Stardom comes in rush for Dallas Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
OXNARD, Calif. – DeMarcus Ware is scary, and it might end up costing the Cowboys big money.
The outside linebacker has been quick to establish himself as a star after just three pro seasons in which he has made the Pro Bowl twice and piled up 33½ sacks.
Quickness is indeed Ware's trademark. In fact, NFL officials told the Cowboys that on three occasions last season in which Ware was whistled for being offside, videotape showed he actually wasn't.
"We expected him to be a great player," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "I know he's from a small school [Troy University] and all that, but he's shown great ability in college and certainly a great pick for Dallas and now I got him. He can do it all. He has tremendous speed and he's relentless."
Ware's accomplishments are earning him plenty of attention. Ware and his mother, Brenda, were featured in a Campbell's Soup commercial. When any network does promotions for a Cowboys game, it requests Ware.
This off-season, the Cowboys re-signed several of their Pro Bowl players and extended the contracts of others in big-money deals. Ware, whose contract ends in 2010, is expected to have his deal renegotiated in a similar manner. His base salaries are set at $725,000 for this season, $1.05 million next season and $1.425 million for 2010.
The highest-paid defensive player in the NFL is Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, who signed a six-year, $72 million deal last July. Freeney received $30 million to sign.
In the last three seasons, Freeney has 20 sacks. He played only nine games last season because of injury.
Ware could command a Freeney-type contract. But he said he's not focusing on salary issues.
"When you talk about contract stuff, I put that on the backburner," he said. "Right now, I'm trying to get to the Super Bowl. That [contract talk] is the last thing I'm worried about."
Owner Jerry Jones isn't worried, either. He has accepted when you have star players, such as Ware, big dollars must be spent.
This defense, led by Ware, has six players who have played in a Pro Bowl.
"With that talent, there's nobody on earth that I want coaching them than Wade Phillips," Jones said. "With his philosophy and schemes, and with that coaching staff out there that teaches pressure, it's good."
Ware is building a reputation mainly as being among the NFL's top pass rushers. But his teammate, inside linebacker Zach Thomas, said Ware's skills as a run-stopper are strong as well.
"I've always known DeMarcus as a rush end, but I didn't know he could play the run that well until I watched tape," Thomas said. "I don't think there's anybody in the league that can separate from an offensive lineman and squeeze that end to turn everything into [the other] linebackers. That's impressive."
In practice Saturday, Ware gave right tackle Marc Colombo fits. In one session, Ware beat Colombo off the edge to sack Tony Romo, then went inside to turn a running play into a loss.
"I think he's got pretty good competition, too," Colombo said., smiling. "He's a great pass rusher, a unique combination of speed and power, so it's great practice for me."
Ware takes the compliments in stride. He's not worried about a contract or whether he's considered a superstar player.
"Superstar? I don't know about all that," Ware said. "I'm just a player. I wear a number like everybody else, and I'm trying to make the team like everybody else."
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
OXNARD, Calif. – DeMarcus Ware is scary, and it might end up costing the Cowboys big money.
The outside linebacker has been quick to establish himself as a star after just three pro seasons in which he has made the Pro Bowl twice and piled up 33½ sacks.
Quickness is indeed Ware's trademark. In fact, NFL officials told the Cowboys that on three occasions last season in which Ware was whistled for being offside, videotape showed he actually wasn't.
"We expected him to be a great player," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "I know he's from a small school [Troy University] and all that, but he's shown great ability in college and certainly a great pick for Dallas and now I got him. He can do it all. He has tremendous speed and he's relentless."
Ware's accomplishments are earning him plenty of attention. Ware and his mother, Brenda, were featured in a Campbell's Soup commercial. When any network does promotions for a Cowboys game, it requests Ware.
This off-season, the Cowboys re-signed several of their Pro Bowl players and extended the contracts of others in big-money deals. Ware, whose contract ends in 2010, is expected to have his deal renegotiated in a similar manner. His base salaries are set at $725,000 for this season, $1.05 million next season and $1.425 million for 2010.
The highest-paid defensive player in the NFL is Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, who signed a six-year, $72 million deal last July. Freeney received $30 million to sign.
In the last three seasons, Freeney has 20 sacks. He played only nine games last season because of injury.
Ware could command a Freeney-type contract. But he said he's not focusing on salary issues.
"When you talk about contract stuff, I put that on the backburner," he said. "Right now, I'm trying to get to the Super Bowl. That [contract talk] is the last thing I'm worried about."
Owner Jerry Jones isn't worried, either. He has accepted when you have star players, such as Ware, big dollars must be spent.
This defense, led by Ware, has six players who have played in a Pro Bowl.
"With that talent, there's nobody on earth that I want coaching them than Wade Phillips," Jones said. "With his philosophy and schemes, and with that coaching staff out there that teaches pressure, it's good."
Ware is building a reputation mainly as being among the NFL's top pass rushers. But his teammate, inside linebacker Zach Thomas, said Ware's skills as a run-stopper are strong as well.
"I've always known DeMarcus as a rush end, but I didn't know he could play the run that well until I watched tape," Thomas said. "I don't think there's anybody in the league that can separate from an offensive lineman and squeeze that end to turn everything into [the other] linebackers. That's impressive."
In practice Saturday, Ware gave right tackle Marc Colombo fits. In one session, Ware beat Colombo off the edge to sack Tony Romo, then went inside to turn a running play into a loss.
"I think he's got pretty good competition, too," Colombo said., smiling. "He's a great pass rusher, a unique combination of speed and power, so it's great practice for me."
Ware takes the compliments in stride. He's not worried about a contract or whether he's considered a superstar player.
"Superstar? I don't know about all that," Ware said. "I'm just a player. I wear a number like everybody else, and I'm trying to make the team like everybody else."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:44 AM
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