Cowboys Corner

OTA observations

*Wade Phillips talks as if Montrae Holland will be active for every game this season. Holland, obtained in a trade with the Broncos in 2008, was inactive for every game last season. He is expected to be the primary backup at guard since the Cowboys released Cory Procter. However, Holland will not be tried at center. That experiment ended after attempts last year to make him the backup center.

*Left guard Kyle Kosier will be the backup center. He took two snaps there Monday, and Kosier said it marked the first time he has ever played the position. Cory Procter, who was released Monday, had been the backup center to Andre Gurode. Travis Bright, who spent last season on the practice squad, also took snaps at center Monday. He also has never played the position.

*Jason Williams and rookie Sean Lee rotated at inside linebacker. Keith Brooking, who recently had knee surgery, did not participate in Monday's OTA. Stephen Hodge, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee, was in street clothes Monday. He will not return until training camp. The Cowboys, of course, traded nickel linebacker Bobby Carpenter, so Lee and Williams will compete for that job. Wade Phillips has said starters Brooking and Bradie James are candidates for the nickel job as well, and safety Gerald Sensabaugh could be used there.

*The free safety spot vacated by Ken Hamlin, who was released last month, sounds like it's Alan Ball's to lose. Mike Hamlin is the other candidate. "I’m definitely excited," Ball said. "I’ve been here four years and any time I’ve had the chance to step on the field, I’ve tried to soak it up. It’s just another opportunity for me."

*The Cowboys are counting on David Buehler to win the kicking job. They don't want to burn two roster spots on kickers this year. Connor Hughes, though, hopes to make it a hard decision for the Cowboys.

*Punter Mat McBriar, who had knee surgery after the season, isn't ready to kick yet. But his rehab is right on schedule, Wade Phillips said.

*Wade Phillips said all three running backs -- Tashard Choice, Felix Jones and Marion Barber -- reported in shape and ready to go. Jones is expected to see more carries this season.

*This is a big off-season for third quarterback Stephen McGee. A fourth-round draft pick out of A&M last season, McGee looked like he was in over his head as a rookie. Now, though, he's had a season to watch, listen and learn. "Just to continue to grow and develop," Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "When you're a [backup] quarterback, it's hard to get a lot of the reps that you need. There's so much to learn. There's so much to learn mentally, and then to take it out on the field and learn physically. From a technical standpoint, and then overlaying what we're doing on the defense, and the different things that a quarterback has to do, there aren't enough reps for a young guy to develop. He's done such a good job doing the extra stuff and embracing the opportunities he does get and he's going to have to continue to go through that process. He's going to benefit from that fifth preseason game that we're playing. He's a guy that's going to get a lot of those reps. Just to continue to learn and grow at that position, and he's done a heck of a job doing that."

-- Charean Williams

 

 

Sensabaugh wants a new deal

Starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh was at the first day of organized team activities despite having not signed his tender. The Cowboys gave Sensabaugh a second-round tender that will pay him $1.815 million this season. He wants a long-term deal.

"Just with the uncertainty of the CBA [collective bargaining agreement], it might be kind of hard to structure deals right now," Sensabaugh said. "I don’t know. They don’t know exactly if there’s going to be a salary cap, no salary cap, how it’s going to work. With that uncertainty, it makes it harder. I don’t know. We’ll see how everything goes."

But he said he did not seriously consider skipping the voluntary workouts.

"It was discussed, but at the end of the day, I would rather come be around the team which allows you to be a better player," Sensabaugh said. "Holding out, you’re not really gaining anything. I’d rather be practicing, working on my game."

Sensabaugh, who was signed as a free agent before last season after four seasons in Jacksonville, had 81 tackles, one interception and 10 defensed passes. After five seasons in the league, he feels like he deserves to get one big payday.

"You think about it sometimes but not really," Sensabaugh said. "It is what it is. You can’t cry and be mad about it. You’ve got to just keep playing. As long as you play and keep producing you’ll be fine. That’s the approach that I’m going to take is to be the best player I can be, contract or no contract. I can gain leverage as far as my play stands."

-- Charean Williams

Williams confident

Roy Williams doesn't lack for confidence. Despite catching only 57 passes for 794 yards and eight touchdowns in 25 games since the Cowboys traded for him during the 2008 season, Williams is ready not only for Dez Bryant's challenge to his starting job but also to prove he's the same receiver he was in 2006 when he had 1,310 receiving yards.

After Williams had a juggling catch of a Tony Romo long ball in seven-on-seven drills, Williams declared, "I'm back." Owner Jerry Jones turned to the media, smiling, and said, "Did y'all see that?"

Williams told ESPN 1300 in Austin that he and Romo are "connecting like Montana and Rice." That remains to be seen, but the Cowboys have seen a change in Williams. 

"He looks good," receivers coach Ray Sherman said. "I think he was motivated before this. It wasn't just Dez. That was the talk we had at the end of last season. He was motivated before this."

Williams reiterated Monday that he is not about to lose his job to a rookie, though he was helping coach up Bryant and will continue to do so as Bryant's mentor.

"I’m in it to win it," Williams said. "If somebody can come in here and take my spot, they’ve got to be a baaaaad man. It’s mine to lose, I guess you could say. I’m not going to do that, but the competition level is going to be high."

Bryant is going to make Williams better. Williams is going to make Bryant better. The question remains: How good can Williams be?

-- Charean Williams

 

Dez in awe of Romo

Dez Bryant, a life-long Cowboys' fan, got his first chance to go against Pro Bowl cornerbacks Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins with Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo throwing him the ball. Bryant admitted he was more than a little star-struck.

"It felt great Romo talking to me," Bryant said. "There was one time, he was explaining the play to me. I really didn’t care about the play. I was excited because he was talking to me. It made me feel good."

Bryant continued to show why the Cowboys traded up to get him. He caught a pass from Romo down the sideline, over the top of Jenkins, in one-on-one drills.

"I thought he looked pretty good," Romo said. "He has the ability to adjust his body to the ball. It’s early so there’s a lot of time, but in the beginning stages, he did some good things today."

-- Charean Williams

Just CHILL: Left guard Kyle Kosier is being targeted as the backup center

Clarence Hill 

Starting left guard Kyle Kosier is being targeted at the backup center behind starter Andre Gurode, following the release of guard/center Cory Proctor.

Coach Wade Phillips said Kosier has some experience at the position and the move gives the Cowboys more line flexibility on game day with him at center.

If Kosier is forced into action at center, the Cowboys will play Montrae Holland at guard.

Just CHILL: Roy and Dez both "wow" and other practice tidbits

 
Clarence Hill

After last year's disappointing season, wide receiver Roy Williams already had sufficient motivation to get his act together in 2010. And that was before the team drafted wide receiver Dez Bryant in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Williams has said he is not going to lose his starting job and took a step in the right direction with a strong effort during the OTA workouts on Monday.

Williams made a tough catch on the sideline and then walked by owner Jerry Jones and said "I'm back."

Later in the practice he made a one-handed circus catch for a touchdown and Jones got into the act, yelling at the assembled media, "Did y'all see that?"

"Our players have a lot of pride, especially Roy," coach Wade Phillips said. "I thought Roy looked good. He made a great play on the deep ball." 

Of course, Bryant didn't disappoint, making several outstanding catches himself. He even beat Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman and defensive back Mike Jenkins for touchdowns.

Williams came away impressed, saying Bryant is "making plays and he doesn't even know what he is doing yet."

"It's competition," Williams said. "It's going to make us all better."

* With Marcus Spears out of practice, Jason Hatcher worked with the first team at defensive end.

* Rookie linebacker Sean Lee worked with the first team at inside linebacker alongside Bradie James in place of the injured Keith Brooking, who won't be ready until training camp after off-season knee surgery.

Just CHILL: Hurd not disgruntled and has not missed anything

Clarence Hill

Last week it was reported that wide receiver Sam Hurd had been skipping the team's offseason workouts just like wide receiver Patrick Crayton because of uncertainty about their futures in Dallas following the selection of top pick Dez Bryant.

Both had been shopped for a trade during the 2010 NFL Draft.

Hurd, however, clarified his situation on Monday during OTA workouts. He said he has been present for the team's offseason program, although he had been limited in what he could do because he was recovering from surgery on his right thumb.

He said he is not worried about his contract situation or his status on the team. He will let his agent handle all of that. All he said he is concerned about is getting healthy and being ready to play for the Cowboys in 2010.

Just CHILL: Spears has excused absence, will be present on Tuesday

Clarence Hill

The notion that DE Marcus Spears would miss the OTA workout after participating in the offseason program seemed to be a surprise. Certainly, he knew his situation with the Cowboys was tenuous considering he had been shopped for a trade in the draft.

But Spears had approached everything from a professional stand point. He wanted to be here and was going to work as part of the team as long as he was here.

Still his absence from OTAs on Monday seemed to suggest that he had a change of heart. Even owner Jerry Jones initially bought into that line of thinking, giving the standard " the OTA's were voluntary" comment when asked about Spears.

But Jones then did a little homework and called back to confirm that Spears had contacted defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni. He said he had a conflict on Monday but would be present for Tuesday's workouts.

Just CHILL: Hurd back at OTAs, but Spears, Crayton, Ratliff and Brooking missing

Clarence Hill 

Wide receiver Sam Hurd, who has skipped most of the offseason conditioning program in hopes of getting traded, returned for OTA workouts on Monday.

Hurd didn't fully participate because he is recovering from surgery on his right thumb.

However, receiver Patrick Crayton, who is also looking to be traded, continued to boycott the team's voluntary workouts.

Both were shopped for trades during the draft following the team's selection of top pick Dez Bryant. Both also asked and received permission to shop for their own trade.

The biggest surprise might be defensive end Marcus Spears' absence. Spears' future with the Cowboys has been in doubt since the beginning of free agency. He was given a restricted free agent tender off lower than backup Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen, which was indicative of the team's interest in given them a chance to win his starting job.

The Cowboys even put his name on the trading block during the draft but were unable to move him.

Through it all Spears has continued to work out with the team.

There has been no reason given for his absence on Monday.

Also not available for workouts were linebacker Keith Brooking and Jay Ratliff who are both recovering from offseason surgeries. Brooking had arthroscopic knee surgery and won't be ready until training camp. Ratliff had a cleanup on both elbows but should be ready for the final minicamp in June.

Just CHILL: With Proctor gone, is his job as drummer safe

Clarence Hill 

Backup guard/center Cory Proctor was released on Monday, the first day of the Cowboys OTA workouts

Look for Montrae Holland and Travis Bright to battle it out for the backup center role behind starter Andre Gurode. Neither are true centers as both are more experienced at guard.

This move was largely a financial one. Proctor, a restricted free agent, was expected to make $1.759 million in 2010, which is a little rich for backup player getting limited playing time.

The Cowboys tried to trade Proctor during the draft but found no takers.

The biggest loss may be to the band Free Reign. Proctor, who played drums, is a member along with tackle Marc Colombo and guard Leonard Davis. If Proctor signs on with another team, someone will have to take his place in the band.

Holland, Bright or maybe even Gurode or guard Kyle Kosier could be answers for Free Reign.