Here are some leftover notes from Wednesday’s OTA session you might be interested in since more pressing issues seemed to push these to the backburner.
The Cowboys didn’t waste any time getting first-round pick Mike Jenkins involved in the defense. When they went to nickel formations, Terence Newman moved into the slot as usual and Jenkins was the guy working at left cornerback with the first unit.
And while Kevin Burnett and Bradie James were the nickel linebackers, the Cowboys still employed the one-backer formation, with Roy Williams moving up alongside Burnett and another safety entering the game, in this case since Pat Watkins already was playing for the missing Ken Hamlin, it was Courtney Brown.
Trying to make him as versatile as possible, the Cowboys have tackle James Marten, last year’s third-round draft choice, working at left guard with the second unit. Marten reminds he played guard two years at Boston College and that he actually felt more comfortable returning to the left side after backing up at right tackle last year.
Oh, in case you are wondering, Pat McQuistan was working at right tackle with the second unit while Doug Free was at left tackle.
There sure was a covey of guys working on returning punts, including some of the usual suspects - Patrick Crayton, Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Marion Barber - but also a few new guys - Danny Amendola, Quincy Butler, Justin Phinisee and Jerron Wishom.
Evidently not throwing around feint praise, the coaching staff had Tank Johnson taking some reps with the first-team defense at nose tackle.
As was suspected last week, first-year corner Tyler Everett from Ohio State, is working at safety.
Saw Courtney Brown step in front of Terrell Owens for what nearly was an interception.
Take a listen to Bradie James when talking about attending these OTA workouts: “It is voluntary but you want to be accountable to your teammates,” and this was in reference to no one in particular missing the practices. And when asked why he was here, James said, “I volunteer to be here. The team is my family, and I’m going to be here.”
Sure, you remember Reggie Love, the one-time Duke wide receiver and basketball player on the Blue Devils’ national championship team whose athletic skills so intrigued Bill Parcells he was signed to a free-agent deal by the Cowboys in 2005. He didn’t make the team, but still has turned into a celebrity in his own right. He is serving as Barack Obama’s “body man,” and as one national story describes, “the personal aide who shadows the senator and anticipates everything he needs - and everything he does not need.” Love works out in the morning with the presidential candidates and as he says, just does “stuff” for Obama. He not’s a bodyguard, but the guy who just gets things done for Obama, who says of Reggie, “There’s not doubt that Reggie is cooler than I am.” Just never know what doors open when the NFL doors close.