Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys ink third-round pick Williams

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:33:56 -0500

Irving, TX (Sports Network) - The Dallas Cowboys announced the signing of rookie wide receiver Terrance Williams to a four-year contract on Tuesday.

Williams, one of two third-round picks (No. 74 overall) by Dallas in April's NFL Draft, led the nation with 1,832 receiving yards on 97 catches while scoring 12 touchdowns during a banner senior season at Baylor in 2012. The Dallas native was a unanimous All-America selection and one of three finalists for last year's Biletnikoff Award honoring the top wide receiver in college football.

The 23-year-old enters his debut season as a candidate to replace free-agent departure Kevin Ogletree as the Cowboys' No. 3 receiver behind Dez Bryant and Miles Austin.

Dallas now has three of its six 2013 draft choices under contract, with first- round center Travis Frederick, tight end Gavin Escobar (2nd Round) and safety J.J. Wilcox (3rd Round) yet to formally agree to terms.

5 Wonders Of The Dallas Cowboys World

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:07:00 -0500

By Todd Archer ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys don’t take to the field again until July 21 in Oxnard, Calif., but 5 Wonders is back before its summer vacation.

Off we go:

The contractual future of Anthony Spencer has been a hot topic this offseason, as has the future of Sean Lee. Personally, I don’t see a deal for Spencer before the July 15 deadline, but I can see Lee signed to a long-term deal before the season opener. What about Dan Bailey? I wonder if the Cowboys would look at tying up their kicker to a new deal. He is set to make $555,000 this year and become a restricted free agent after this season. The Cowboys have shown a willingness to get deals done on players before they become restricted free agents (Jermey Parnell and Phil Costa come to mind), so why not take care of Bailey? Considering how close games are every week, having a reliable kicker is a must. Bailey is just about as good as there is in the league.

Center Travis Frederick worked with the starters from his first day of practice. Terrance Williams was with the first-team when the Cowboys went to their three-wide receiver set. Gavin Escobar did not knock James Hanna off his perch as the No. 2 tight end behind Jason Witten. I wonder if Hanna will hold on to that job longer than we think. Escobar got more work in the regular offense later in the minicamp, but Hanna has made it difficult for the second-round pick. That’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Escobar raised his level of play as camp went on, making a nice sliding catch for a touchdown. Too many times the Cowboys seem to hand people jobs, but Escobar will have to earn this one.

I wonder if people are sleeping on Lance Dunbar a little bit. While Joseph Randle is the presumed backup to DeMarco Murray, Dunbar had a terrific offseason and has the trust of the guy who matters most in the offense. No, not Jason Garrett. Not Bill Callahan either. But Tony Romo. Dunbar can be elusive out of the backfield and give linebackers some trouble. Getting the ball to him on a screen or two a game is not out of the question. Defenses might try to take advantage of his lack of size with pass protections, but he is a willing blocker.

I was the first person to kind of chuckle when I heard the Cowboys go on forever about the defensive line being their strength, but I wonder if it will be. Seriously. I don’t want to get too carried away and I want to see the work in the preseason against other teams, but there looks to be quality depth with guys like Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lissemore, Kyle Wilber and Ben Bass. Heck, I even had Nick Hayden on my most recent 53-man roster projection. The key will be Jay Ratliff and if he can find the form that led him to the Pro Bowls. He didn’t practice much this offseason, but when he did, he did a nice job. Same with Jason Hatcher. Add that to a healthy DeMarcus Ware and Spencer and there might be something here.

I wonder about how the Cowboys will be calling the plays this year. Even when Garrett was calling the plays, getting in and out of the huddle had been an issue. Now with Callahan calling them from the coaches’ booth to quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, who then will relay them to Romo, it just seems like they have created another layer to delay the process. Callahan likes to be up high to get a good view of the game, which I understand. During training camp and in the preseason games the Cowboys will have to pick up the pace. They had a delay of game and were forced to call a timeout in one practice because it took too long for the play to get in. The situation work Garrett has used in practice is as much for the coaches as it is the players.

Cowboys Have Lingering Questions

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:09:00 -0500

By Todd Archer ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- With a team that has finished .500 in each of the past two years and did not make any drastic upgrades in the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have plenty of questions.

Through the on-field teaching sessions, nine organized team activities and three days of minicamp, many things were learned but many questions remain before this team gets to Oxnard, Calif., for training camp.

Here we look at some of the questions that remain:

1. Will Tony Romo be ready to go?

The short answer is yes, but the offseason has always been a big part of Romo's preparation for a season. Normally he will tinker with his mechanics and use the practices to know what works and what doesn't, but he has not thrown a competitive pass since December because of a procedure in April to remove a cyst from his back.

While the team downplayed the surgery, the time lost figures to affect Romo when the Cowboys get to California. He said he should be 100 percent by next week and will attempt to play catch-up by throwing passes to the remaining players at Valley Ranch over the month-long break. While that should get his arm in good enough shape for training camp, there will be some rust when he gets in full team activities with the pads on.

2. What is there to make of the offensive line?

For the second straight offseason right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau was not able to take a snap in the OTAs or minicamp. Left guard Nate Livings hurt his surgically-repaired knee during the OTAs and missed most of the past three weeks. Jermey Parnell, who is expected to battle with Doug Free for the right tackle spot, missed two-plus weeks because of a hamstring injury. Travis Frederick took all of the first-team work, but he's a rookie.

The guy in charge of the line, Bill Callahan, will be spread a little thinner now that he has play-calling duties.

Bernadeau, Livings and Parnell will be fine when the team gets to Oxnard, but if last year proved anything, it's that the line needs time together. Another offseason without that continuity is not a good thing.

3. Is Callahan ready to call the plays?

This has been talked about and talked about, and will continue to be talked about. Like the move to the 4-3 on the other side of the ball, there will be a transition with Callahan calling the plays. He will have a different feel for it than Jason Garrett and that is something Romo will have to adjust to.

All of the situational work Garrett put the team through in the OTAs and minicamp was good for the players, but it was also good for Callahan to get up to speed on calling plays again. There were some hiccups, like a delay-of-game penalty and a needed timeout because the process was too slow. When the Cowboys show up in Oxnard, that process will have to speed up.

4. What are the defensive concerns?

There will be bumps as the Cowboys move to the 4-3 this summer, but the offseason went pretty well. They feel as if they are covered at the safety spot and that the defensive line will be a strength, so let's look past the starters for a moment.

Backup linebacker is a little thin. Alex Albright has never played in this system, but the coaches say they believe he will be fine. Ernie Sims is a better fit for this system than the one he played in the 3-4 last season. DeVonte Holloman and Brandon Magee had moments in the spring, but they're rookies.

5. Will Joseph Randle be ready to contribute?

Randle has not taken a snap because of thumb surgery but should be ready to go for the opening of training camp. He has done everything the athletic training staff has asked, and running backs coach Gary Brown has liked how attentive Randle has been on the practice field even if he can't carry the ball.

The Cowboys believe he can be a full-time back if something happened to DeMarco Murray, but he was a fifth-round pick. Randle will have to show he can beat out Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner to do the job. Getting a late start doing that isn't a positive.

Tony Romo Doesn't Feel Pressure

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:37:00 -0500

By Calvin Watkins ESPNDallas.com

The Cowboys have failed to make the postseason the past three seasons.

The quarterback, Tony Romo, has endured criticism from the fans and some media members regarding his new six-year contract extension worth $108 million.

Pressure to produce because of the new contract this season?

Romo said he doesn't feel it.

"Pressure and fear are all just in your own brain," he said. "To me, it's nothing more than you going out and your competing you're butt off every day and trying to win everyday. So I don't allow what outside influences affect my psyche or what my mental makeup is. It's about this room, this team and how I'm going to get myself and my teammates ready to play. Outside influences don’t directly affect how your emotional state is."

When you think about the 2012 season for Romo, you smile about the final eight games of the season during which he went 5-3 with 18 touchdown passes and six interceptions. But there's the loss in the regular season finale at Washington that stings. You also look at consecutive losses to the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons in which he threw just two touchdown passes and four interceptions. There was the four-interception game against the Giants in which Romo threw for 437 yards on 62 pass attempts.

Of course, when the season ended, Romo ranked in the top ten in quarterback rating (10th), yards (third), touchdowns (sixth), completion percentage (fifth) and attempts (third). But the other Romo had him finished tied for the league lead in interceptions at 19, and he's now 1-6 in win-or-go-home games.

Pressure is mounting on Romo to push his team on a deep playoff run, yet with his new contract, which guarantees him $55 million, it gives him the comfort he'll be around awhile.

"I guess, to me that’s an easy way to say it's not real, pressure is," Romo said. "If you're telling yourself or saying you should be scared or that you're saying this is a lot of pressure, then you're losing already. That’s not the right frame of mind or thought."

No Deal Progress Between Cowboys, Spencer

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:52:00 -0500

By Calvin Watkins ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- After reviewing Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones' comments about Anthony Spencer on Thursday afternoon, it leaves me to believe a deal won't get done for the defensive end before July 15.

That date is the deadline for any NFL team who has franchised a player to finalize a long-term contract.

“There’s nothing here that’s not on the up and up and friendly,” Jones said Thursday. “If it works out, it works out. We’d love to have Spencer here, but we also understand it has got to work for him, too.”

Spencer is franchised at $10.6 million.

Here's what Spencer said on Wednesday regarding a new deal: "I told (my agent, Jordan Woy) to contact me when they get it done. He talked to me about the numbers, but we're just not on the same page right now. If we get close, we can get it done. If not, we won't. I'm not too worried about it."

The Cowboys have $9.7 million in salary-cap space available for signings, which also includes the unsigned draft picks.

At this stage, it seems the Cowboys are willing to let Spencer keep his $10.6 million and play the season out. If Spencer has a solid season, then he'll hit the open market and the Cowboys will enter a bidding war for his services with other NFL teams.

The Cowboys have young backups Sean Lissemore and Kyle Wilber who could take over at end if necessary. The Cowboys didn't draft a defensive end in the draft, but you must believe the franchise will address the position in 2014.

Spencer is a good player, but not elite, and given what the Cowboys are willing or not willing to pay him, it appears he will hit the open market.

“Obviously we have to take a look at what people signed for and what they’ll make going forward,” Jones said. “There’s some good football players that what they got paid might affect what we want to pay Anthony going forward.”

VP Jones Says Cowboys Can Compete For Title

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:12:00 -0500

By Todd Archer ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys have finished 8-8 the last two seasons, have missed the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and have one playoff victory since 1996, but optimism is never far away.

“We really feel like we have a team that can compete for a championship,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said.

Jones belief is not just on a roster that has talented players at key spots, but how the NFL landscape has changed over the years.

“The last three teams that won championships barely got into the playoffs and did something about it,” Jones said. “You’re probably not being realistic if you don’t think things have changed in the last 10 years. There’s probably a lot of people who feel they have a chance to win a championship based on the level playing field and how the cap has affected the game. We feel like we have an opportunity to compete for a championship.”

The Cowboys signed quarterback Tony Romo to a six-year extension in the offseason but did not make any high-profile free-agent signings. The Cowboys have changed defensive systems, moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 with coordinator Monte Kiffin, changed offensive playcallers from Jason Garrett to Bill Callahan and changed special teams coaches.

By the end of last season the Cowboys were without six regulars on defense because of injury, including Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and Jay Ratliff, but were in a position to win the NFC East with a victory in the final game at Washington.

“I feel like the teams that won championships last year, we can compete with them and were right there competing with them maybe without a full deck,” Jones said. “We have confidence that this team will win a championship.”

DeMarco Murray Says Hammy Better

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:13:00 -0500

By Todd Archer ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- After sitting out most of the offseason with a hamstring injury, running back DeMarco Murray has declared himself ready to go as the Dallas Cowboys finished up minicamp Thursday.

Murray missed the first few organized team activities in May because of a slightly strained hamstring, but he's been getting more reps during the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp this week.

"I definitely feel like I'm back to where I need to be," Murray said.

With the Cowboys wanting to run more in 2013, Murray is the key and he has to stay healthy. A foot injury kept him out of six games last year. He missed three games as a rookie with a fractured ankle.

Murray has led the Cowboys in rushing his first two seasons (897 yards as a rookie, 663 in 2012) but he has only had 325 carries. He knows there is plenty to work on in his game.

"I just need to continue to play hard," Murray said. "I may not do all the work right and may get sloppy here and there, but I need to continue to make plays. Play hard and play free. I can't go out there thinking too much."

Cowboys' Spencer Hopeful For Long-term Deal

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:18:00 -0500

By Calvin Watkins ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer is hopeful he'll get a long-term contract this summer. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Spencer, costing them $10.6 million for the 2013 season.

If the two sides can't work a deal by July 15, Spencer will play under the tag and become an unrestricted free agent next spring.

"I told (my agent, Jordan Woy) to contact me when they get it done," Spencer said Wednesday. "He talked to me about the numbers, but we're just not on the same page right now. If we get close, we can get it done. If not, we won't. I'm not too worried about it."

This is the second consecutive year the Cowboys franchised Spencer because the sides couldn't reach a deal.

"I have no other choice," Spencer said. "I'm going to play it out and see what happens next year."

Spencer is coming off a career year in which he had 11 sacks and led the team in total tackles (106), based on the coaches' statistics, and finished second in quarterback pressures (26).

It appears the number of years Spencer is looking for isn't the issue, but the total guaranteed money is.

Tony Romo's Involvement a Mutual Agreement

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:24:00 -0500

Todd Archer - ESPN Dallas

Much was made of Jerry Jones’ comment after the draft regarding the desire to have Tony Romo spend “Peyton Manning time,” at the Cowboys' practice facility.

It turns out the desire was not only Jones’ idea after giving the quarterback a six-year contract worth $119.5 million this offseason, but also the quarterback’s.

“How can we take who you are, the great experience at your age, how can we take this experience and maximize it to win football games?” Jones said.

“What can we do to make that an asset? He has an excellent understanding, an excellent grasp of offensive concepts, an excellent grasp of what he and Jason have been involved in the last seven years ... I’ve been told by many people who’ve worked closer with him than I do that they’ve never heard him have a bad idea, but as we all know you don’t just walk in and have a few good ideas and that be part of the game plan. You’ve got to have prepared, looked at a lot of film, watch your opponents and do that a lot. That takes more time to do and he’s going to be doing that.
Certainly he wanted that to be a part of everybody’s understanding and I wanted it to be a part of his and everybody’s understanding. And Jason (Garrett) did, too.”

Jones said he wasn’t being critical of Romo’s work ethic when he made the Manning comparison. Jones said the combination of Romo’s ability and experience makes it more reasonable to expect the day-to-day involvement.

“I want to use everything that he’s got in his computer,” Jones said. “The way to do that is have him involved in a lot of the design and the preparation as we not only prepare the team in general but as we paper for the opponents. He’s qualified to do that.”

Jones Not Doing Romo Favors

Fri, 03 May 2013 21:09:00 -0500

Jean Jacques-Taylor, ESPN Dallas

IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones has lost his mind if he expects Tony Romo to act like Peyton Manning.

Romo certainly doesn't have Manning's talent. And he doesn't prepare the way Manning does.

So what? No one does.

When it comes to preparation, Manning has no peers. You don't hear about New England quarterback Tom Brady or Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers making a three-hour drive to work out a potential first-round draft pick the way Manning did a few years ago.

Then again, Manning should take that approach because he has been his team's de facto offensive coordinator, essentially calling the plays and making all the offensive line adjustments, first with the Indianapolis Colts and now with the Denver Broncos.

Romo isn't the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator. Jason Garrett and Bill Callahan handle most of that.

But for some reason Jones wants to spin a new narrative that Romo is going to be more involved than ever with the offense just because he signed the quarterback to a six-year, $108 million extension with $55 million guaranteed.

"[Tony] is more involved, unequivocally," Jones said. "That ought to produce some success. It will produce some success. I'm talking about the kind of plays we run, a lot of what we do offensively. Tony is going to have more time, more presence. Not only in the offseason, but when the season starts, beginning Mondays -- assuming we played Sundays -- he's going to have more time on the job.

All you need to know is a 33-year-old veteran such as Romo isn't changing his approach. Besides, the owner does the quarterback a disservice when he suggests Romo needs, or should accept, more responsibility because he has a new deal.

All this does is feed into the silly notion that Romo isn't dedicated to his craft. All it does is give Romo-haters another reason to bash the quarterback when he spends time this offseason playing in golf tournaments just like every other big-time starting quarterback in the NFL.

Do you really think Romo hasn't been involved in creating the game plan? Or Garrett hasn't been asking Romo what plays he prefers to run on Sundays? If that's the case -- and it isn't -- then Garrett would have to be the dumbest coach in NFL history.

This is classic Jerry.

He has taken a public butt-kicking for signing Romo to the extension and giving a quarterback with one playoff win and a 1-6 record in win-and-go-home games more guaranteed money than Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who won the Super Bowl last season.

So now he feels like he needs to justify Romo's deal.

Whatever.

"It's a bonus," said Jones, when asked if Romo hasn't been spending enough time at the facility. "Anybody will tell you that Peyton Manning's involvement in what they do is a bonus as opposed to what the general commitment is of top quarterbacks in the NFL."

Jerry needs to relax. The checks have all cleared. It's over. Like it or not, Romo is here, so there's no need to invent this new narrative involving Romo.

All the Cowboys need is for Romo to play his best football in the Cowboys' biggest games, something he has failed to do.

The latest big-game disaster occurred in December, when Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, essentially playing on one leg, outperformed Romo and guided the Redskins to a 28-18 playoff-clinching win. Romo tossed three interceptions -- two in the first quarter and one with three minutes left in the fourth quarter -- that basically gave Washington the game.

Until Romo's performance in those types of games change, he's always going to be at the epicenter of controversy.

Those who love him will continue to praise him or create excuses for his failures. And those who don't like him will find ways to criticize him no matter what he does.

And it doesn't matter how much time he logs at Valley Ranch.