to see another Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. A Cowboys' suit against the league probably wouldn't make owners inclined to vote for a North Texas' Super Bowl bid.

-- Charean Williams

 

 

 

Jerry Jones: Nobody needs Mike Jenkins more than the Cowboys

Repeat after Jerry: The Cowboys are not trading Mike Jenkins.

At least not for now.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated what he and coach Jason Garrett have said since they traded up to nab LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick. Jones went so far as to say he's not even listening to trade offers for Jenkins, despite reports that several teams, including the Colts, have called the Cowboys expressing interest in acquiring the former Pro Bowler.

"Nobody needs Mike Jenkins more than the Cowboys," Jones said during Wednesday's OTA practice at Cowboys Stadium. "He's a part of the team – very much – and I'm real excited about having his skill along with the other corners we have. We really have a chance to do something exceptional in the secondary and I want to give us every chance to do that." 

Jenkins has not been around Valley Ranch, rehabbing from shoulder surgery on his own in Florida. He requested a trade after the Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal and then drafted Claiborne.

Still, the Cowboys see Jenkins as a valuable asset. They believe he can help them despite being unhappy.

"Look, Mike's a professional," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "He loves his teammates. I think the old line that players are only happy when they're playing. What is that old Fleetwood Mac line? Hell, that happens. But at the end of the day, players are players, and they want to play. Mike loves his teammates, so when he's ready to play, I'm sure he'll help us."

Jenkins is in the final year of his five-year contract that he signed as a rookie. He is scheduled to make $1.052 million and count $1.672 million against the cap. That is less than nickel back Orlando Scandrick, who signed a five-year, $20.5 million extension last August.

-- Charean Williams

DeMarcus Ware has neck strain but will return to OTAs tomorrow

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware has a minor neck strain that kept him out of organized team activities Wednesday. Ware participated in the voluntary practice Tuesday, and coach Jason Garrett said Ware will return Thursday for the last practice of this week.

"He actually had a little neck strain that we don’t think is a big deal," Garrett said. "We didn’t want to have him practice today. He’s going to practice tomorrow. But it's really a non-issue, obviously this time of year. This is all voluntary. We’re still in May, so we have a long way to go before we really get started so we want to air on the side of caution with guys like that. He should practice tomorrow, though."

Defensive end Marcus Spears (neck), defensive lineman Sean Lissemore (side), nose tackle Jay Ratliff (foot) and running back Felix Jones (shoulder) are among other players who sat out Wednesday's practice.

-- Charean Williams

Sporting News Ranks Cowboys red-headed genius Jason Garrett as 23rd best coach in the league

The Sporting News ranked all the coaches in the NFL from 1-32 and Cowboys boy wonder Jason Garrett ranked 23rd on the list.

The article states that "Garrett must do better in close games, when his play calling tends to become too conservative."  Garrett is 13-11 in two years with the Cowboys.

He ranks behind such notable coaching stalwarts as Tennesee's Mike Munchak, Kansas City's Romeo Crennell, Seattle Pete Carroll and Carolina's Ron Rivera on the list.

Where do you think Garrett fits on the hierarchy of NFL coaches?

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-05-24/nfl-coach-ranking-tom-coughlin-bill-belichick-mike-mccarthy-mike-tomlin#ixzz1vtvcFgec

Clarence Hill

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr says he's getting better at switch in sides

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr said he got better during the first week of OTAs at the switch from the right side to the left side.

“It is different. I’m not going to say that it’s not,” he said after Wednesday’s practice during the three-day OTA session this week at Valley Ranch. “Just from the standpoint of your muscle memory on the right side, it’s different. The mechanics and things like that. But this was Day 2. Today was better than yesterday, so hopefully tomorrow will be better than today.”

Carr was the Cowboys’ top free-agent acquisition. He signed a five-year deal worth $50.1 million.

He said the contract hasn’t changed him.

“I’m going to continue being the same person I have always been,” he said. “I don’t feel like I have to change. Of course, on the field I have to elevate my game, take it to the next level. That was already my goal before I signed with the Cowboys. As far as me being a person, I’m going to be the same person. I’m going to talk to you guys the same way, stay boring.”

He laughed when he said that, drawing smiles from the reporters assembled around him in the locker room.

“No pressure,” he said. “Continue to go out there, have fun. I’ve been playing this game since the fourth grade, so I’m going to continue to do what I’ve been doing.”

Is he comfortable with the spotlight? He does play for the Dallas Cowboys now, after all.

“I’m comfortable with it,” he said. “I’ve grown into it. Hopefully it’ll be a good spotlight in the years to come. That doesn’t matter. When I’m out there playing, I’m not thinking about who’s looking at me or what they’re saying about me. I’m out there with my teammates. I’m playing for them.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

RB coach Skip Peete: It'll take until training camp before Murray, Vickers can get on same page for Cowboys

DeMarco Murray and former Cowboys fullback Tony Fiammetta were obviously on the same page last year.

But it will take until training camp at the earliest before Murray can try to do the same with new fullback Lawrence Vickers, says running backs coach Skip Peete.

“The majority of the running game comes from your feel with that person in a live setting, so we’ve got to wait and see what it’s like in training camp when we get in our inside run period, where we’re actually full speed against our defense and see how they both respond and react to whatever the defense presents to us,” Peete said after an OTA practice this week at Valley Ranch.

Vickers is a physical fullback. Fiammetta had more athleticism.

“It seems like he rooted guys out,” Peete said of Vickers, who has blocked for four 1,000-yard rushers. Last year, with the Houston Texans last year, he blocked for Arian Foster. “I would say the old-school, throwback-type fullback where he was get-in-your-face and try to crush your face-type blocker.”

Fiammetta?

“Fiammetta was not that,” Peete said. “He was good. Fiammetta would face you up, block you, dig you out. Very athletic. Probably a bit more athletic than Lawrence, but I think Lawrence at the point of attack is a little bit more explosive and more powerful than Tony was.”

Bruce Carter competing for starting job now after something of a red-shirt season

The Cowboys knew when they drafted Bruce Carter that they wouldn't get much out of him during his rookie year. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a Nov. 20, 2010, game against North Carolina State and underwent reconstructive surgery Dec. 14, 2010.

But the knee injury was the only reason Carter was there for the Cowboys in the second round of the 2011 draft. They had a first-round grade on the former North Carolina linebacker.

Carter has come a long way since then. He was with the first-team defense Wednesday and will compete with Dan Connor for the starting job next to Sean Lee. Connor signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal in the off-season.

Carter played only 41 snaps on defense last season, but he did get experience on special teams, where he made eight tackles.

"Him coming in and not playing because he was hurt, you have to be out there doing it to fully understand it," Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus said. "It’s one thing to see a power-point presentation, video clips and me up on grease board drawing it up. Once you hear it, you kind of forget what it is. You see it, you sort of kind of remember. Then, when you do it on the field, you fully understand. It’s been great to work with him. He’s really made progress so far in terms of the off-season program. These first two days, he’s done a real nice job."

Carter has improved this off-season, and the Cowboys expect him to have a bright future. Lee had a similar start to his Cowboys' career, arriving with a knee injury that dropped his draft stock. Though he played more than Carter did as a rookie, Lee took a step up in 2011 with a team-leading 131 tackles. The Cowboys would love a similar season for Carter in his second season.

"He’s really come into the off-season program and embraced it," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He’s gotten better physically. I think he’s healthier than he was last year at this time certainly, and you can just see he’s getting more and more comfortable. He needs to play more football. He needs to play at a higher level both in terms of his understanding of scheme but also just how you play relentless. That’s how you need to play football. He’s starting to understand that. You see flashes of that. He just needs to do it more and more, and he’s getting better."

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

 

 

 

Anthony Spencer isn't DeMarcus Ware, but he can help the Cowboys

Anthony Spencer can't avoid the comparisons. While Spencer, a first-round draft pick in 2007, has 21.5 sacks in his career, DeMarcus Ware has 80 in that same five-year span.

No matter what Spencer does, even though he plays a different outside linebacker position, he always will be compared to Ware.

"It’s both a curse and a blessing," Spencer said of playing opposite Ware. "I wouldn’t say it’s a curse, but it has its benefits and its non-benefits being across from him, definitely."

Spencer isn't Ware. Everyone knows that. But the Cowboys believe he is better than fans and media give him credit for. Linebackers coach Matt Eberflus points out that Spencer was fourth in the league in sacks (6), pressures (31) and hits (9), though pressures and hits are unofficial stats.

"DeMarcus is unique," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He’s rare. He’s the best at what he does in the world. It’s important to understand that, and you try to evaluate your players independent of each other. Spence has some real strengths. He does some things better than DeMarcus does. You try to highlight his strengths. You try to help him with some of the things he doesn’t do quite as well. But that’s everybody on our football team what we’re trying to do. I think it’s unfair to try to compare players on the same team, from around the league, from eras, from the same era, from different eras. I just think you try your best to evaluate what the player is and try to help him become the best he can be."

The Cowboys franchised Spencer for things other than his sacks. They call him a good run stopper, among other things. They are paying him $8.8 million this season and hoping he can up his sack numbers while doing everything else he does.

The Cowboys, though, obviously haven't committed to Spencer long term. He was the best option this year, but the Cowboys are keeping their options open for 2013. So just like last year, Spencer is in a contract year.

"It’s the same thing all over again," Spencer said. "We just don’t want to make a habit of it. That’s all I’m feeling."

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

 

 

 

Bill Nagy, completely healed from his fractured ankle, is trying his hand at center

Bill Nagy was with the second-team offensive line at center Wednesday. He is expected to compete with Phil Costa and Kevin Kowalski for the starting job, though new line coach Bill Callahan wants all his players capable of playing multiple positions.

"I'm going to play all the three inside positions," Nagy said. "That’s cool with me. I feel like I can jump from left to right or center or wherever they need me."

Nagy, a seventh-round pick last year, started out his Cowboys' career at center. He played some there in the 2011 preseason, but he ended up winning the starting left guard spot.

"The good thing about Bill is that he’s very versatile, having played both guard spots a year ago," Callahan said. "He’s trying to improve his craft this season at that position as well as learning all the new center calls and techniques, so what we’re basically doing is basically cross-training all those players.”

Nagy lost his job to injury in Week 2 before getting it back in Week 3 after Derrick Dockery was injured. He made four starts total last season before fracturing his right ankle against New England on Oct. 16.

"It was tough for sure," Nagy said. "I felt like I was just starting to kind of settle in. That’s how things happen sometimes, but I’m fully recovered, and I feel good."

The Cowboys signed veteran Nate Livings in free agency, and the ex-Bengal will start at left guard. Second-year player David Arkin, who was inactive for every game last season, was working with the first team Wednesday at right guard. The Cowboys signed free agent Mackenzy Bernadeau to start at right guard, but the ex-Panther required hip surgery last week.

The practice time should benefit Arkin, who is much improved from this time last year. 

"I would say marked improvement from year one, but a long way to go like a lot of guys," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "He’s two days into our football phase of the offseason, and he’s done some good things out there, but he has to improve really like we call have to improve. He’s going about it the right way. He’s a committed way. He’s dedicated. He’s tough. He just needs to play more football. We’re giving him a chance to do that."

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

 

 

 

Dez Bryant says injury kept him for living up to expectations last season

Dez Bryant injured his thigh when he took a helmet to the leg on a punt return in the first half of the first game last season. He missed only one game -- the victory over San Francisco in Week 2 -- but Bryant admits the injury never fully healed, preventing him from having the type of season he wanted.

"I don’t think I was ever where I wanted to be," Bryant said Wednesday.

Bryant made 63 receptions for 928 yards and nine touchdowns in his second season, but it left him and the Cowboys wanting more.

"It was very frustrating," Bryant said. "But you’ve just got to get through things, get to the end the best way you can and try your best to get back on the field. Some of the game tape that I watched from last year, I really wasn’t too proud of myself [because he was hindered by the injury]. I know it’s because of the injuries, but I feel like this year, I’m spending more time focusing on my body and making sure everything is right."

The Cowboys say Bryant is working hard this off-season to better himself.  

"Dez has really had a good off-season," receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. "It’s just the consistency of route running. I don’t know if subtleties is the right word, or if it’s just the execution of each individual route on a consistent basis play after play. He has really improved just in the off-season work that we’ve done. But the proof will be in the games, training camp, and the preseason games. He’s a work in progress, but we like what we have in him, what we see in him. He did a pretty good job last year when you look at the production, and he hasn’t even come close to scratching the surface."

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

 

 

 

Danny Coale to have surgery Thursday but is expected back for camp

Rookie receiver Danny Coale didn't have long to impress the coaches in his bid for the No. 3 receiver spot, but he'll have more time once training camp begins. Coale broke a bone in his left foot near the end of Tuesday's organized team activity. It was the first off-season practice for the Cowboys.

"He was just planting his foot, ...turned on the side of his foot, I guess," receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. "It’s unfortunate, but he’s a smart kid, and he’ll stay focused in on it, and I think we will have him back. It won’t be during the OTAs, but he’ll be back."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Coale, a fifth-round pick from Virgina Tech, will have surgery Thursday. But Garrett expects Coale back for the start of training camp. The Cowboys' rookies are among players expected for workouts at Valley Ranch on July 25-27 before the team departs for Oxnard, Calif., on July 28.

"All indications is it is the kind of injury that should have a pretty clean recovery, and it seems like it’s a simple surgery, and as I say that, everyone understands that there’s no such thing as a simple surgery," Garrett said. "But we’re relatively optimistic about the doctors being able to go in and fix that thing and him being back fairly quickly and hopefully ready to go on Day 1 of training camp."

Coale made 60 catches for 904 yards and three touchdowns last season, giving him 165 receptions for 2,658 yards and eight touchdowns in his career. He is expected to compete with Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, Raymond Radway and Andre Holmes for the third receiver role, a spot vacated by Laurent Robinson, who signed with Jacksonville.

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

Cowboys' rookie draft class is conspicuous by its absence

The Cowboys have found out one thing about their draft class so far: If it isn't a wrist, it's a calf... or a foot... or a finger. Only two of the team's seven draft picks were on the field as full participants in the voluntary practice Tuesday.

First-round pick Morris Claiborne still is recovering from left wrist surgery. The cornerback, who is expected to challenge Mike Jenkins for the starting job opposite Brandon Carr, won't be on the field until training camp. Third-round pick Tyrone Crawford injured his calf last week and did not practice. Fourth-rounder Kyle Wilber injured his right index finger in the rookie minicamp two weeks ago. Fourth-rounder Matt Johnson is prohibited by NFL rules from participating until Eastern Washington finishes its spring quarter. Fifth-round pick Danny Coale broke a bone in his foot Tuesday, during the first day of the team's OTAs, and will have surgery Thursday.

Only tight end James Hanna, a sixth-round pick, and inside linebacker Caleb McSurdy, a seventh-round pick, are on the field right now.

"You just try to do your best within the circumstance that they’re in," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday. "We’ve talked about some of the guys being injured, and you try to get them as much information as you can get them and allow them to process that as well as they can, so when they are back and ready to go they can jump in at full speed. You can’t allow them to get behind. If you’re a backup player in this league, you have to do more. If you’re a player whose hurt, you have to do more, because you’re not getting the physical reps. So we make that point very clear to our players, and it’s on them to prepare as best they can to be ready when they come back, and it’s on our coaching staff to help them get ready."

-- Charean Williams

Twitter: @NFL_Charean

Morris Claiborne has pins taken out but will be out until training camp

First-round pick Morris Claiborne is both bored and frustrated. At the rookie minicamp, all he could do was watch. Now, all he can do is condition.

Claiborne had the pins out of his left wrist two weeks ago, and now he can run. So he is.

"Basically I’ve just been running, doing a lot of running," Claiborne said Wednesday. "Oh, yeah, it's boring and frustrating."

Claiborne recently tweeted a picture of his wrist. The LSU product had almost forgotten what it looked like after requiring surgery to repair ligaments he tore against Alabama in November. He played in the final five games with the injury before having surgery this off-season. 

"I was so excited to see it," he said. "I was scared to put water on it, because I haven’t had water on it in so long. I must have washed it a thousand times already."

He will wear a soft cast for two more weeks before beginning rehab. He doesn't expect to be fully cleared until just before the start of training camp in late July.

-- Charean Williams  

DeMarco Murray said he's 100 percent, glad rehab phase is behind him

DeMarco Murray said he is 100 percent and feels no apprehension about the fractured ankle that ended his season in Game 13 against the New York Giants. Murray needed surgery to repair the ankle.

“I have been doing everything in the past month and a half 100 percent,” he said Wednesday. “No limitations. I’m feeling good out there.”

Jason Garrett said Murray has missed none of the football work in the offseason, and running backs coach Skip Peete said Murray is looking like himself again.

"Typically you heal from that," Peete said. "Just the stress of planting and cutting on that, you want to see if they’re back completely from that injury. It seems like he’s obviously rehabbed, and he’s healed, and he’s 100 percent right now. He doesn’t look any slower or more sluggish than he would normally."

Murray said the rehab phase – strengthening his calf, ankle and quadriceps – is over.

“I’m finally done with all of that. It felt good to get back in the huddle with the guys and play some football,” he said.

Asked if he thinks about how he could have finished last year without the injury, Murray said, "You always have would-have, could-have and should-haves and all that stuff, but I am just one guy. Felix (Jones) is a great running back and he did good the last couple games I was out. You definitely want all of your pieces in when you’re playing top teams. And unfortunately I wasn’t there. But they did good."

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Jason Garrett says Jenkins making "business decision" to stay away, but he won't be traded

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Mike Jenkins is making “a business decision” not to be at OTAs, but that the team is not going to trade the cornerback.

“Mike Jenkins, we believe, is a big part of our football team right now,” Garrett said Wednesday after the second day of voluntary practices at Valley Ranch. “He’s making a business decision not to be here. But we’re not going to trade him. We like Mike Jenkins. We feel like he can be a part of our team. We’ve got to get him healthy. We’ve got to get him back on the field.”

The Star-Telegram reported last week that Jenkins has requested a trade in the wake of the Cowboys’ moves to acquire free agent cornerback Brandon Carr and to draft Morris Claiborne. Jenkins is in the last year of his four-year rookie contract, and his agent talked earlier in the offseason about seeking an extension.

Asked whether Jenkins is hurting his standing with him by not being at practice, Garrett said, “You know, I’m really not concerned with that. We’re concerned with his health first and foremost.”

Garrett pretty much confirmed Jenkins was the only player who wasn’t at Valley Ranch during the offseason.

“We want Mike Jenkins around our football team, just like we want everybody around our football team,” he said. “We had 60 guys on our roster for most of the offseason, and we had 59 at the facility working out involved in our offseason program. We have 90 guys on our team now, and we pretty much had 89 guys around here doing everything we wanted them to do.”

Jenkins is rehabbiung from offseason shoulder surgery and would not be participating in the OTAs, but the Cowboys would like him back. His teammates miss him.

"I understand. It’s a business," Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer said. "If anyone understands, I understand, but at the same time, you want a guy like that to be around the team and what not. I support him in whatever decision he makes. He’s my teammate."

-- Carlos Mendez

Rookie Danny Coale will require surgery for fractured foot

Rookie receiver Danny Coale will need surgery after fracturing his left foot on the first day of organized team activities at Valley Ranch, a source said. The Cowboys hope he can return for the start of training camp in late July. Rookies and select veterans are scheduled to practice a few days before the team arrives in Oxnard, Calif., on July 28.

Coale, a fifth-round pick from Virginia Tech, was a candidate for the No. 3 receiver, along with Kevin Ogletree, Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris. But the injury will give the others a chance to climb ahead in the position battle.

He is the third draft pick out with an injury, and defensive end Tyrone Crawford, a third-round pick, was diagnosed with a heart murmur at the combine, though he will not miss any practice time. Cornerback Morris Claiborne, a first-round pick, is rehabbing from left wrist surgery performed before the draft. Linebacker Kyle Wilber, a fourth-round pick, fractured his right index finger in the rookie minicamp and will not return until training camp.

-- Charean Williams

 

Rookie receiver Danny Coale suffers foot injury as Cowboys open OTAs

Rookie wide receiver Danny Coale suffered a foot injury Tuesday in the first day of OTAs at Valley Ranch, a team source said and DallasCowboys.com reported.

The team web site said Coale was seen leaving the MRI center at Valley Ranch on crutches and with a heavy wrap around his foot.

Wednesday's OTA practice is open to the media, and the Cowboys will likely have an update on Coale's condition.

Coale was drafted in the fifth round out of Virginia Tech. He is seen as a leading candidate for the No. 3 receiver position, along with four-year veteran Kevin Ogletree and second-year players Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris.

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Cowboys, Redskins lose appeal of cap penalty; no comment from Stephen Jones

The Cowboys and Redskins lost their appeal of a salary cap penalty levied by the NFL.

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank on Tuesday issued a decision upholding the league’s move to dock the Cowboys $10 million in cap space and the Redskins $36 million for overloading contracts in the uncapped season of 2010.

The teams said there was no rule against that, but the league said it warned all the teams against violating the spirit of the rule.

The arbitrator’s ruling affirmed the request of the league to dismiss the claim.

Reporters were told of the decision in Atlanta by NFL executive vice president Jeffery Pash. The league is conducting owners meetings this week.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had no comment.

The Cowboys and Redskins were allowed to split the hit over two years, and each team took half the penalty this year. Naturally, they were hopeful of getting the cap space returned in full for next offseason.

The Cowboys and Redskins issued this joint statement:

"We pursued our salary cap claim pursuant to the CBA, and we respect and will abide by the arbitrator's decision to dismiss. We will continue to focus on our football teams and the 2012 season."

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins plans to boycott OTAs, wants to be traded

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Irving _ Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins will not be present for the organized team activities that begin Tuesday and wants to be traded, a source said.

The workouts are voluntary.

But for Jenkins, a 2008 first-round pick and former Pro Bowler who has seemingly gone from a starter to a backup following the signing of free agent Brandon Carr and selection of LSU's Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick, this is personal.

He was the team's best cornerback last year despite playing through knee, neck and shoulder injuries, while also showing courage and toughness. He underwent shoulder surgery following the season and should be ready for training camp.

The Cowboys spent the offseason upgrading his position with the signing of Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal and trading up from 14th to sixth in the draft to take Claiborne.

Jenkins, in the final year of his contract, has asked for a contract extension through is agent Drew Rosenhaus. He has done his rehab from shoulder surgery at his home in Florida, having avoided the team’s off-season workouts at Valley Ranch.

He plans to continue that absence with the OTA workouts that begin on Tuesday, a source said.  

With Orlando Scandrick already signed to a long-term deal as the third cornerback, Jenkins would seem to be ideal trade bait.

However, his contract situation and his injury hinder the process. He would likely want a new deal before joining another team and the Cowboys would likely want premium compensation in return.

The Cowboys, however, maintain they have no interest in moving Jenkins and want him on the team at least one more season.  Coach Jason Garrett said Sunday that he was hopeful that Jenkins would attend the OTA workouts. 

Owner Jerry Jones said last week Jenkins was vital to the team as a third cornerback.

He's a vital part of our plan," Jones said. "We know that we've got a situation where we can identify what we are on defense by having three corners in there a lot I see short-term and long-term with Jenkins. We've also got Scandrick, we got some room if somebody gets nicked not to have to adjust. We can come out there and spend some time really utilizing where we are at corner. The decision to bring Claiborne in was a big part of that. There's no interest on my part at all of trading Jenkins. None." 

 

 

Hatcher sticks to leadership comment, but says Cowboys going in right direction with Sean Lee, accountability, camaraderie

Jason Hatcher still believes in his winter thoughts about the Cowboys’ leadership.

But he also likes what he is seeing right now.

And if that’s a result of what he said in February, that’s fine.

“I wasn’t dogging nobody. I wasn’t dogging the leaders we had,” the veteran defensive end said Sunday night at a benefit in Dallas for the North Texas Food Bank. “I just felt like, you know, guys can do better.”

In February, when Hatcher was asked in a radio interview on KESN 103.3 FM “The Fan” who the team leaders were, he said, “That’s a good question. I really don’t know.” He added that the Cowboys have talent but need a “Ray Lewis type” who “everybody buys into.”

Hatcher told reporters Sunday night that he was speaking from the heart and that he has seen a change.

“Whether it rubbed somebody the wrong way or not, I say what’s on my heart at the time,” he said. “I’m not going to say anything I ever regret. It was on my heart at the time, so I said it. ... Guys have stepped up. I like the way this team is going. We’ve got camaraderie, guys looking out for each other, guys working together. That’s the direction you’ve got to go as far as getting to the championship game. I’m very excited.”

Hatcher said linebacker Sean Lee, the team’s leading tackler last year, looks like a born leader.

“Sean’s always been that guy,” Hatcher said. “He will call you out in a second. We just need more guys like that. We can’t accept certain stuff, and we’re not going to do it this year. It’s a totally different team. We’re just taking the approach, one day at a time, we’re all trying to reach the common goal, which is the Super Bowl, so everybody has got to go the same direction. So I’m very, very happy the way this team is going.”

Asked if he’s a vocal leader himself, Hatcher said no, that he leads by example.

“It’s not going to be me making no rah-rah speech,” he said. “It’s going to be the hard-working Hatch that I’ve been since I’ve been here. People saw me work hard. I never gave up. I didn’t get the playing time I wanted, but look at me now. I’m a starter. That’s the way I lead. I can’t give you a rah-rah speech to tell you to get going. But I can every day, work my butt off, and I can be an example for you. If you look at me and step on the field, I’m going to work. You know that. So Hatch is working, I’ve got to work. So if I can lead in that aspect of it, I will. As far as saying something to the team, getting them going? I’m not that guy. I’m just a hard worker.”

Hatcher, a seven-year veteran drafted in the third round by the Cowboys, said he does not mind someone keeping him in line – as long as that someone has credibility.

“If I’m approaching the game wrong, get in my face,” he said. “If you’re working hard, get in my face. But if you’re slacking, you can’t say nothing to me. If you’re not a leader, if you’re not taking care of your business, you can’t say nothing to me. But if you’re going out there working hard day in and day out and I respect you, you can say something to me. And we’ve got that this year. Guys are working hard every single day. And I’ve grown to respect a lot of cats on this team. And we all have. It’s a very, very neat deal. You just see things unfolding in front of your eyes. It’s just one of those things that you pray for at night, and you know what’s wrong, and once you see it starting to fix itself, you say, ‘Here we go, now we’re going in the right direction,’ and I definitely feel that about this team this year.”

Hatcher said the players are getting to know each other better, also.

“It’s hard to play for the man across from you when you don’t know him,” he said. “But if you know him inside and out, you know his family, you know him as a person, you can go to war for him. And that’s what we have right now. Guys have been up here two months working out together. I’m just getting excited right now thinking about it. I’m ready to roll, just to see how this season turns out.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Mackenzy Bernadeau's injury likely to keep him at right guard

Now that hip surgery will keep him out until at least training camp, Mackenky Bernadeau likely will concentrate on right guard. The free agent signee had been a candidate for the starting center job if one of the team’s young guards emerged.

“I think we would be less inclined to play him at a couple of different spots initially because he’s losing this off-season work,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “…We’re disappointed that he got banged up. He’s not going to be a part of this thing, but like with all our injured players, he has to stay close to it – be engaged in the meetings, be engaged in the practices and get as much information as he can – so when he comes back for the start of training camp, he’s ready to roll.”

Bernadeau, who signed a four-year, $11 million deal in March, is expected to miss 10-12 weeks after having surgery last week to repair a tear in his hip.

The Cowboys are hoping to provide Phil Costa with competition at center. Costa started every game there last season but struggled. Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski will get some work at the position.

"Obviously, we would rather him not be hurt," Garrett said. "But he did have that hip injury and had the surgery last week. He just has to be aggressive in his rehab and get back as quickly as he can. We have a number of other options in the offensive line, and we're excited to see those guys."

-- Charean Williams 

 

Cowboys "hopeful" Mike Jenkins will show up for OTAs

The Cowboys begin organized team activities Tuesday. The workouts are voluntary, but the Cowboys would love it if cornerback Mike Jenkins showed up to be with his teammates at Valley Ranch.

"We're certainly hopeful of that," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.

Garrett said he has no idea whether Jenkins will participate.

Jenkins has been rehabbing from right shoulder surgery at his home in Florida, having avoided the team’s off-season workouts at Valley Ranch. The front office has questioned Jenkins’ absence, saying he needs to return to work.

Jenkins, who enters the final year of his contract, became trade bait after the Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr and drafted LSU’s Morris Claiborne. But owner Jerry Jones said recently that Jenkins is a “vital part” of the team’s 2012 plans.

Jenkins is not expected to be healthy enough to practice until training camp, but the team would rather he rehab at Valley Ranch.

He was the team's best cornerback last season despite an injury-plagued season. Jenkins made 22 tackles and had an interception and 10 pass breakups.

-- Charean Williams

Newly acquired guard Mackenzy Bernadeau undergoes hip surgery, out until at least training camp

Guard MacKenzy Bernadeau suffered a set back in his return from a hip flexor injury, forcing him to undergo hip surgery on Saturday to repair a torn labrum, multiple sources said.

He will be sidelined up to 12 weeks, including the rest of the off season program, organized team activities and the June minicamp. The Cowboys are hopeful he will be able to return for the start of training camp, tentatively set for the last week of July.

Bernadeau signed a four-year, $11 million free agent contract to join the Cowboys in March after spending the last four years in Carolina. He was expected to compete for a starting spot at guard or center.

According to the Cowboys, he initially suffered the hip flexor injury working out in the offseason program. The Cowboys had given him some time away to rehab and were hopeful he could return for the June minicamp. 

But that was before he was forced to undergo surgery on Saturday.

Clarence Hill 

Garrett says Ogletree has made big catches, Holmes an inviting target, Radway running better

As the rookie minicamp two weeks ago wound up, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was asked about the third receiver spot. In his answer to reporters, Garrett talked about two players – Kevin Ogletree and Andre Holmes.

Ogletree is a veteran entering his fourth year, all with the Cowboys, with 25 career catches. He made the team in 2009 as an undrafted free agent.

Holmes is a 6-foot-5 first-year player from Hillsdale who the Cowboys signed in preseason last year when he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings, who had signed him as an undrafted free agent.

Of Ogletree, Garrett said he made some big third-down catches, and that’s to his benefit. But he will still face competition.

“We’re going to make that role, and really every role on our team, as competitive as possible, so he is not entrenched as our third receiver by any means,” Garrett said. “He’s been the guy who’s been around our program the longest. He’s the guy who has the most production and experience in NFL games. So you would say that he has an advantage going in.

“But it will be competitive. We feel like he has the capability of doing it, but we feel like the other guys might have the capability as well,” Garrett said.

Garrett said Holmes is an inviting target for the quarterbacks.

“He’s a big, raw guy who the quarterbacks really like throwing the football to,” Garrett said. “He’s a big target. He’s quarterback-friendly. He’s got some speed and some explosiveness as well. He just needs to play more and learn how to play.”

Then Garrett was asked about Raymond Radway, the ACU receiver who was on his way to making the team before he was hurt in the final preseason game.

“I wouldn’t say he’s 100 percent,” Garrett said. “He’s been involved in the teaching sessions ... and he really seems to have responded well to the treatment. He’s running better. And he did a nice job. He was really full go in those workouts.”

Garrett said he’d prefer to have someone emerge to take the job, rather than split it up.

“You probably always prefer to have a guy emerge, because that means he’s playing really well enough to say, ‘Hey, I am the guy.’ But I think if you look at our receivers over the last few years, we’ve played a number of guys and we use a number of different personnel groups, so sometimes we get that third receiver accomplished in different ways, whether we’re playing with two tight ends or true three receivers. So we’ve had other guys mixed in there. Like I said, Kevin has played for us in the past. He has some experience. He has some production in some games. If you’re on our roster, you better be ready to play.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Teddy Williams says Cowboys veterans helped him learn to be a pro last year despite a lost season to injury

Teddy Williams didn't play a down last year, and he was hurt a lot of the time.

But it was not a wasted year.

He said it made him a better pro. Being around Cowboys veterans like Bradie James, Keith Brooking and Terence Newman taught him much about staying focused in the NFL, where he is trying to make it after being a sprinter in college.

"I might have dealt with so much physically, but it didn't hurt me a lot mentally," he said last weekend at the Cowboys' rookie minicamp. "It taught me a lot. It helped me grow up. I got a lot of advice from the older guys who have been through the fire and been through those injury-prone years."

Now Williams hopes it pays off as he tries to make another transition -- from receiver to cornerback.

The Cowboys are going to give the former UTSA track standout another look at corner, hoping he can take advantage of his long frame and speed.

It's a long shot. The 23-year-old from Tyler is far behind in experience, and the Cowboys are stocked at the position -- first-round pick Morris Claiborne, veterans Brandon Carr, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick and first-year player Mario Butler are all ahead of him, not to mention three other undrafted free agents in the mix -- Justin Taplin-Ross, Isaac Madison and Lionel Smith.

"He's got a track background, but different than some track guys, he has a physical mentality playing football," Garrett said. "He just needs to understand how to play football."

Williams knows how he will approach the season. Not only will he put in the physical work, he said, but he will be better prepared mentally because of the lessons from his former teammates.

"If you stay negative, your body will never heal itself," Williams said, thinking about his conversations with Brooking, James, Newman and others. "And I learned that the hard way. I was so hard on myself, I wanted to stay on the field so much, my body wasn't healing the way it should have, and injuries were taking longer to come back from than they should have.

"It's just a learning process. Everything's a learning process around here."

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Backup safety Barry Church has a healthy shoulder, ready to shoot for a spot in Cowboys secondary

Backup strong safety Barry Church said he has the full range of motion back in his right shoulder, too late to do much in the voluntary offseason workouts but just in time for OTAs.

“I thought I was always going to have limited range of motion, so I was frustrated watching everybody else out there,” he said last week at the Cowboys’ sponsor appreciation golf tournament. “I got back in the weight room, the training staff got me right. Now I’m ready to go. Having that full range of motion is key, especially at the safety position.”

Church missed the last three games last year after hurting his shoulder in the December home game against the New York Giants. He had hurt the shoulder earlier in the year also.

Church, at 6-2 and 220 pounds, is a physical player, and he says that can help him in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s scheme.

“The safeties are going to have a big role in the run game this year,” he said. “I don’t have a specific hole to fill, but if anything leaks out, if anything bounces, we’re supposed to be those guys to be there, downhill.”

The shoulder injury interrupted a year in which the third-year safety, undrafted out of Toledo in 2010, was starting to earn the trust of the coaches. Now he has to start over and make a new impression on a new secondary coach, Jerome Henderson.

But he’s shooting big.

“Hopefully a starting role, that’s what my goal is going into this year,” he said. “If not that, then as close as I can be to the starter. Be in the rotation a lot and try to improve our defense as a whole.”

One thing that will help him and the other safeties is the play of the cornerbacks. The drafting of Morris Claiborne has Church optimistic.

“Claiborne is a great athlete,” he said. “He’s going to be able to lock down a lot of the main receivers out there. And we also have Brandon Carr out there, who’s an outstanding veteran. He’s going to be able to lock down everything. We’re going to have a great secondary this year. Definitely going to be an improvement from last year.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Jerry Jones says he lost no confidence in Rob Ryan last year, believes offseason moves will help him 'match up'

After one season watching new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he has not lost confidence in him. In fact, the reshaping of the defense in the offseason was made with Ryan's scheme in mind.

“Rob’s skills, the things that he brings to the table, are easily bought into,” Jones said last week at the Cowboys sponsor appreciation golf tournament in Grapevine. “And we did, we have, and we continue to buy into those.”

Jones said another thing he likes about Ryan is that he adjusts well during games, and that this year, the Cowboys made an effort to give him options for those adjustments. 

“To be really fair about it, and fair on judgment, we have to look specifically where we had our biggest breakdowns, and we’ve got to make sure that we’ve matched up good with the teams that gave us our biggest problems,” Jones said. “As it turns out, it was the New Yorks, the Philadelphias, and if you will, Washington played a good game against us, too.

“So it’s in our division. So what you saw from us during the offseason, personnel-wise, is matching up,” Jones said.

The Cowboys traded up for the top cornerback (and top defender) in the draft, LSU’s Morris Claiborne. Their No. 1 free agent target was cornerback Brandon Carr. The team also signed a free agent safety, Brodney Pool, and drafted a safety, Matt Johnson, in the fourth round, to go with veteran strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh and backups Barry Church and Danny McCray.

The Cowboys also signed four undrafted cornerbacks (and have since released one), have another from the practice squad last year (Mario Butler) and moved a receiver (Teddy Williams) to corner.

That is a lot of new DB blood to work with for Ryan and new secondary coach Jerome Henderson.

“Where I’m coming from there is, it just isn’t about personnel at all, but it is also about education, how well those players understand the schemes and then also a real good coaching job of how much to give those players so they can go out there and perform instinctively,” Jones said. “That’s all a mouthful, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in Rob Ryan and the defense and the defense we’ll have. You want to get all of Rob you can possibly get and his philosophy.”

Jones acknowledged that Ryan’s defense has risks. But he brought up his quarterback’s name in comparing that idea that high risk brings high reward.

“It’s a little like Romo – you want to basically be able to get it in a way that is sound and wins ballgames,” Jones said. “And some of the things that he wants to do – bring it – we want to do. That’s why we went to the defense. We’ve got some guys back here in the secondary now that can go up and get it when it’s not thrown exactly perfect. I think that’s going to help us out, help us execute the defense, along with the adjustments he and Jason are making.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Kevin Ogletree says offseason events have put football into more focus for him as he goes for Cowboys' No. 3 receiver spot

Kevin Ogletree said something will be different about him this year than in years past when he has tried to take a firm hold of the No. 3 receiver position.

Football has become his focus.

“I haven’t, for a while, had football as my life, my focus,” he said this week at the Cowboys golf tournament in Grapevine. “Some things happened in the offseason that really forced me to look in the mirror and dig deep and find out what I want to be.

“It’s a good opportunity for me. I’ve got to go out and grab it. Like I said, some bad things have turned me into a better person.”

Ogletree was talking about the shooting of his brother, Calvin Ogletree, in New York City in January. His older brother was shot in the head outside his luxury rental car business in Queens and is recovering.

“That specifically has changed my attitude and work ethic,” Ogletree said.

Ogletree, entering his fourth year with the Cowboys since making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2009, had his most productive year last season. He caught 15 passes for 164 yards, 11 for first downs, and returned two punts.

But he fell behind Laurent Robinson in the pecking order for the No. 3 receiver spot. He became a restricted free agent after the season, and although the Cowboys didn’t tender him an offer – making him available to any other team – he and the club agreed to a one-year deal in March.

In March, coach Jason Garrett brought up Ogletree’s name when he was asked about the No. 3 receiver spot.

“We feel like we have some young receivers that we like," Garrett said. “Kevin Ogletree has been with us for three years now and has really done a good job with the opportunities given him. Has not had a lot of playing time, been behind some veteran players. But we like what he's doing with the limited chances he's gotten, so he's certainly in the mix.”

At last week’s rookie minicamp, receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said of Ogletree’s prospects to emerge as the third receiver, “I’m hopeful that he can. Again, that’s an unknown at this point, but he’s had a good off-season. All I can say is so far he’s worked extremely hard. He’s gotten stronger. He’s gotten bigger. So again, time will tell.”

Ogletree was asked by reporters if he sees signs of the Cowboys’ faith in him.

“It’s my job to instill that faith, and you can only do that by working hard, coming to work every day with your lunch pail and just giving it your all,” he said.

He said he didn’t dwell on not being offered a contract initially.

“It’s a business. I know they had some priorities they had to take care of and some free agency deals that they were trying to work out,” he said. “I just had to be ready for whatever and continue to work like I was going to be somewhere.”

Ogletree said all of the receivers are trying to take advantage of their chance to replace Robinson.

“If we could get another Laurent anywhere on the team, that would be good, just because of how productive he was and how much he helped our team last year,” he said. “We’re all working to be the best player we can be. We know as long as we get better, we’ll be a better team. As far as myself goes, those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but I’ll be working my hardest.”

Ogletree said he can already sense the benefits of a formal offseason.

 “It’s such a relief being in there and being able to listen to Coach Robinson and be around Coach Garrett,” he said. “I really never felt the effect of the lockout until this year, when you realize what you’re missing. It’s just good to hear them talk to you, to get coaching, not to be so far way from work. It’s really a great deal to have a traditional offseason.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Witten spells out what it will take to become the No. 3 receiver for the Cowboys

Tight end Jason Witten said the Cowboys have players who can fill Laurent Robinson’s role from last year as the No. 3 receiver. But it won’t be easy to do what he did.

“What Laurent did doesn’t happen every year,” Witten said this week in Grapevine at the Cowboys annual golf tournament. “They don’t have to be Laurent. They need to be a good receiver for us, and that’s all we need. We’ve got a lot of weapons. They don’t need have to be more than that.”

Veterans Kevin Ogletree, Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris and drafted rookie Danny Coale will get their chances at the No. 3 spot behind Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.

Additionally, the Cowboys signed undrafted rookies Donavan Kemp, Saalim Hakim, Cole Beasley and Tim Benford.

Witten said the winner of the job will have big responsibilities.

“They have to understand what the position entails, and it’s not just coming in on a third down and making a catch,” Witten said. “It’s a huge role, and if Miles or Dez goes down, you have to step in and fill that. I think we’ve got the right guys, and collectively, we’ll get it done.”

Overall, Witten likes the look of the offense – actually, the whole team – following the additions from the draft and free agency.

“Obviously, our roster definitely got better if you just look at it from top to bottom,” he said.

Wittensaid he likes the speed of drafted tight end James Hanna, and he likes the work ethic the Cowboys are showing in the offseason.

“I’m excited about the additions we made, but more importantly, I’m just excited about the way guys are approaching it and putting that work in and not only talking it, but working,” he said. “Right type of guys. High character. Old, young, everything in between. It feels good to go into battle with those types of guys.

“We’re going to have adversity. We know that. But hopefully, we’ll come out and do something special.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Doug Free, moving to right tackle, says this is the best time to make OL changes

Doug Free said the move back to right tackle is going well for him, and that this is the time to do it.

“It’s nice doing it in the offseason. Everybody’s got a chance to figure it out, go through training camp, compared to doing it during the season,” he said Wednesday at the Cowboys’ annual golf tournament. “This last year, we had a lot of rotation with guys and stuff, so getting the lines set early, getting the training camp under our belt with everybody together, definitely should help.”

Free and second-year tackle Tyron Smith are switching places. Smith, who started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie, is going to the left side.

But that is not the only change. Free agent signees Mackenzie Bernardeau and Nate Livings are expected to be plugged in at the guard spots. Last year, the Cowboys used four players – Bill Nagy, Kevin Kowalski, Montrae Holland and Derrick Dockery – at guard.

Free said he has enjoyed meeting the new additions, Bernardeau and Livings.

“I hadn’t met them before they came here, but both of them seem to have great personalities, be great guys in general, hard workers, quiet guys,” Free said. “I think they’ll fit right in our group. They’ll be a great fit.”

So it sounds like Free is the veteran statesman of the offensive line now, with Kyle Kosier having been released. In  the space of a a calendar year, the Cowboys also parted ways with veteran tackle Marc Colombo, veteran guard Leonard Davis and veteran center Andre Gurode.

“I’m up there in age now, I guess,” Free said, smiling at a question about whether he’d be the one giving the orders now. “But Livings has got a lot of years under his belt, too. He’s also a veteran player.”

Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, hasn’t forgotten the education he got from Kosier, Colombo, Gurorde and Adams.

“You learned a lot from those guys, getting a chance to come in here, just learning some of their techniques, how they handle situations, how they work. A lot of great workers I got to work under.”

Free played right tackle late in 2009 when he filled in for an injured Colombo, so the transition for him isn’t abrupt.

“It’s mainly just thinking everything different, opposite, just kind of getting settled over there, used to how everything is called,” he said. “Instead of being on one side, you’re on the other. But getting this time to get used to it is definitely a positive.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Costa watching tape of Mangold, a former Bill Callahan player, to get ready for bigger responsibilties at center

Cowboys center Phil Costa said he is watching a lot of tape of New York Jets center Nick Mangold.

That is the model for Costa as he works under new Cowboys offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who helped develop Mangold into a Pro Bowl player.

“I’ve watched tons of tape of Mangold,” Costa said Wednesday at Cowboys Golf Club, where he was set to play in the Cowboys’ annual sponsor appreciation golf tournament. “It’s fun to watch him. He does all the calls that we are using now. Watching him on the field and how he applies them and his technique. He’s a great player, so it’s fun to watch him on tape.”

Costa started every game at center for the Cowboys last year, but he is expected to have competition for the spot this year. Free agent signee Mackenzie Bernadeau and second-year guards Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski have played center.

“He certainly faces competition,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We have a lot of guys, some young guys who we like there, but Phil did a good job for us last year. He’s another one of those guys who came into last season and earned that position – undrafted free agent two years ago, undersized, too this, too that, too much the other, but just said, ‘Hey, I’m a good football player,’ and tried to show us that everyday. He’s a serious-minded kid. He works hard. He’s tough. I think he’s an underappreciated athlete. We’re seeing that more and more now.

“I just think the experience of playing will help him. Having said all that, he’s got to compete every day to earn that job.”

Last year, Costa benefited from the experience of right guard Kyle Kosier. They shared the line-calling duties. But with Kosier’s release, that part of the game falls to Costa now.

“The center definitely takes a lot of responsibility with making all the calls and reading the safeties,” he said. “It’s important you know. We’re watching tons of film right now, just trying to learn everything that we’re putting in. In the long run, it’s going to be pretty good.”

With Callahan, Costa said he is learning more about the center position than he ever imagined.

“You can be in there for days and weeks and months, you can always learn something new,” he said. “That’s what’s fun about it.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Garrett ready to see a healthy Mike Jenkins compete when he comes back from Florida

Head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys are in touch with cornerback Mike Jenkins, who has been working out in Florida instead of at Valley Ranch during the voluntary offseason program.

“We’d like to have all our players here, involved in our offseason program, but we’ve been in communication with Jenks all throughout the offseason,” Garrett said Wednesday during the Cowboys golf tournament at Cowboys Golf Club. “It is voluntary. We can’t make anybody be here. And really, we’re fortunate as a team that we have so many guys who live in Dallas and really embrace what we’re doing in the offseason program.

“We’ve been in communication with Jenks. We’re excited to get him back here and get back to work.”

Three OTA sessions are scheduled beginning May 22. Jenkins doesn’t have to return to Irving until a three-day mandatory minicamp June 12-14.

When he comes back, he’ll face competition at the cornerback spot. The Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr to a $50.1 million deal, and they moved up eight spots to take the top corner available in the draft, Morris Claiborne of LSU.

“I think the most important thing for Jenks is to get healthy,” Garrett said. “He had the offseason surgery. He’s down in Florida trying to get his rehab right and get his shoulder right. So that’s Line 1 for him, to get himself healthy and then come back and compete.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he is not interested in trading Jenkins, who is entering the last year of his four-year rookie contract, calling him a vital part of the short- and long-term plan.

“We certainly have some options, and we have the numbers there to plan on playing a lot of corners out there,” Jones said. “Because of that kind of depth, with where the league is right now, it’s good.”

Keeping Jenkins beyond this year will likely require a heavy investment. If the Cowboys gave Carr a $50.1 million contract and he has not made a Pro Bowl, Jenkins could ask for something similar or greater, considering he does have a Pro Bowl on his resume.

Besides Claiborne and Carr, the Cowboys are also invested in another corner. Last August, the Cowboys gave nickel corner Orlando Scandrick a five-year extension worth $27 million.

“We’ve got the resources to have three top corners, and Scandrick, which would be, in my mind, a fourth corner,” Jones said. “But we can do it there. That area of your money allocation just happens to be an area where, if you plan right – to get strong at corner and strong at pass rusher – you’re going to spend some money out there. And so we really went through that process real good when we drafted Claiborne, to really think that through and look ahead. But Jenkins is not only this year, but a long-term player here as far as I’m concerned.”

But Garrett made clear Jenkins, like everyone else, has work ahead of him to earn his keep on the roster.

“What our job is as coaches and as an organization is to always try to make our team better,” Garrett said. “One of the ways we do that is we bring people in, personnel, players to create competition to try to make our team better. And guys who play at this level, who play in the NFL, understand. They’ve been competing their whole life. Guys compete to make football teams. Guys compete to be starters. Guys compete for roles on the team, and Jenks is part of that, just like everybody else is.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Cowboys acknowledge heart murmur in third-round pick Crawford, but not concerned

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged Wednesday that third-round draft pick Tyrone Crawford has a heart murmur.

But Jones said it is not a concern.

"The heart murmur issue is one that I'm satisfied is OK for us," Jones said during the team golf tournament at Cowboys Golf Club.

Jones did not indicate when the murmur was discovered.

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during a heartbeat, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Most murmurs are harmless and do not require a change in physical exertion or activity. But murmurs can also indicate an change in structure or damage in the heart, and so require more examination.

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

 

 

DeMarcus Ware: Cowboys showing more leadership, looking for Super Bowl title in 2012

Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware didn’t come out and say the word Super Bowl but as he said “you know what I’m talking about” when he said his teammates have been motivated in off season workouts to do more than just make the playoffs and just win the NFC East Championship next season.

“We are not just looking for the playoffs,” Ware said. “We are not just looking for the NFC East championship. We are looking for the big thing that really quantifies what a team means. You already know what I’m talking about.”

Ware said the Cowboys are motivated by the bitterness of 2011 when they finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. The Cowboys lost five games after taking a lead into the fourth quarter, including an NFL-record three by 12 points or more, and were blown out by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in a winner take all game for the division title and the playoffs in the season final.

Ware said Cowboys can learn from the Giants and what happened to them “could have been us.”

He says that's the focus of the team’s offseason workouts where the Cowboys are not just working hard but showing more leadership than in the past.

The leadership issue is a buzz word for the Cowboys because of the late season and late game collapses in recent years. Instead of being defensive, Ware, whose leadership has been criticized in the past, said everybody is stepping up because they are tired of losing.

 “It’s just that,” Ware said. “It’s been eight years. Guys are tired of losing. Guys are trying to step up. It’s lead by example and it’s vocal. It’s a lot of young guys coming in so we go tot lead by example. We also go to say what needs to be said.”

Clarence Hill

 

Cowboys' draft pick Wilber likely out until training camp because of broken finger

Outside linebacker Kyle Wilber is going to miss the three weeks of OTAs while he recovers from a broken finger and could be out until training camp starts in July. The Cowboys hope he can be available for some of the mandatory minicamp in June.

Wilber, the Cowboys' fourth-round draft pick, suffered the injury during the rookie minicamp last week at Valley Ranch. The fracture was repaired Tuesday.

“He’ll be able to be involved, but I wouldn’t plan on him being out there this coming week when we begin our OTAs,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday during the team's golf tournament at Cowboys Golf Club.

The first of three OTA sessions is begins May 22 and goes three days.

The next one is scheduled for May 29-31, with the third to follow June 4-7.

A three-day mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 12-14.

Training camp is expected to begin around July 25.

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ready for appeal on salary cap charge, still says team did nothing wrong

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Irving _ Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys have been able to adjust and accomplish everything they wanted to in free agency despite being stripped of $10 million in 2012 and 2013 by the NFL for alleging violating the spirit of the salary cap in the uncapped season of 2010.

SJones feels the Cowboys did nothing wrong and will continue the fight to get some salary cap space for this future since this year is essentially lost.

The next phase of the appeal by the Cowboys and Redskins, who were stripped of $36 million for same violation, occurs Thursday when they face off before a special arbitrator to determine if the grievance should proceed.

The NFL has filed a motion to dismiss the case, saying that it doesn’t under the jurisdiction of special Special Master Stephen Burbank because the NFL Players Association agreed to the sanctions. If the appeal is allowed to go forward, it will be heard at a different time so the case is far from coming to a resolution.

“We have an opportunity to present it to a mediator,” Jones said. “That is what tomorrow is all about is whether or not we do have the opportunity to be before him. “That’s period what it is about. That will not resolve the issue. It will help decide whether we can go before a mediator.”

The contract at issue for the Cowboys is the six-year, $57 million deal the team gave receiver Miles Austin that included an unprecedented $17 million base salary.

The team thinks it has a good case largely because the NFL management council originally approved the contracts in 2010.

The league warned teams to not use the year as a financial dumping ground to preserve future competitive balance but there was no rule prohibiting teams from doing so.

“We followed the rules,” Jones said. “The league has not said we didn’t follow the rules. Those were approved contracts. But this is a complicated issue.”

The good news for Jones is the Cowboys have been able to adjust successfully and have a strong offseason despite the shocking cap charge.

 The team signed a record seven players in free agency, including giving cornerback Brandon Carr a whopping $50.1 million contract.

“Certainly we have been able to adjust,” Jones said. “It was a big surprise to us to have that downward adjustment in our cap.  It was very meaningful to us cause we are always looking for room under the cap. It was tough to make that adjustment. We had to go into the future to get some of those dollars to get some of those dollars that we wouldn’t have had to do had we not had that adjustment. That will create a challenge for u sin the future.” 

 

 

 

HOF running back Emmitt Smith admits he worries if the hits he took will take a toll on him one day

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.  

The subject of Junior Seau’s shocking suicide and the transition to life after football came up during a recent interview with Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith to promote The Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, May 11-12 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney.

The event will feature a reunion of the Cowboys 1992 Super Bowl Championship team _ which only makes the Seau situation hit closer to home.

Smith is not only the league’s all-time leading rusher but he also has more carries than anyone in NFL history. He is fine now and looks like he can still play the game. But he admits he worries about if the hits he took will take a toll on him mentally and physically one day.

“Why wouldn’t I worry,” Smith said. “The evidence is starting to pile up. You are talking to a guy who carried the ball more than anybody in NFL history. So why wouldn’t I worry. I pray about it.”

Smith said he doesn’t know exactly what happened with Seau but it’s personal for him because the two were rookies together in 1990 and his first game was against Seau and the Chargers at Texas Stadium.

“I don’t know all the details around his death which outside of the suicide speculation which I guess is a good assessment,” Smith said. “What you don’t know is what Junior was going through. You never know what another person is going through a lot of people on twitter and elsewhere want to know how a make that that much be depressed and commit suicide.”

Smith said it frustrates him when people think that athletes or celebrities shouldn’t have problems because they supposedly have money. He says no one knows what people or dealing with inside.

“It’s never about the money,” Smith said. “It’s about the individual person. Whether that person has fulfillment in life and can find a way to have joy and peace in their life. If you don’t have those things and don’t have a sense of self worth in left, depression can set in and lead to other things. It’s just a sad situation. I don’t look at it lightly. I don’t know if it was head trauma or not. The only way I see it now is where junior was at today mentally players may not identify with cause they are in the now. He was in the yesterday. They have to realize his yesterday is their tomorrow. Just going through life itself and through the transitions of leaving a sport we all played for a number of years. Some times when that light goes out its hard to find another light that fuels you.”

Smith said he is very excited to see his former teammates from 1992, many whom he hasn’t seen in years _ which again brings the Seau situation close to home.

Fans certainly don’t understand the difficult transition players have to life after football.

“It’s only so much golf you can you play,” Smith said. “Only so many vacations you can take. Plus you are retiring at 35, for me. For some others it may be sooner. You have to find something else to motivate you to inspire you to get up every day to find a sense o self worth. At the end of the day it’s about personal choice and it’s about finding your way through life. That’s not an easy thing to do for people who have been to the top so to speak in one area and then find themselves in a life in valley afterwards.”