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Dallas Cowboys News

In DeMarco Murray, Cowboys finally find a pick that clicks at running back
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"When DeMarco Murray burst on the scene last October, beginning a remarkable stretch when he rushed for 601 yards in four games, it appeared that the Cowboys had finally found the transcendent running back that they had been searching for since the days when Emmitt Smith galloped across the turf at Texas Stadium. Murray flashed a unique combination of speed, power and vision. Teammates marveled at the rookie's ability to set up blocks and finish runs. Until he fractured his right ankle Dec. 11 in a game against the New York Giants , the Cowboys' 2011 third-round pick seemed destined to become the first Dallas running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since Julius Jones"
Tyron Smith, DeMarco Murray make list of top 20 rookies
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"Tyron Smith and DeMarco Murray were two of the top rookies in the NFL this year and ESPN's Mel Kiper recently agreed. The draft guru published a list of his top 20 rookies on Thursday. Not only were Murray and Smith included but both cracked the top 15. Not bad for the ninth overall pick (Smith) and the 71st overall selection (Murray). Smith, who was ranked 12th on Kiper's list , was the second offensive lineman on the list, landing behind Oakland Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski."
Comparing Tony Romo to Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach is unfair
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Brad Sham
"Do you think Spears and Lissemore can handle the middle? Do you think Rat and Hatcher can be good at DE? Lissemore played a lot in the middle this year. I think Spears is better at end, and I think Ratliff and Hatcher are good at DE if that's where you want to play Ratliff. Lissemore is an excellent complementary player. Tony Romo gets compared to Staubach and Aikman a lot, but he doesn't exactly have the same supporting cast. I think Romo is neither of those two, and he's not done yet. It's not Romo's problem that folks compare him to two Hall of Famers, it's the problem of people doing the comparing. He's good and getting better at being Romo. That's all you can ask him to be. It may yet"
Michael Irvin on Dez Bryant: he "will be the best receiver in the NFL''
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"Dez Bryant did not have a 100-yard game this season. He has produced only one in his first two seasons in the league. But Michael Irvin doesn't dwell on that. The Hall of Fame receiver, who periodically speaks to Bryant, has seen progress in how the young receiver runs his routes and adjusts to coverage. Bryant did catch 63 passes for 928 yards and nine touchdowns this past season."
Goodell: If NFL expands, it'll add two more teams
February 3
CBSSports.com
 
"It's no secret the NFL wants to expand to Los Angeles. And while so much of the attention has been focused on which franchise would relocate to L.A. -- whether it's the Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars or Rams -- we haven't discussed much the possibility of the NFL expanding. Apparently, that's an option. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on Costas Live on the NBC Sports Network that if the league places a team in L.A., the NFL probably would add two more franchises to make it an even 34. Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams" and "we probably don't want to go to 33" if the NFL decides expansion is a good choice."
Cowboys deny Raiders chance to interview DeCamillis
February 2
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"According to sources, the Cowboys have denied the Oakland Raiders permission to speak with special teams coach Joe DeCamillis about a position on their staff. DeCamillis is still under contract with the Cowboys and now appears will be back in Dallas for a fourth season."
A look at how the Cowboys have addressed their quarterback situation via the draft
February 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"After Jerry Jones surveyed the field of prospects at a Senior Bowl practice last week, the Cowboys owner and general manager quashed the notion that the team was considering expending one of their seven draft picks on a quarterback even though the team needs to fill the void left by retired backup Jon Kitna. "What you should probably be looking at more is would you bring in a veteran in free agency or some type of trade or something like that," Jones said."
Source: Raiders denied interview with Joe DeCamillis
February 1
ESPN.com
 
"The Oakland Raiders were denied permission to interview Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis for an assistant head coaching position, according to a source. Cowboys assistant coaches are unavailable to speak with the media during the offseason. Recently hired Raiders coach Dennis Allen worked with DeCamillis in Atlanta from 2002-to-2005 where a good relationship formed. Dan Reeves, DeCamillis' father-in-law, was the head coach with the Falcons at that time. "Dan Reeves is another guy that, he brought me into this league and gave me my first opportunity to coach in the National Football League," Allen said at his introductory news conference with the Raiders regarding"
Cowboys in the Super Bowl? Ever again?
February 1
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It's Super Bowl week and the North Texas weather is fine, unlike a year ago when the big game was at Cowboys Stadium. Galloway and Big Mac take on the unpleasant task of guessing whether the Cowboys will return to the Super Bowl before the Super Bowl returns to North Texas. Here are excerpts from this week's video: Mac Engel: We've debated this internally for the past couple of weeks ... how close are the Cowboys to getting to the Super Bowl, regardless of destination? Randy Galloway: Could I ask it this way? What's the difference between these two teams in this Super Bowl and the Cowboys? Big Mac: I think the first thing, on paper, from the Giants to the Cowboys is defense, and a front"
No way Cowboys pursue Peyton; 'Romo's not the problem'
February 1
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Kevin Sherrington
"On if the Cowboys could consider pursuing Peyton Manning if he's cut by the Colts: Sherrington : No, he's not going to do that, especially because Jerry doesn't want to pay anybody anyway and Peyton's going to cost a lot of money. Even on a one-year deal, he'll cost a lot. There's no way the Colts will bring him back — I wouldn't bring him back either for a $28 million bonus on top of everything for a guy that's clearly at the end of his career. He had an injury that was career threatening and may still be. You've got a chance to draft Andrew Luck, just hand that job to him. So do the Cowboys [go after Manning]? No. Tony Romo's not the problem here. The problem is the talent around Tony,"
Dallas an unlikely landing spot for Manning
January 31
Foxsports.com
 
"Peyton Manning in a Cowboys uniform? At first thought, that sounds like a pretty good idea. Who wouldn't want a future Hall of Famer quarterbacking their team? Then reality creeps in. First and foremost, it will never happen because of the salary cap. While trading Tony Romo to make room for Manning would be the optimal move, either trading or outright cutting Romo carries salary-cap implications and the hit would likely handcuff the Cowboys from making any other moves. And if you have Peyton Manning quarterbacking your team, you might want to upgrade that offensive line which got Romo sacked 36 times last season."
Could the move to extend Sensabaugh's contract inhibit the Cowboys?
January 31
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Rainer Sabin
"When the Cowboys agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension with Gerald Sensabaugh in December, they made a longstanding commitment to a safety they had previously deemed worthy of a short-term investment. The transaction invited skepticism, in part because there wasn't a marked spike in Sensabaugh's performance. In fact, by the time the Giants finished off the Cowboys on New Year's Day, Sensabuagh had fewer passes defended and interceptions than he had accumulated the year before. He was also a featured member of a secondary that seemed as incapable of making consequential plays as it was prone to allowing them."
What the Cowboys can't get enough of in this off-season
January 31
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Rick Gosselin
"In today's NFL, is it more important to have a a premier pass rusher or a 'shutdown' corner? Pass rusher. The 1985 Chicago Bears and 1986 New York Giants won Super Bowls and most football observers can't even name their starting corners. But you can name the Hall of Fame linebackers and pass rushers. They won with their front sevens. If you can build a ferocious pass rusher, you can get by with average corners. If you don't have a rush, you need great cornerback play. The Giants are in the Super Bowl this week. They finished third in the NFL in sacks but 29th in pass defense. If you don't have pass rushers, find them. If you can't find them, find corners."
Super Bowl bound to return to Dallas, but when?
January 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Weather forecasters call for a Chamber of Commerce week in North Texas. If only the Super Bowl were in Arlington this year instead of last... But North Texas will get another chance to shine, weather or not. Super Bowl XLV was marred by ice, snow and a seating fiasco. Despite that, North Texas' first time as host is not expected to be the last. "I think we'll definitely get another one here," Roger Staubach, chairman of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, said. "I don't know when. The NFL is more involved now in telling the cities when they can get in. I'm not sure. The process has changed a little bit, but we'll get another one here. It turned out to be a great venue. We had a"
DeMarcus Ware: With another year under Rob Ryan, it will all 'pan out next season'
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"DeMarcus Ware is arguably the most talented player on the Cowboys roster. On Sunday, the outside linebacker will participate in his sixth Pro Bowl in seven seasons. And while many analysts give the Cowboys credit for having a talented lineup, only Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff were selected for the all-star event. During a recent interview on the NFL Network, Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk asked Ware why the Cowboys struggled in 2011 despite being what Faulk called, "one of the most talented teams in the league.""
Cowboys players Ware, Ratliff set to start in Pro Bowl
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Dallas Cowboys have only two players in tonight's Pro Bowl, but both will start. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware will make his sixth appearance for the NFC in the annual all-star game in Honolulu's Aloha Stadium. He will be joined by defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, making his fourth appearance. Six rookies are among the 36 first-timers in the game, including quarterbacks Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and former TCU star Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals, who are replacing Super Bowl quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady. Their selection makes this Pro Bowl the first that will feature two rookie quarterbacks."
Thanks to Jerry Jones and others for making this a dream job
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 columnist Randy Galloway
"In my business, if you want to light up the e-mail machine, or bring an instant text response onslaught doing local sports talk radio, here's the way you do it: Peyton Manning will soon be gone in Indy, kicked to the football curb to make way for Andrew Luck. So... The Cowboys should trade Romo for defensive- or offensive-line building blocks, and then sign Peyton. No, you don't do that. Tony Romo is not the problem. Peyton is also dealing with age and a bad injury. But if I did write that, I'm predicting 200 e-mails, running close to 50-50 pro-con in response. Even using the Peyton-Romo comment strictly as a hypothetical there will probably still be 200 e-mails running close to 50-50."
Are the Cowboys still America's Team?
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It's inevitable: Somebody this week will argue that the New England Patriots have become America's Team. Meanwhile, about 200 miles down Interstate 95, somebody else will argue that the New York Giants have become America's Team. In addition to indignant cynicism and feigned passion, the arguments will have this in common: They'll insist that the Dallas Cowboys, who have borne the nickname for more than 30 years, are no longer America's Team. But, of course, such arguments, which seem to come around every other football season or so and to be pullulating this year because of a recent poll, are 24-karat flapdoodle, sterling nonsense, pure piffle. The Cowboys are America's Team forever. As"
Jerry Jones credits son Stephen for getting Cowboys out of salary cap 'Armageddon'
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"One more tidbit from Jerry Jones' conversation with reporters at the Senior Bowl this week: He said executive vice president Stephen Jones maneuvered the Cowboys into a good position on the salary cap for the offseason this year. "I give Stephen a lot of credit for taking a year we thought would be Armageddon for us, and we were able to do some things last year with the cap that puts us and gives us some viability," Jones said. "Stephen and a lot of the crew he works with regarding the caps, regarding the contracts, all of that has given us a chance to have some room to improve this team this year. "And we will use it.""
Cowboys backup picture hazy
January 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Jon Kitna has quietly slipped into retirement, Stephen McGee is fresh off bagging a big buck in South Texas and the Dallas Cowboys are preparing to search for a veteran backup quarterback. Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., introduced Kitna as its football coach Thursday after he pulled the curtain on a 15-season NFL career, including the last three with the Cowboys. Kitna will also teach math at his alma mater, putting to use the math education degree he received from Central Washington. While Kitna was settling into his post-football career, Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett and the Cowboys' scouts were at the Senior Bowl studying draft prospects. Meeting with reporters in Mobile, Ala., this"
DeMarco Murray: It takes more than negative tweets to upset me
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"Shortly after leaving the University of Oklahoma , DeMarco Murray was convinced by a marketing expert to join Twitter. During a radio interview this week the Cowboys running back admitted that even though he was skeptical at first, he's enjoying his time on the social networking site. The only negative can be some unruly fans. San Francisco 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams witnessed the extreme side of sites like Twitter following Sunday's NFC Championship Game. Williams, whose two muffed punts led to the New York Giants scoring 10 points in the final quarter, received death threats because of his costly mistakes."
Jerry Jones on possibility of LB Bruce Carter will start next season: 'That's a jump or presumptuous'
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"It was interesting to hear Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Tuesday say on the NFL Network while at the Senior Bowl that it is his "dream" to see his young inside linebackers, Sean Lee and Bruce Carter, form an All-Pro combination such as the way San Francisco's Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman played together this season. Just the day before, I had asked Jones if he envisions Bruce Carter starting at inside linebacker for the Cowboys next season."
Cowboys liked Murray's power at Senior Bowl last year, and Jerry says it's what separates him from Felix Jones now
January 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The NFL Network experts are giving DeMarco Murray credit for raising his stock at last year's Senior Bowl, and to the Cowboys for drafting him. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it was Murray's strength inside the tackles that made a difference. "We knew he could be physical. We did not know he could run between the tackles," Jones said in an interview with the NFL Network this week. "We didn't see that a lot. But we knew he had the speed, could block, protect, and knew that he could really catch the ball.""
Cowboys' Garrett wants smart players with correct 'approach'
January 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett knows what he's looking for at the Senior Bowl practices, and anywhere he scouts players or talks to them in person. "In general, you want smart, tough football players who have a passion for playing," Garrett said. "That's something you want from every guy, regardless of what their position is." The Cowboys' staff completed their Senior Bowl evaluations on Wednesday."
Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray and Tyron Smith could become 'blue-chip players' in 2012
January 26
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Rick Gosselin
"On the talent level of the Cowboys' roster: I listed six guys – Romo, Witten, DeMarcus Ware , Jay Ratliff, Sean Lee and Dan Bailey – those six are as good any playing their positions in the NFL . And I think Dez Bryant , DeMarco Murray, Tyron Smith, there are a few others that could go into that group. That's nine guys next year that are potential blue-chip players on this team. We learned from Jimmy Johnson, you win with your blue-chip players. The Cowboys have an ample amount of blue-chip caliber players. The key is now you've got to fill in around them, you've got to find some guys that can cover against the pass, you've got to find another pass rusher, you've got to find some bigger"
Jason Garrett must 'divorce himself' from the Cowboys offense to be a great head coach
January 26
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Rick Gosselin
"I would prefer he be a head coach or an offensive coordinator, one of the two. I think he has a chance to be a very good head coach if he would focus on being a very good head coach. I think it's a full-time job, and right now, he spends about 40% of his time as a head coach. The other 60% of the time, he's worrying about what play to call next to make his offense one of the top offenses in football. I think a head coach needs to be a guy who can divorce himself from offense, divorce himself from defense, divorce himself from special teams, but is aware of what's going on in all three elements and can make game decisions based on what's going on. Right now, Jason's making a bulk of his"
Jerry Jones sees changes made in Cowboys secondary
January 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Owner Jerry Jones believes the Dallas Cowboys have the players to have a good team next season. But he promises there will be new faces on defense, particularly on a back end that gave up 13 pass plays of 30 yards or more in the final six games. "Over in the secondary, I do think we'll get better. We're very likely to have new faces over there," Jones said. "I can't tell you who. But we will have new faces. We all know we'll have new faces on the team, no matter what, player-wise." That'll mean a big change from the approach last year, when the Cowboys brought back 10 of the 11 starters from the 2010 defense that gave up the most points in team history. A year ago, the Cowboys opted to"
Garrett looking for smart players, but he allows for 'different degrees' of smart
January 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Cowboys coach Jason Garrett knows what he's looking for at the Senior Bowl practices, and anywhere he scouts players or talks to them in person. "In general, you want smart, tough football players who have a passion for playing," he said Tuesday after watching the North squad practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. "That's something you want from every guy, regardless of what their position is.""
Pro Bowl snub just another sign of dying Romo-mentum and Romo Mania
January 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"One day later, I still find it interesting that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, coming off the best season of his career, was passed over as an NFC Pro Bowl replacement for Super Bowl participant Eli Manning by rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton had a great rookie season, no doubt. He was the first rookie to throw for more than 4,000 yards, 4,051 to be exact. He set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14. He also threw 21 touchdown passes with 17 interceptions. Newton did not have a better year than Romo who passed for 4,184 yards. He was also was more efficient and had fewer miscues."
Cowboys have already met with Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw at Senior Bowl
January 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"One of the first Senior Bowl players the Cowboys met with this week here was Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw, who is on the South Team, is projected as a first-round draft pick. Several mock drafts have Upshaw going in the middle of the first round, near where the Cowboys pick at 14th overall in April. Upshaw has impressed NFL scouts this week. He beat tackles and was in the backfield more than once during the South Team's 1 1/2-hour practice Tuesday afternoon. Upshaw has great size at 6-1 1/2 and 273 pounds (he was listed on the roster at 265 but weighed in eight pounds over that Monday morning). He's built to play near the line of scrimmage. He's also shown great speed"
Un-Super Cowboys will only sit, fume
January 24
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Bradie James took to Twitter to voice his frustration over the Cowboys' most-hated rival reaching the Super Bowl for the second time in five years. "Them dang Giants!" the linebacker wrote Sunday after New York won 20-17 in overtime at soggy San Francisco. In private, the language was likely much saltier. Torrents of trash talk from Brandon Jacobs, Justin Tuck and others make it easy for the Cowboys to despise the Giants, but beneath their bitterness there's likely something else at play: deep-seated envy."
Jerry Jones says Cowboys have 'viability' with salary-cap space to sign free agents and 'we will use it'
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wouldn't get into prioritizing the team's off-season needs Monday -- the first day of Senior Bowl practices -- because he said it would create a competitive disadvantage for them in the draft and free agency. Jones did say, however, that by releasing five offensive players before last season, the Cowboys have put themselves in a competitive position this off-season to add players via free agency. Though the Cowboys' salary-cap number is always a moving target, the team could have about $20 million available to spend when free agency begins in March."
Steve Young: Making elite plays, Tony Romo equal to Brady, Brees
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"I'm intrigued when reading anything that involves a Super Bowl winning quarterback comparing Tony Romo to Tom Brady and Drew Brees. And Steve Young recently did just that. Young, an NFL analyst for ESPN , made the comparison last week during a conference call while discussing San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith being labeled as a "game manager." The Hall of Fame quarterback said Romo is as good as any QB when it comes to the elite level plays, however, he noted that the Cowboys quarterback struggles with the game-managing."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says there will be new faces in secondary next season
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Cowboys owner Jerry Jones -- ever the optimist -- actually shed some realism about the state of his team Monday. On the first day of Senior Bowl practices, the unofficial start date of a very important off-season for the Cowboys, Jones said he had a hard time watching the NFC and AFC Championship games Sunday because his team wasn't involved. Jones laid out an off-season plan Monday that he said will involve several changes for the Cowboys. It was a refreshing gust of reality from Jones, who in previous seasons had talked about just how close the Cowboys were to a Super Bowl contender and just needed to make minor tweaks here and there."
Hurd changes lawyers, will plead not guilty
January 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"San Antonio's Sam Hurd, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, has changed lawyers and plans to plead not guilty in his federal drug-trafficking case this week, his new lead attorney said. On Friday, Hurd, 26, replaced David Elliott Kenner and Brett Allen Greenfield of California with Michael McCrum of San Antonio and Jay Ethington of Dallas. Both are former assistant U.S. attorneys — McCrum in the San Antonio-based Western District of Texas and Ethington in the Dallas-headquartered Northern District of Texas. "We filed a motion entering the case, and we'll be waiving (Hurd's) arraignment," McCrum said."
Excuses, revisionist history won't work for Dallas Cowboys
January 22
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 columnist Randy Galloway
"This morning's column will be another ongoing attempt at keeping 'em honest during the off-season at Valley Ranch. You can hold the thank-you cards and letters. Praise is not deserved here. I'm simply a lonely servant of the people, waging a one-man crusade against local football corruption and stupidity. On today's agenda are two items: (1) Excuses. (2) Revisionist history. Let us review the facts. Since the wrap-up of the Cowboys season, there has been an extensive campaign at Valley Ranch that centers on diverting the criticism aimed at head coach Jason Garrett and his handpicked defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan. Jason was in his first season as full-time HC. Rob came in brand new as the"
Dez Bryant, others show need for accountability partners is growing
January 21
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"In these trying economic times, all of us are looking to create new revenue streams, and part of the recovery process includes all sorts of new jobs that had not existed previously. I am now volunteering my services, for a small fee, as a professional Accountability Partner for any and all FW/d professional athletes. The Accountability Partners field is a growth sector of the sports economy, both here in the greater FW/d and nationwide. Ohio State, USC or certainly Miami could easily design and offer this as a major requiring only 30 credit hours, and an internship in a big-league city. Completion of the degree requires only that your friend (we don't call them "clients") remain rap-sheet"
Cowboys' hindsight on season is a Giant headache
January 21
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Dallas Cowboys have mourned since the sudden ending to their season. Three weeks later, the pain has gotten only bigger. As in, it now is a Giant hurt they feel. The Cowboys essentially had two chances to eliminate the New York Giants. They didn't take care of business, and now the Giants are playing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. It doesn't help that the Cowboys beat the 49ers in overtime, 27-24, in San Francisco in Week 2. "I think it's the nature of the NFL," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "There are a lot of close games that all the teams play. The teams that are still playing are the ones that know how to win those games on a more consistent"
Cowboys cheerleaders second-best? Dallas squad doesn't top CNBC's list
January 21
Dallas Morning News
 
"Just because the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are arguably the most famous group in the NFL, that doesn't mean they are the best. CNBC's Darren Rovell recently ranked the top cheerleading squads, taking in consideration everything from presentation of the cheerleaders online, to fan interaction, community outreach and overall success of the cheerleading teams. And when he listed his 10-best, the Cowboys weren't in the top spot. No, that honor went to the group that cheers on the New England Patriots. While Rovell was impressed by the 16 years of photos on the Patriots' Web page, nothing else seemed to declare why this group that cheers mostly in cold weather would be ranked ahead of the"
Garrett has big plans for Cowboys' new offensive coordinator
January 20
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Jason Garrett will enter his second full season as a head coach with someone to lean on. That's how he described new offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Bill Callahan in a news conference Thursday at Valley Ranch to introduce him and new secondary coach Jerome Henderson. "I'm going to lean on him a lot of different ways," Garrett said of Callahan, the former Oakland Raiders and Nebraska head coach. "He's had great run offenses. He's had great pass offenses. To have that exposure to him, a guy who has so much experience, he's just going to help us in so many ways.""
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on moving Tyron Smith to left tackle: 'It's certainly a possibility'
January 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"A decision has yet to be made, but Cowboys coach Jason Garrett acknowledged Thursday that the team is considering switching tackles Doug Free and Tyron Smith before next season. "It's certainly a possibility," Garrett said. Smith, who played on the right side, excelled as a rookie and proved to be the team's most consistent offensive lineman while Free, a five-year veteran, experienced his share of struggles while protecting quarterback Tony Romo's blind side."
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett hasn't spoken to Dez Bryant since nightclub incident
January 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"Since Dez Bryant was reportedly involved in an altercation at a Miami nightclub earlier this week, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett hasn't personally discussed the incident with the young wide receiver. "I have not spoken to him since then," Garrett said. "People in our organization have." Garrett was asked if he was troubled by the episode - the latest in a series of negative events that have sullied Bryant's reputation since he joined the Cowboys in 2010. Last year, he was given a criminal-trespass warning at NorthPark mall and faced multiple lawsuits in which the plaintiffs alleged that he had failed to resolve unpaid debts. All three cases were reportedly settled."
Cowboys have enough cap space to address major needs
January 20
Dallas Morning News
 columnist David Moore
"With more cap room seeming to be available than originally believed, how plausible is it that the Cowboys could sign two good offensive lineman? The Cowboys can manipulate the cap and have anywhere from $12 to $18 million or so to work with in 2012. This will give them enough room to address their major needs. I'm not sure they'd devote a big chunk of that money to signing two, veteran offensive linemen. I'd argue the club's history of signing veteran free agents in the offensive line has driven up there cap. If you want to sign one veteran offensive linemen, go for it. But if you're committed to replacing two players in the offensive line, I'd use the draft to fill one of the spots. It's"
Cowboys to add another coach to assist new hire Jerome Henderson
January 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Cowboys held their first news conference since the day after the regular-season came to a close. Here is a collection of interesting notes that were gathered Thursday: --After Brett Maxie left to join Tennessee's staff, head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys intend to add another coach to assist Jerome Henderson, who was hired last week to oversee the secondary. --Running backs coach Skip Peete, offensive quality control/wide receivers coach Keith O'Quinn and assistant offensive line coach Wes Phillips, whose contracts were set to expire this year, have been retained. Tight ends coach John Garrett, meanwhile, will reprise his role as passing game coordinator...."
Cuban talks about slow start, being a better team than last season
January 19
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban appeared on ESPN's "NBA Countdown" on Wednesday before the network's doubleheader that included the Mavericks' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He talked about the Mavericks' slow start to the regular season not changing the goal of winning another title and said he believes this Mavericks team can be better than last season's NBA champions: "We've just got to make the playoffs, that's all I really care about. Honestly, I was telling people if we're 10-10 I'll be thrilled to death. And if we were 5-15, I wouldn't have been shocked, because you can't just walk into a season and be ready, particularly if you're a team that bases its defense on precision"
Report: Lil Wayne involved in nightclub altercation with Cowboys' Dez Bryant
January 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"Dez Bryant may not be the only high-profile name involved in Sunday's nightclub altercation at Club LIV. As Miami Herald reporter David Smiley tweeted on Wednesday night, rapper Lil Wayne may have been involved in the fight with Bryant."
Cowboys will go take another offensive player with 14th pick
January 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"With the NFL season winding down in the next couple of weeks, NFL Draft analyst are putting the final touches on their 2012 mock drafts. ESPN's Mel Kiper is no exception. One of the most recognizable faces in the sport, he released his first mock on Wednesday. So who does he have the Cowboys taking? Another offensive player. But before you go crazy, just know the offensive player happens to play a position of need: offensive line."
Former Cowboys WR Terrell Owens announces he will play for IFL's Allen Wranglers
January 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"About 31 miles from where he once caught passes, preened in front of millions and made headlines, former Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens plans to revive his football career. Owens, 38, announced Wednesday night in a 22-second video linked to his Twitter account that he will join the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League as both a player and a part-owner. "It's official, Owens said. "It just went down. I'm headed back to Texas. That's right, IFL, here I come." The 16-team league, which started play in 2009, appears ready to embrace him. "This is a very exciting event in the history of the Indoor Football League," IFL commissioner Tommy Benizio said on the league's website. "The"
Romo to team with Tiger at Pebble Beach
January 18
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Pebble Beach is working on gathering an All-Star lineup, and that's just for the pro-am. Tiger Woods is set to play with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on the Tuesday of tournament week, although the pro-am pairings aren't set until Feb. 7. Ollie Nutt, president and CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, said the tournament has been in touch with Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, and hopes to hear by the end of the week whether he will accept an invitation to play."