Good Times

If DeMarcus Ware has any say in the matter, and there’s good reason to think that he does, the Cowboys won’t be getting blown out too many times this season, if ever.

Surely, they won’t be routed 41-0 at home.

And as long as Ware is rushing the passer, and displaying the skills that has him considered one of the best players in all of football, the Cowboys should be in good shape.
But when it comes to video games, Ware is obviously better in real life.

The two-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher was humbled a bit Thursday at Valley Ranch, while playing against a contestant for ESPN’s annual series “Madden Nation.” The reality show, partnered by ESPN and EA Sports, pits the very best video-gamers in the country against each other on one tour bus, traveling cross country and eventually landing in New York City for a final tournament with a $100,000 prize. Along the way, the gamers showcase their skills on the popular Madden NFL 09 video game, which is set to be released next month.

Each contestant represents an NFL superstar, and one of this year’s players was paired up with Ware, who met his representative on Thursday. The two played a friendly exhibition game, that didn’t look so friendly on the scoreboard.

But Ware took the beating in stride.

“Whew, he got me pretty good,” Ware said as he left the meeting room at Valley Ranch where hey played the game. “He was tough.”

“Madden Nation” field producer Lee George said Ware’s personality is one reason he was picked for this year’s show, which is in its fourth season of existence.

“DeMarcus was a perfect fit, matched with our gamer,” George said. “DeMarcus is certainly a gamer on the field is in own right. But it’s tough against these guys. These are the very best (video game) players in the world.”

George said the dates and times of the show have not been released but expects “Madden Nation” to be aired this fall.

On Thursday, Ware played the game with the Cowboys while his matched game-player took the Patriots.

To Ware’s defense, he said he used to playing Madden on his Playstation 3, while he played Thursday on Xbox 360, the source to be used on the show.

While Ware and his Cowboys were on the wrong side of the 41-0 shellacking, maybe it was a bit premature to call the game. Who knows, Ware might have been primed for a comeback . . . . . had they played the second half!

-- Nick Eatman

Three employees on the top of the crane’s cab jumped to avoid the falling parts and suffered injuries.  All three were taken to area hospitals, one via Lifeflight helicopter.  The condition of the employees is not known."

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Three of the construction workers on the Cowboys stadium site in Arlington were reportedly injured in a crane accident Thursday afternoon.

One of the workers was taken by CareFlight to a Dallas hospital, while two others were transported by ambulance.

The accident occurred around 2 p.m., although the crane was reportedly on the ground at the time of the incident.

Jack Hill, construction manager at the new stadium, told reporters the three workers were all wearing protective equipment. Hill also said that work has resumed at the stadium, which is on schedule to open by the start of the 2009 regular season.

--  Nick Eatman

Tiger Woods sent the challenge about a year ago. Tony Romo tried his best to answer it this weekend at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

The Cowboys quarterback shot an 84 on Sunday, easily the best score among a celebrity foursome that took part in the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge, just a week before the PGA pros hit the links at the course for the second major tournament of the season.

Last year, Tiger made the comment that no golfer with a 10 handicap could break 100 on a U.S. Open course.

Romo, whose handicap was graded a 2.2, said he had hoped to break 80 on the par-71 course. Pop star and actor Justin Timberlake, a 6 handicap, shot a 98, while “Today” host Matt Lauer, also a 6 handicap, shot 100. John Atkinson, an 8 handicap who won a contest of more than 56,000 contest entries, shot 114.

Of the foursome, no birdies were posted. Romo, who has attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open three of the last four years including earlier this summer, had a round that included a four-putt on a par-3 hole and three double-bogeys.

While Romo, Timberlake and Lauer had the celebrity status, the crowd favorite was Atkinson, a lung cancer survivor.

-- Nick Eatman

            Cowboys outside linebacker Greg Ellis did his best to clear the air about his recent status with the team, and did so by hitting the airwaves with former teammate Michael Irvin.      

            Just like the Playmaker did by getting Pacman Jones on the show about two months ago, Irvin got Ellis to call into the “Michael Irvin Show” on ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) in Dallas on Monday.

            Ellis hasn’t been talking much to the media since it was reported last week that he was upset about the Cowboys reducing his practice reps, which caused him to sit out last week’s OTA practices at Valley Ranch. However, Ellis did say he has continued to participate in the team’s off-season conditioning program and hasn’t ruled out returning to the OTA practices this week.

            Ellis didn’t deny that he was bothered by the notion, but did say he was not “disgruntled” and he made sure head coach Wade Phillips knew that as well. Ellis said he met with Phillips Monday morning and described the meeting as a “pleasant conversation” with his head coach, and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart.

             “I just wanted Wade to know, since the media has been speculating, I wanted him to know that I am not unhappy here,” Ellis said. “It’s not a problem. I told him, ‘While you’re trying to do whatever you are trying, just understand that I owe it to myself that I’m in shape and standing out there in practice isn’t going to allow me to do that.’”

            And Ellis said Phillips appeared understanding by the situation, although he certainly wants to have one of his veteran leaders at practice.

            “Obviously he wants me there,” Ellis said of Phillips. “He told me, ‘You know what you have to do to get ready. I want you here, but I trust you enough that you’re helping yourself get better.’ So I think he understands.”

            Ellis said he was told at the first week of OTA practices that the Cowboys were reducing his practice reps to get a better look at Anthony Spencer, a first-round pick last year.

            “I know they have to get a look at Anthony . . . he’s a first-round pick. And I understand that,” Ellis said. “But at the same time, I have to make sure I get myself ready. And three or four reps at practice is not going to do that. I have to make sure I’m giving my chance the best season I can, pass-rushing wise, football-wise and of course, conditioning wise.”

-- Nick Eatman

Former Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter is not only back in professional football again, but he’s a starter.

Carter signed with Kansas City of the Arena Football League last month and after four games as the backup, the Brigade have named him the starter for this week’s game against Arizona.

Carter replaces D. Bryant, who started the first nine games of the season for the Brigade, who are 3-10 on the season.

“As a staff, we will do everything possible to put Quincy in situations that will allow our offensive unit to be successful on game day,” said Kansas City head coach Kevin Porter. 

Carter, a second-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2001, was 16-15 in his 31 starts in Dallas. He led the Cowboys to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in 2003, was released by the team the following training camp, for reportedly failing yet another drug test. He joined the New York Jets as a backup, but had more off-the-field issues that led to his release.

Last year, he spent part of the season with the Bossier City Battle Wings of af2. He briefly signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, but was released just a month later.

Former Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter is not only back in professional football again, but he’s a starter.

Carter signed with Kansas City of the Arena Football League last month and after four games as the backup, the Brigade have named him the starter for this week’s game against Arizona.

Carter replaces D. Bryant, who started the first nine games of the season for the Brigade, who are 3-10 on the season.

Carter, a second-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2001, was 16-15 in his 31 starts in Dallas. He led the Cowboys to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in 2003, was released by the team the following training camp, for reportedly failing yet another drug test. He joined the New York Jets as a backup, but had more off-the-field issues that led to his release.

Last year, he spent part of the season with the Bossier City Battle Wings of af2. He briefly signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, but was released just a month later.

-- Nick Eatman

Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones remains suspended by the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t appear to be in a big hurry to reinstate him.

While Jones cannot work out with his teammates and is not allowed to be at the Valley Ranch complex, he was able to attend an off-site function Sunday night.

Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Sunday that, along with his agent Manny Arora, he plans on asking Goodell for permission to start working out with the team, and possibly even to participate in the Cowboys’ OTA practices, which begin on Tuesday at Valley Ranch.

“Hopefully I can get around my new teammates and start doing OTA’s and working out with them,” Jones said at Jason Witten’s S.C.O.R.E. Foundation bowling event in Dallas. “I still have to go through the process and I’m just waiting. I’m ready to get in there and learn the defense. And I’ve been out of the game for a year, so I need to shake off all the rust and get ready to play.”

More than just play, Jones said he is excited about proving to his teammates that he can be trusted, after he has been arrested six times since being drafted sixth overall in the 2005 draft by the Tennessee Titans.

“It feels really good to be here with your new teammates and feel the vibe and be around them and let them see the real Pacman,” Jones said. “There are going to be a couple of guys that don’t want me to let them down, but it’s all on me. I’ve got everything in place, so if I let anybody down, it’s all one me. And that’s not my plan.”

--  Nick Eatman

            You think this year’s training camp is going to be exciting for Cowboys fans?

Apparently, HBO thinks so.

With Terrell Owens, Tony Romo and now probably Pacman Jones all headed out to Oxnard, Calif. this summer, the cable network reportedly would like to put the Cowboys back in front of the cameras again, filming the club in its series “Hard Knocks” a weekly behind-the-scenes look at an NFL team preparing for the upcoming season.

The Cowboys were a part of “Hard Knocks” back in 2002, a year after the series first debuted, featuring the Baltimore Ravens. HBO took five years off from filming the series, before returning to the screen last year when they featured the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp. In 2004, NFL Network made a similar show with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In the Cowboys’ first time around with “Hard Knocks”, Dave Campo was in his last year as the head coach as the team trained in the Alamodome in San Antonio.

That year, storylines included the former baseball-pitcher-turned-quarterback Chad Hutchinson, the injury saga of wide receiver Anthony Lucas, a longshot receiver named Richmond Flowers, former special teams coach Joe Avezzano who was doubling as the Dallas Desperados head coach and of course, who could forget some of the harsh realities we saw and heard with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. It seemed like that ended up stealing the show.

But the closed-door access of the team and coaches and even owner Jerry Jones is priceless for any fan.

Just like having two regular-season games on the station made some fans scurry to get NFL Network last year, it’s likely Cowboys fans will do the same to get HBO as well.

Training camp is expected to start in late July, with the Cowboys headed back to Oxnard for the fourth time in the last five years.  

With the NFL Draft in the books, the Cowboys quickly turned their attention to signing rookie free agents, looking to get about 15 players through this process.

As of Monday, the Cowboys were still trying to finalize their rookie roster, but have agreed to terms with several players, including three wide receivers, a position that was not addressed in the draft.

Here’s the list of some rookie free agents expected to be here this week, along with the six draft picks, for the Cowboys’ rookie mini-camp, which begins on Friday.

Danny Amendola          WR      Texas Tech

Drew Atchison              TE        William & Mary

Mark Bradford             WR      Stanford

Andrew Brecher           OT       Harvard

Julius Crosslin               FB       Oklahoma State

Dowayne Davis            SS        Syracuse

Marcus Dixon               DE       Hampton

Brandon Hale               OT       Sam Houston State

Keon Lattimore            RB       Maryland

Jay Ottovegio               P/K      Stanford

Daniel Polk                   WR      Midwestern State

Darrell Robertson         DE       Georgia Tech

-- Nick Eatman (1:05 p.m.)

Dallas just took Middle Tennessee's Erik Walden with their sixth-round pick (No. 167). Not much bio information on Mr. Walden (6-2, 243), but he's listed as a defensive end. Might be a perfect candidate to switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4.

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The Cowboys are sticking to their philosophy of drafting cornerback depth, even with Pacman Jones headed to Dallas. The club dealt Jacksonville their fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 155 and 213) to grab Boise State corner Orlando Scandrick at No. 143 overall.

That's trade No. 5 today, and No. 6 since Saturday. Throw in the Pacman and Fasano deals, and the Cowboys have completed eight in three days. The Cowboys currently have one pick left (No. 167).

-Rob Phillips (1:08 p.m.)

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Cowboys Finally Pick; Take Georgia Tech RB

After making four trades today, adding three later picks today and two next year, the Cowboys finally drafted a player, getting Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice.

After transferring from Oklahoma, Choice turned into a productive player at Georgia Tech, rushing for 1,473 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior in 2006 and then 1,379 yards last year, along with 10 scores.

At 5-8, 210, Choice is more of an inside runner, although he has battled through injuries. He becomes the second running back drafted by the Cowboys this year, after they took Felix Jones in the first round.

Now, the Cowboys currently have four running backs on the roster with Marion Barber, Alonzo Coleman and now Felix Jones and Choice.

Cowboys Keep Trading Down, Added 3 Picks (11:06 a.m.) 

The Cowboys started Day 2 of the draft with three picks, now they have and another next year. The Cowboys have traded their third-round pick (92nd) to Detroit for a fourth-round pick this year and next year. The Cowboys then traded their 100th pick, which they got from Miami in the Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele trade, and shipped it to Oakland for 104 and a seventh-round pick. But they didn't keep that pick for long, sending it Cleveland for another fourth-round pick (122nd) and a adding a fifth-round pick.

Got all that? Me either, really. Let's just hope the Cowboys finally pick here at No. 111.

Cowboys Trade Third-Round Pick To Detroit  (10:21 a.m.)

The Cowboys obviously didn't see anything that impressed them too much here in the third round as they traded away the pick to Detroit. Don't get too excited, I doubt it's for wide receiver Roy Williams. But the Cowboys did pick up another fourth-round pick this year, and a fourth-round next year as well.

So now the Cowboys are on the clock with the 100th pick and then 11 spots later with 111th pick, the one they just obtained from the Lions.

The Cowboys currently don't have a fifth-round pick or a seventh, having traded them both away in the move with Seattle that helped them jump from 28th to 25th to get South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins.  

 - Nick Eatman

The Cowboys could have their pick of several corners even if they stand pat at No. 22. South Florida's Mike Jenkins, Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Arizona's Antoine Cason are probably the best available now. 

-RP 3:30 p.m.

Defensive Linemen Dominating First 8 Picks 

So the first six picks were easy. The guys they sent to New York all went as expected. But after the first six, that's where it's starting to get fun. We've already seen two trades with the No. 7 and No. 8 picks. 

Man, how about the defensive linemen in this draft? We've had eight picks so far and seen five D-Lineman already off the board with three ends and two tackles. 

This was supposed to be a deep cornerback class and it might still be, but so far we haven't seen one go just yet. That could be good news for the Cowboys.

- Nick Eatman 3:12 p.m.

Raiders Take McFadden Off The Board

Darren McFadden's name had been linked to the Cowboys since he declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Now that speculation appears to be over with the Raiders taking the Arkansas running back at No. 4.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said earlier in the week he couldn't "totally dismiss" the possibility of moving into the top 10 for player (he wasn't specific on who, of course), but admitted he's not crazy about shelling out that type of guaranteed money for an unproven guy. Now that McFadden's off the board, we'll see if there's anyone the Cowboys are willing to trade up for or if they decide to stay put at No. 22.

-RP 2:57 p.m.

The Cowboys won't be without a fourth-round pick for long. While they are set to send a fourth-round pick to the Titans in the still-pending trade for Pacman Jones, the Cowboys completed a trade with Miami Friday night for the Dolphins' fourth-round selection in this weekend's draft.
 

The Cowboys are sending veteran linebacker Akin Ayodele and third-year tight end Anthony Fasano to Miami for the fourth. . . . More details to come.

--Nick Eatman

By Nick Eatman

            One day after releasing the 2008 regular season schedule, the Cowboys officially finalized their preseason schedule as well, announcing the dates and times now for all four exhibition games.

            The second preseason game – a road meeting with Denver – will be played Sat., Aug. 16 (8 p.m. CST) at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

            The Cowboys will break training camp in Oxnard, Calif. before traveling to Denver for the game, en route back to Dallas for the final two preseason games.

            The Cowboys play Houston on CBS as the national game at home on Aug. 22 and then Minnesota on Aug. 28 for a Thursday night game as the final tune-up before the regular season.

            The first preseason game will be Aug. 9 in San Diego, just a short flight south from Oxnard, where the Cowboys will train for the fourth time in the last five years.

            Here’s a look at the preseason schedule

            Sat., Aug. 9                  at San Diego (KTVT/CBS 11)             9 p.m.

            Sat., Aug. 16                at Denver (KTVT/CBS 11)                  8 p.m.

            Fri., Aug. 22                 vs. Houston (CBS)                               7 p.m.

            Thurs., Aug. 28            vs. Minnesota (KTVT/CBS 11)            7 p.m.

            The Cowboys are expected to visit with about 30 potential draft picks for the upcoming NFL Draft over the next two days.

            Players such as Illinois’ Reshard Mendenhall, Texas’ Limas Sweed, Felix Jones of Arkansas, Jonathan Stewart of Oregon and Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are expected to arrive at Valley Ranch some time this week.

            The Cowboys are expected to meet with about 15 players each on Thursday and Friday. The players for Thursday’s visits should be arriving Wednesday evening.

            The Cowboys will use the visits to get one last evaluation of these players, who will not only tour the facilities, but meet with owner and general manager Jerry Jones, head coach Wade Phillips, as well as their prospective coaches.

            Last Friday, the Cowboys held a Dallas Day workout for about 30 players who either attended college or went to high school in the area.

           The Cowboys saw another addition to two separate lists over the weekend in the departure of cornerback Nate Jones.

            While he becomes the fourth unrestricted free agent to sign with another team, he is yet another in now a long list of players, coaches and front-office personnel jumping from the Cowboys to the Dolphins.

            Jones is the second defensive back this week to sign with Miami, following special teams ace Keith Davis, who also signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins last Sunday.

            Jones joins Davis, Julius Jones (Seattle) and Jacques Reeves (Houston) as the team’s unrestricted free agents to sign with other clubs.

            Like Davis, Jones is more of a special teams player, although he did serve as the team’s nickel and dime back this season, having to play as the third corner when Terence Newman and Anthony Henry were sidelined by injuries.

            While the Dolphins didn’t promise Davis a starting job, it’s likely they will do the same with Jones. He hasn’t been a starter in his entire career with the Cowboys, even when they were a struggling team looking for corners.

            But obviously the Dolphins are trying to shore up their special teams and they’ve done so with a pair of guys they know all too well.

            It’s likely both Jones and Davis won’t go to Miami with unrealistic expectations. Davis might think he has a chance to start at safety, but it won’t be handed to him.

             So far this off-season, the Dolphins hired Bill Parcells as the team’s vice president of football operations and Jeff Ireland as general manger. Brian Gaine, the Cowboys’ director of pro personnel, was hired as Miami’s assistant director of player personnel.

            On the coaching staff, the Dolphins hired Tony Sparano as head coach, Todd Bowles as assistant head coach and secondary coach, Paul Pasqualoni as defensive coordinator and Kacy Rodgers to coach defensive line. Former Cowboys offensive coach David Lee, who left after the 2006 season for a one-year stint as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator, will return to the NFL as Miami’s quarterbacks coach.

             The Dolphins are starting to rack up players, too. After signing a few street free agents who have spent time with the Cowboys such as Sean Ryan, Joey Thomas, Trey Darilek and Junior Glymph, the Dolphins traded for Jason Ferguson before adding Davis and Jones this week.

            I think the term Dal-phins is looking more appropriate by the day.

     -- Nick Eatman

            It looks like Keith Davis is moving on, and to where else, Miami.

            Davis appears to be the next in line headed from the Cowboys to the Dolphins, who have reportedly agreed to terms with the free agent safety.

            Davis visited in Miami on Monday and apparently it didn’t take long for him to be convinced.

            And why not, he probably knows just as many coaches on Miami’s staff as he does with the Cowboys, not to mention Bill Parcells, the Dolphins’ vice president of football operations.

            Davis spent five years with the Cowboys, joining the team in 2002 as a rookie free agent. He has been the team’s best special teams player the last four seasons, even serving as the special teams captain last year.

            On Monday in Arlington, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones didn’t sound as if the club had intentions of paying big bucks to Davis, who is viewed as a role player, more than a potential starter.  

            “(Special teams) is where we predominantly see his value,” Jones said of Davis. “We’ve got some good young safeties coming up, too. Courtney Brown and Pat Watkins are guys that have gotten better. I think they’ll continue to get better.”

            Davis would become the second former Cowboys player to join the Dolphins in the last week, along with Jason Ferguson, who was traded for two sixth-round draft picks. Miami has also signed Sean Ryan, Joey Thomas, Trey Darilek and Matt Baker since the coaching regime of Tony Sparano, Paul Pasqualoni, Kacy Rodgers and Todd Bowles took over.

            Davis would become the third Cowboys unrestricted free agent to sign with another club, joining Julius Jones (Seattle) and Jacques Reeves (Houston).

--- Nick Eatman