Dallas Cowboys News

[DC_fan]

Dallas Cowboys to restructure deals for LB Sean Lee, CB Orlando Scandrick as cap deadline nears

The Cowboys will restructure the contracts of linebacker Sean Lee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick on Monday as they continue to trim their payroll in an effort to slip under the $133 million salary ceiling by the NFL’s March 11 deadline, according to a source.

The team, which was approximately $16 million above the cap before these moves, will net roughly $7 million in savings once they are made official
Lee, 27, signed a six-year $42 million contract extension in August that can be worth as much as $51 million. In November, the Cowboys agreed to add two years to the five-year, $27 million deal Scandrick, 27, signed in 2011. It was considered a team-friendly move as it would help the Cowboys gain cap relief in the short term.

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/dallas-cowboys-restructure-deals-for-lb-sean-lee-cb-orlando-scandrick-as-cap-deadline-nears.html/

 

[DC_fan]

Julius Peppers, Henry Melton on Dallas Cowboys' radar

The Dallas Cowboys lost the backbone of their defense when DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher defected to the Broncos and Redskins, respectively.

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Now Jerry Jones' club actively is seeking replacements.

A source familiar with the team's thinking has told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport that the Cowboys are among the organizations talking with former Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers.

Dallas has yet to schedule a visit, per Rapoport, but they are interested "at the right price."

Peppers has an obvious connection in new coordinator Rod Marinelli, who coached Peppers in Chicago the past few seasons.

If the two sides find common ground, Peppers would replace Ware as the defense's top pass rusher.

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The Cowboys do have a visit scheduled with Peppers' former Bears teammate Henry Melton, Rapoport reports, via a source informed of the defensive tackle's coaches.

Melton not only has local ties, but is also a favorite of the defensive coaches, per Rapoport. Although he's now a high-priority signing for the Cowboys, Melton will first spend Friday with the Seahawks.

With Ware and Hatcher off the roster, this defense is among the NFL's most feeble. The pressure on Jones to restock will be somewhat alleviated if he can land Peppers and Melton.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...-peppers-henry-melton-on-dallas-cowboys-radar

 

[DC_fan]

Jerry Jones’ history makes a trade up or down in round one likely

Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2014, 1:02 PM EDT

Getty Images
The first question that arises when linking Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald to the Cowboys is whether Donald will be on the board when the Cowboys pick at No. 16.

The better question may be whether the Cowboys would trade up to get him.

In 20 of the 25 drafts run by Cowboys owner/G.M. Jerry Jones, he has made a trade up or a trade down in round one. Twenty of 25.

Eighty percent of the time, Jones makes a move.

He has traded up. He has traded down. He has traded down multiples times. He has traded down then up.

He has traded two first-round picks for a veteran receiver (Joey Galloway). Jones has traded another first-round pick for another veteran receiver (Roy Williams).

The point is that, more often than not, Jones finds a way to break from the slot he has earned and to make something happen, either by moving up to get a guy he wants or moving down to get some more picks.

So, yes, there’s a great chance Donald won’t be there at No. 16. There’s also a good chance the Cowboys won’t be there at No. 16, either.


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...makes-a-trade-up-or-down-in-round-one-likely/

 

[DC_fan]

Anthony Spencer re-signs for another year.

Interesting to see if this impacts on the draft. The fact it's just for one season suggests their is a lot of unknowns about Spencer. Can he return after injury and can he play a 4-3 defensive end.

 

[man2iel_]

I went back home recently; don't be SHOCKED if Jerry takes Manziel if he is sitting there at #16. It would make no sense, it would not improve our team and Jerry World would be the only benefactor. Crazier things have happened though there is a lot of talk in Texas that Manziel in a Cowboys uniform is not out of the realms of happening as Jones thinks he is the best player in the NFL Draft.

I still see myself buying a Browns #2 jersey and cap come day one of the NFL Draft though there is hope that Manziel lands in Houston or Dallas.

 

[DC_fan]

I went back home recently; don't be SHOCKED if Jerry takes Manziel if he is sitting there at #16. It would make no sense, it would not improve our team and Jerry World would be the only benefactor. Crazier things have happened though there is a lot of talk in Texas that Manziel in a Cowboys uniform is not out of the realms of happening as Jones thinks he is the best player in the NFL Draft.

I still see myself buying a Browns #2 jersey and cap come day one of the NFL Draft though there is hope that Manziel lands in Houston or Dallas.

Thanks for your info. I too have heard a few whispers about Jerry and Manziel. The suggestion is that he will find it very hard to say no if Manziel is available at #16.

If the Cowboys believe they have got their DT in Melton and their DE in Spencer then that opens up a whole lot of new possibilities for our first pick.

 

[man2iel_]

My family are ropeable. This is a team that has been .500 for what? The past three seasons? We need HELP. We don't need a QB when we basically gave Tony Romo a lifetime contract with $55M guaranteed. I still believe a change at Head Coach was what we needed though meh - Garrett is a favourite of Mr. Jones.

 

[DC_fan]

My family are ropeable. This is a team that has been .500 for what? The past three seasons? We need HELP. We don't need a QB when we basically gave Tony Romo a lifetime contract with $55M guaranteed. I still believe a change at Head Coach was what we needed though meh - Garrett is a favourite of Mr. Jones.

Jerry does like Jason and doesn't want to give up on him too early. This season is it for Garrett. No success then no future for him with the Cowboys. If things go badly early then Garrett could be gone before season end.

 

[DC_fan]

Bradie James Signs Deal To Retire With The Cowboys

IRVING, Texas – Bradie James has retired with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys announced Tuesday they signed the former Dallas defensive captain, allowing James to officially retire with the team he played with for nine of his 10 NFL seasons.

“It’s just awesome,” James said. “It’s fitting. Thankful for just the experience and the journey that I had here. It was fun. We did our best, and we put it all on the line. To have an opportunity to come back and be regarded and retire as a Cowboy is just a dream come true.”

James, who led the Cowboys in combined tackles six straight seasons from 2005-10, was drafted by Dallas in the fourth round in 2003. He notched six consecutive 100-tackle seasons and tallied 1,009 tackles in his nine years in Dallas, making him the sixth Cowboys played to top the 1,000-tackle mark.

More so than the stats, though, Jones remembers the attitude and leadership James brought the most.

“He was able to take his gifts, what he could bring, and he certainly made some great plays for us, but I think mainly his leadership – I always felt that we had a really top-flight, not only an individual, but we had a player that gave it everything he had whenever he played,” Jones said. “There was never a doubt about that.”

James’ streak of six straight seasons as the leading tackler is the longest in franchise history. Prior to that, no other Cowboys player had led the team in tackles for more than three straight seasons.

Perhaps just as remarkable as his tackling streak was the fact that he was so durable while playing middle linebacker for so long. The accountable defender played in all 16 games in each of his final eight seasons with the Cowboys after his rookie year, spanning a total of 128 games.

James ranks second and third on the Cowboys’ all-time list for most combined tackles in a season, compiling 202 in 2008 and 181 in 2009. He trailed only Eugene Lockhart, who recorded 222 in 1989. James also has the most assisted tackles in a season in Cowboys history with 117 in 2008.
The former linebacker joins a list of players that includes Emmitt Smith, Larry Allen and Mark Colombo who returned to the Cowboys to retire.
“This game, it attracts some of the most competitive people in the world,” James said. “I’ve had an opportunity to play with a lot of different types of characters, different people, build a lot of relationships. Those will be some of the things that I’ll miss.

“Also, this game, what it does, I don’t know if I can ever replicate the immediate satisfaction or result as far as winning and losing – the triumph of winning, it’s unbelievable, and the agony of losing is just as gut-wrenching, just in a different way – those are some things I know I won’t be able to duplicate in that certain fashion.”

James said he’s ready to turn the page and accept his next challenge, though he tells people all the time he’s not sure what it is he likes to do, since he’s been playing football for so long. One thing that he’s certain about is he looks forward to being able to raise his kids the right way as he prepares for life after the NFL.

“I’ve got to thank the Jones family for providing me the opportunity to do something that I just absolutely love,” James said. “It’s been great

[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-RowanKavner/Bradie-James-Signs-Deal-To-Retire-With-The-Cowboys/29941921-de4b-4b56-874e-a45fccf6d76f"]http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-RowanKavner/Bradie-James-Signs-Deal-To-Retire-With-The-Cowboys/29941921-de4b-4b56-874e-a45fccf6d76f[/URL]

I was a great admirer of James as a player. I wish him the best in his retirement.

 

[DC_fan]

L’Damian Washington is a long shot to make the Cowboys’ roster
Posted Monday, May. 26, 2014

BY CHAREAN WILLIAMS
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

IRVING — L’Damian Washington knows exactly where he stands with the Dallas Cowboys. He understands, as an undrafted rookie free agent, the numbers don’t favor him.

The Cowboys kept five receivers on their 53-player roster last season. Four veterans return this season, and Dallas drafted University of Pittsburgh receiver Devin Street in the fifth round to replace Miles Austin.

“I realize they travel five receivers, and they have four solid ones, and they drafted Devin,” Washington said. “It’s not even a fight. It’s a war out there. I’m just blessed to be here.”

The University of Missouri product has beaten longer odds just to get here.

Washington was only 5-years old when his father, William Myles, was shot and killed in a botched robbery in Cullen, La. His mother, Sonya, died of complications from a blood clot that broke loose during L’Damian’s high school basketball game Dec. 28, 2006.

Washington found himself an orphan at 15.

“I’ve basically taken care of myself since,” Washington said. “It’s kind of like that Darwinism, man. You’re going to survive. You’re going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself, or you’re going to do whatever it takes to survive.”

Washington and his three brothers — two of them older — promised to stay together through thick and thin. Their brotherly love sometimes was the only thing they had to sustain them.

The oldest, LaCourtney, was 19 at the time. He served as mother, father and big brother to Tobias, who was 17, L’Damian and Tomarious, who was 9.

Food stamps weren’t always enough for four growing boys, and Ramen noodles became a staple. The water got turned off occasionally, and the electricity sometimes did, too.

Still, the boys refused to separate, voting against going to live with an uncle.

“I didn’t know how to pay bills,” said LaCourtney, now 27. “I got frustrated when things got cut off. I never called around and asked for money. I did ask God to give me strength, and I got better at managing the money every day. We struggled, but we struggled together. All of us graduated from high school, so I think I did a good job. We’re all doing real well. None of us has ever been in trouble. The way my mother raised us, we are very respectful. She played a big role in our lives.

“God doesn’t make any mistakes, and I think he put me in a position to become a man, and I think that’s what I’ve done over the last eight years.”

L’Damian could have traveled a different path and nearly did a few times. He was sent to alternative school for a semester as a sophomore. But he got his life — and his football career — back on track and ended up catching 53 passes for 1,064 yards and 12 touchdowns as a high school senior to earn a scholarship offer to Louisiana Tech, which at the time was coached by Derek Dooley.

“It’s a great example to me of football being a vehicle for getting out of a tough situation and doing something with your life,” said Dooley, now the Cowboys receivers coach. “That’s one of the reasons I love this sport. In college, you’re able to go sit in people’s homes and see some really difficult situations and see how hard some of these kids have it. Nobody had it harder than him, losing both parents and no guardian, with he and his brothers trying to figure it out at a young age. I know I couldn’t do it.

“I just developed a great amount of respect for him and was real proud to watch him during his career. ... I know this: Whatever he does with his life, he’s going to be fine because of how he’s learned how to persevere through what he went through.”

Washington ended up switching his commitment to Missouri, where he caught 100 passes for 1,735 yards and 15 touchdowns in 51 games while earning a psychology degree.

Washington had hoped to be drafted, but when he wasn’t, he followed Dooley by joining his brothers’ favorite team. Washington signed for $7,000 with the Cowboys, though he said 13 teams offered him more.

“I feel like I was placed here for a reason,” Washington said. “I feel like God has a plan for me.”

Washington said he never has asked, “Why me?” Not when his father died. Not when his mother died. Not when the food ran out or the power was turned off. Not even when all 32 teams passed on drafting him.

“At the end of the day, it made me appreciate the things that are around me,” he said. “It made me appreciate that I’m still here. It made me appreciate the smaller things that some people in the larger picture will never understand until probably a later age. My life basically built the person that I am today, and I’m grateful for it; I’m thankful for it. I thank God every day. There’s no need to look back. It’s always good to look forward to what’s next. Never look back.”

LaCourtney, who knows the Cowboys’ roster inside and out, already is looking forward to the 2014 regular season. He likes his brother’s chances to stick.

“He’s been against the odds all his career, all his life,” LaCourtney said. “Nobody ever gave him a chance. He was always too skinny. He was always too small. He proved that wrong. This is just another stepping stone, another chance to prove them wrong. He’s going to do it. Trust me.”


Read more here: [URL="http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/05/26/5849016/ldamian-washington-is-a-long-shot.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy"]http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/05/26/5849016/ldamian-washington-is-a-long-shot.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy[/URL]

I like battlers like this guy. Wish him all the best in his attempt to make the final roster. If he doesn't make that he is a good chance to put on the practise squad

 

[Tom155]

Looks like Sean Lee tore his ACL today

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...-lee-injures-left-knee-at-dallas-cowboys-otas

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 48m
Cowboys fear LB Sean Lee tore his left ACL. Lee will undergo an MRI today to see if Cowboys fears are reality.

 

[nick87]

He just can not stay healthy

 

[SeeJay]

cowboys are really bad

 

[Monk]

Ah ffs

 

[zombie jesus]

I want to lolboys but I can't.

He could be back before the regular season ends with the way acl recoveries go these days.

 

[DC_fan]

Lee could and would be a great linebacker except for one thing, injuries. This really has put a dent in a Cowboys plans for this season.

 

[DC_fan]

Stephen Jones: It doesn’t matter what the Dallas Cowboys are worth, Jerry isn’t selling

If the Los Angeles Clippers are worth $2 billion, what are the Dallas Cowboys worth?

It was reported Thursday night that Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling agreed to sell the franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.


Forbes estimated in January that the Los Angeles NBA franchise was worth $575 million. In August, Forbes estimated that the Cowboys were worth $2.3 billion.

What does Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones think the franchise is worth?

“All I can tell you is it doesn’t matter what’s the number, Jerry’s not selling,” Stephen said, referring to his father, Jerry Jones, Friday on 1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM]. “Only he can make that decision. It’s kind of fruitless to even discuss it.”

The Cowboys remain one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. Last year, Forbes ranked Dallas fifth, trailing only Real Madrid, Manchester United, FC Barcelona and the New York Yankees.

“Obviously, these sports franchises are tremendous content, obviously a get-away for our culture, for our society,” Stephen said. “People love to escape their stress and everyday pressures of work by watching sports, whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, hockey, any sport, watching their kids play sports. People enjoy it. I think people are drawn to it.

“There’s only a finite group of teams that are out there. Obviously, that one being in LA makes it even more special. When you see the Dodgers go for what they go for, I’m not totally floored, but it’s obviously a big number.”

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/stephen-jones-it-doesnt-matter-what-the-dallas-cowboys-are-worth-jerrys-not-selling.html/

If Forbes magazine valued the Clippers at $575m and they were sold for $2b then that must mean the Cowboys who Forbes valued at $2.3b are worth $9b.

 

[DC_fan]

Recently Tony Romo sat down with members of the Dallas media and shared his thoughts about what the addition of former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will mean for the Dallas Cowboys. As a part of the conversation the Dallas quarterback admitted that he is eager to get back on the field and start working with his new play-caller. He was also forthcoming that the new philosophy will incorporate elements of both the familiar "Air Garrett" offense and the similar but different concepts that were used last season in the Motor City.

"I think it can be beneficial to us not giving away too much stuff. But I think there’re some new things. There’re some things that will carry over. You’ll see some things that look similar. They’ll be subtly different things that I think will give us a little bit of an advantage. I don’t want to go into detail on that too much." - Tony Romo
While Romo did not directly answer the question when he was asked if the Cowboys would be looking for the vertical passing game to play a bigger role in the Dallas offense this season, he did allude to the fact that this was one of the "exciting" things that he sees in the way that Linehan runs an offense.

"I think that when you watch the tape of what the Lions have done, it's exciting to see some of the ways they attack teams," Romo said. "I think we're going to do some of that, and we're going to have some of our stuff. You always try new things that you're putting in each year, so I just think it's going to allow us to be an aggressive offense, and that's what you're going to be.
This seems to be a confirmation of what my fellow front page writer, Mr. KD Drummond, stated to be his expectation for the Dallas offense in his recent look at what the addition of Linehan will mean for the Cowboys offense.

I still feel very comfortable proclaiming that Linehan likes to run the rock a bit of an urban legend. - KD Drummond
Based on what Romo has said, the Cowboys offense is looking to be more aggressive in 2014 and that means looking to get the ball downfield quickly. With a weapon like Dez Bryant in the arsenal, who could blame them. Still Romo admits that it will be a balancing act for the entire offensive brain-trust to maintain a balance and incorporate the run game as well. After all, DeMarco Murray can be a decisive weapon as well. The offense, no matter who is designing the game plan and calling the plays, needs to avoid becoming one dimensional.

"You look at certain games we needed to do other things differently. We needed to get the ball out of our hands quicker, and other games we needed to run the ball more, and other games we needed to push it down the field. We all need to be better, and I think that's the case for every single year though."
Therein lies the key to the Dallas offense finding success. As Tony stated, the Cowboys in 2013 needed to do some things differently. That will require adjustments in the thinking of each man involved in the Cowboys offensive game plan and a high level of confidence and trust in each other. Trust is one thing that seems to come easy for this group.

"I think in some ways as you get older you have more control with what you want to happen out on the field. That’s including leading up to the game and during. By the same token, if you think similar to what the play-caller and what the people putting the plan on are, you’ll probably take less control in that environment, I guess I would say. It all depends on the relationship, trust and then your longevity and your experience that you have as a quarterback. For me, you get to that point and you feel very comfortable going in and communicating what you want, and making sure that’s going to take shape."

While everything that was discussed sounds good, I am still left with some concerns. For one thing, I do not see anything other than lip service being given to the running game. Perhaps, by having DeMarco Murray in the fold, Scott Linehan will be the voice of reason who champions the running game to avoid disasters like the blown 23 point lead to Green Bay last season but based on his history of liking to stretch the field, I am not holding my breath.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/5/30/5765100/tony-romo-speaks-about-what-scott-linehan-will-bring-to-the-dallas-cowboys-offense

 

[DC_fan]

A Reminder Of Why The Cowboys Are So Patient With Safety Matt Johnson
By Dave Halprin  @BloggingTheBoys on Jun 1 2014, 4:00p 48

He's the unicorn. The most mysterious of all Dallas Cowboys. We may have to send out a team of Bigfoot hunters to find him. He's Matt Johnson, the Cowboys secret weapon at safety who is so secret that he never plays.

Todd Archer recently reminded us that yes, Johnson is still on the roster, and yes, he did participate in the recent OTA session.

In his third season with the Cowboys, he has yet to play a game. Hamstring, back and foot injuries have kept him off the field in his first two seasons. He is like some sort of myth.

The questions asked to him on Tuesday after the first organized team activities (OTAs) were the same asked to him last spring.

"I can just repeat my answers from last year," Johnson joked. "I feel like it's been a long time since I've been in a groove playing football really since my senior year in college. It's just good to get back out there with the guys and compete and kind of gear up for a new season."
Johnson ran with the 2's in the recent OTA practices, teaming up with Jeff Heath behind Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox. But the Cowboys had grand plans for Johnson when they drafted him way back in 2012. In college, he was a playmaker with 14 interceptions in his career.

I decided to take a quick trip in BTB's way-back machine to look at why the Cowboys drafted him in the first place. Yes, he made plays at Eastern Washington, he had the third-best production ratio at safety in his draft class (led by Mark Barron). But his athleticism and measurables were also a big part of it. The scouts raved about his pro day.

Tony Pauline:

Safety Matt Johnson, who missed most of the season's second half with a torn biceps tendon, put on a show for scouts. The hard hitting run defender measured just over 6-feet and 211 pounds. His fastest 40 time clocked 4.54 seconds and Johnson's other marks included a vertical jump of 38.5 inches and 18 reps on the bench.
And O.C.C. put together an excellent break down of his athleticism/measurables just after the Cowboys drafted him.

Prototypical Athleticism

Last year Gil Brandt of NFL.com laid out the target measurables for safeties in each Combine drill. This is what NFL teams are looking for at the position:

Drill Significance Safeties Johnson
40-yard dash Speed over distance 4.60 4.54
225-pound bench press reps Upper body strength 18 18
Vertical jump Explosiveness, leg strength 36 38.5
Broad jump (in inches) Explosiveness, leg strength 120 121
20-yard shuttle Flexibility, burst, balance 4.05 4.07
3-cone drill Agility, change of direction 7.10 6.84

So now we know that Johnson has the prototypical athleticism that all NFL teams are looking for in their safeties. But this still leaves us without a clear understanding of which drills are the important ones. As our good fortune would have it, the guys at Ourlads.com did some research a while back on the physical attributes that result in NFL success. Here's what they found for safeties. Three quarters of safety prospects who exceeded peer average in the 40-yard dash started in the NFL. The next most important drills for safeties are the short shuttle and three cone drill. Here's how Johnson compares:

Drill 40-YARD DASH SHORT SHUTTLE THREE CONE
EPA Avg. Success Avg. Success Avg. Success
4.58 74% 4.25 46% 7.04 46%
Johnson 4.54 4.07 6.84

The success percentage in the table indicates the percentage of prospects who became NFL starters out of all prospects who met or exceeded the peer average of the specific drill. In other words, 74% of safeties who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds or less became starters in the NFL.

Matt Johnson exceeds peer average in all three critical drills. From a purely athletic point of view, there is no reason to doubt that Matt Johnson could eventually become a starter in the NFL.

It's all impressive stuff, kind of a reminder why the Cowboys are being so patient with the fourth-round draft pick. But will he ever be able to get on the field? That's the question we're asking.

[URL="http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/6/1/5769466/a-reminder-of-why-the-cowboys-are-so-patient-with-safety-matt-johnson"]http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/6/1/5769466/a-reminder-of-why-the-cowboys-are-so-patient-with-safety-matt-johnson[/URL]

Just needs to stay injury free.

 

[DC_fan]

Rookie WR L'Damian Washington out with shoulder injury

Rookie receiver L'Damian Washington injured his shoulder during Thursday's practice. The Cowboys fear Washington separated his AC joint, according to a source.
Washington wouldn't say much about the injury when reached on his cell phone, revealing only that he was still waiting on MRI results. He is wearing a sling.
"It's a tough one," he said.
The injury could keep the undrafted free agent out of the rest of the team's offseason program, with the goal of getting him fully healthy for training camp. The former Missouri product was signed to compete with fifth-round draft pick Devin Street for a spot on the 53-player roster. The Cowboys return four veteran receivers, with Miles Austin having been released.
It was a rough first week of organized team activities for the Cowboys as they lost linebacker Sean Lee to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. The fifth-year veteran is expected to miss the season.

-- Charean Williams
http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2014/06/rookie-wr-ldamian-washington-out-with-shoulder-injury.html

A real shame. Lets hope he can get back on the training paddock sooner rather then later.​