Cowboys Corner

Barber returns

Marion Barber has returned to Valley Ranch to participate in off-season workouts, which was good news for Jerry Jones. The running back had spent the past three weeks working out in Miami.

 “He is excited as all the team is in terms of working together,” Jones said, “what we can get with these [off-season workouts] and what we can get in the off-season, which is a good chance to work together, which helps our team.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Workout players

The Cowboys have 34 players who are working out this weekend at the rookie minicamp. Fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah still is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, so he is just observing. The list of 34 includes three players who are here on a tryout basis. Those players who went undrafted but who are working out for the Cowboys this weekend are: Northern Iowa quarterback Pat Grace, Texas A&M Commerce long snapper Daniel DeVega and North Carolina State tight end Simon Harris.

-- Charean Williams   

Just CHILL: Crayton's agent denies that his client has stopping working out to send a mesasge to the Cowboys

 

Clarence Hill

 

Receiver Patrick Crayton's agent Fred Lyles denies a report that his client has stopped participating in the team's offseason program in hopes of forcing a trade from the Cowboys.

 

Lyles acknowledged that Crayton was absent this week but he said it had nothing to do with any unhappiness with his role on the team.

 

Lyles said Crayton has always done some of his workouts on his own at the Michael Johnson center in McKinney. But he said he will be back at the Cowboys facility next week for the throwing sessions. 

 

Lyles also wanted to clear up some things up about Crayton and his supposed request for a trade after the team selected wide receiver Dez Bryant in the first round.

 

He said Crayton asked to assist in finding himself a new home after he found out the Cowboys were shopping him.

 

 "We found out they were shopping him and then only then did we request permission to assist them in getting a trade," Lyles said. "He is under contact. He plans to fullfull his contract. In no way is he holding out and trying to make a statement."

 

Lyles acknowledged that Crayton does want to meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to find out what "his role will be next season and get a clear understand what plans they have for him."

Campo on comeback trail

Secondary coach Dave Campo had surgery in March to repair a herniated disc but he participated in the first rookie workout this morning.

When asked how he felt, Campo said: "Good, real good. I’m a little sore, it’s going to take a while, had pretty extensive work done, so, for me, I’m looking at maybe 2-3 months, it’s already been 6-7 weeks, looking at 3-4 months before you really feel like you can do anything. All I’m doing now is some neck exercises, so it’s a little sore.”

Campo said he has toned down his wild sideline act while continuing to recuperate from the surgery.

“I’m excited to be back out here,” he said. “I’m not doing a whole lot, doing more talking than anything else, I told them today, ‘Hey, I’m a crazy SOB but just wait until we get to training camp.’”

-- Jan Hubbard 

Bryant winded in first practice

Dez Bryant leaned over. He took a knee. He put his hands over his head and crossed his legs. He did his best to keep his breakfast -- eggs, biscuit and two sausage patties -- in his stomach. Bryant has not played since a Sept. 19 game against Rice, and it showed Friday on the first day of rookie mini-camp.

Bryant was winded.

"To be honest, I was kind of excited just because I'm back doing what I love to do," Bryant said. "I was already expecting me to bend over a little, get tired. If you seen me, you seen I was smiling, because I haven't been through that in a long time. It was just a great feeling to get through that little hard time."

There is no doubt Bryant, who made a spectacular one-handed catch, was the star of the day. Cameras documented his every move.

Though he did manage to keep his breakfast down, Bryant definitely was not feeling his best.

"Ask Manny Johnson about last year this day," said offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, pointing out he has seen rookies do this many years. "We have high expectations for how they practice."

-- Charean Williams

Practice facility collapse a painful topic

Sunday will be the one-year anniversary of the collapse of the Cowboys’ practice facility and while legal action is still pending, special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said he prefers not to relive the ordeal.

 “I really just want to try to get on from that point, just try to see forward and do the best with what you’ve got,” DeCamillis said after a morning practice with rookies.

 DeCamillis suffered broken vertebrae in the accident and scouting assistant Rich Behm was paralyzed from the waist down.

 DeCamillis was asked if he is bothered by people asking about the incident.

 “It’s not a big problem people asking about it,” he said. “It’s a big problem dealing with some of stuff that’s happened from it.”

 DeCamillis had surgery after the incident and missed the scouting combine in February while consulting another doctor to see if he could get relief from the continuing pain in his neck.

 Behm and DeCamillis have filed suit against one of the companies owned by Jerry Jones, but Jones said that has not affected the working relationship with the two men.

 "To their credit, there's sensitivity but no strain," Jones said. "There is no awkwardness there in terms of our relationships.”

 -- Jan Hubbard

Bryant denies line of questioning

New Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant denied a Sports Ilustrated story about the line of questioning during the pre-draft interview between the Miami Dolphins and Bryant. SI reported Friday that Jeff Ireland's question about whether Bryant's mother was a prostitute came after Bryant was asked what his father did for a living.

According to SI, this is how the line of questioning went, starting first with Ireland asking Bryant what his father did for a living:

Bryant: "My dad was a pimp."

Ireland: "What did your mom do [for a living]?

Bryant: "She worked for my dad."

Ireland: "Your mom was a prostitute?"

Bryant was told about the report Friday between practices and denied that's how the question was brought up by the Dolphins general manager.

"No, sir," Bryant said. "That was a lie."

Bryant refused to comment further on the controversy, and in fact, would not comment on two other questions about it.

"No disrespect," Bryant said, "but I don't really want to talk about it."

-- Charean Williams

Sharper leaves Jacksonville without deal

It seems likely that safety Darren Sharper is asking for too much money. Sharper had nine interceptions and three touchdowns last season, but he turns 35 in November. It isn't likely a team is going to invest long term in him. He, on the other hand, likely is looking for one last payday. It isn't out there... yet anyway, or he would have signed already.

Sharper visited Jacksonville, but he left there Thursday without a contract, according to NFL Network. It tells me the money wasn't enough to convince him to sign with the Jaguars, and he'll keep looking. There have been rumors he's interested in Dallas, and the Cowboys definitely could be interested if his price comes down. All things ($$$) being equal, however, look for him to return to New Orleans. He and the Saints were a match made in football heaven.

-- Charean Williams

Just CHILL: Jeff Ireland rebuked by the NFLPA and will be investigated by Dolphins owner Steve Ross for his inappopriate question to Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant

Clarence Hill 

 

The NFL Players Association rebuked Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland for asking Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute in a pre-draft interview and Dolphins owner Steve Ross  has vowed to investigate the matter, hinting at possible discipline.   

 

"Jeff Ireland has already apologized for questions asked of former Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant," Ross said in a statement. "I will be looking into this matter personally and will take appropriate actions if necessary."

 

 NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith criticized Ireland in a statement and called for teams to handle interviews with players and rookie prospects in a more professional manner.

 

 “We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen," Smith said. "During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel. NFL teams cannot have the free reign to ask questions during the interview process which can be categorized as stereotyping or which may bring a personal insult to any player as a man.”

 

Ross said said: "In interviewing employees, we always look to obtain relevant and appropriate information in adherence with the best industry practices.”

 

 NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to formally weigh in on the subject. Goodell has been clear about holding players and league personnel to a higher standard when it comes to personal conduct  and the league's image

 

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello released an official statement from the league, stating that they will support Ross and his handling of the matter while denouncing Ireland's insensitive and inappropriate question.

   “Steve Ross’s statement makes clear that the Miami Dolphins intend to address this matter promptly in an effective and thoughtful way," read the statement from Aiello. "To his credit, Jeff Ireland recognizes that he exercised poor judgment in asking an insensitive and inappropriate question of Dez Bryant.  He took the proper step of calling Dez Bryant to apologize and then making that apology public.” 

 

Bryant was drafted 24th overall by the Cowboys in 2010 NFL Draft last Thursday. He was a top 10 talent who dropped in the draft because of supposed character concerns.  Bryant has not had any criminal problems or a history with substance abuse.

 

His biggest so called crime is lying the NCAA about having dinner with Deion Sanders. The dinner was legal but Bryant was ruled ineligible for his final season at Oklahoma State for lying to the NCAA.

 

NFLPA blasts inappropriate questions by NFL teams

The NFL Players Association weighed in on the Dez Bryant-Jeff Ireland controversy today and rightfully took a strong stance condemning actions like the ones Ireland took. Here is the statement from NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith:

 “We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen. During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel. NFL teams cannot have the free reign to ask questions during the interview process which can be categorized as stereotyping or which may bring a personal insult to any player as a man. For the past year, active, former and incoming players have heard me speak about the expectations we have of them as members of this union, their teams, communities and families. It is equally true that the same kind of respect is demanded of their employers.”

 Ireland’s question of whether Bryant’s mother was a prostitute – as first reported by Yahoo Sports – was obviously out of bounds. But I think a sound reaction on the part of Ireland and the Dolphins would be to invite  Bryant to sit down in another interview with Ireland and force Ireland to answer questions. Then Bryant should be allowed to ask Ireland questions about Ireland’s mother. See how that feels.

 -- Jan Hubbard