Cowboys' Jones stays away from controversy
By Tom Orsborn - Express-News
There's no shortage of hot-button issues surrounding the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, but owner Jerry Jones managed to sidestep them all when he met with the media Tuesday at the Senior Bowl.
In a rare act of self-censorship, Jones declined to discuss anything controversial, including the decision to cut troubled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, the future of mercurial receiver Terrell Owens and the firing of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart.
Jones also steered clear of questions involving coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a pair many believe should share the same fate as Stewart.
While he offered no juicy water-cooler talk, Jones did bring some news with him to Mobile, Ala.: The Cowboys have opened contract extension talks with the agent for Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Ware has another year left on his deal, but the Cowboys want to get a jump on negotiations since the NFL sack leader's new contract is expected to be the biggest in the league for a defensive player and possibly the richest in club history.
The Cowboys are expected to have about $10 million in salary-cap space, but Jones said the team won't be a major player in free agency. That would suggest a recent Internet report that the Cowboys are interested in Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is off target.
According to the Baltimore Sun's Ravens Insider blog, the potential contract offer from the Cowboys to Lewis should he become a free agent in March would include a guaranteed $25 million.
The Cowboys have several unrestricted free agents, including linebackers Kevin Burnett, defensive end Chris Canty and safety/special teams captain Keith Davis.
Another pressing personnel matter is what to do with strong safety Roy Williams, whose contract runs through 2010. The former Oklahoma star came off the field in passing situations this past season before going on injured reserve in October with a broken arm.
The Cowboys would save $2.2 million if they cut Williams, but Jones hinted he could be converted to linebacker.
“We always thought he was really ... an impact player up near the line, and certainly when you're talking about putting pressure on a team, we've always thought he was capable of doing that,” Jones said.
Jones also talked about the draft. He said the Cowboys, who are without a first-round pick after sending it to Detroit in October as part of the trade for receiver Roy Williams, likely won't trade up into the first round but are ready to listen to offers for some of their nine picks.
The Cowboys have needs at linebacker, defensive back, receiver, offensive and defensive lines and backup quarterback, but Jones said not one specific position is being targeted.
“I think you've got to stick with ... getting the best player,” Jones said.
Meanwhile, quarterback Tony Romo reiterated in an interview with a newspaper in his home state of Wisconsin comments he made after the Cowboys' season-ending 44-6 loss at Philadelphia.
“If I'm never going to win the Super Bowl, I'll be content in life,” Romo told the Racine Journal Times. “I'll be disappointed because that's what I wanted to do. At that same point, it's not going to be something that makes me a better human being.”
Fans heaped criticism on Romo for making similar comments after the Philadelphia debacle.
There's no shortage of hot-button issues surrounding the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, but owner Jerry Jones managed to sidestep them all when he met with the media Tuesday at the Senior Bowl.
In a rare act of self-censorship, Jones declined to discuss anything controversial, including the decision to cut troubled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, the future of mercurial receiver Terrell Owens and the firing of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart.
Jones also steered clear of questions involving coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a pair many believe should share the same fate as Stewart.
While he offered no juicy water-cooler talk, Jones did bring some news with him to Mobile, Ala.: The Cowboys have opened contract extension talks with the agent for Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Ware has another year left on his deal, but the Cowboys want to get a jump on negotiations since the NFL sack leader's new contract is expected to be the biggest in the league for a defensive player and possibly the richest in club history.
The Cowboys are expected to have about $10 million in salary-cap space, but Jones said the team won't be a major player in free agency. That would suggest a recent Internet report that the Cowboys are interested in Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is off target.
According to the Baltimore Sun's Ravens Insider blog, the potential contract offer from the Cowboys to Lewis should he become a free agent in March would include a guaranteed $25 million.
The Cowboys have several unrestricted free agents, including linebackers Kevin Burnett, defensive end Chris Canty and safety/special teams captain Keith Davis.
Another pressing personnel matter is what to do with strong safety Roy Williams, whose contract runs through 2010. The former Oklahoma star came off the field in passing situations this past season before going on injured reserve in October with a broken arm.
The Cowboys would save $2.2 million if they cut Williams, but Jones hinted he could be converted to linebacker.
“We always thought he was really ... an impact player up near the line, and certainly when you're talking about putting pressure on a team, we've always thought he was capable of doing that,” Jones said.
Jones also talked about the draft. He said the Cowboys, who are without a first-round pick after sending it to Detroit in October as part of the trade for receiver Roy Williams, likely won't trade up into the first round but are ready to listen to offers for some of their nine picks.
The Cowboys have needs at linebacker, defensive back, receiver, offensive and defensive lines and backup quarterback, but Jones said not one specific position is being targeted.
“I think you've got to stick with ... getting the best player,” Jones said.
Meanwhile, quarterback Tony Romo reiterated in an interview with a newspaper in his home state of Wisconsin comments he made after the Cowboys' season-ending 44-6 loss at Philadelphia.
“If I'm never going to win the Super Bowl, I'll be content in life,” Romo told the Racine Journal Times. “I'll be disappointed because that's what I wanted to do. At that same point, it's not going to be something that makes me a better human being.”
Fans heaped criticism on Romo for making similar comments after the Philadelphia debacle.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:06 PM
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