Team attended Brooks' workout

Cowboys | Team attended Brooks' workout
Thu, 29 Jun 2006 17:12:46 -0700

Mickey Spagnola, of DallasCowboys.com, reports the Dallas Cowboys were one of the 20-some teams to attend the workout of Virginia LB Ahmad Brooks. There hasn't been much discussion on the guy around Cowboys camp, but since he's a big linebacker (6-3, 260) and has played in a 3-4 defense for former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells aide Al Groh, chances are there will be.

Cowboys top offensive team of all-time

By Andy Targovnik on June 29, 2006 12:27 AM

Picking an all-time offensive team is a tough chore; but it's that much harder with a team like the Dallas Cowboys , who have had so many great players. I'm sure many of you will disagree with some of my choices; but if we agreed on everything, life would be so dull, wouldn't it? So without further ado, here are my selections:

Quarterback: Roger Staubach
The Cowboys had some great quarterbacks including Troy Aikman and "Dandy" Don Meredith but Staubach, who was a tenth round draft pick, was something special.

Halfback: Tony Dorsett
I'll probably get abused for this one; but while Emmitt Smith was more consistent, Dorsett had more big play capability. His 99-yard run with only ten men on the field on Monday Night Football was one of the best runs I've ever seen.

Fullback: Don Perkins
Although I never saw him play, he led the Cowboys in rushing seven times between 1961 and 1968. Moose Johnston, Robert Newhouse and Walt Garrison just don't stack up.

Wide Receivers: Bob Hayes and Michael Irvin
Sorry Drew Pearson, you just missed.

Tight End: Billy Joe Dupree
I apologize to the Jay Novacek supporters but even though Novacek had 150 more catches, Dupree averaged 2 ½ more yards per catch and had 12 more career touchdowns in the same amount of games played. I'll take the big play guy.

Kicker: Rafael Septien
For such a successful franchise, the Dallas Cowboys sure have had some lousy kickers. Septien was the best out of a sorry lot.

Tackles: Rayfield Wright and Ralph Neely

Center: Mark Stepnoski

Guards: Larry Allen and Nate Newton

Okay everyone, I'm ready. Let me have it.

Receiving TD leaders: Owens projected with 15

Michael Harmon / FOXSports.com
Posted: 1 day ago

The preparation of this edition of my off-season caravan sent my head spinning through highlight after highlight, memorable touchdown celebrations and the undressing of countless defensive backs.

This time out I'm proffering my projections for the top 15 wide receivers in the receiving touchdown category.

These players are sometimes portrayed as controversial, selfish and moody. Images of specific players popped into your head with each of those words, didn't they? Or maybe they were images of the same player.

Whatever your feelings on the individual players, the proliferation of receiving touchdowns on highlight shows demonstrates the power of precision passing at the forefront of the minds of football fans. Whether the touchdown was scored on a 60-yard bomb, a slip screen where a receiver broke a tackle and sprinted for a score or a brilliant timing pattern in the end zone, fantasy owners are always watching the looks and red zone patterns to find the breakout star.

The list begins with the mercurial star of the Dallas Cowboys, Terrell Owens. Coming off of his shortened 2005 season, he has much to prove, and a grand stage on which to do it.


1. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Bold. Brash. Controversial. Call him whatever you like, just don't forget to give a nod to Owens' aptitude as a football player. Assuming an average return from Owens this season, he'll rise into the Top 10 all-time in touchdowns scored. Of course, that assumes that he and coach Parcells get along for a full season. I believe we'll see Owens make nice this season to bring attention back to his abilities on the field and attempt to leave the other stories in the past.
Owens has ranked in the Top 10 in receiving touchdowns on seven occasions in his career and has led the category twice. I'm looking for him to make the hat trick with frequent connections with Drew Bledsoe.
2005 Stats: tied for 26th in the NFL with 6 touchdowns
2006 Projection: 15 touchdowns


2. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
Smith had one of the finest comeback seasons in league history a season ago, tying for the league lead in touchdown receptions and leading the NFL in receiving yardage. He and Jake Delhomme are back at it in 2006 with additional support in the passing game in the persona of Keyshawn Johnson. Johnson will help command attention in coverage that none of the Panthers secondary receivers could draw in 2005. Despite the lack of a consistent target behind Smith, opposing defenses were still unable to contain him.
Smith scored in nine different contests a year ago. With a shift in the running game because of the loss of Stephen Davis, Delhomme will take to the air with more frequency. The speedy Smith is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.
2005 Stats: tied for 1st in the NFL with 12 touchdowns
2006 Projection: 13 touchdowns

SI: Five Players in the Right Situation

Five Players in the Right Situation

1. Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona: Who cares if he dropped to the 10th overall selection? He can sit for a year -- which should give Cardinals coach Dennis Green enough time to improve Arizona's feeble offensive line -- and then Leinart can run an offense that features loads of talent at the skill positions. That scenario played out pretty well for his pal Carson Palmer in Cincinnati.

2. Haloti Ngata, DT, Baltimore: He couldn't be happier with where he wound up. Of all the teams he visited before the draft (Cleveland, Buffalo and the New York Jets were the others), he loved Baltimore the most. The blue-collar city fits his low-key personality. More important, all the stars on defense (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs) will allow Ngata to slide into a low-pressure role during his rookie season. He doesn't need the spotlight. He'll be more than happy to do the dirty work that keeps Lewis happy.

3. Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Dallas Cowboys: Carpenter's stock rose as the draft neared because teams knew his versatility was hard to find. At the same time, he understood that he'd be better off going later in the first round, because odds were he'd land on a team with a better chance of winning. This kid hates to lose. He's also a huge fan of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, who coached Carpenter's father, Rob, with the Giants in the early 1980s. Parcells knows how to get the most out of linebackers, so look for Carpenter to excel in Dallas.

4. John McCargo, DT, Buffalo: For all those critics who have been skewering Bills general manager Marv Levy for picking McCargo 26th overall, think about this: A lot of teams thought McCargo was the third-best defensive tackle in the draft after Ngata and Brodrick Bunkley. The Bills need a quick, penetrating defensive tackle to fit into their new, attacking defensive system, and that's what McCargo does well. Like Ngata, he'll be playing with plenty of talent around him in the front seven, and that will only help his development.

5. Jimmy Williams, CB, Atlanta: Forget that this kid slid out of the first round. The Falcons needed someone to match up with taller receivers, and he's big enough to do that. He can team up with Pro Bowl starter DeAngelo Hall or he can line up in nickel situations, where his size should make him an effective blitzer. Either way, he should benefit from the talent around him and draw upon the experience of such veterans as Hall and recently signed safety Lawyer Milloy.

Cowboys T Jason Fabini could be third on the Dallas depth chart at right tackle

Newly signed Cowboys T Jason Fabini could be third on the Dallas depth chart at right tackle.

Second-year pro Rob Pettiti is being talked up as the surprise of the offseason, while Chicago import Marc Colombo has also looked good. Perhaps the Jets knew what they were doing getting rid of Fabini. Jun. 30 - 9:23 am et
Source: Dallas Morning News

SI: Ranking the NFL Owners

Evaluating and ranking all the NFL owners from 1-32


The Dallas Cowboys' team charter had begun its initial descent, and Bill Parcells settled into his first-class seat and prepared for an uneventful touchdown. The Cowboys had a road game against the New England Patriots the following day, and Parcells, one of the NFL's biggest control freaks, had mapped out a specific itinerary for his players.

But on this mid-November evening in 2003, the Dallas coach still didn't realize where the plane was about to land. Because the team was staying in Providence, R.I., Parcells assumed the Cowboys would be arriving in that city and taking a short bus ride to their hotel. There was just one catch: That night the families of Dallas owner Jerry Jones and Patriots owner Robert Kraft were scheduled to dine together -- in Boston. Rather than drive there from Providence, Jones had chosen to have the plane land at Logan Airport, where several buses were waiting to transport Parcells, his players and the rest of the team's traveling party 60 miles to the south.

The stunned Parcells undoubtedly simmered during his hour-long bus trip to Rhode Island, especially given the fact that he had a contentious relationship with Kraft dating back to his stint as the Pats' coach from 1993-96. Picturing the two families enjoying an upscale dinner probably made the coach want to hurl.

Yet Parcells never said a peep to his boss. As a man who'd spent more than a quarter-century working in the NFL, he knew a good deal when he saw one. Bizarre as it sounds, even in the world's most prosperous professional sports league, a good owner is hard to find.

With so much money at stake, and so many big egos involved, you'd think there'd be good owners in every NFL city, or close to it. The truth is much more depressing than that, though the football fans of Dallas and New England certainly have reason to smile. So, in honor of Parcells' long bus ride, here are our first NFL owner rankings, with many factors considered, but the biggest of all being this: If you're a fan of the team in question, how happy should you be about the person or people running the show?

Top Shelf

1. Robert Kraft, Patriots; 2. Jerry Jones, Cowboys.
Kraft and Jones have many similarities. Each has parlayed controversial coaching hires into three Super Bowl rings. Both men have smart, forward-thinking eldest sons who play major roles in running the team and wield influence within the NFL -- Patriots president Jonathan Kraft was instrumental in forging the revenue-pool compromise that led to labor peace last March, and Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has spearheaded the team's drive toward a new stadium. And best of all, both owners care deeply about two things: Making money and winning, not necessarily in that order.

A long-suffering season-ticket holder before he bought the team, Kraft still cares deeply about the fan experience, and he and his son have created a successful business model that allows the Patriots to thrive without over-spending on marquee free agents. Jones, upon entering the league in 1989, became an entrepreneurial upstart in a league of sluggish old-liners enjoying the fruits of de facto communism. His successful efforts to increase the Cowboys' revenue have been exemplary and often emulated, and he has been willing to pour a significant portion of his profits back into the franchise in search of on-field excellence.

Next in Line

3. Dan Snyder, Redskins; 4. Wayne Huizenga, Dolphins; 5. Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles; 6. Jerry Richardson, Panthers; 7. Bob McNair, Texans; 8. Malcolm, Bryan, Joel and Ed Glazer, Buccaneers; 9. Pat Bowlen, Broncos.
I can't believe I'm ranking Snyder this high, and a lot of people I know around the league are going to brutalize me for doing so, but right now Dan is The Man in two big ways: He has turned the franchise he loves into a money-making machine, and his willingness to spend that money in pursuit of victory is second to none. Plus, since his hiring of Joe Gibbs as coach, he has begun to learn to get out of the way on the football side.

Huizenga is a shrewd businessman and big spender who deserves a title in something other than baseball one of these years.

Lurie hires good people -- particularly team president Joe Banner -- and, though I don't always agree with it, sticks to a system when it comes to player-valuation.

Richardson runs his smaller-market team like it's one of the big boys, and as a former player he understands the game on every level. He wants to win, badly, and has been doing so as of late.

McNair has deep pockets and a horseman's flair for high-stakes gambles. His moves haven't paid off yet, but he is hell-bent on bringing Houston a winner.
Many Brits would like to do to the Glazers what former Manchester United star David Beckham does to soccer balls, and Malcolm and his sons have done some truly annoying things on U.S. soil, like their embarrassing, last-second spurning of Marvin Lewis four years ago. But overall, they've turned a dead NFL market into a flourishing enterprise, with a solid stadium situation (pirate ship and all), one of the league's highest-revenue operations and a habitually competitive team.

Bowlen has his quirks, and he gets hammered in Denver for his undying allegiance to Mike Shanahan, but it's tough to argue with success: Shanahan has won two Super Bowls and continues to field a competitive team, the Broncos play in a sparkling new stadium, and executive VP Joe Ellis does a good job on the business side.

Joyner: Witten top receiving TE in NFL

The best receiving tight end in the NFL in 2005 was Jason Witten. The offensive line injuries in Dallas didn't stop him from ranking second in the total TYPCA category and fifth in success percentage. He also had the lowest overall dropped pass percentage of any tight end.
Witten didn't rack up these numbers strictly on short passes. Witten was excellent at medium passes, ranking second in medium TYPCA and second in medium success percentage. He wasn't the best deep threat, but managed to rank fifth in deep success percentage.

I expect Gates to bounce back from his injuries to reclaim the throne as the best pass-catching tight end in 2006, but until then, he'll have to take a backseat to Witten.

Carpenter Living the Dream

Bobby Carpenter is living a dream. As the son of former Giants fullback Rob Carpenter, he has followed the career of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells all of his life. For years he had poster of Parcells in his room, hoping that one day he would get to play for the man who had such a huge influence on his father's life and by connection his.

Although he was still in high school and nowhere close to NFL ready, Carpenter's heart sagged when Parcells retired from the Jets in 1999.

Parcells would come out of retirement to join the Cowboys in 2003. And as fate would have it, Carpenter developed into a NFL caliber player at Ohio State.

Destiny occurred in the first round of NFL Draft when the Cowboys selected Carpenter with the 18th overall pick.

"I’ve been a huge Parcells fan my whole life, mostly when he was with the Giants and with New England and the Jets," Carpener said. "I’ve always dreamed of playing for him. When he retired, I thought I’d never get a chance to play.”

The Cowboys chose him because he was the most ready of the prospects available.

But what would you expect from a player who has been groomed in the Parcells way from infancy?

Carpenter wasn't pushed toward football by his dad, but he was rooted in the teachings of teamwork, hard work, dedication and being a student of the game.

He will be the first to tell you that he didn't get here because of his status as an NFL legacy. He got here because of a willingness and desire to go above and beyond the call of duty to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.

Already armed with the proper attitude, the football part will take care of itself for Carpenter, who at 6-feet-3, 255 pounds will make an immediate impact at outside linebacker for the Cowboys.

In the end, it's a dream come true for Carpenter and Parcells, and don't forget about owner Jerry Jones.

"He's got a great background through osmosis with his dad having played in the NFL," Jones said. "He's got competitive qualities. He practices hard – plays hard.

"We wanted to get the best player we could for the future, but we also wanted a player that, in his way, could be a future leader on the team that has already had success."

Cowboys eyeing Ahmad Brooks after all?

Ahmad Brooks has the skills to be a first-day selection in the NFL draft, but two talent evaluators who reviewed the former Virginia linebacker's tapes and workout believe he will slide somewhere between Rounds 3 and 5 in this year's supplemental draft.

Brooks, one of four prospects granted "special" eligibility this week for the July 13 draft, worked out for scouts and coaches on Thursday. He was timed between 4.69 and 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and registered a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump.

While those in attendance were pleased to see Brooks weigh-in at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds – 26 pounds lighter than his original training weight with Chip Smith of Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta – most scouts noted that he struggled some with his footwork in the shuttle drills (4.42 seconds in the short shuttle, 7.41 in the three-cone and 11.80 in the 60-yard shuttle) and produced average results in the bench press for his size (19 repetitions at 225 pounds). Still, they felt Brooks looked in good shape.

Known to be an underachiever with some lazy habits, Brooks reportedly has had off-field issues with failed drug tests at Virginia. His agent, Gregory Williams, told team decision-makers that his client had successfully passed five independently administered drug tests in the past three months. Also, a full medical evaluation of Brooks' previous right knee injury was provided to teams by Dr. James Andrews, whom Brooks had visited a few weeks ago in preparation for Thursday's workout.
Most 3-4 scheme teams see Brooks as being a good fit inside, while others feel he can play outside and put in some work at rush end in passing situations. Everyone is in agreement that having a solid support staff and veteran leadership on the defensive side of the ball will be crucial to keeping Brooks in line.

The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers were the teams that paid close attention to Brooks' workout, which was conducted by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker coach Ricky Hunley. The Packers, Bengals and Giants met with Brooks on Wednesday. Next week, he will travel to San Francisco to visit with 49ers officials and take a physical.

ESPN Chat - Jeremy Green from ESPN Insider

Tyrone (DC): JG - why are you so high on the Cowboys? We all know the O-line is suspect, immobile QB and average secondary. Sure, TO helps, but its not like McNabb is throwing to him. Its Bledsoe. Thoughts?

Jeremy Green: I am a little higer on the O-line than most people. They get Adams back and either Pettiti or Fabini to swing at both OT spots depending on who is not the starter. Their depth is better. I disagree with the secondary too. I think we can expect far fewer mentals from Henry and Williams now that they are more cmfortable in the system. I like this team on defense, and think the offense will be better.

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Ephraim R. (Maple Shade, NJ): Seriously, as a Giants fan, I'm glad everyone is predicting the Boys, Birds, and Skins to win the division. *Respect* is totally overrated, and if the prognosticators decide that the Skins *really* improved this off-season (unlike the 6 other off seasons where they *really* improved), or that the Eagles had just such an awesome draft that they can't be stopped, or that TO + Bledsoe is finally the magic combo, I'll take that. Forget Arrington, Moss, Demps, etc etc. What everyone should really do is focus on that lousey playoff game and forget the Giants lost no key players, and improved in every offensive, defensive, and special teams catagory a team can collectivly improve in. Think about the Panthers loss, the other 16 games were an illusion. Forget the Giants. Seeya in January.

Jeremy Green: Ephraim you are a little too hostile right now.... I like the Giants to finsih 3rd in the division behind Dalls and Washington.

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Chris _(Hercules, CA): How does the new 3-4 look in Dallas? Is Carpenter as good as advertised? What can you tell me about Jason Hatcher the third rounder?

Jeremy Green: It looks good. Carpenter will be a steady player which is good because this defense gives up too many big plays due to mentals. Hatcher is one of the few true DE's in this draft after Wlliams went. He is a big body that can play the run. He was like 290 coming out of Grambling, and he will only get better once he gets in a structured weight program.

TIDBIT: The July 13 supplemental draft

John Clayton
The NFL never seems to rest.

Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.

It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.

Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.

Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks is the one generating the most excitement. Or the most caution. He's made an incredible comeback in 10 weeks. Depressed about his departure from Virginia and slow recovery from a knee injury, he ballooned to 292 pounds. He went to Atlanta, worked out, got on a diet and lost 32 pounds. His 4.6 times in the 40-yard dash at last week's workout may not have been great by most teams' standards, but it opened some eyes. The 49ers would appear to be the best fit. They've lost Julian Peterson and most of their experienced outside linebackers in the past couple of years. Brooks and Manny Lawson, the second of San Francisco's first-round picks, would form a good tandem in Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense. The question is, in what round would the 49ers take him? Had he stayed in school and not had drug issues, Brooks might have been a top-10 pick in 2007. He could go as high as the second round, but if teams are cautious, he would go in the fourth or fifth round. Athletically, Brooks is a steal, which is why the Dolphins' Nick Saban is interested.

TIDBIT: Find a home for Ty Law

John Clayton
The NFL never seems to rest.

Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.

It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.

Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.

TIDBIT: Give Law credit for consistency. He hasn't backed off his $7 million a year, $10 million signing bonus demands. The Patriots and Chiefs are believed to be the most interested, while the Seahawks, Cardinals and Titans also appear to be in the mix. However, Law's financial demands will likely delay any signing until at least the start of training camp. Remember a year ago, when his demands didn't seem to have a leg to stand on? He was slow coming off foot surgery and his rigid offseason training didn't start until May. He ended up signing with the Jets, made $6 million, intercepted 10 passes and went to the Pro Bowl. Conventional thinking is that he may do a more financially friendly deal with the Patriots because of his friendships with Richard Seymour and others, but he's not going to lower his overall demands until the start of camp. The Patriots have more than $15 million of cap room, the most in the league. Law wouldn't mind returning. Maybe something can get done.

Five minutes with ... Cliff Harris

By JONATHAN TJARKS / The Dallas Morning News

An undrafted free safety out of tiny Ouachita Baptist University who became a member of the Ring of Honor, Harris played 10 seasons for the Cowboys. A four-time All Pro safety, Harris was an instrumental part of the 1970s teams that went to five Super Bowls.
Harris' thoughts on ...

Current team's prospects: "I think we have a better shot at the playoffs this year because the NFC East won't be as strong as it has been in the past. We have good running backs, a good defense and a better line.

Taking the next step: "They're building a strong defense, and that's what we've seen year after year, strong defenses get you to a position where you can win a Super Bowl. I'm not trying to sound biased, but if you look back at the history of the league, you see you to have to have a great defense. "

High point of Cowboy career: "The final team meeting before the final cut, the week before the first game of my rookie season. Coach Landry announced the starting lineup, and he named me the starting free safety. What was significant was that I made the team, and that was a big deal for a college free agent. Before you can play in five Super Bowls, you have to make the team, so that was a big, big deal. "

Interesting story: "Lee Roy Jordan would always ride on the first seat of the bus next to Landry, where they would talk defense and strategy. It was right before we got to the stadium and everyone was really pensive and solemn, and Landry leaned over to Lee Roy and said: 'Why did you go right instead of left on that QB sneak? Lee Roy looks over and asks: 'Do you mean the Ice Bowl against Green Bay, Coach? That was five years ago, I don't know. Landry just goes, 'Oh.' "

Watching the Mavericks: "I was watching every minute of [the Mavericks' playoff run]. What stood out to me most in The Finals was leadership - Dirk's a great player, I'd compare him to an Emmitt Smith in football, but it seemed like he was thrust into a leadership role after Nash left that he wasn't quite comfortable with. When you're playing at a championship level, the difference between winning and losing is so minute, you need a strong base of leadership. I think we'll be a much greater team in the future, now that we've been so close and tasted it; guys are going to be hungry. When [his Cowboys teams] got beat in the playoffs, that's when we figured out what it takes to win."

Cowboys top offensive team of all-time

Picking an all-time offensive team is a tough chore; but it's that much harder with a team like the Dallas Cowboys , who have had so many great players. I'm sure many of you will disagree with some of my choices; but if we agreed on everything, life would be so dull, wouldn't it? So without further ado, here are my selections:

Quarterback: Roger Staubach
The Cowboys had some great quarterbacks including Troy Aikman and "Dandy" Don Meredith but Staubach, who was a tenth round draft pick, was something special.

Halfback: Tony Dorsett
I'll probably get abused for this one; but while Emmitt Smith was more consistent, Dorsett had more big play capability. His 99-yard run with only ten men on the field on Monday Night Football was one of the best runs I've ever seen.

Fullback: Don Perkins
Although I never saw him play, he led the Cowboys in rushing seven times between 1961 and 1968. Moose Johnston, Robert Newhouse and Walt Garrison just don't stack up.

Wide Receivers: Bob Hayes and Michael Irvin.
Sorry Drew Pearson, you just missed.

Tight End: Billy Joe Dupree
I apologize to the Jay Novacek supporters but even though Novacek had 150 more catches, Dupree averaged 2 ½ more yards per catch and had 12 more career touchdowns in the same amount of games played. I'll take the big play guy.

Kicker: Rafael Septien
For such a successful franchise, the Dallas Cowboys sure have had some lousy kickers. Septien was the best out of a sorry lot.

Tackles: Rayfield Wright and Ralph Neely

Center: Mark Stepnoski

Guards: Larry Allen and Nate Newton

Okay everyone, I'm ready. Let me have it.

Cowboys VS the NFC EAST

For the record:

Cowboys VS Redskins---54-36-2 Cowboys

Cowboys VS Eagles---51-38 Cowboys

Cowboys VS Giants---53-40-2 Cowboys

Left tackle position is Flozell's to lose

By Andy Targovnik on June 22, 2006 02:08 AM

Bill Parcells has made it clear. If Flozell Adams gets into shape, the left tackle job is his. If he doesn't, anything goes.

Adams is returning from a torn ACL he suffered against the New York Giants last October which prematurely ended his 2005 season. While Adams has given a good effort rehabilitating his knee and getting back into football shape, Parcells wants more.

"Flozell has worked very hard to recover but he's overweight and rusty" said Parcells. "I don't think there's anyone capable of competing with him if he can get himself in top shape. I want him to get his weight down before July 1. He still has a lot of work to do."

When asked if his absence from the Dallas Cowboys would motivate Adams to perform better, Parcells was philosophical: "I think a lot of times the perspective of the game changes than what you had before and that does make it a more valuable thing to you; and you realize there are things that maybe you haven't accomplished that you want to accomplish."

Overall, Parcells is happy with the progress of his offensive tackles. "I think we're better off at the tackle position than we were at this time last year, but regardless of that, we need him (Adams) to play well. We need him to be what he was."

And what if Adams isn't?

"I have a couple of young linemen and hopefully we'll develop them." Parcells noted. "I also have three guys at right tackle. I'll move one of them (to left tackle) if I have to."

Parcells doesn't make idle threats so my suggestion to Adams: Get your butt into shape - pronto!

NFC East: Saunders may use Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts on the field together

Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders may use Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts on the field together in 2006.

"I knew (Betts) was good, but not this good," Saunders said. Due to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, it appears Betts' role will be increased in the new Redskins' attack. Jun. 25 - 11:43 am et
Source: redskins.scout.com

Zimmer entering final year of his contract

Cowboys | Zimmer entering final year of his contract
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:54:00 -0700

Jean Jacques-Taylor, writing for the Sporting News, reports Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is entering the final year of his contract. He is considered among the top coordinators in the league. It's interesting that Dallas would let him enter the final year of his deal, especially since head coach Bill Parcells and owner Jerry Jones have been consistently complimentary of Zimmer.

Team likes Hatcher's potential

Cowboys | Team likes Hatcher's potential
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:51:02 -0700

Jean Jacques-Taylor, writing for the Sporting News, reports the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff loves the potential rookie DE Jason Hatcher has. Coaches like his ability to rush the passer, though they have asked him to focus on trying to create a pet move first before he adds others to his repertoire. The team needs to develop some depth at defensive end and Hatcher could help fill that need.

Three out of Five major sports magazine predict the Boys to win their division

Five major sports magazine predict the division winners in the 2006 NFL season.


Division winners:

Athlon-- NFC East (Dallas Cowboys), NFC North (Chicago Bears), NFC South (Panthers), NFC West (Seahawks). AFC East (New England Patriots), AFC North (Steelers), AFC South (Colts), AFC West (Broncos).

Lindy's-- NFC East (Eagles), NFC North (Bears), NFC South (Panthers), NFC West (Seahawks). AFC East (New England Patriots), AFC North (Steelers), AFC South (Colts), AFC West (Broncos).

Pro Football Weekly-- NFC East (Washington Redskins), NFC North (Bears), NFC South (Panthers), NFC West (Seahawks). AFC East (Patriots), AFC North (Steelers), AFC South (Colts), AFC West (Broncos).

Sporting News-- NFC East (Cowboys), NFC North (Bears), NFC South (Panthers), NFC West (Seahawks). AFC East (Patriots), AFC North (Steelers), AFC South (Colts), AFC West (Broncos).

Street & Smith's-- NFC East (Cowboys), NFC North (Bears), NFC South (Panthers), NFC West (Seahawks). AFC East (Patriots), AFC North (Steelers), AFC South (Colts), AFC West (Broncos).

Q&A with Randy White

Matthew Girard
Jacksonville Progress

White, a Super Bowl XII co-MVP in 1978, was on hand to meet with fans and sign autographs. The nine-time NFL Pro Bowl selection signed autographs for an hour.

The Progress sat down with White during his appearance and talked about retirement, his hair turning gray, and giving Terrell Owens a chance.

Q: How has retirement been treating you?

A: “Retirement has been wonderful. Been busy and enjoying something that I like to do. I like fishing, I make custom knives, doing some personal appearances, involved in some different restaurants, own part of a phone company called ‘Randy White Telecommunications,’ so I stay pretty busy.”

Q: What is it like for you to go out and meet Dallas Cowboy fans?

A: “It’s a lot of fun, especially to come to a town like Jacksonville, where people don’t get to see live Dallas Cowboy football players. It amazes me to see people that used to follow the Cowboys when I played, and they bring in pictures of when I didn’t have any gray hair, so it’s neat.”

Q: How is the NFL different from when you played?

A: “It’s still football. Salaries are a lot higher and I think the personality of the game has changed a little bit as far as the players and the way they look at the game. It seems to me that they look at it as more of a business. When I played, it was more of a game. Football is still football.”

Q: Is Terrell Owens going to be a good acquisition for the Cowboys?

A: “I think he will bring a dimension to that team that they have not had for a long time. Hopefully, he’ll be able to play football and not become a distraction to the team.I say give the guy a chance and see what he does.”

Free agent PK Carlos Martinez given a tryout

Cowboys | Martinez given a tryout
Sun, 25 Jun 2006 15:21:44 -0700

The Des Moines Register reports the Dallas Cowboys gave street a tryout last week. The Cowboys already have PK Mike Vanderjagt, but they are looking for someone to handle the kickoff duties.

Barber appears to becoming a Parcells favorite

Cowboys | Barber appears to becoming a Parcells favorite
Sun, 25 Jun 2006 18:35:48 -0700

Nick Eatman, of DallasCowboys.com, reports Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber III appears to becoming a favorite of head coach Bill Parcells with his ability to block, catch out of the backfield and pick up yards inside. Barber could push RB Julius Jones for playing time.

DALLAS COWBOYS DAY----SUNDAY JULY 2nd

For those with Direct TV- NFL Network--Dallas Cowboys Day
DALLAS COWBOYS DAY----SUNDAY JULY 2nd

12 p.m. -- Film Session
Explores the depths of the massive NFL Films archive to showcase many of its classic, modern and historical specials and documentaries that chronicle the history of the NFL. From the Dallas Cowgirls to the Raiderettes, these beautiful women will dazzle audiences and have them asking for more.

1 p.m. -- Film Session
Explores the depths of the massive NFL Films archive to showcase many of its classic, modern and historical specials and documentaries that chronicle the history of the NFL. A look at today's cheerleaders and their lives on and off the field. Features include: Eagles-Jaguars Battle of the Beach, training camp with the Cowboys squad, Dolphins calendar shoot, a day in the life with the Chargers, a Japanese cheerleader with the 49ers and hearing-impaired cheerleader on the Raiders.

2 p.m. -- In Their Own Words
Get up close and personal with today's most successful and intriguing coaches and players with In Their Own Words. Each one-hour episode gives fans unprecedented access to an NFL legend with intimate sound. In Their Own Words reveals his intensity, humor, competitiveness and humanity using rare interviews, archival action footage and exclusive sound captured on the field, on the sidelines and in the locker room. Tonight's episode: Emmit Smith

3 p.m. -- Game of the Week
2005 Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas Cowboys from 12/11/05 - Cowboy's quarterback Drew Bledsoe passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns lifting Dallas to a thrilling 31-28 victory over the Chiefs at Texas Stadium.
4 p.m. -- Game of the Week
2005 Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles - Roy Williams returned an interception 46 yards for a score with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Cowboys scored two touchdowns in a span of 21 seconds to steal a 21-20 victory over the Eagles and an injured Donovan McNabb.

5 p.m. -- Film Session
Explores the depths of the massive NFL Films archive to showcase many of its classic, modern and historical specials and documentaries that chronicle the history of the NFL. This show chronicles the Cowboys' greatest moments as selected by readers of the Dallas Times Herald (1996)

6 p.m. -- Film Session
Explores the depths of the massive NFL Films archive to showcase many of its classic, modern and historical specials and documentaries that chronicle the history of the NFL. (1993) - Follow the story of Jimmy Johnson who replaced the legendary Tom Landry, the only coach the Cowboys ever had, and inherited a 3-13 team. Johnson would turn the Cowboys into back-to-back Super Bowl champions in just 4 years.

7 p.m. -- Film Session
Explores the depths of the massive NFL Films archive to showcase many of its classic, modern and historical specials and documentaries that chronicle the history of the NFL. 16, 727 yards - nearly a third of a marathon. For Emmitt Smith, this distance was not traversed mile by mile, but yard by yard, inch by inch in his quest to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher - a record held for 18 years by the legendary Walter Payton. An inside look at the story of Emmitt Smith's climb from Pensacola, Florida to the top of football's highest mountain.

8 p.m. -- Game of the Week
2005 Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas Cowboys from 12/11/05 - Cowboy's quarterback Drew Bledsoe passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns lifting Dallas to a thrilling 31-28 victory over the Chiefs at Texas Stadium.

9 p.m. -- Game of the Week
2005 Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles - Roy Williams returned an interception 46 yards for a score with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Cowboys scored two touchdowns in a span of 21 seconds to steal a 21-20 victory over the Eagles and an injured Donovan McNabb.

10 p.m. -- Film Session
Under head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys finished the regular season 11-3. Led to the playoffs by quarterback Roger Staubach, the Cowboys defeated Minnesota (20-12) and San Francisco (14-3) on their way to Super Bowl VI. Staubach passed for 119 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys over the Dolphins 24-3 in the Super Bowl.

10:30 p.m. -- Film Session
Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys vs Miami Dolphins - The Cowboys rushed for a record 252 yards and their defense limited the Dolphins to a low of 185 yards while not permitting a touchdown for the first time in Super Bowl history. Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was named MVP after passing for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns.

11 p.m. -- Film Session
Each of the 32 teams has a rich history and in each 60-minute episode, we select each team's finest seasons - showcasing them in two NFL Films team highlight films. A division is covered each week. Under head coach Tom Landry, the 1977 Cowboys finished the regular season 12-2. Led to the playoffs by quarterback Roger Staubach, the Cowboys defeated the Bears (37-7) and the Vikings (23-6) on their way to Super Bowl XII.

11:30 p.m. -- Film Session
Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos - The Cowboys defense forced 8 turnovers as they defeated the Broncos 27-10. Defensive lineman Harvey Martin and Randy White were named co-MVP's.

Football Nes: WEIS, IRISH FLIRTING WITH DISASTER?

POSTED 12:15 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:08 p.m. EDT, June 25, 2006

A league source with intimate knowledge of the applicable NCAA regulations tells us that Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis might have rendered quarterback Brady Quinn and other incoming seniors ineligible if, as we previously have reported, Weis has directed the seniors with designs on pro football to pick their agents before the start of the 2006 season.

Rule 12.3.1 of the NCAA bylaws states that "[a]n individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport." Rule 12.3.1.1 elaborates on the general principle set forth in Rule 12.3.1: "An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport." A screen shot of the relevant page from the on-line NCAA manual appears below.

12.3 Use of AGENT RULES

So what does it all mean? If Quinn or any otherof his teammates actually pick a football agentbefore the completion of their eligibility, their eligibility might be completed far sooner than they realized.

The key is that eligibility evaporates per Rule 12.3.1.1 even if there's only a verbal agreement between, for example, Quinn and agent Don Yee that Yee will represent Quinn, and that a written agreement for the representation will be signed later. Although it might be difficult for the NCAA to prove that there's a violation if Quinn and Yee mutually agree to claim that there was no agreement, the fact that Quinn is going through the process of interviewing agents and narrowing the field before his final season of college ball is strong circumstantial evidence of an intention to pick his agent while still otherwise eligible. The fact that Yee and others are participating in the process is likewise circumstantial evidence of an implicit agreement that they'll agree to represent Quinn, if picked to do so.

The broader question is whether the NCAA will dare to do anything that might result in killing the goose that lays beneath the golden dome. Our guess? The powers-that-be will stick their heads in the sand on this one, content in spewing the party line that no final selections have been made by any of the Notre Dame seniors.

Still, it's a risk that Weis would have been wise not to take, in light of the plain language of the relevant bylaws (unless, of course, he got advance approval from the NCAA that it's okay to tell his guys to pick their agents if they merely don't tell the agents they've been picked).

And what does Weis really gain by forcing the players to pick agents now?Although some league insiders think it's a brilliant strategy for minimizing distractions, it's also a possible means for fomenting resentment from players who would have preferred not to be rushed. Many factors still need to be determined, and an agent who looks to be the right choice in June might not ultimately be a player's best bet come January.

As one league insider told us on Sunday, "Weis isn't doing the kids any favors by sheltering them. He instead should be educating them so that they can make good decisions at the right time."

Indeed, the only college players who talk to agents during the seasons are the college players who want to. Really, why should Weis or any other coach tell the players that they can't use what little free time they have talking to potential agents?

Stay tuned. At a time when the media ripped ferociously into various scandals that emerged in April regarding USC, we figure that there's enough blood in the water to prompt a few of them to take a hard look at whether the efforts of Charlie Weis to minimize distractions have inadvertently created a big fat one.

Team likes Hatcher's potential

Cowboys | Team likes Hatcher's potential
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:51:02 -0700

Jean Jacques-Taylor, writing for the Sporting News, reports the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff loves the potential rookie DE Jason Hatcher has. Coaches like his ability to rush the passer, though they have asked him to focus on trying to create a pet move first before he adds others to his repertoire. The team needs to develop some depth at defensive end and Hatcher could help fill that need.

Chris Canty on Talkin Cowboys (Transcript)

DC.com: Chris Canty on Talkin Cowboys (Transcript)
WG Note: I missed a question w/Henry talking about Canty and Canty talking about benefits of playing in this defense. But this is the bulk of it. You can listen to it on DC.COM

Sham gives background on Canty

Sham
What was your mental approach to last year? How different do you feel going into this year?

Canty
A year ago this time, I couldn't work out, I was kinda at the facility watching tape, watching game film. Trying to understand how to do my job at the professional level. I really knew alot of the plays. I played for Al (Groh) in college and it was the same system.

(Gave a lil background on Groh coaching under Parcells)

Just getting past medical circumstances...pause... I knew I could play football, but was my knee going to hold up. You know. That was the biggest thing. I knew my eye was going to be fine. But was my knee going to hold up in training camp and over a 20 weeks of an NFL season.

They took it really slow in the beginning; just to see where I was at physically. But, once they threw me in the fire, kinda got a few plays under my belt. I said, "Hey, this is football. This is what I do." I got more comfortable as the weeks passed. And I was able to execute my assignments.

I think the biggest adjustment from the college to the professional level, for me, was learning how to execute my job against bigger, faster, and stronger opponents. So I think that was my biggest adjustment LAST YEAR.

This year I'm 20 lbs heavier. I'm stronger. I feel great. I think I'm more athletic than I've ever been. And it's just been a real treat for me to finally be healthy and to be going into training camp in a positive frame of mind with the camerarderie (sp?) of my teammates and looking forward to building up to that championship caliber team.

Question:
So you're 20 lbs heavier now. What are you weighing now?

Canty
I'm 305.

Question:
305. Is that your reporting weight, too?

Canty
Nooo. My reporting weight is 300.

(a bunch of laughing)

Sham

Question:
Henry asked about working w/Canty and the rest of DL

Henry
(Missed his response)

Sham
Question: Can you tell the difference in Canty in Mini-camp

Henry (only got a part of it, cuz I was moving around)
Oh yeah. Cuz usually you have to hold. (Motions as to how Canty stands over him) I could definitely tell how big he's gotten and the kinda impact he's gonna make on the field for us.

Jones
Talks about Canty's ability to play in both 3-4 and 4-3

Canty
Basically talked up the defense, the players in it. Mentioned everyone on the DL except Fergie, I think. And just said how good it was gonna be.

Ware's new workout regimen, Witten blurb

Ware's new workout regimen, Witten blurb
Around the League

In an effort to improve his hand quickness and strength, Dallas second-year linebacker DeMarcus Ware began taking karate lessons three weeks ago. The results, even in the short-term, Ware said this week, have been amazing. "People don't understand how important it is to get your hands on a blocker and be able to move him around," Ware said. "In just a short time, I've learned a lot, and I'm getting a better read now on what the other guy is doing with his hands. It should be a big help to me this year."

Ware collected eight sacks in 2006, only two fewer than defensive rookie of the year Shawne Merriman, in starting in all 16 games. But the 2005 first-rounder knows he has to be more consistent in his sophomore campaign. His eight sacks came in six games and he had an eight-game sackless drought at one point before authoring a three-sack game against Carolina on Christmas Eve.

NFC East: Buckhalter still trying to come back

Eagles | Buckhalter still trying to come back
Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:55:08 -0700

Zach Berman, of PhiladelphiaEagles.com, reports Philadelphia Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter (knee) is still planning a comeback in 2006. Buckhalter has played in only two of his five NFL seasons due to injuries. He's spent the offseason at the Eagles' practice facility trying to get ready for 2006. Buckhalter, a veteran of the rehab process, said he is close to full strength. Now he can take some time off before training camp and be fully prepared to try to reclaim his spot. "I've been here since August," Buckhalter said. "It was worth it, and (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) is a good trainer. He got me to where I am now, near 100 percent. It's a good thing. Now I get the chance to clear my mind a little bit before training camp." He's expected to return for training camp, which starts July 20 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

NFL News: Ahmad Brooks Workout Results

Brooks lost 32 pounds in 10 weeks (he was measured at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds) and passed five drug tests in the last 10 weeks.
He ran three times, timed at 4.68, 4.75 and 4.74 in the 40.

His 10-yard splits were1.53, 1.58 and 1.58.

His 20-yard splits were 2.73, 2.75 and 2.75.

His arm span measured 33½ inches and his hands measured 9½.

He had a 32-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-8 long jump

He ran 4.43 short shuttle, an 11.84 long shuttle, a 7.43 three-cone drill

He did 19 Bench Reps of 225

Dallas D-line: deep & dangerous

From Draftsharks newsletter:

A long-time NFC personnel guy just told us he thinks the Dallas Cowboys have the deepest and most dangerous group of defensive linemen in football. “Marcus Spears, Chris Canty, and Greg Ellis are a lethal trio of ends,” he said. “Then they put DeMarcus Ware at end in the nickel, and boy, look out. Another end, Jay Ratliff out of Auburn (7th round ’05), could be a beast. And Jason Ferguson is a bull at nose tackle.” We just noticed the Cowboys have three brittle QBs leading off their schedule: Byron Leftwich, Mark Brunell, and Billy Volek. Those guys might need kevlar-fiber jerseys against Dallas.

Players to Look for in 2006 in the NFC East

Up and Coming Players to look for in 06 Team by Team (NFC)
NFC East

Dallas Cowboys:

Julius Jones: out of all the cowboys, that will welcome the presense of T.O, Jones will get the most of of it. running against a defense that has to stay true, and not cheat up on the LOS. Julius is great out in the open, and is a very good slasher with great cutting ability. If he stays healthy, this guy can tear it up for a very big yr.

Al Johnson: they say he's got the weight now, does he have the strength? If he does he has the complete package, and thats what Dallas will need from his center. If not, Dallas has Andre Gurode waiting in the wings.

Chris Canty: with a yr of experience, and an offseason of training, and being in "football shape" Canty is ripe for a big yr, in terms of 3/4 DE's. He has the moves and the size to have an impact like Richard Seymour, he just has to use his tools, and play with his head this yr and limit his mental errors. Canty, within a couple yrs will be called on to lead this DL, and take it into the future.

Bradie James: Dallas needed a leader when Dat went down, and they found it in the last place anybody would have thought to look. James was already being cast off by media in training camp, but he shut them up pretty quick. He's playing for his big payday now, and money seems to motivate the NFL. Expect big tackle numbers for his this yr, and at the end of the yr, big contract numbers too.

Terence Newman: he's known to any Cowboys fan, but to most they say he's average because he doesnt put up the numbers. What they dont want to see, is that QB's dont throw to him. This yr with a better passrush(hopefully) the QB has to rush throws and has no choice but to throw at Newman. He's worked on his game, and i would like to see teams test him jumping on the pump. I Dare You

Washington Redskins:

Chris Cooley: he came on big time for the Redskins starting when they started their winning streak that got them into the playoffs. He's one of the up and coming Te's in the league. And, nobody shouldn't expect him to get better. He along with portis and moss make a good combination.

Carlos Rogers: considering the upgrade in WR's in the division..well with exception of the Eagles LoL. He plays aggressive, and jumps on the ball pretty good. He'll ave to work on that pump fake QB's give, because like Newman he fell for it quite a bit last yr.

Andre Carter: he was given big money, but he has to prove he deserved it. Or was this another case of Snyder just throwing money. He has some decent yr's in SF, and this is something I know about, but nothing to warrant 30+ mil. He's a straight line passrusher with really no moves, but straight at the QB. Probably something the Redskins wanted, if the DT next to him can keep the double team off of him, Carter can eat a teams Qb up real quick.

New York Giants:

Eli Manning: the season rest with this guy. As he started to choke as the season went along, so did the Giants hopes. He has everything a Qb could want, the talent, the genes, and the weapons on offense. But, he seems to make dumb decisions too much, and the thng is.....he's making them with virtually no pressure on him, just really bad choices. He needs to step it up, because the NFC east is going to be dogfight all yr.

Corey Webster: with the loss of will allen, and the release of peterson, Webster is forced to step up. He's big and he has the size, now all he needs is the playing time to learn on the job. The secondary might just be the weak-link because basically they're all playing together for the first time. They need some chemistry.

Lavar Arrington: He's not up and coming, but just the way he was let go by the Redskins I'd say he has a lot to prove. His reckless style is what the Giants need. Along with their 2 standout De's Arrington should cause major headaches for teams if he can return back to form.

Jonas Seawright: HUGE! DT, that the Giants are hoping steps it up and takes the starting DT opposite Clancy. The lack of DT play last yr was noticed big twards the end of the yr when teams were running over them. Jonas is getting all the reps he needs, and Giants like what they see.

Philadelphia Eagles:

Shawn Andrews: he just got a whole lot of money, so obviously the Eagles want him as their future, but they also need him to come up and hold down the fort, because Fatty isnt so durable anymore.

Reggie Brown: With TO gone, he now becomes the lead WR for a team with mediocre written all of it's Wr core. Them being a pass first team, they could be in big time trouble if he doesnt step up to the plate and take charge. He looks like he will accept the role, but the bigger question is while Fatty trust him?

L.J Smith: Another player who will get more responsibility with To out of the picture. Smith is now responsibile foe the middle of the field, because as everybody has seen, Eagle Wr's arent too keene on running over the middle. so he needs to up his game and catch everything thrown at him.

Brodrick Bunkley: yes just a rookie, but the Eagle DT were very bad last yr. Bunkley will be their answer for the loss of Simon. Very Strong and very athletic for his size and posistion. He'll be a force, and he'll need to be.

Dr. Z on Larry Allen in his email column....

From Phil of Redding, Calif., and I really appreciate what you wrote about my work: How does the 49ers' O-line look this year? OK, if LT Jennings and C Newberry come back strong, but it's a big if. Larry Allen was not a good pick-up for them. I don't think he'll last the season. His legs are shot. So's his balance. He can no longer hit a moving target, although he'll maul someone who gets too close. It's sad because he was the greatest offensive lineman of the era. But he still continues to crank out the Pro Bowl votes, oh yes, no stopping that flow, no matter how he plays.

More Roster Trimming: Cowboys Cut WR Crowder

by Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 22, 2006 6:13 PM

To get the roster down to 85 players before the start of training camp, the Cowboys made another roster move Thursday, releasing wide receiver Tom Crowder.
The Cowboys now have 88 players and need to cut three more before the team's first training camp practice in Oxnard, Calif., on July 29.
Crowder spent the last two seasons on the Cowboys' practice squad and was sent to NFL Europe this past summer.
Playing wide receiver for the Frankfurt Galaxy, Crowder struggled early in the 10-week season and was deactivated for two games. He came back to catch six passes for 64 yards and one touchdown before his season was cut short by a broken jaw suffered in Week 9.
Crowder was sent to Birmingham, Ala., to rehab the injury while his Galaxy teammates went on to win the World Bowl.
One of the fastest players on the team, Crowder was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2004. The Cowboys used Crowder at safety on the practice squad until late in his rookie season, when he was moved to wide receiver, the position he played in college at Arkansas.
But Crowder always was more of a special teams player, and even turned some heads last preseason when he blocked a punt against Arizona to force a safety.
The Cowboys will use his NFL Europe exemption on nose tackle Samuel Taulealea, who signed with the team on June 2. Taulealea had eight tackles with the Berlin Thunder this summer in Europe

Left tackle position is Flozell's to lose

By Andy Targovnik on June 22, 2006

Bill Parcells has made it clear. If Flozell Adams gets into shape, the left tackle job is his. If he doesn't, anything goes.

Adams is returning from a torn ACL he suffered against the New York Giants last October which prematurely ended his 2005 season. While Adams has given a good effort rehabilitating his knee and getting back into football shape, Parcells wants more.

"Flozell has worked very hard to recover but he's overweight and rusty" said Parcells. "I don't think there's anyone capable of competing with him if he can get himself in top shape. I want him to get his weight down before July 1. He still has a lot of work to do."

When asked if his absence from the Dallas Cowboys would motivate Adams to perform better, Parcells was philosophical: "I think a lot of times the perspective of the game changes than what you had before and that does make it a more valuable thing to you; and you realize there are things that maybe you haven't accomplished that you want to accomplish."

Overall, Parcells is happy with the progress of his offensive tackles. "I think we're better off at the tackle position than we were at this time last year, but regardless of that, we need him (Adams) to play well. We need him to be what he was."

And what if Adams isn't?

"I have a couple of young linemen and hopefully we'll develop them." Parcells noted. "I also have three guys at right tackle. I'll move one of them (to left tackle) if I have to."

Parcells doesn't make idle threats so my suggestion to Adams: Get your butt into shape - pronto!

ESPN Chat with Gary Horton from Scouts Inc.

J.J. (Johnstown): Is there a younger more promising team then Dallas. I mean look at their Defense. whats the average age 26?

Gary Horton: To the credit of the organization, even though Parcells is probably nearing the end of his career and likely wants to win immediately they have looked at the long-term future of the roster rather than loading up with aging veterans. They are young and talented on D and have made a great transition to the 3-4 defense, and they have speed and range that has them becoming a good matchup group. Offensively, I love the changes they are making going to a lot of two-TE sets with one back. They will be much more effective in the middle of the field in 2006 rather than on the perimeter, where they had success last year. And T.O. will keep the offense moving on third down and give Glenn some help. If the line can protect better and avoid having to use max protect schemes this could be a very solid offense. And let me add this: Dallas will always be a team that plays close games and they will not blow people out, but now they have a kicker in Vanderjagt who is as accurate as there is in the game and Dallas has lacked that in recent years. That could mean the difference between 10-6 and 8-8. I really like this team right now.

31 TEAMS ATTEND BROOKS WORKOUT

31 TEAMS ATTEND BROOKS WORKOUT
PFT Update*
POSTED 5:38 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2006


A league source has given us the lowdown on the Pro Day workout of former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Per the source, every team was represented at the session, with the sole exception of the Chicago Bears.

But despite the presence of 31 teams, only one head coach attended -- Mike Nolan of the 49ers. G.M. Randy Mueller was present on behalf of the Miami Dolphins, which is one of the teams presumed to be most interested in Brooks.

Brooks weighed in at 260 pounds, a number that many scouts considered to be ideal for him. But to get down to 260, Brooks gave up some strength. As a result, he managed only 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press exercise.

In the 40-yard dash, Brooks posted times of 4.68 and 4.72 seconds.
In the three-cone drill and the short shuttle, Brooks' form was regarded as poor. Despite a supposed ten weeks of training for the workout, we're told that he had to be shown how to run the run the three-cone test.
All things considered, the thinking is that Brooks helped himself in advance of the upcoming Supplemental Draft, and there's a belief that someone will select him in round two. Indeed, we continue to hear glowing accounts from scouts and other league insiders regarding Brooks' performance in 2004 with the Cavs.

Still, there are rumors swirling that his former coaching staff at Virginia hasn't gone out of its way to pimp him at the next level. In this regard, the fact that Brooks was kicked off of the Virginia team by coach Al Groh likely speaks volumes; absent a strong pitch from Groh or his staff, turd-averse teams are likely to pass.

But all it takes is one team to pull the trigger. And in the chess match that is the Supplemental Draft all it takes are two teams with an interest in the player to get him taken a round or two earlier than he'd be selected if lumped in with the full draft pool.

Matt's Mail - Can Crayton do more?

Matt's Mail - Can Crayton do more?
6/20: Can Crayton do more?

Q: I read about Patrick Crayton the other day. I sure hope he turns into what we need him to be. Do you see us using him as a trick player? He played some quarterback if I remember correctly. If we are already planning to use Skyler Green as that type of player, why not Crayton? He has phenomenal athleticism and could turn out to be a great player for the Cowboys.

Clinton Williamson, Springfield, MO


Mosley: Clinton, though your fondness for young Patrick is touching, it might be misplaced. Skyler Green is a lot faster than Crayton, and it’s not like Crayton’s completed a lot of passes. In fact, the one pass I recall was pretty awful.

Crayton does have excellent hands, but we’ll have to see how he responds during camp. He’s not that great of a return man, so I would put my money on Green. Not that both of them can’t make the team, but there’s a receiver named Terrance Copper who’s a better all-around special teams player than Crayton. Maybe I could’ve broken that news a bit more gently.

Zimmer not getting his due

by Jean-Jacques Taylor

Mike Zimmer is the longest-tenured coach on the Cowboys' staff, having spent 12 seasons cashing paychecks from owner Jerry Jones.

In the process, he has worked his way up from defensive assistant to coordinator and earned numerous accolades from Jones. He has implemented coach Bill Parcells' favored 3-4 scheme and been complimented for his work ethic.

So why hasn't Jones extended his contract?

That's right, Zimmer is in the final year of a three-year deal that pays him more than $1 million per season.

Now, Jones and Parcells, and even Zimmer, will probably downplay the fact. They'll talk about how coaches are usually on yearly contracts anyway since that normally doesn't keep teams from firing them.

Or maybe they'll say they just haven't gotten around to addressing it. Or they'll just say the Cowboys never discuss the contracts of their assistant coaches.

Frankly, it doesn't matter what they say. Their actions speak loudly. They've made their defensive coordinator a lame duck.

This after his unit finished in the top 10 and should improve now that the Cowboys are in Year 2 of the 3-4 defense. This after he spent last year coaching a scheme (3-4) and a position (outside linebackers) that he had never done before.

That's not much of a thank you.

So maybe there's some other reason the Cowboys are letting Zimmer enter the final year of his contract. Maybe Dallas thinks it can simply find a better coordinator for the 3-4 defense. After all, Zimmer isn't a 3-4 guy.

His scheme of choice is the 4-3. That's what he's coached most of his life and that's where he feels most comfortable.

It would be nice for the Cowboys to say something. Their silence is deafening.

NFC East" Is Strahan Gay???

HINT JINT HIT 'SACK'
WITH DOC PAL
By MARSHA KRANES and LEELA de KRETSER

June 21, 2006 -- A bitter Jean Strahan yesterday accused her estranged sack-star spouse of playing for the other team.

Outside court, she said that after she and the Giant split in March 2005, he shared an "alternative lifestyle" with "his best buddy," TV doctor Ian Smith.

"Michael moved in with Ian in his one-bedroom apartment for the next year," she said, after the couple's acrimonious divorce proceedings had ended for the day in Essex County Family Court. "You could say an alternative lifestyle sprouted," she added.

Asked to stop beating around the bush, Jean smiled - and was prevented from saying any more by her lawyer.

Strahan's lawyer, Robert Penza, called the remarks "outrageous" and said "this allegation has been raised in the past by Jean. She has been spreading rumors throughout this entire litigation process."

The defensive end couldn't be reached for comment - but Smith had plenty to say.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," he told The Post.

"Yes, Michael Strahan is one of my best friends, and in a time of need, when he was kicked out of his home and had no place to go, I did what any good friend would do and offered him my couch.

"At the same time, I was planning my wedding to a woman I had been dating for over 14 years, and we are happily married."

Asked to put the allegations to rest, Smith said, "Michael Strahan is very heterosexual, and I am very heterosexual."

NFC East: TIDBIT: Coughlin Discusses Arrington

Around the League

There were a lot of reports that teams shied away from linebacker LaVar Arrington for two reasons. One was the condition of his knees, the other was that he was considered a player who freelanced a lot with the Redskins. Some teams worried his knees would degenerate over the next couple of years, which scared them away. They thought he'd be good to go for two or three years, but the risk wasn't worth a mega-deal. The Giants thought his knees good enough to give him a seven-year, $49 million deal that is loaded with incentives. As for the freelancing, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that has been overblown. "I didn't see it," Coughlin said. A head coach from one other team backed that up. Coughlin is excited about what he has seen from Arrington, who is playing the strong-side linebacker position. "He hasn't done any of that (freelancing)," Coughlin said. "He's been in the weight room since he's been here. He brings vitality and a personality to the locker room. He's a big, strong man. He's under 260 with low, low, body fat. He's a physical guy we really needed." With end Mike Strahan and Osi Umenyiora in the pass rush up front, look for Arrington to bring it from the linebacker spot. If he stays true to the defense, he can make an impact like he did in the Redskins NFC playoff game victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January. "He had a heck of a game," Coughlin said. "We think he's going to be able to do those types of things for our defense."

Petitti appears to have edge at right tackle

Cowboys | Petitti appears to have edge at right tackle
Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:58:31 -0700

Josh Ellis, of DallasCowboys.com, reports Dallas Cowboys OT Rob Petitti appears to have the edge to earn the starting job at right tackle.

If Dallas Cowboys rookie S Pat Watkins (6-foot-5) makes the Cowboys' he would be one of tallest safeties in history

Cowboys | Rookie would be one of tallest safeties in history
Tue, 20 Jun 2006 05:48:00 -0700

Charean Williams, of the Start-Telegram, reports if Dallas Cowboys rookie S Pat Watkins (6-foot-5) makes the Cowboys' 53-player roster, he will be one of the tallest safeties ever to play in the NFL. The average height of NFL starting safeties last season was 6-0. Five starters were listed by their teams at 6-3, including Seattle Seahawks S Michael Boulware and Arizona Cardinals S Adrian Wilson. No safety was taller. It is uncertain who the tallest safety ever was, but Gary Barbaro, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1976-82, was 6-4, as was Don Burroughs, who played with the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles from 1955-64. NFL historian Gil Brandt, former Cowboys player personnel director, couldn't name any taller safety. Some teams listed Watkins as a receiver on their draft boards. The Cowboys traded up in the fifth round for Watkins to compete with incumbent S Keith Davis at free safety.

2001 Cowboys draft; five years later

By Grizz
Posted on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 05:21:42 PM EST

Peter King runs down the 2001 draft, five years after the fact. How did teams grade-out? You might have guessed the Cowboys didn't fare too well. Yes, we were still stuck with the aftermath of the Joey Galloway trade, dooming us from the start. But we sure didn't make much of the rest of our picks. Here's King's analysis:

Grade: D

28. Dallas. They had no first-round pick because of the remnants of the ill-fated Joey Galloway trade. Then the Quincy Carter mistake at No. 2. Not a totally useless pick, because he did start 31 games for them, but what the pick did was derail the Cowboys' search for a long-term solution at quarterback. The rest of the draft had some borderline effective (for a time) players -- Tony Dixon, Markus Steele, Matt Lehr, Daleroy Stewart -- on some mediocre teams. But no player of 2006 impact remains.

That was during the Dark Ages II.

The original Dark Age occurred after the demise of the 80's team up until Jimmy Johnson rebuilt the franchise. The Dark Ages II technically begins after the last Super Bowl victory against Pittsburgh, but was set in motion a couple of year's before with Johnson's departure. Parcells' arrival and the re-stocking of talent has ended the Dark Ages II.

Look at this 2001 draft:
2 Quincy Carter
2 Tony Dixon
3 Willie Blade
4 Markus Steele
5 Matt Lehr
6 Daleroy Stewart
7 Colston Weatherington
7 John Nix
7 Char-ron Dorsey

D'ANTHONY BATISTE tidbits

D'ANTHONY BATISTE
OL
(Import)
Lafayette
Born: March 29, 1982 – Marksville, LA
Height: 6-4 Weight: 318

Batiste (above) missed three games due to injury, starting eight. He was part of an offensive line that allowed just eight sacks in seven SBC games.

Batiste’s run blocking helped UL Lafayette to 184 rushing yards per game, as well as 442 yards of total offense per game in the team’s four season-ending victories.

- OT D'Anthony Batiste, Sr. - He's an experienced and versatile player able to play either tackle or guard.

Offensive lineman D'Anthony Batiste (import) played four years at Lafayette where he was part of an All-Conference offensive line in 2003. Batiste spent the 2004 season playing for the Bossier City BattleWings in the Arena Football 2.

Reporting for duty

Reporting for duty
By John Murphy, Yahoo! Sports

In late March, 150 NFL scouts and coaches descended on the University of Texas to watch quarterback Vince Young and defensive back Michael Huff work out at the school's annual pro day.

A former U.S. Marine turned fullback was the Longhorn who had several area scouts talking.

Ahmard Hall impressed the gathering of team representatives with an all-around showing that included a 40-yard-dash time between 4.48 and 4.55 seconds, a 10-foot broad jump and 24 repetitions of 225 pounds. The 5-foot-11, 232-pound back also caught the ball better than expected during his positional drills.
"It was great," said Hall's agent, Vince Taylor. "[We] had a group of six to seven teams calling right up to the draft. Even three to four teams called the week before."

There was one problem, though. Hall, who had served a four-year tour in the Marines and twice landed on foreign soil to fight for his country, was not eligible for last April's NFL draft. Yes, he had graduated high school in 2001, but he technically had an extra year of college eligibility left. He had to submit his paperwork to the NFL office by mid-January in order to be available to teams.

No one ever asked about this, so we figured he was eligible based on the five-year rule," Taylor said. "But once they said he was ineligible, the [July 13] supplemental draft became his next best option."

Taylor has been fielding calls from various teams interested in attending Hall's personal workout next Thursday in Austin, Texas. According to Taylor, teams want to see if Hall's conditioning has fallen off and maybe to have him do some positional drills. To avoid risking injury, Hall won't be running the 40 again.
Hall was a standout running back at Angelton (Texas) High School and shared the backfield with former Texas standout and current San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer. After spending four years away from the game, Hall found his way back onto the field for the Longhorns in 2004, finishing with 10 special teams tackles. Last year, he won a starting job at fullback and earned Big 12 Sportsman of the Year honors while helping Texas win the national championship.

At 26, Hall is a little older than the normal college prospect, but he also brings the type of leadership and maturity that you would expect from a former serviceman. He has an excellent size/speed ratio, but he predominantly has been used as a lead blocker and special teams ace. In his appearance at the Hula Bowl, Hall recorded a pair of special teams tackles.

Taylor expects at least 10 teams to appear at this week's workout because many of the same teams speculated that Hall could have been drafted between the fifth and seventh rounds in April. He still has two years of active duty remaining, but people close to the situation say the service time would not interfere with his dreams of playing in the NFL.

MORE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT

The league office has determined that former Delaware wide receiver David Boler will be a free agent. A transfer from USC, Boler suffered a knee injury during seven-on-seven drills last July, but he has been running in the 4.5-second range in the 40 once again while training in Delaware. Boler has good size (6-2, 205) and caught 152 passes for 2,108 yards and 15 touchdowns during his three-year run at the Division I-AA program. His agent, Mike Boyer, plans to set up a private workout for interested teams in the next few weeks.

Former Hutchinson CC (Kan.) linebacker David Dixon will hold his pro day at Beaumont (Texas) Central High on Monday, June 26.
Former Iowa State defensive end/linebacker Jason Berryman held his pro day at the school's campus last Tuesday in Ames, Iowa. He ran between 4.72 and 4.78 seconds in the 40 and also registered times of 4.48 in the short shuttle and 7.38 in the three-cone drills. Berryman also leaped 32 inches in the vertical jump and 9-11 in the broad jump and did 17 reps at 225 pounds. The 6-1, 235-pound Berryman did positional drills as a defensive end and outside linebacker, but most teams paid close attention to his footwork and backpedal during the linebacker drills. A number of teams were in attendance, including Green Bay Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey, who conducted the workout.

Dallas and Philadelphia: The elite of the NFC East

By Andy Targovnik

Two teams will compete for the NFC East title: The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles .

Why won't the New York Giants contend? The 2005 Giants finished 11-5 and had one of the easiest schedules in the NFL including a ninth home game versus New Orleans, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina. They also played Arizona, St. Louis, Minnesota, San Francisco and Oakland. Compare those teams to some of their 2006 non-division opponents: Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Carolina and Atlanta. This year's schedule is a little harder wouldn't you say?

What's more, the Giants didn't play the Philadelphia Eagles until week 10 last year; well after Philly was decimated by injuries and had given up on their season. The Giants showed their true colors when the Carolina Panthers wiped them all over the field in last year's playoffs. Big Blue simply hasn't improved enough to overcome the upgrade in their schedule.

The Washington Redskins 2006 schedule is also more difficult than their 2005 slate. But their bigger problem is that they are relying on an injury prone 36-year-old quarterback who is already hurt. If Mark Brunell goes down for any length of time during the season, either Jason Campbell or Todd Collins will call the signals. And like the Giants, the Redskins haven't upgraded their talent enough to offset their difficult schedule.

The Eagles, who have the easiest schedule in the division, will be the Cowboys' main competition. When Dallas travels to Philly in week 5, the Eagles may very well be 4-0, thanks to games versus Houston, the Giants, San Francisco and Green Bay. Plus, not only has their offensive backfield recuperated from their 2005 injuries, but they've upgraded their offensive and defensive lines through the draft.

And the Dallas Cowboys ? Their schedule is tough, but easier than the Giants and Redskins. Moreover, America's team has improved in all facets: offense, defense and special teams.

How will the NFC East actually play out? Nobody knows. But as of early summer, the NFC East looks like a two team race.

Witten Football Camp - Witten reaches out to youth

Originally posted by Steve Noah from a sport forum:

ELIZABETHTON — Youngsters choosing Jason Witten for a role model are in good hands. And there are plenty of them.

With 600 children watching as the morning session of the fourth annual Jason Witten Football Camp was winding down Saturday at Dave Rider Field, Dallas Cowboys tight end Brett Pierce dropped a 50-yard pass from teammate Tony Romo. Enter Witten, who dashed up the field and held on to his heave from Romo, much to the delight of the adolescent army.

Pierce and Romo, now a fixture at Witten’s annual June event, were two of the four pro players other than Witten on hand Saturday. Dallas rookie center Andre Gurode (Colorado) also attended, as did former Cowboys linebacker Keith O’Neal, who now plays for Indianapolis.

Witten was pleased with the turnout of roughly 900 participants.

“The camp is growing every year,” Witten said. “I thank my sponsors for allowing these kids to come for free. I know I didn’t have an opportunity like this when I was a kid. It’s great to be able to come back home and give all of these kids a few hours.”

It’s evident that the humble Witten relishes the power to touch lives.

“Obviously, they admire you and look up to you because you play football,” he said. “For these three hours all of their worries and cares are nonexistent, and they can just come out and enjoy themselves.”

He hopes the memories and positivity will last longer than any football instruction.

“It’s a football camp, but really I don’t know how much football they take away from it,” Witten said. “I stress how important school is, how important it is to stay away from drugs and alcohol. I want them to believe in their dreams, whether it’s athletics or not. Nobody can stop them if they keep their spirits high.”

Romo has become Witten’s leading co-star at the camp. This was his third straight appearance.

“You can tell that the people around here really follow and love Jason,” Romo said. “They take a lot of pride in what Jason is doing, and it’s great that he gives back to the kids like this. The example of Jason just goes to show that you can come from anywhere and still make it big.

“The folks here love football and that’s neat to see. Down in Dallas, Jason talks often about how this area has a passion for football and that shows when we come to these camps. It’s not like this in other parts of the country.”

Witten’s camp is hardly the extent of his community servant’s role. While in town this week, Witten visited The Children’s Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center.

He’s as popular in Dallas as he is in Elizabethton, having participated in numerous charity events in the Dallas area involving The Salvation Army, the Children’s Medical Center and The Voice of Hope Ministries.

Witten has also been the Cowboys’ representative for the J.C. Penney Take a Player to School and was an escort for the Children’s Cancer Fund Fashion Show, which raised money for pediatric oncology research.

If not for his grandfather, Dave Rider, or his wife, Michelle (the couple’s first child, a boy, is due in October) Witten’s No. 1 fan might be Romo.

“It’s a joy for me just to be around him on a daily basis.” Romo said. “To have a guy so committed to winning and not committed to himself and his stats, that’s a breath of fresh air.”

Romo might eventually be the hand that feeds Witten’s statistics.

“Tony Romo’s going to battle for the starting job this year,” Witten said.

Others working the camp Saturday included Witten’s brother Shawn, who played at Virginia Tech and now coaches at Tennessee, and former Tennessee players Jason Respert and Robert Peace. Respert, a multi-year starter on UT’s offensive line, is coaching running backs now at Northside High School in Warner Robins, Ga.

Longtime friends of Witten and regulars at his camp, Respert and Peace laughed and smiled when Witten’s catch caused a roar from the crowd of children after boos were audible on Pierce’s drop.

Pierce momentarily seemed like the villain in an impromptu script.

“It’s good to be the hometown hero,” Witten said. “There’s a little pressure with that, but that’s what you want. I appreciate all of my fans out there and their support.”

Witten will sign autographs today from 2-4 p.m. at Grindstaff Chevrolet in Elizabethton.

NFL News: Steelers First-Round Draft Pick Arrested Again

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus police said they arrested Steelers first-round draft pick Santonio Holmes Monday morning on a domestic violence charge.

Sgt. Loucious Hollis said Holmes was arrested at an apartment just after midnight and taken to the Franklin County Jail. He will make his first court appearance Tuesday morning.

Police are declining to provide details of Holmes' arrest or the allegations against him.

This is Holmes' second arrest since he was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of April's NFL draft. He was charged with disorderly conduct at a Florida hotel over the Memorial Day weekend.

Refresh this page later today and watch Channel 4 Action News for the latest on this story.

Scouting Report 2007 — The Return of the Big Receiver

By Rafael Vela

(Why are we talking about college WRs and potential draft picks in June? Because camp is still six and a half weeks away. And if you’ve hung around this joint for any amount of time, you know we’re always ready to talk draft.)

Jimmy Johnson was a defensive coach, but he loved wide receivers. He drafted one on the first day four of the five years he was in Dallas. In fact, between 1988 and 1993, Dallas went wideout wild, taking these players with high selections:

1988 — Michael Irvin, 1st round;
1990 — Alexander Wright, 2nd round;
1991 — Alvin Harper, 1st round;
1992 — Jimmy Smith, 2nd round;
1993 — Kevin Williams, 2nd round;

Not a bad list. Two potential Hall of Famers in Irvin and Smith, an effective deep threat in Harper and a solid role player in Williams. We can only wonder what the ’90s offense would have looked like had Smith and Jerry Jones not had a falling out over the treatment of Smith’s appendicitis.

The position has been the most neglected in the Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells years, at least from a draft perspective. Since 1996, only two first day picks have been used on wideouts, with disastrous results. Jerry used a ‘96 3rd rounder on the forgettable Stepfret Williams and an ‘02 second rounder on the unforgettable — for all the wrong reasons — Antonio Bryant.

Uh, make that four high picks. Jones also sent two #1 picks to Seattle for Joey Galloway, who tore his ACL one quarter into his Cowboys career and never built a rappoire with an aging Troy Aikman. (The Dallas picks were turned into Shaun Alexander and Koren Robinson.)

Parcells has built his WR corps on the cheap, shipping a 6th rounder to Green Bay for Terry Glenn, swapping Galloway to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson and drafting Patrick Crayton in the 7th round two years ago. He’s gotten good bang for his buck, but didn’t get a true blue chipper until Terrell Owens arrived.

Dallas now possesses the best collection of wideout talent since 1993, when Michael Irvin, Alvin Harper and Kevin Williams topped the depth chart, but it’s living on short time; Owens will turn 33 this season and burns through organizations the way baseball manager Billy Martin did, quickly and spectacularly. Glenn is 32 and has a long injury history.

Dallas needs young blood at wideout and soon. Many draft analysts expected Dallas to break with Parcells’ established draft patterns and select a wideout high this past year. The team might have, had the position not been the thinnest in recent years. Fortunately for Dallas, need may meet opportunity in 2007. Next year could provide another deep crop of large receivers to rival 2004, when Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, Reggie Williams, Lee Evans and Michael Clayton all went in the top 15. Of that group, only Evans is shorter than 6'3?.

Look at Scouts Inc.’s preseason top 10 college wideout prospects and you’ll see size:

Dwayne Jarrett, USC, 6'4?, 210 lbs.;
Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State, 6'0?, 181 lbs.;
Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame, 6'4?, 214 lbs.;
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, 6'4?, 226 lbs.;
Sidney Rice, South Carolina, 6'4?, 198 lbs.;
Jason Hill, Washington State, 6'1?, 211 lbs.;
Steve Breaston, Michigan, 6'1?, 196 lbs.;
Derrick Williams, Penn State, 6'0?, 191 lbs.;
James Hardy, Indiana, 6'6?, 215 lbs.;
Billy Pittman, Texas, 6'0?, 198 lbs.

Even the speed guys, Ginn and Pittman, average six feet in height and 190 lbs. in weight. The group is underclassman heavy — Jarrett, Ginn, Johnson and Pittman are juniors. Rice, Williams and Hardy are only sophomores. Draft followers know however, that inexperience has never kept top prospects from leaving early and grabbing the big money.

It’s beyond early, but these are ten names to watch this fall. If Dallas can get its offensive line sorted out, several of these guys will get serious attention from the team next spring.

Update: Jeff Samardzija signed a long term contract with the Cubs, making him a longer shot top prospect. Don’t rule out an NFL career for him — he wants to play pro baseball and football. Deion Sanders tried this for a while, joining the Falcons in October after his Braves seasons ended, so it can be done.

Bradie James in pivotal year

By Grizz


Show me a good defense and I'll show you a good inside linebacker. If you can't stop the most basic play in football - a run up the middle - then you're in trouble. Nothing makes an offensive coordinator happier than a defense with a "Pillsbury Dough Boy" middle. Fortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have a good defense, and the man running the show at inside linebacker is Bradie James.

When Dallas drafted James out of LSU in 2003, I thought it was an excellent pick. The guy was the heart and soul of the "James Gang" defense at LSU. He was big and athletic, and I thought he would make an immediate impact. Wrong. James was nothing more than a ghost his first year, and a bit player in his second. Last year, however, we saw the Bradie James we were expecting out of college. He lead the Cowboys in tackles and called the signals on defense.

This is the year we see how good James really is; will he continue to be a good, productive player or will he take the next step and get into the elite category? Can he make a name for himself, maybe end up over in Hawaii at the end of the season? Don't forget about the extra little incentive motivating James this season; it's a contract year for him. If Jerry can't get him signed to a contract extension before the season, James will have millions of reasons to elevate his game in 2006.

He's going to get some help from free agent acquisition Akin Ayodele, who already credits James with helping him out in film study of the 3-4 defense. With those two patrolling the interior, if NT Jason Ferguson holds up his end of the bargain, the Cowboys defense should be rock-solid up the middle.

Here's a recent interview with Bradie James from a local Louisiana paper, James was back there running a youth football camp. From the interview:
TNS: What's something most people don't know about your coach, Bill Parcells?


James: He has created an identity, and that's what he has to do. He has to sell that identity. But to us, he's very personable. You can talk to him about off-the-field things.
And, he's a joker. He loves to joke and he loves to kid. He loves the crowd. If you see a crowd around him, go the other way. You might be the next victim. He will be the last comedian standing.

I see Parcells as coming from the Don Rickles school of comedy.

TNS: How did Grambling's Jason Hatcher look in mini-camps for Dallas?

James: He's tall and should fit into the program and the defense. He creates depth on our D-line right now. He has to learn some plays, but he's strong from what we can see. We've only gone through mini-camp, but when training camp comes, we'll really see what he can do. But he looked better than a rookie in this mini-camp. I can say that about him.

NFL News: Virginia LB Ahmad Brooks and the supplemental draft

Dolphins | Team to meet with A. Brooks
Sun, 18 Jun 2006 12:58:57 -0700

Barry Jackson, of the Miami Herald, reports the Miami Dolphins, considering taking Virginia LB Ahmad Brooks in the July 13 supplemental draft, will meet with him Monday, June 19, and attend his workout Thursday, June 22.

Cowboys Will Win Tough NFC East

DCF Breakdown

In sports we often hear the best of the best tell everyone they play the games because they just love the competition. They want to play the toughest players or teams out there so they can prove they are at the top of the food chain after winning. The Cowboys will do just that this season when they face their division opponents.

This NFC East has four legitimate playoff contenders. Some people think the Cowboys are going to the Super Bowl, some think the Skins, Giant and Eagles are going. All four teams have some supporters out there which will say they are the best team in the division.

The Cowboys are going to be battle tested, for better or for worse, by the time the winner of the NFC East is determined this winter. All three teams did their best this offseason to put a better product on the field in 2006. The Cowboys and Redskins were major players in the early free agent market while the Giants signed a few key vets and also picked Lavar Arrington. The Eagles looked to have a very productive draft on paper. So all these teams should be able to once again compete for the division title.

So who is going to win it and why? Of course I am going to say the Cowboys. Now it's time to make a viable argument as to why I chose them besides the fact that they are my favorite NFL team.

Let's compare a few aspects. I am placing them in the order of importance in my opinion. If one of the teams doesn't match up then they drop out of the race, simple.

Coaching - All of these teams have a good enough coaching staff that this will neither be an advantage or a disadvantage to winning the NFC East. Everyone is safe.

Quarterback - The Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins all have crusty vets who are proven winners on the NFL level. The Giants have a young gun with a lot of potential. With that said I think the Giants drop out because Eli was just horrible in that playoff game last season. I will take a solid 'knows how to win' veteran over a young guy with potential any day of the week.

Defense - The Redskins proved last year that they can play defense. The Cowboys had some lapses here and there, but their defense played well enough to get them to the playoffs. Plus they now have all the pieces in place to run the 3-4 full force which is what Coach Parcells wanted all along. The Eagles also have a good enough defense that they will stay in the mix with the Skins and Cowboys.

Offensive Playmakers - Cowboys have one of the best in the game with TO. Plus they have three other legitimate playmakers in Jason Witten, Terry Glenn and Julius Jones. The Redskins are also stacked with Santana Moss who really broke out last season. Then they also have Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley and Randle-El so they stay alive. Just having Brian Westbrook isn't enough to keep up with the Cowboys and Skins, not this season. So this is where the Eagles are eliminated.

Skins and Cowboys left on the board. So what gives the Cowboys the NFC East title over their most hated rival?

Let's go back and further scrutinize those factors from above. Coaching, evenly matched. Quarterbacks, evenly matched. Defense, 2005 Skins would win this, but losing their biggest playmaker in Lavar Arrington puts them even with the Cowboys.

So last on the list is the Offensive playmakers. Clinton Portis is better than Julius Jones because of career production numbers, but Terry Glenn evens it back up because his career numbers are better than Randle El and Brandon Lloyd combined. How about Witten versus Chris Cooley? Both of these guys at times are the offensive MVP, so it's a tie.

Uh oh Skins fans. I think you know where this is going and I think you also know that no one in their right mind is choosing 5'nothing 140lb soaking wet Santana Moss over 6'3 226lb 'love me some me' Terrell Owens. So that's where the Skins are eliminated from the race.

Now if your a Skins don't give up hope, there is always the Wild Card. One more thing for the Skins fans. Your lucky I didn't compare the draft classes for both teams because then it was just a forfeit on your end. So be happy I gave you as much credit as I did.

So there you have it folks. The Dallas Cowboys will win the NFC East in 2006.

QB's that are on the hot seat going into 2006

by Sport Illustrated:

1. Jake Plummer- Broncos
He had a strong 2005 season but couldn't get the job done against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Although he's clearly No. 1, there are whispers that the team isn't thrilled with him and that first-round pick Jay Cutler is the future of the franchise. If the Broncos struggle, they may turn to the future sooner than expected.

2. Aaron Brooks- Raiders
He has the added pressure of dealing with the wrath of Randy Moss if the Raiders' offense doesn't click, and management is eager to give youngsters Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter a shot. The Raiders haven't officially handed the starting job over to Brooks, but they will, even though he'll have a very short leash.

3. Kurt Warner- Cardinals
He has serious weapons around him, so Arizona's offense will be expected to produce immediately. The Cardinals added running back Edgerrin James to join talented young receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Arizona also drafted Matt Leinart with the No. 10 pick, and many experts considered him the most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft.

4. Rex Grossman- Bears
Assuming he can stay healthy, Grossman will be the Bears' starter, but he'll have to hold off Brian Griese and, to a lesser extent, Kyle Orton. Grossman has shown flashes when he's healthy, but he struggled against the Panthers in the NFC Championship Game and hasn't proven he can be a consistent starter. Griese is one of those quarterbacks you forget about, and suddenly he comes out of nowhere with an excellent season.

5. Mark Brunell- Redskins
He was solid last year, but he's going to have more pressure this year as expectations rise. The Skins' defense is strong and the team has a strong running game with Clinton Portis. If Brunell gets off to a slow start, coach Joe Gibbs may turn to last year's first-round pick, Jason Campbell.

6. David Carr- Texans
The Texans easily could have drafted a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick and not paid Carr an $8 million bonus, but management thinks he has more talent than he's shown in his four-year career. The top pick in the 2002 draft, Carr hasn't developed any level of consistency. If the QB can get it going quickly under new coach Gary Kubiak, the Texans will be in business.

7. Byron Leftwich- Jaguars
Everyone knows about his toughness. But questions remain about the fourth-year quarterback's effectiveness. His numbers have been OK in Jacksonville, but he needs to take another step forward for the Jags to be a Super Bowl team. Backup David Garrard was 5-1 as a starter when Leftwich hurt an ankle last season and is considered by many to be good enough to start in the NFL.

8. Billy Volek- Titans
With Steve McNair out of the picture, Volek will get his shot at being a starter. The Titans drafted Vince Young with the No. 3 overall pick, so they clearly aren't convinced that Volek is their quarterback of the future. The Titans' coaching staff will have pressure from the public and the front office to get Young on the field the second Volek stumbles.