Dallas LB Scott Shanle says he wants to be ready for NFL camp
Dallas LB Scott says he wants to be ready for NFL camp
By STEVEN M. SIPPLE/Lee Enterprises
LINCOLN - Scott Shanle enjoyed some free time with family in Columbus and St. Edward this week.
That's free time, not a break.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Shanle has been lifting weights at Scotus Central Catholic High School and running in the heat in preparation for his fourth season with the Dallas Cowboys, who begin training camp July 28 in Oxnard, Calif.
“Going back to high school, I've always tried to get an edge by training hard,” he said. “God gave me size and speed. You can't control those things, but you can control how hard you work, and you can control your attention to detail. If you can get into the NFL and not make mistakes and make some plays, you can stick around for a while.”
Shanle, a three-year starter at Nebraska (2000-02) after arriving on campus as a walk-on, comes off his finest NFL season. Playing inside linebacker in Dallas' 3-4 alignment, Shanle last season recorded a career-high 50 tackles while starting seven games after Dat Nguyen went down with a career-ending neck injury.
The Cowboys in April re-signed Shanle to a one-year contract worth $721,600.
Once training camp commences, Shanle expects to battle for a starting role with Akin Ayodele, an offseason free-agent signee who recorded 100-plus tackles in each of the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dallas, which finished third in the NFC East last season with a 9-7 record, has designs on an extended playoff run this season after signing five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens in March.
The controversial and volatile Owens has been a model citizen during offseason drills, Shanle said.
“The guy's one of the hardest workers I've seen,” Shanle said. “He's a great example for our younger players.”
Shanle gets a firsthand look at the 6-3, 225-pound Owens' remarkable physical ability.
“Terrell, Randy Moss and a couple of other guys - like Anquan Boldin and Jeremy Shockey - they're just on a different level,” Shanle said.
Shanle also has high regard for Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells, the only coach in NFL history to lead four different teams into the playoffs.
“It's tough sometimes to play for him, but he gets every single drop of talent out of every single player,” Shanle said. “He has a presence, and obviously he has a background of success. He treats us like men, and guys respect that. He just knows how to push the right buttons.”
By STEVEN M. SIPPLE/Lee Enterprises
LINCOLN - Scott Shanle enjoyed some free time with family in Columbus and St. Edward this week.
That's free time, not a break.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Shanle has been lifting weights at Scotus Central Catholic High School and running in the heat in preparation for his fourth season with the Dallas Cowboys, who begin training camp July 28 in Oxnard, Calif.
“Going back to high school, I've always tried to get an edge by training hard,” he said. “God gave me size and speed. You can't control those things, but you can control how hard you work, and you can control your attention to detail. If you can get into the NFL and not make mistakes and make some plays, you can stick around for a while.”
Shanle, a three-year starter at Nebraska (2000-02) after arriving on campus as a walk-on, comes off his finest NFL season. Playing inside linebacker in Dallas' 3-4 alignment, Shanle last season recorded a career-high 50 tackles while starting seven games after Dat Nguyen went down with a career-ending neck injury.
The Cowboys in April re-signed Shanle to a one-year contract worth $721,600.
Once training camp commences, Shanle expects to battle for a starting role with Akin Ayodele, an offseason free-agent signee who recorded 100-plus tackles in each of the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dallas, which finished third in the NFC East last season with a 9-7 record, has designs on an extended playoff run this season after signing five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens in March.
The controversial and volatile Owens has been a model citizen during offseason drills, Shanle said.
“The guy's one of the hardest workers I've seen,” Shanle said. “He's a great example for our younger players.”
Shanle gets a firsthand look at the 6-3, 225-pound Owens' remarkable physical ability.
“Terrell, Randy Moss and a couple of other guys - like Anquan Boldin and Jeremy Shockey - they're just on a different level,” Shanle said.
Shanle also has high regard for Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells, the only coach in NFL history to lead four different teams into the playoffs.
“It's tough sometimes to play for him, but he gets every single drop of talent out of every single player,” Shanle said. “He has a presence, and obviously he has a background of success. He treats us like men, and guys respect that. He just knows how to push the right buttons.”
posted by The Gryphon at 6:25 PM
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