Cowboys Corner

Some rookies will attend player practices this week

The Cowboys had some 40 players show up for their player-run practices last week. They could have more this week if some of the rookies attend as expected.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said Monday team leaders have been in contact with the new draft picks. That likely includes first-rounder Tyron Smith and third-rounder DeMarco Murray. Second-rounder Bruce Carter is rehabbing a knee injury and won't be ready for on-field activities until some time in training camp.

“The rookies will show up," Romo said. "We’ve been in contact with a couple of the rookies. I’ve talked to one or two guys, and I know they are making arrangements as we speak."

Romo is the leader of the practices, with a script, a whistle and is the official timer. He said they do have athletic trainers unaffiliated with the team and could video tape some sessions.

"When we're out there it's literally like we're trying to do the same things we'd be doing at an OTA [organized team activities], the tempo and everything," Romo said. "I’ve been around long enough, and I have plenty of schedules laying around the house that we’ve been able to use. There’s a timeframe. We have stretch for 7minutes, bam, we get right to pat and go. We move right into move the ball. Guys are jumping in and, boom, you're at the next play pushing it."

Romo would not reveal further details of the workouts as far as how many times a week they meet or where they meet. He also wouldn't discuss whether players have insurance to cover themselves in case of an injury.

"It just doesn't benefit us for you guys in any way to be going out there," Romo said. "If we run a certain route, and the defense busts on a play and Jason Witten runs up the middle of the field and looks like someone didn’t cover, then someone is to blame.

"The reality is we're learning a system. We're running, and we're competing, but we don't need that from outside influences right now. It just needs to be about us and improvement. I think sometimes when you bring media or people in to talk about it, now all of a sudden, guys are doing things they don't need to be doing."

-- Charean Williams

 

 

 

Tony Romo has no problem with his shoulder and can't wait for season to start

 As far as his own injured shoulder is concerned, quarterback Tony Romo said he is 100 percent healed. Romo missed the final 10 games last season with a fractured left clavicle.

He said he was almost fully healed by the end of the season and took another "three or four weeks" to get comfortable.

Romo said the time away has made him more eager than ever to get back to football,and he can’t wait for the season to start so the Cowboys can again try to make a Super Bowl run whenever the lockout ends.

 “I’ve been saying for awhile, but I wish the season was starting tomorrow,” Romo said. “I’m anxious and I know the guys are working hard. We’re all working hard. Guys are lifting, running we’re on the field; it’s an exciting time, but at the same point, it’s tough because you want to be at the facility; you want to be playing football. What we can do is control what we each do as players. I do know for us to go where we hope to go we need to have a great off-season. So far the guys have done that.’’

 Charean Williams

Tony Romo: WR Dez Bryant being eased into workouts

 Quarterback Tony Romo said the players are not asking receiver Dez Bryant to go 100 percent during the voluntary workout sessions. In fact, they are trying to get him to take it easy.

Bryant was sidelined at the end of last season with a fractured ankle. His rehab has gone well, but the players don’t want him suffering any setbacks during their workouts.

Romo said he has made a point to tell Bryant to be careful.

“He’s going,” Romo said.  “I pull him off to the side and I tell him, 'Don’t do anything that you’re not supposed to do right now. But he’s competitive so he wants to be involved. You work him in; he runs on air; he moves through. If he gets tight or sore he goes off to the side and jogs. But when it feels good, he moves through some drills. But no, we’re not going to throw him into the fray yet.’’

-- Charean Williams

Tony Romo expects rookie draft picks to join the player workouts

 Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said the players have been in contact with the rookie draft picks and he expects them to join the voluntary player workouts during the lockout.

“The rookies will show up,” Romo said. “ We’ve been in contact with a couple of the rookies. I’ve talked to one or two guys and I know they are making arrangements as we speak.’’

 Charean Williams

Romo shoots an 81 to end U.S. Open bid for this year

McKINNEY-- Tony Romo didn't get as far as he did last year in his bid to qualify for the U.S. Open. After qualifying for the sectional last year, the Cowboys quarterback lasted only 15 holes in the local qualifier Monday.

Romo was 5-over and in need of a fourth-quarter comeback through 14 holes at Stonebridge Ranch Club’s Dye Course. But he hit his tee shot on No. 15 out of bounds and ended up triple-bogeying the 460-yard, par-4. He finished with a 9-over 81.

The top 10 advance to sectional qualifying at Dallas Athletic Club next month. The U.S. Open is June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

"The golf course is probably the toughest in the area, but when you add the USGA, with their greens and some of the pin placements, then add to that the wind, it was a monster today," Romo said. "It was as tough as I’ve seen it out here."

-- Charean Williams

 

Jason Garrett: Dez Bryant is back on track and back in line

 

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said blames the lockout of a lot of rookie receiver Dez  Bryant's issues this offseason.

But Garrett said the Cowboys had a conversation with him _ albeit over the phone _ during the brief break from the lockout during the draft and he believes Bryant is back on track and back in line.

"For a lot of young guys transitioning into the league, it's important to them to have structure," said Garrett during an interview on ProFootballTalk live on Monday. "And we feel like for Dez and for other guys on our team, and really throughout the NFL, the importance of having an offseason program and OTAs and all those things really helps them and helps them get acclimated to this game and this level and this lifestyle and that’s been an unfortunate byproduct of this lockout. But [Bryant] seems to be getting himself back in line and we can't wait to get him and the rest of the group back to work."

Clarence Hill

Jason Garrett: No decision has been made on right or left tackle for rookie top pick Tyron Smith

Jason Garrett: No decision has been made on right or left tackle for rookie top pick Tyron Smith  

Owner Jerry Jones said on draft day that top pick Tyron Smith has already been penciled in at right tackle in place of Marc Colombo.

But coach Jason Garrett said on Pro Football Talk Live that a final decision has yet to be made on whether Smith will play right or left tackle.

He said Smith has all the traits to be left tackle in the NFL, which is the mean reason the Cowboys drafted him with the ninth overall pick.

But he only played right tackle in college at USC so he has no experience protecting a quarterback's blind side.

At age 20, he has time to learn and the Cowboys are going to give him that opportunity before making a final decision.

"He is a young guy," Garrett said. "We have discussion about plugging him in on the right side and letting him get acclimated to the NFL. We like what Doug Free has done at left tackle. But (Smith) will have an equal opportunity at both sides and we will see how it plays out."

 Clarence Hill

 

 

Jason Garrett: Romo's golf and quest to qualify for the US Open is not a distraction

 Jason Garrett: Romo's golf and quest to qualify for the US Open is not a distraction

 Quarterback Tony Romo spent Monday morning participating in a local qualifier in hopes of earning a spot in the US Open Golf Championship.

It will most certainly will strike chord with fans _ some of whom think Romo spends too much time playing golf in the offseason.

But coach Jason Garrett has no problem with Romo's golf endeavors as he says they have never gotten in the way of his real job.

"Players love to play golf," said Garrett on ProFootballTalk Live on Monday. "It has always been a relief for a lot of guys. There may be more guys on our team that play more golf than Tony. Tony just happens to be good at it.  We have never viewed it as a distraction. He is the first guy in the building and stays there late. He has never given uss a reason to think it's a distraction to what he is doing for us with the Cowboys."

 Clarence Hill

Jason Garrett: Martellus Bennett on point about QB competition but says Romo is not afraid to compete

Jason Garrett: Martellus Bennett on point about QB competition but says Romo is not afraid to compete 

Tight end Martellus Bennett caused a stir last month when he went on local radio and said that backup Jon Kitna should be given an opportunity to compete with Tony Romo for the starting job at quarterback.

Asked about Bennett's comments on ProFootballTalk Live Monday morning, Garrett backed Bennett in saying that competition is good at every position, including quarterback.

"We like competition," Garrett said. "We like it at quarterback and at every position. We believe that is an important component and dynamic  (to how we want to build a football team.) That goes from the No. 1 guy on our team to all 53 players. Martellus is dead on about that."

 Garrett, however, is still firmly in Romo's corner and said Pro Bowl quarterback has no problem with competing.

 "Tony has done a great job with competition," Garrett said. "One of the traits that makes Tony the player that he is is his desire to compete. I don't have any concerns about Tony and his desire to compete."

 Clarence Hill

 

 

Jason Garrett: Value of player workouts in camaraderie and chemistry rather than football drills

Jason Garrett: Value of player workouts in camaraderie and chemistry rather than football drills

 

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was a guest on ProFootballTalk live today and pointed out that the Cowboys player led workouts being led by quarterback Tony Romo aren't same as practices led by the coaches.

But said he does he like the fact the at the players are getting to together and can't stress  enough about the value of chemistry and camaraderie gained by the twice weekly workouts.

 "I don’t think it's the same," said Garrett when asked if the workouts had value. "I definitely think there are benefits to doing  it. The time you spend with teammates is invaluable. The relationship formed with teammates on the practice field is critical. That is an important part of the process. It's more important this year (with the lockout)."

 Clarence Hill