Monday, March 24, 2008

Trade talks between Cowboys, Titans intensifying

By Adam Schefter | NFL Network

At a time when cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been traded to Oakland, another high-profile cornerback could be dealt within the next week.

NFL sources said Thursday that trade talks between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans regarding suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones are intensifying.

One person close to the talks predicted a deal could be completed in the next week. Dallas would get the talented and troubled Jones while the Titans would receive a mid-round draft pick.

Jones currently is on suspension and has been informed that his status for the 2008 season will be decided prior to the opening of training camp. In the interim, NFL rules stipulate that a suspended player can be traded. A team essentially would be trading a player’s contract.

It should be pointed out that trade talks sometimes fall apart. Just look at the Raiders and Hall; it took them nearly a week to finalize a contract agreement. But the Cowboys and Titans’ talks, which have been going on for some time now, have gained steam in recent days.

Initially, they started with Dallas offering Tennessee a choice of players from its roster. When the Titans could not find a player on the list they liked, the conversation shifted to a draft pick.

Now the sides are said to be closing in on a deal that could be consummated before Cowboys and Titans officials depart for the March 30 annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

Should Dallas finalize a deal for Jones, it would be the latest example of the Cowboys gambling on a player other teams would not. Dallas once signed defensive linemen Alonzo Spellman, Dimitrius Underwood and Tank Johnson, each of whom came with his own set of issues. It signed wide receiver Terrell Owens at a time when there was little interest elsewhere.

And now, it is readying to reach out to Jones, who would help strengthen one of the Cowboys' biggest areas of need.

Of course, Jones first will have to be reinstated, and no one is sure if and when that will happen. But if and when it does, Jones could be the Cowboys' property, one of Jerry Jones’ biggest gambles to date.