Showing posts with label News. Show all posts

Ryan Leaf on Johnny Manziel: It's like a mirror

IRVING, Texas -- As he watches Johnny Manziel go through some of the same issues that cost him his NFL career, Ryan Leaf reached out to the quarterback's former agent to offer help.
Leaf, whom the San Diego Chargers picked second overall -- one spot behindPeyton Manning -- in the 1998 draft, was out of the league after the 2002 season, which included three starts for the Dallas Cowboys in 2001.


Leaf spent time in prison twice in part because of a Vicodin addiction. He has been out of prison since December 2014.
"It's like a mirror, it really is," Leaf said Thursday on The Afternoon Show with Tim Cowlishaw and Matt Mosley on KESN 103.3 FM. "I listen to and hear stuff that's being said and what's going on and it's like a mirror for me. I can relate to so many things ... There's a solution. There always is but it's so hard to see when you're on this pedestal and [think] you don't need help. You don't need to be vulnerable because you're a big, strong football player and help means [being] weak. It doesn't. Asking for help might be the strongest thing you ever do. So it's hard because it was so fun to watch him. Great college quarterback. He's very capable and people want to cheer for him.
"But now Cleveland dislikes him so much to the point, like San Diego to me [where] it's at the point you just have to get out of town. By me getting out of town and getting a new start, it didn't work for me either. I got to a great place in Tampa with Coach [Tony] Dungy and that team but I couldn't restart it and I'm worried that he's not going to be able to catch on somewhere else and be as successful as he's capable of being. I hope he can."
Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer

Scout's Eye: 10 Names You Don't Know, But Should After The Senior Bowl


By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

MOBILE, Ala. – The Senior Bowl always feels a bit anti-climactic, because the focus isn’t actually on the game itself.
By the time the North and South squads face off on Saturday afternoon, most of the evaluating will be done and the vast majority of coaches and scouts will have left for home. That’s not the case for me, though. Having put so many hours into watching these practices this week, I’m eager to see how these guys take their coaching to the field.
Of course, an all-star game isn’t the end-all, be-all evaluator. But it’s the last chance we’ll have to watch these players in pads until they’re drafted.
Today, I’ve compiled a short list of guys I’m especially interested to see when the Senior Bowl kicks off. You might notice some absences, such as Carson Wentz. That’s not a knock on anyone’s ability. These are simply 10 names you might not know – but I think you’ll want to know as the draft process continues.
Here are my 10:
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky - In my opinion this is the best pass rusher in the draft. I felt like, coming into the game, there was not an offensive tackle that could handle him one-on-one. He will be the most disruptive player in the game. Odds on favorite to be the MVP.

Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma – Shepard had the best practices of any receiver on the South squad. Going to love seeing him work against Eric Murray, Deiondre' Hall and Maurice Canady on the North side. His ability to play inside out of the slot will be difficult to handle.

Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State – He’s only 5’9, 190 pounds, but he is a much bigger player in person than on tape. He is explosive in the open field with the ball in his hands. Look for him to be a nice option for these North quarterbacks to go to on third downs when looking for safe ways to keep the chains moving.

Jalen Mills, CB, LSU - Normally lined up as a safety for the Tigers during the season, but he was moved to corner to get a little bit of a different look. He handled the transition well and I would not be surprised to see him play there during his NFL career. Long and rangy. His matchup with Braxton Miller should be interesting.

Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia - Hearing some whispers that teams might be looking at him as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. He played all over the place while he was at Georgia. This is a physical, point-of-attack player that really moves well.

DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech - Like Ervin, he is an explosive player with the ball in his hands. Extremely tough and a finisher. In watching him practice this week the only thing he lacks is height – he’s just 5’8 -- but every other trait is there. The Jacksonville coaches were creating ways to get the ball to him on the move. Could have a huge game running the ball.

Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee - College tape showed the ball always ending up in his hands – he is a turnover machine. Had two interceptions in practice on Wednesday. Right place at right time type of player. Showed some ability this week to line up and play in coverage, and he will get a chance to show that talent against Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett, who has made a ton of plays in practice.

Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA - Didn't know much about his game coming into the week, but he was impressive with his ability to line up at several different spots in the formation and handle them all. Smooth routes with the ability to get separation. He managed to catch everything that was thrown in his direction. Could be a sleeper for a postgame MVP award.

Jerrell Adams, TE, South Carolina - Big target that can get up the field. Outstanding at getting across the field and up the seam. He has a feel for how to get open in the red zone. Not going to hammer defenders off the ball but finds ways to tie up his man with position. If running plays are going to work off the edge for the South squad it is likely due to a point-of-attack block from Adams.
Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech - Of the quarterbacks not named Carson Wentz, I believe that Driskel has shown scouts the most. His play has been the most consistent. When he has had the chance to run the offense, his throws have been on the money. He does find ways to move in the pocket and deliver the ball, but if he has a weakness, it’s that he needs to do it a little quicker. There were times while watching him where I said to myself "Throw it." He needs a strong performance in this game to separate himself from pack of quarterbacks in the middle of this draft. 
http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2016/01/28/draft-show-live-senior-bowl-day-3

Spagnola: Getting To The QB Must Be One Of Highest Offseason Priorities


By Mickey Spagnola
DallasCowboys.com Columnist

MOBILE, Ala. – What we learned from the next round of NFL playoffs, Volume III, heading toward next Sunday’s 50th Super Bowl while the only bowl synonymous with the Cowboys nearly 20 years to the day since last winning a Super Bowl is their staff relegated to merely coaching here in Saturday’s Senior Bowl:
         Not only do you need a franchise quarterback, generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks breaks down even the best the NFL has to offer.
         Go ask Tom Brady.
         Go ask Carson Palmer.
         Go ask Peyton Manning.
         Yep, those guys, three of the NFL’s greybeards, three of the best the league has to offer, a threesome totaling 37 years of professional experience, they’ll tell you. Not one of them in last Sunday’s two conference championship games was able to average even a paltry 6-yards per passing attempt. Not one of them was able to complete better than 57 percent of his passes, and of all things, Tom Terrific, not even 50 percent (48).
         And when it came to efficiency in these conference title games, good gosh, Palmer checked in at 41.3 and the indomitable Brady – we thought – was reduced to a deplorable 56.4 passer rating.
         Then there was the reinforcement of Newton’s Law, this one, though Sir Cam Newton: Every quarterback in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
         Right?
         Why, the Arizona Cardinals couldn’t even knock the wide grin off his face, much less him down entirely more than once, the Carolina quarterback completing 68 percent of his passes, averaging 11.96 yards an attempt and finishing with a walloping 117.4 rating in the NFC game.
         No wonder the Panthers defeated the Cardinals, 49-15.
         No wonder, in reality, the only thing separating the victorious Denver Broncos in the AFC from the bewildered New England Patriots was a mystifying missed extra point by a kicker, Stephen Gostkowski’s first missed PAT in his stellar nine-year career leaving the Pats on the short end of a most modest 20-18 tally.
          Newton was sacked only once in the NFC title game. He was hit just twice, enabling him to throw for 335 yards, with two touchdown passes while intercepted only once.
         The other three quarterbacks? Well, they were sacked a combined 10 times and hit a beaucoup more (31 times), that external force of pressure bringing them down to earth, literally. Two of them with a thud.
         This did not escape the attention of the Dallas Cowboys this week.
         Rushmen, right Rod Marinelli?
         “You bet,” the Cowboys defensive coordinator and staunch proponent of somehow producing external pressure in the pocket.
         That is precisely why owner Jerry Jones was more interested in talking pass rush here at Ladd-Peebles Stadium than saying the club absolutely needs to take a quarterback with the fourth pick in the April 28 NFL Draft or even any other round.
         That is exactly why COO Stephen Jones was saying while watching his coaching staff mentor the Senior Bowl’s North squad, “The first thing I totally agree with is you’ve got to have a pass rush. We had a better pass rush, but we’ve got to get better. However we get it, however we go about acquiring the players that are going to give us that pass rush is always going to be at the top of our list in terms of need.”
         Seemingly realizing getting to the quarterbacks is as important, if not more, than getting one yourself.
         The Cowboys learned that lesson the hard way last year in their 26-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game, unable to contain quarterback Aaron Rodgers, even if he was operating on just one good leg. Their 28 sacks in 2014 were the team’s fewest since registering only 24 in 2001 and 2002.
         That deficiency was reinforced this year, even though they stretched their constitution by signing free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy and selecting defensive end Randy Gregory in the second round, and remember already having traded up higher into the 2014 second round to nab defensive endDeMarcus Lawrence. Still, the Cowboys finished with only three more sacks in 2015 than in 2014 (31).
          This lack of pressure therein provides reason why opposing quarterbacks this past season rocked a 94.2 passer rating; why the Cowboys only caused 11 fumbles, recovering a franchise-low three; and managed only eight interceptions – Jeff Heath leading with all of two – the eight matching the second fewest since 1997.
         And a prime reason why the Cowboys defense could not compensate for a rudderless offense – no Tony Romo for 12 of 16 games – in order to prevent that 4-12 record, their worst mark since the 1-15 of 1989 and the third-lowest win total in a 16-game season.
         So while everyone and their brother has wanted to know this week how does Carson Wentz look?, and certainly the Cowboys coaches, brass and scouts have been keeping a close eye on the North Dakota State quarterback many are predicting to be the team’s pick at No. 4, closer eyes should have been focused in on anyone who can get to the quarterback.
         Now again, this is the Senior Bowl, limited to college seniors and fourth-year juniors who already have graduated, and by many estimations,  a group of some 110 players with maybe – maybe – a dozen ranked in the top 50 of the upcoming draft and maybe no more than three to five ranked in the top 25.
         So here are a few names to keep an eye on come Saturday afternoon during the actual Senior Bowl game, if pedigree and practice performances this week indicate anything, though not suggesting by any means any might be worthy of the fourth pick in the draft:
South DE Noah Spence (6-3, 261) of Eastern Kentucky by way of being indefinitely suspended at Ohio State by the Big Ten for repeatedly-failed drug tests, reportedly ecstasy.
North DT Matt Ionnidis (6-4, 292) of Temple, a 3-technique who was virtually unblockable the first few days of practice.
South DT Sheldon Rankins (6-2, 303) of Louisville, a whirling-dervish inside whose sprained ankle suffered Wednesday just might keep him out of Saturday’s game.
South OLB Reggie Ragland (6-2, 252) of national champion Alabama, also was being tested rushing with his hand on the ground at defensive end, traits catching the Cowboys’ attention here in 2005 with one DeMarcus Ware.
South DE Shawn Oakman of Baylor, the 6-9, 275-pound youngest of 12 children in his family who has been rehabilitating himself since an initial false start at Penn State.   
         North DE Carl Nassib (6-7, 272) of Penn State, younger brother of Giants backup QB Ryan Nassib, with an awfully quick first step, which is probably why he led the nation with 15.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and 19.5 tackles for losses.
         South DT Jarran Reed of Alabama (6-3, 313), a real load inside, a run-stuffer who would aid the pass rush on third-and-longs.
         So look, I get it. All eyes will be on Wentz come Saturday afternoon. And absolutely the Cowboys must find a suitable backup for Romo going into 2016. Yet again, is a raw rookie really the answer, no matter how high he’s drafted? Think hard about that one.
         But whatever you do, just don’t ignore the Cowboys Skittles Pox on the defensive front. Hardy is an unrestricted free agent. Defensive tackle Jack Crawford is an unrestricted free agent. Those two accounted for 10 of the Cowboys’ 31 sacks. Jeremy Mincey, the 2014 sack leader with six who was shut out this year, is an unrestricted free agent. Starting 1-technique defensive tackle Nick Hayden is an unrestricted free agent. Gregory, beset by that opening-game high ankle sprain, still is looking for his first sack.
         The only two proven guys up front under contract are Lawrence, finishing with a team-high eight sacks and 31 pressures, along with 3-technique Tyrone Crawford, who had five sacks and 27 pressures.
         Gives you pause, don’t it?
         “We have to get better in every way,” Garrett said out here when asked what improvements are needed on the defensive front. “We have to defend the run better, we have to affect the quarterback more, we have to sack the quarterback more, we have to make difference-making plays, we have to pressure him where he’s uncomfortable so we can make plays on the backend.
         “The players we have now have to get better, and we certainly have to add players to that group.”
         Absolutely to all of that, especially the add players part.
         So sit up straight on Saturday watching this Senior Bowl, eyes – and mind – wide open. Quarterback tunnelvision ill-advised.
Consider this My Law.

Phillips: Here’s Another Way To Look At The ‘Draft A QB’ Debate


By Rob Phillips

IRVING, Texas – Senior Bowl week has arrived, and there seems to be an extra buzz this January as the Cowboys embark on one of the most anticipated draft seasons in recent franchise history.
Well, here’s why:
The Cowboys are coaching in Mobile for the first time in 51 years.
They have their highest draft position (fourth overall) in 25 years.
For the first time since that relatively brief post-Aikman/pre-Romo era in the early 2000s, quarterback is a much-speculated potential draft target – if not at No. 4, then perhaps sometime on draft weekend.
And, of course, this week they’ll get a close look at four quarterback prospects on their North roster, including North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, whom many experts believe is a first- to second-round talent.
Because it is the game’s most important position, and because the Dallas Cowboys have a rich history there, quarterback talk is always excellent pre-draft watercooler fodder.


Personally, I’m on record saying the Cowboys will have plenty of other needs beyond backup quarterback with the fourth pick in the draft, though free agency in March should paint a better picture of their roster status by late April.

While Surgery Likely For Romo, Team Expecting “3-4 More Years” As Starter


By Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

MOBILE, Ala. – The Cowboys might have their eyes on potential future quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, they are certainly paying close attention the quarterback they’ve got.
Tony Romo will undergo a CT scan this week and it’s starting to look more and more as if the veteran quarterback will indeed require surgery on his collarbone that he’s injured three times in five years.
“I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent but it’s leaning hard that way,” Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said Tuesday from Mobile. “But we’ve still got some scans to look at and we still have to do what’s in his best interest.”
Romo said on Saturday that surgery is a possibility, but both the quarterback, Jones and head coach Jason Garrett didn’t seem concerned with the timetable of his return.
“We don’t think it’s going to put him behind very much,” Garrett said, regarding a potential surgery. “Ultimately it’s a medical decision. The people who are experts, the doctors, the trainers, those guys know much more about it than I know about it and frankly than Tony knows about it. If they think that’s a good thing for him to do, we don’t think that’s going to put him behind or prevent him from getting better this offseason, it makes sense to do it. I think we’re still in that decision making process and we’ll make the right decision for him and for our football team.”
If surgery is indeed the route the Cowboys decide, Stephen Jones said it won’t change the offseason plans.
“I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to affect anything,” Jones said. “He should be ready to go by the time May rolls around and he should be able to put that behind him if that’s ultimately the final decision. We feel good about where he’s going to be. I think he’s chomping at the bit. If you look at those quarterbacks who were in the final four teams they are all guys with a lot of experience and close to his age. So he’s more convinced than ever we can get this thing done with him.”
 Jones was also asked if Romo’s recent injuries have prompted them to look at adding a younger quarterback.
“You can’t put your head in the sand,” Jones said. “He’s certainly had some injuries and we have to be aware of that. If we do decide to pick a quarterback fairly high, Tony’s a great example of how it can serve a young quarterback well to watch for two to three, or four years. Whatever that number is going to be because obviously we think Tony is our best chance to go win a Super Bowl. We think he will be that guy for the next 3-4 years.”

Despite Chance Of Surgery, Romo Confident In Long-Term Health


IRVING, Texas – Tony Romo’s injury status is back in the news – though that’s not to say it ever faded from the conversation.
Romo revealed over the weekend that he’ll be undergoing a CT scan this week. It’s been widely reported that the 35-year-old quarterback will have surgery to strengthen his thrice-broken left collarbone with a metal plate. This week’s scan will determine whether the bone is ready for the procedure.
The recovery timeline is projected at six-to-eight weeks, and Romo was confident he’d be ready for the Cowboys’ offseason program later this spring.
“Really, it’s just about being there for your teammates and making sure – if I play, I know what I mean to our team,” he said on Saturday. “I just need to do everything in my power to ensure that I’m on that football field.”
Even if Romo won’t be sidelined for long, the thought of surgery is bound to drum up questions about the Cowboys’ future at the quarterback position. There’s already plenty of conversation about drafting Romo’s replacement this spring – possibly as high as No. 4 overall.
Regardless of how loud that conversation is, though, Romo said it’s not something that bothers him as he prepares for his 11th season as the starter.
“Oh, I learned a long time ago, if you’re good you just go out and play,” he said. “You don’t worry about stuff, that noise that people talk about. For me, it’s about getting our team to a championship.”
This past year is doubtless one of Romo’s most frustrating seasons. He was sidelined by not one, but two collarbone injuries – holding him out of 12 of 16 games. His absence was an enormous factor in the team’s 4-12 record, as few people need reminding.
Those injuries forced Romo to miss playing time for the third-consecutive season. He missed the final game of 2013 with a herniated disc in his back, and he was forced out of two games in 2014 when he broke a transverse process in his lower back.
It’s understandable that such an extensive injury history would cause some concern, but Romo said he hasn’t felt this good about his back in a long time.
“With the way my back is, it’s as strong as it’s been in the three or four years,” he said. “That’s exciting because you don’t know that when you first go through some of the back troubles early on and have surgery, you don’t know how it’s going to come out, but I’m seeing a very strong side to it now where I’m able to do things that I wasn’t able to do even last year.”
It’s ironic that Romo would speak so confidently right now, given that he could be facing offseason surgery in the near future. But as he pointed out, a broken collarbone isn’t the same type of recurring problem as a back injury – especially if he has surgery to strengthen it.
“The collarbone was a freak thing and that happens, but I think we’re going to do the things that’ll probably allow us to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” he said. “The fact that I can work the way I’m working now – it’s exciting.”
None of this will stop the debate about whether the Cowboys should draft a quarterback – and it ultimately won’t stop the front office from doing so in the right circumstance. Even if that’s the case, Romo said he’s not threatened by that prospect.
His focus remains on keeping himself in the game.
“I’ll be able to play for a while,” he said. “It’s really just about playing. If I play, I’m going to play at a certain level – I know that. I just have to do the things to ensure that I’ll be on the field.”
Dallascowboys.com

10 Answers: How Did The Cowboys Replace Harris On Special Teams?


(Editor’s Note: Last summer, the DallasCowboys.com staff attempted to answer 20 questions about the Cowboys’ roster leading into training camp. With the 2015 season complete, we’re picking out the 10 best and most applicable questions and reviewing how our predictions fared.)
10) How Did The Cowboys Replace Dwayne Harris On Special Teams?
Bryan: I have to admit that I expected more from Lucky Whitehead coming out of the 2015 NFL Draft as far as a returner. His film at Florida Atlantic was outstanding, and when they were able to sign him, I thought that they had their replacement for Dwayne Harris. Whitehead was every bit as dynamic and explosive as Harris, but what I didn’t expect was to see him struggle like he did securing the ball -- which wasn’t a problem in college. There were times where he just did not look comfortable at all getting himself in position to make the catch which led to some unsure moments. It got to the point where I could understand why the coaching staff felt it necessary to go with other options early in the season. It was only until he began to catch the ball cleaner that the coaches felt it necessary to give him more opportunities with favorable results. Where this special teams unit really missed Harris was on the coverage aspect. There was not a player that was able to play as a gunner on the punt team and be a difference maker on the kick off as him.   
Nick: It’s hard to replace everything Harris did for this team, but his biggest contribution was in the return game. Personally, I think the Cowboys will be in good shape with Lucky Whitehead. Maybe it’s the hair, but I’ve always thought Whitehead could develop into a similar role as Harris, at least on offense and in the return game. As for Harris’ coverage skills, the Cowboys really didn’t get anyone to fulfill that role.
Rob: One game (specifically, one play) doesn’t define the entire season, but Harris’ 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter of Week 7 – the deciding touchdown in the Giants’ 27-20 win over the Cowboys – summarized the special teams skills he brought from Dallas to New York. He made a game-changing play with the ball in his hands, and the Cowboys’ coverage team couldn’t stop him. Before the season, I thought Lucky Whitehead would eventually step into Harris’ return role, and he showed flashes, like the 46-yard return that set up the Cowboys’ winning field goal against the Redskins in Week 13. Whitehead averaged 29.4 yards on kickoff returns, and he and Cole Beasley collectively averaged 6.0 yards on punt returns. (Harris had respective averages of 24.7 and 9.2 yards in 2014.) Harris’ biggest impact as a Cowboy might have been in coverage, though, where he led the team with 18 tackles in 2014. The Cowboys didn’t have a double-digit tackler in 2015 – three players tied for the lead with 8, and two of those players, Jeff Heath and Kyle Wilber, now have expiring contracts.
David: Back in the summer, I thought the Cowboys would be just fine using Cole Beasley and Lucky Whitehead to cover the loss of Dwayne Harris. Well, both players got a shot – and the results were less than ideal. I think it’s fair to say that Whitehead grew into the role as a return man as the season went on, but he only averaged six yards per attempt as a punt returner. In the same vein, the Cowboys never found a coverage player as consistent as Harris used to be, and I thought their special teams suffered as a whole because of it. I don’t have a problem with Whitehead going forward, but I certainly hope the Cowboys give him some competition heading into training camp. You look around the league at players like Tyler Lockett, who the Seahawks drafted in the third round just last year, and there’s no doubt in my mind this is a spot the team could improve – either in free agency or the draft.

McClay Turns Down Interview Request; Focused on “Getting Better Right Here”



IRVING, Texas – While Monday marks the first day of the offseason for 20 NFL teams, including the Cowboys, expect several changes to take place across the league.
But for now, don’t expect Will McClay to be changing teams. The Cowboys’ senior director of college and pro scouting declined an interview request from the Detroit Lions on Monday for the general manager position.
“Right now, my focus is getting better right here,” McClay said on Monday. “We’re 4-12. I’m ready to get in here and work with Jason and the Joneses try to get this turned around.”
McClay also said he feels obligated to honor the contract he signed last year with the Cowboys.
“This is where I want to be,” said McClay, who admitted that a GM position is something he covets. “But I’m excited to be here and get started on the offseason.”
McClay, 49, has been with the Cowboys organization for 13 years. Has overseen the Cowboys’ draft for the last two years, bringing in the likes of Zack Martin in 2014, followed by last year’s draft where three players with first-round grades - Byron Jones, Randy Gregory and La’el Collins – added to the team.  
McClay has also run the pro scouting department for the last few years and has helped the Cowboys sign free agents such as Darren McFadden and Jeremy Mincey in the past two years.
By Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

Mailbag: Concern About Dez's Surgery? Addressing The CB Spot?


AARON WOOLSEY
SACRAMENTO, CA
Should there be any concern for Dez? Do you think he's going to lose a step now after this surgery?

Bryan: I don’t believe so. If anything, what I know about Bryant and the way he works coming back from injury, he is likely to be even better. I think what will help him this time around is that he is not getting ready for a game so he can take his time and gain more confidence about the repair.
David: I’m not a doctor, but I feel encouraged by the fact that Dez is going to have four months to recuperate before the offseason program gets into full swing – and roughly six months until training camp. Julio Jones dealt with a similar injury two years ago, and he has recovered nicely. So no – I’m not too worried.

T.J. MCCAULEY
NEW MARKET, MD
Am I out of line thinking cornerback is by far the defenses biggest concern going into 2016? Carr's large cap hit if he stays, Scandrick’s injury, Mo potentially leaving, Byron (hopefully) playing safety... Not to mention the already existing underproduction in terms of turnovers... I wouldn't be surprised if two corners are taken this draft, and early. Thoughts?

Bryan: I could see that one cornerback taken and likely high in the draft. They are liking what they are seeing from Deji Olatoye and Terrance Mitchell, so that could keep them from adding that second guy. Depending on if they address the safety position say with a guy like Jalen Ramsey then you could see Byron Jones moving outside.
David: I agree with everything you’re saying, which is why it won’t surprise me if cornerback is one of the first positions they address in this draft. It didn’t work out the way they wanted it to when they drafted Claiborne No. 6 overall back in 2012, but I think they’d have to seriously consider taking a corner with this top-10 pick. We’ll see.

dallascowboys.com

Cole Beasley: Foot injury limited Dez Bryant's route tree



IRVING, Texas -- He has been in the same meeting room with Dez Bryant since 2012, so Cole Beasley knows the Dallas Cowboys receiver better than most.
Beasley knows what Bryant has had to go through this season in dealing with a broken right foot that will require a second surgery and ankle and knee injuries that will limit him to nine games this season.
"Any time you come back from a broken foot, there's definitely going to be some issues. He came back pretty quick, probably sooner than he should have, but that's the type of guy he is," Beasley said. "He wants to be back and he wants to help the team win and do whatever is necessary. You admire the guy just for that."
Beasley said Bryant was limited more than he ever let on during the year.
"He definitely had some trouble running some routes," Beasley said. "We had to take some out of the game plan just because he didn't feel very comfortable on his foot, breaking on some routes. He did a good job of trying to fight through for us and fighting for his teammates. I know all the guys appreciate it."
Bryant, who will have right ankle surgery as well, finished the season with 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns.
Bryant was not part of the team for most of the offseason program in a contract dispute and then strained a hamstring in training camp that kept him from practice.
If not for the foot injury in the season opener, Beasley said he thinks Bryant would have been "normal Dez," this year.
"Him breaking the foot didn't just hurt his foot," Beasley said. "You've got conditioning and leg strength and all that. He couldn't do anything for, I don't know how long it was, but it was for a while. Any time you're not physically out there practicing for that long, it's going to affect you. Not just his foot, just his whole body, his strength. It's tough to come back from something like that."

Todd Archer
 
ESPN Staff Writer

Dez Bryant Still Under Evaluation For Availability Against Washington

 

IRVING, Texas – It doesn’t appear there will be a rushed decision about whether Dez Bryant’s season is over, to hear it from Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.
Bryant did not play in Sunday’s 16-6 loss to Buffalo, as he continues to nurse ankle and knee injuries that have plagued him for most of the season. With just one game remaining on the schedule, though, Garrett said the Cowboys are still determining whether Bryant can suit up.
“We’ll see,” Garrett said during his Monday press conference. “He’s going to have some further tests and evaluations here in the next couple of days and we’ll make a better determination as the week goes on.”
To say Bryant has coped with multiple injuries this year would be a serious understatement. The All-Pro receiver broke his foot during the season opener back on Sept. 13, and he suffered the injuries to his ankle and knee during the Nov. 8 loss to Philadelphia.
Throw in the hamstring strain suffered during training camp, and it’s been one thing after another for the Cowboys’ two-time Pro Bowler.
Bryant coped with those problems for most of the season – even to the point that he practiced fully during the three weeks prior to the Buffalo game. The nature of Bryant’s absence, coupled with the Cowboys’ elimination from playoff contention, is enough to spark speculation that the coaching staff would sit Bryant for the remainder of the regular season.
Despite that, Garrett said the objective is to make injury evaluations separately from outside circumstances.
“We really try to evaluate our players’ health independent of who we’re playing and when we’re playing, and where we’re playing and what the records are,” he said. “And that was the case with Dez. His foot and his ankle have been bothering him for a few weeks now, and we just thought it was the right thing for him to do was not to play.”
Thanks to the litany of injuries – not to mention the Cowboys’ rotating cast at quarterback – it’s been a forgettable year for Bryant. He’s on pace to finish with career-low numbers in all major categories, as he has just 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns in nine appearances this season.
Even if the season has been disappointing, though, Garrett has stressed multiple times the importance of finishing the season strong. If Bryant can get clearance to play this week, it shouldn’t be surprising to see him Sunday.
“If they’re healthy enough to play, they’re playing,” Garrett said.

By David Helman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
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