Dallas Cowboys News

[DC_fan]

Be interesting to see if a really good O-Line can make up for having running backs which are garbage.

They are essentially the reverse Buffalo

The Cowboys are putting down Murrays great 2014 season to the OL and they believe the line can do the same again in 2015 regardless of whom the RB is.

Time will tell on that.

 

[DC_fan]

Troubled DT Josh Brent has retired. I wish him the best.

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys' rookie camp observations

todd archer, espn dallas cowboys reporter

irving, texas -- the href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-cowboys">dallas cowboys conclude their rookie mini-camp on sunday, but there is no media access.
with four practices over the last two days, here are some observations:

• the punt return job is open. Following the saturday morning practice running backs b.j. Catalon and cam mcdaniel and wide receivers lucky whitehead, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2570993/george-farmer">george farmer and nick harwell fielded punts. Whitehead ended his college career with a 76-yard punt return for a score against old dominion.
• sometimes rookies need a jolt. Jason garrett delivered one to fifth-round pick ryan russell during special teams drills complete with an expletive.
• de randy gregory showed up in the team drills in the afternoon workout getting to the quarterback. What was good to see was the variety of moves. He wasn't just a speed rusher on the outside shoulder of the tackle. He had a would-be sack after jabbing hard to the outside and coming back underneat ot <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2512704/laurence-gibson">laurence gibson.
• dt chris whaley spent last year on the non-football injury list recovering from a knee injury at texas, but was able to get back on the field this weekend and had some solid moments. On friday he used his quickness on the interior to slide up the pocket to pressure (or sack) jameill showers.
• whaley heard it from defensive coordinator rod marinelli after a one-on-one pass rush drill after he was swallowed up by guard nico carlson. Whaley didn't keep his feet moving and could not budge carlson.
• first-round pick byron jones looks the part. He is a smooth athlete but he also had a moment in which he used his football smarts. Playing in coverage on the outside he had his eyes on the quarterback and was able to break on a ball thrown inside. Later he broke up a slant to farmer as the result of a quick break on a showers' throw.
• to close the one-on-one drills on saturday, garrett had jones go up against farmer. The undrafted rookie was able to come up with a grab on a crossing route but jones was in position and attempted to rip the ball away three times.
• i can see why the cowboys moved efe obada back to defensive end. There's just too much learning that needs to be done for him to have a chance to make the team at tight end. At defensive end, he can simply get to the guy with the ball. But a word of caution to those who believe the cowboys have a hidden gem: Raw doesn't even begin to describe him. Obada looked better at defensive end in saturday's practice but still needing a lot of work. He spent time after practice working on his stance with assistant defensive line coach ben bloom.
• a couple of quick veteran health updates: Cb morris claiborne said his rehab from a torn patellar tendon is going well and is focused on being ready for the start of training camp. Lb sean lee said he feels great in his comeback from a torn acl and de jack crawford's surgically-repaired thumb is back to 100 percent.
• undrafted rookie cb jason wilson had some solid work in one-on-one drills in the slot. He broke up two passes to der'rikk thompson and george farmer and he likely drew an offensive pass interference on whitehead. In team drills it looked like the officials got him for a defensive holding.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4742358/cowboys-rookie-camp-observations

First round pick Byron Jones has been impressive. Randy Gregory had problems with dehydration but come back to the field later.

The interesting player was lightweight DT Chris Whaley who has good quickness for the position. He put in a solid showing.

The player I am keen to watch through mini and training camps is WR George Farmer. He must have impressed the Cowboys as they have guaranteed $55,000.

 

[DC_fan]

Stephen Jones: Byron Jones helps Cowboys secondary have a Seahawks look to it

Cowboys first-round draft pick Byron Jones describes himself as an athletic, intelligent and versatile defensive back. He played both corner and free safety in college and the Cowboys believe he’s capable of doing both for them.

Dallas’ defensive scheme is similar to the one run by the back-to-back NFC Champion Seahawks. A significant factor in Seattle’s defensive success is arguably the best secondary in the league.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones recently discussed how Byron Jones can help Dallas be more like Seattle in the secondary.

“One of the things we really loved about Byron was his versatility and the fact that he played free safety for Connecticut his first two years and played free safety very well,” Stephen Jones said last week during a conference call with season-ticket holders. “So we think we’re getting a very versatile guy. We do think with what we’re wanting to do with our corners, which is really press, not unlike what you see with the Seattle Seahawks with their long corners, which is really get athletic corners that can run. They’ve got long arms, they can make plays on the ball. We think Byron fits all of the above.

“At the same time, If Mo Claiborne comes back healthy and roaring and ready, then if you want to get your best players on the field, he’ll be a huge factor at the free safety position, which to some degree, we’ve been looking for because both Barry [Church] and J.J. [Wilcox] are very strong down safeties or in the box safeties, they pack a big punch and are very physical, but don’t have the range of someone like Earl Thomas with the Seahawks has.

“Byron allows us to have a couple of options. Not only to have a big physical corner but also if the situation presents itself, to be very competitive as a free safety for us as well.”

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/stephen-jones-byron-jones-helps-cowboys-secondary-be-more-like-seahawks.html/

 

[DC_fan]

All Cowboys RB Ryan Williams wants is a chance

Ryan Williams had chances to leave last season and join another team’s 53-player roster. Instead, he chose to stay on the Cowboys’ practice squad, with hopes of getting a shot to run behind the league’s best offensive line.

Williams will compete with three other veteran running backs for roster spots, playing time and carries.


“I think everybody will have a great chance to show what they can do, and it’ll go from there,” Williams said. “Really, that’s it. I never had a chance to run behind that O-Line last year, so hopefully I get an opportunity this year. I think that’ll help my chance of showing everybody what I’m really capable of doing.”

Williams has only 58 carries for 164 yards and no touchdowns, playing only five career games since the Cardinals made him a second-round pick in 2011. His career numbers are the fewest among the veteran running backs on the roster, with Darren McFadden (1038-4247-25), Joseph Randle (105-507-5) and Lance Dunbar (80-324-0) having more experience, more carries and more yards.




Williams’ career so far has ranked as a disappointment because of numerous injuries, including knee and shoulder ailments.

“I’ve been good for three years now,” Williams said. “I’ve had some major injuries, for sure, and statistically having those injuries is kind of like ‘X this guy out.’ But I’ve always been one to never put myself in that box of those statistics. I always thought of myself that I can overcome anything I’ve ever wanted to overcome. That patellar tendon was that thing for me. It changed my life. But I’m still here, and I honestly feel like I’m better than I was before. I believe in my product, and we’ll see what happens with that.”
Williams gained a team-high 112 rushing yards and scored a touchdown on 25 carries during the 2014 preseason. It earned him a spot on the practice squad last season.

Williams doesn’t play special teams, which hurts his chances of sticking on the Cowboys’ 53-player roster. But with Murray’s departure, the Cowboys likely will have a running back by committee.




The Cowboys kept four running backs on their roster in 2013.

“It is pretty open,” Williams said. “Our bellcow ringer left. He cashed out in Philly – really cashed out in Philly. So we’ll see how it plays out. We have a very talented backfield – a very, very talented backfield. I don’t know if it’ll be like the best man wins; I don’t know if it’ll be like everybody is sharing. I don’t know how the situation will go. I’m not really worried about it. The only thing I’m worried about is going out there and showing these coaches and everybody what I’m capable of doing and showing them what they brought me to do.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-corner-blog/article21019311.html#storylink=cpy​

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-corner-blog/article21019311.html

Well he is going to get his chance this training camp. First thing he needs to show is that he can remain injury free.

 

[DC_fan]

Why Did The Cowboys Sign UDFA Linebacker Donnie Baggs?

he big personnel moves are probably over for the Dallas Cowboys until training camp. This is excluding contract negotiations with Dez Bryant and possibly Orlando Scandrick and Brandon Carr. In this case, we are talking about new players coming to the team, and ones currently on the roster being released. Now we are watching churn in action, and most if not all of the action will deal with names located at or near the bottom of the depth chart. On Thursday, the Cowboys signed former team member and safety Danny McCray, likely looking to replace some of the special teams production of wide receiver Dwayne Harris, lost in free agency to the New York Giants. They also signed a player that was invited to the rookie minicamp, Texas A&M linebacker Donnie Baggs. To make room for them on the 90 man roster, they released second-year linebackers Keith Smith and Will Smith.

As detailed in a report at DallasCowboys.com, the linebacking corps is getting a lot of attention this year after seeing recurring issues with depth the past couple of seasons. While the team is looking for better health this year for Sean Lee and Rolando McClain, they have added six new linebackers so far this offseason. Andrew Gachkar, Keith Rivers, and Jasper Brinkley were signed as free agents, Damien Wilson and Mark Nzeocha were drafted, and now Baggs comes in as a UDFA. That is out of eleven total LBs on the roster, so more than half are new faces.

Baggs must have impressed the team as being a better option than either of the Smiths. While he may end up as no more than a camp body, he may surprise everyone and win a spot on the roster. But the more likely role that he is being considered for is a future member of the practice squad.

The PS offers a ready pool of depth for injured players, letting the team promote someone they know and who already is familiar with the playbook. This is better than the street free agents that the team found itself having to rely on at times in recent years. In a sense, Baggs provides some insurance for Nzeocha making the roster (most likely for his own ability to play special teams). Otherwise the Wyoming product, who is still somewhat raw, would be an excellent candidate to stash and coach. But you always like to see your draft picks make the roster, even the seventh round ones. If he works out, then Baggs can be kept around for the future as well as a resource if needed during the season.

It is a kind of long-range thinking that is not always obvious to outside observers. It also fits the constant youth movement that has become so central to the team strategy under Jason Garrett. Baggs obviously has to prove himself in the OTAs and training camp, but the logic behind giving him that chance is pretty sound. And who knows what might happen once he gets a chance to develop and show what he has against the rest of the roster?

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015/5/14/8609183/why-did-the-cowboys-sign-udfa-linebacker-donnie-baggs

 

[DC_fan]

The Cowboys have signed four of their eight draft picks.

Laurence Gibson OT, Ryan Russell DE, Mark Nzeocha LB and Geoff Swaim TE have all signed.

 

[DC_fan]

Ben Tate and Felix Jones working out for Cowboys

Dallas stunned the football world by not going with a running back in this year's NFL draft, but they might just be hoping for a platoon of veterans to get the job done.

The Cowboys are working out former Texans, Browns, Vikings and Steelers running back Ben Tate, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday. ESPN first reported the news of Tate's workout.




And, in a stunning effort to recreate the 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks, the Cowboys are also looking at Felix Jones, per Rapoport.

Once viewed as the crown jewel of his running back free agency class back in 2014, Tate had a bit of a fall from grace during his first season away from Houston.

He might be hoping to find solace behind the league's best offensive line.
Jones, meanwhile, has been searching desperately for a chance to get back in the game. In a conversation with Around The NFL at the Veteran Combine, Jones said his last team workout was with the Giants during the season. The former Cowboys' first-round pick also had stints with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but has been out of the game since 2013.
Jerry Jones is wise to load up the backfield behind the oft-injured Darren McFadden, who could have a banner year but could also use some veteran assistance.

Before his dip in 2014, Tate was averaging almost four yards per carry and four yards per reception. The Cowboys are probably interested to see if that version of Tate is still hanging around somewhere.

Felix Jones might be more of a longshot.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000493761/article/ben-tate-felix-jones-working-out-for-cowboys

Tate in his first three seasons in the NFL as a Texan flashed some potential. Will be only 27 years old come this season, so worth a shot.

As for Felix Jones, well he has been there and done little. Don't see him being much of a chance.

 

[shiznit]

Hey DC fan...

I heard a rumour that the Dallas Cowboys were playing an exhibition in NZ in August.

I've looked on there preseason schedule and can't find anything in NZ.

Have you heard anything?? I normally would laugh it off but the guy who I heard it from doesn't normally talk bullshit...

 

[DC_fan]

Hey DC fan...

I heard a rumour that the Dallas Cowboys were playing an exhibition in NZ in August.

I've looked on there preseason schedule and can't find anything in NZ.

Have you heard anything?? I normally would laugh it off but the guy who I heard it from doesn't normally talk bullshit...

I was reading something today about a number of NFL teams, including Dallas possibly playing in NZ in September.

But don't get too excited. From what I read it will involve players who did not make the final 53 men rosters.

 

[DC_fan]

NFL's Twitter account sends message to Tony Romo, then deletes it

IRVING, Texas -- Did the NFL’s Twitter account troll Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo?

The state of the relationship between the NFL and the quarterback of America’s Team is not on its best footing currently with the cancellation of Romo’s National Fantasy Football Convention.

Romo was critical of the league’s handling of the event today when speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, saying, “It’s like when you’re in high school and you don’t get invited to the party, it makes you feel bad. If they really wanted to just be a part of it all they had to do was just call and ask. It would’ve been a lot easier, I think, than going about the process the way they did. We understand that these things come about and there’s big money involved sometimes from the NFL’s perspective. If we had known about the issue of the place or thought that something that could’ve been an issue, the NFL could’ve told us that right away. That’s where it makes it interesting.”

Later Tuesday, the NFL tweeted a picture of Romo waving during a portion of a practice while using emoticons of the league waving back. The tweet has since been deleted.

The NFL contends it contacted the organizers of the NFFC about an issue with how the location of the event -- the Sands Expo and Convention Center -- violates a long-standing policy that "players and NFL personnel may not participate in promotional activities or other appearances in connection with events that are held at or sponsored by casinos."

Romo denied there was contact between the organizers, himself or Romo’s agency CAA.

Cowherd asked if it was fair to characterize the relationship between the players and the NFL as suspicious.

“I think you’re probably asking the wrong guy in the wrong week,” Romo said. “I don’t know that I want to be overwhelmingly positive at the moment. It’s just a very frustrating process that went down when all they had to do was literally call me or the actual event organizers at the NFFC and that never took shape. Instead it was about almost scaring the people attending the event. That just seemed silly to me. We could have been far more mature about this. That makes me think it was just about money and that was disappointing.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4742972/nfls-twitter-account-sends-message-to-tony-romo-then-deletes-it

 

[DC_fan]

Dez Bryant weighs skipping Cowboys' season opener if no deal signed

Dez Bryant is contemplating not reporting to the Dallas Cowboys for the regular-season opener unless he is signed to a long-term contract by July 15.

"This is no rumor; it's legit," Bryant told the NFL Network, confirming what sources familiar with the receiver's negotiation strategy earlier told ESPN.com.

Bryant has not signed his franchise tag, which would guarantee him $12,823,000 for the 2015 season. The deadline for franchise-tagged players to negotiate and sign a long-term contract is July 15. Bryant's only other options are to play under the $12.823 million tag or not play at all.

"I'm just not going to comment about that," said Bryant's agent, Tom Condon. "Our goal is still to get something done on a long-term basis by the deadline."

Cowboys executive vice president of player personnel Stephen Jones said last week that the team would make a push to get Bryant signed before the deadline. However, the team reportedly has not made a new proposal since prior to the 2014 season. Bryant has since changed contract representatives, from Eugene Parker to Condon.

A source cited the option of "pulling an Emmitt Smith," referring to the Cowboys' Hall of Fame running back who missed the first two games of the 1993 season. In that situation, the team gave in when it began the season with two losses, and Smith was signed to a new deal favorable to his side of negotiations. The Cowboys overcame that 0-2 start to win their second straight Super Bowl.

The Smith strategy could not be duplicated with the same result now, because under the collective bargaining agreement, the Cowboys could not sign Bryant to a new contract after July 15. Thus, they will have to measure whether Bryant's threat is real or a bluff.

And whether Bryant has the resolve remains to be seen. Even though he has not participated in the team's offseason workouts, he did appear at one OTA session and participated in individual drills. The Cowboys hold their mandatory minicamp next week, but Bryant is not subject to mandatory attendance because he technically is not under contract.

Bryant is entering his sixth NFL season. His production during the past three seasons is comparable to the best three-year stretch of several all-time great receivers: Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens and Lance Alworth.

In 2014, he caught 88 passes for 1,350 yards and 16 touchdowns

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/13066102/dez-bryant-weighs-skipping-dallas-cowboys-season-opener-no-long-term-deal-signed

 

[shiznit]

Playing with fire there..., so what happens if he doesn't sign by 15/7?

Does he automatically have to sit the season out?

 

[DC_fan]

Once the July 15 deadline passes, the sides won’t be allowed to strike a long-term deal for Bryant until after the 2015 season. So missing games in September won’t change anything for Bryant.

Except

The Cowboys can’t fine Bryant for not participating in the mandatory minicamp because he’s not under contract. Bryant, however, would be in line to forfeit his $754,000 game check if he chose not to play in Week 1.

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2...ar-season-games-over-contract-stalemate.html/

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys Hall of Fame DT/LB Randy White watches practice, impressed with DE DeMarcus Lawrence

IRVING — Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame defensive tackle/linebacker Randy White stopped by Valley Ranch on Tuesday for the first practice of the club’s three-day mini-camp. White addressed the team Tuesday morning and again after practice and even worked with some players on hand drills.


“I just talked a little bit about what I thought made the teams that I played on great teams,” White said. “We cared about each other, we had the drive, we made the sacrifices we had to make to be good and when things got tough we looked at ourselves and don’t point the finger anywhere else and try to make yourself that much better is basically what I was trying to tell them. You beat them not only physically, but you beat them with your mental preparation.”

Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he enjoyed having White at practice.

“It was a great deal for our men to be around a man like that, just have a man like that with them all day, visiting with them, talking football,” Marinelli said. “Not just football, but how you approach the game of football. He’s a special guy.”

One player in particular caught the eye of “The Manster.” White was impressed with second-year defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

“The guy can move like a cat. He’s pretty impressive out there,” White said. “He can be a game-changer out there if he can continue to improve and play the way he did at the end of last year. I think he’s going to be a great player for them.”

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2...ice-impressed-with-de-demarcus-lawrence.html/

I am expecting big things from Lawrence this season. Missed a lot of his rookie season due to injury.

Good to see some one the 'Manster' praise him,.

 

[DC_fan]

What would a Dallas Cowboys Marvel-themed NFL helmet look like?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/da...owboys-marvel-themed-nfl-helmet-look-like.ece

 

[DC_fan]

For a 320-pound OL, Cowboys' La'el Collins has some pass-catching skills ... see for yourself

The Cowboys love rookie La'el Collins' potential as an offensive lineman.

As a wide receiver?

Well, the talented rookie from LSU is no threat to take snaps from Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams or Cole Beasley.

But that doesn't mean the 300-plus pounder can't run a decent double-move pattern and pull in a long pass.

Need proof?

Here's a video that Collins posted on Instagram that shows him running a deep route and catching a long pass. Granted, he was being covered by a fellow offensive lineman (Laurence Gibson) on the play, but still ...

Hey, J.J. Watt makes a habit of catching touchdown passes for Houston.

Remember Refrigerator Perry? Any number of non-receivers have caught scoring passes for the New England Patriots over the years.

Why not La'el Collins?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150624-for-a-320-pound-ol-cowboys-la-el-collins-has-some-pass-catching-skills-...-see-for-yourself.ece

 

[DC_fan]

Former Packers, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren: Jerry Jones is misunderstood in the football world

Former NFL head coach Mike Holmgren recently joined Shan and R.J. on KRLD-FM (105.3) to talk all things football. Here are some of the highlights:

On how big of a gamble it was for the Cowboys to let DeMarco Murray go:
Holmgren: “Well I thought when I heard about it, I thought 'gee whiz, how can they let this young guy get out of there?' Jerry (Jones) over the year doesn’t have that problem. If he wants the guy to stay, he stays. So I thought hew was a tremendously talented back and so I think it’s a question mark; I really do. I thought last year their offensive formula was really a good one, and I think it proved out for them. So they need a back to step up now. (Darren) McFadden in Oakland he wasn’t the back everyone thought he was going to be — we’ll see. I know Dallas really likes its offensive line, but you can’t just take anyone and plug them in — not to replace Murray. You have to get somebody who’s good. So we’ll see.”

On if Greg Hardy can have enough impact and add that much to make the Cowboys a competitive team defensively:
Holmgren: “Well I think if you get a pass rusher was his ability, yeah. In fact, I’m going to go see him in a couple of weeks. Charles Haley, who is a friend of mine going into the Half of Fame, and when we were competing against Dallas in Green Bay, Charles could disrupt the game all by himself. He had that kind of ability. I think Hardy is an excellent, excellent pass rusher, and if you get one guy who can really make the offense think about him a lot, or maybe if you have to use another guy to block him, yeah you’re changing the whole tone of that offensive team. I think if he stays healthy, he’s the player that I think he is — yeah I think he can be the guy to help him.”

On what his relationship is like with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones:
Holmgren: “We’ll, we got to know each other very well when we were on the competition committee together. We were in meetings together a lot, and I was coach and, of course, he was the owner and we’d talk about football a lot and laugh and tell stories, so I got to know him there. And then there are a couple of times that he talked to me about coaching the Cowboys, and we laughed about that. I used to say, ‘you know, we are friends, and I think if I was your coach, that friendship would be tested.’”

On if he was ever close to coaching the Dallas Cowboys:
Holmgren: “No, not really. I was flattered, and of course being the coach of the Dallas Cowboys is something very, very special, but I usually was in the position where I already had a good job. So we just kind of talked about stuff. But you know what? He is an owner — I think he is misunderstood a little bit in the football world — I think he is an owner who really cares about the football part of it. Now he’s a business man, and he makes money like no one I’ve ever seen, but he also cares deeply about the football part of it. I talked to Bill Parcells about this. He let Bill do what he wanted to do on that team, and I think if you get in there and have good reasons for doing something, you know he backs up the coach. And look what he’s doing with Jason Garrett; I think it’s great.”

On the Tony Romo, Brett Favre comparisons:
Holmgren: “I honestly, over the years, I try to steer clear of comparisons, really. I think it’s fair, though. I saw — Tony, I think, played his first game against me in a preseason game in Seattle, and then he’s gone on to have a wonderful career. I remembering talking to him after a couple of games, and he told me about (how he idolized Brett Favre), and I said, ‘well don’t do what he did when he was younger. He was a wild stallion. Listen to your coaches, you know?’ But I think they’re fair. I think they’re fair because he does things in games, sometimes, where you go, ‘wow.’ Underhanded tosses , throws from crazy positions, but the same thing, every once in a while in years past, he’d throw an interception that I know he didn’t want, and Brett would do that early in his career.

“I think as Brett got older, he eliminated a lot of those things. That I think is some of the difference. I think when Tony gets in trouble, he’s trying to do too much. He’s playing outside the box a little too much because if you surround him with people like they got right now — they got a great tight end, they got a Dez Bryant — they got people he can throw the ball to and he doesn’t have to make the miraculous plays; he just has to make the great plays all the time and he is absolutely capable of doing that, and you saw the success they had there.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150717-former-packers-seahawks-coach-mike-holmgren-jerry-jones-is-misunderstood-in-the-football-world.ece

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reveals inside details in Dez Bryant negotiations

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones joined the Shan and RJ show on KRLD-FM (105.3) on Thursday to discuss the new deal with wide receiver Dez Bryant.

One of the more interesting revelations Jones made was that Dez’s off-the-field affairs will be a team effort, but mostly will be handled now by Jay Z and Roc Nation, which represents Bryant. There are no “Dez Rules.” According to a Dallas Morning News report, for the first time in his five-year professional career, the receiver will not have someone associated with the Cowboys closely monitoring him while he’s away from Valley Ranch.

Some highlights of Jones’ chat this morning:

On Dez:
The evolving of his maturation has been spectacular. It has been said throughout this process that his contract that the same thing that made him drop in the draft from a top 5 pick to where we got him. The same thing is impacting him in this negotiation. No one breathing from the perspective that this needed to be evaluated, which is giving him a long term contract. No one breathing knows Dez better than me. No one breathing. And for us to agree to this contract and the terms and everything says all you need to say about Dez and how we feel and how I feel, and I feel like I’m the expert in terms of the whole package as to what Dez is about.

He’s good inside. He’s got the right stuff he is passionate and an athletic freak in a positive sense. Inside he has the compassion for his team and the recognition of teamwork.”

On there being no “Dez rules” or off-the-field limits in the contract:
“Correct. That was made possible by Roc Nation and Jay-Z. Now I know you said, ‘Boy, aren’t we mixing the chickens and eagles here?’ No. Jay-Z certainly is a great example there. He’s obviously very astute and not just talented and he has in his or he has in his plan a really ask several people of the different disciplines of music many different disciplines that are outstanding. Then he wants to have them and advise them on how they handle their affairs. He’s outstanding. I’ve had chance to spend some personal time with him and I am convinced that this is what he’s got at stake it for to step out of bounds with Dez it’s a step out of bounds with Roc Nation and Jay-Z. He doesn’t want that to happen. Now it’s going to always be a team effort for all of us and so I know that I’ve got work set aside in my day job to make this work. But I’m confident that that group can really do a good job of monitoring and helping advise Dez in his decisions off the field you have to listen and hear these news..”

On whether Jay Z took part in the negotiations:
“Not in the negotiation. He was involved in the ’painting’ of the picture about off the field decisions, and of course Dez is going to have the opportunity to make many of them. … We all should listen to him. He’s had tremendous success apart from being a great talent..” (More on what Jerry said about Jay Z here).

On if there was a disagreement with Stephen Jones and whether he had to make the final call:
“That’s not the way we work. Stephen and I confer constantly. I understand people have to say, “That’s the man.” The case is that I get a lot of input. If it’s a tie … I win that decision but that’s the way it goes in any organization. (On Dez,) we were unanimous. We were sitting there at 3 a.m. We were able to have a meeting of the minds where we were in sync.”

On the last time he severely disagreed with Stephen:
“One time (when the Cowboys signed Deion Sanders), he pushed me up against the wall and I said, ‘What are you going to do hit me?’ ”

On if this team is a Super Bowl contender:
“I don’t have to go there. I’ve been there. You (the media) have been especially critical. You shouldn’t be in my shoes unless you see the glass half full. You should be able to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”

On if the Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald contracts hampered the Dez negotiations:
“They were problematic. They did set a false financial perspective as it relates to the NFL pay structure. That was a big part of this issue, and that was part of the challenege as late as 3 o’clock in the morning Tuesday night.”

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-reveals-inside-details-in-dez-bryant-negotiations.html/

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys DE Jeremy Mincey gets extra $500,000 but no extension; ‘I’m just ready to play football’

Mincey didn’t get everything he wanted.

But he got enough to end his holdout after three days.

Mincey was on the sidelines with his teammates Sunday after arriving the previous evening. Sources say the veteran defensive end had $500,000 added to his contract for this season, bringing his base pay to $2 million. The $120,000 he accumulated in fines was waived, sources said.

What Mincey did not get was the extension he sought. Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president, said the two sides “probably won’t address that until after the season.”

Mincey’s contract expires after this season.

“I hated to miss a few days because I wanted to be out there with my guys and suffer along with them and work along with them,” Mincey said. “I hated that it came to this. I’m just glad I’m here now and it’s all over. No hard feelings, no nothing. I’m just ready to play football.’’

Monday is a day off for the Cowboys. Mincey will work with coaches on individual drills to get his legs under him and hopes to take part in Tuesday’s practice.

The decision to holdout came roughly one week before the team left for training camp. Mincey had quietly been trying to adjust his contract for months he came up 11 snaps shy of earning a $500,000 escalator clause for his performance last season to no avail.

“I was willing to take the backlash,’’ Mincey said. “I was willing to take the ridicule, and I was willing to take it all just for my family. I’ve got a wife and two daughters. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do for them.

“I mean, if I come out here and fight for my teammates, it’s a no-brainer for me to fight for my family. I’m glad I took a stand. We got good results and I’m here now and everything is good.’’

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/cowboys-de-jeremy-mincey-gets-500000-added-to-contract-but-no-extension.html/