Cowboys Corner

Robert Griffin III runs combine's second*-fastest time ever for a QB

INDIANAPOLIS – Robert Griffin III confirmed Sunday what everyone already knows: He is fast.

The Baylor quarterback ran faster than most receivers at the combine, including his own, Kendall Wright. Griffin clocked an official (electronic) time of 4.41. Some scouts had Griffin with hand-held times as fast as 4.34.

Only Reggie McNeal ever was faster at the position in the 40-yard dash at the combine. McNeal, a quarterback at A&M who was drafted as a receiver by the Bengals, ran a 4.35 in 2006. *There were reports that Michael Vick had run faster in 2001. He did, running a 4.33, but it was at his Pro Day and not at the combine. Vick didn't run at the combine, according to National Football Scouting.

Griffin is a former AAU, state and Big 12 champion in track. He earned NCAA All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles in 2008 with a 49.46.

“Fast guys run fast,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said of Griffin, who also had a vertical jump of 39 inches Sunday. “…I knew he was going to fly. To be honest, I didn’t care whether it was 4.31 or 4.41 or 4.51. I already knew how athletic the kid is, and you knew what he was from a track guy anyway. I expected him to fly and look great.”

Only six receivers ran faster than Griffin ran Sunday. Three receivers ran the day’s fastest time at 4.36. Wright ran a disappointing 4.61.

Griffin told the NFL Network that he has met with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Browns and Redskins, among others, at the combine. He has not talked to the Seahawks.

The Class of 2012’s top-rated quarterback, Andrew Luck, ran an official time of 4.67.

Neither Luck nor Griffin passed at the combine. Griffin will throw at Baylor’s Pro Day on March 21, while Luck throws the next day.

 -- Charean Williams

Jerry Jones would like to play abroad, preferably in Mexico but will not give up a home game

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wouldn’t mind playing in one of the league’s international games in the future. 

As one of the league’s most popular teams, Jones said the Cowboys have fans all over the world, especially in Mexico.

He said he would love to play in Mexico again where the Cowboys have played three preseason games in the past.

However he does not want to give up a home game to do so. He said there other teams in the league who could give up home a home so the Cowboys could have a home game of sorts in Mexico that would make the scenario work for all parties.

“That’s not in my plans,” Jones said. “There are teams that it fits … and thank goodness it doesn’t work for us because we have such a outstanding attendance at our games.” 

Clarence Hill

Cowboys open to going back to San Antonio for training camp but will be strictly in Oxnard in 2012

The Cowboys have a three-year deal with an option to hold training camp in Oxnard, Ca. beginning in 2012. 

According to owner Jerry Jones, the deal has flexibility starting in 2013 that will allow the Cowboys to split camp between Oxnard and San Antonio again like they have done in the past.

Jones said the Cowboys will train solely in California this season but he would prefer to have the split set up because of the team’s strong fan base in San Antonio.

Jones said they will explore returning to San Antonio’s Alamodome in 2013.

 Clarence Hill

 

 

 

 

Jerry Jones hasn’t talk to Dez Bryant about Miami incident because he says he didn’t think it was significant enough

Cowboys Jerry Jones said he has yet to talk to receiver Dez Bryant regarding the altercation he had a Miami night club with rapper Lil Wayne and his entourage last month. 

Coach Jason Garrett said he hasn’t talked to Bryant either.

Considering Bryant’s off the field issues of the past and the extra attention Jones has given him to make sure he stays out of trouble, it’s surprising the Cowboys wouldn’t at least speak to him about the incident.

But Jones said he’s just been too busy, he didn’t think the incident was significant enough and not something worth emphasizing.

"I have had communication, but I haven't talked to him. I've just been too busy," Jones said. "It was not a significant enough thing that would make that (necessary), to me. I can, and do and have talked to him throughout the time that he's been with the Cowboys about whether it be financial issues or whatever.

"I got the details of that and just didn't have the time, and didn't want to make the emphasis with him . . . It just was not something that I felt like I needed to run him down and talk to him about."

 Clarence Hill

 

 

 

 

Door close not yet closed on Newman; Scandrick not option to replace him

Jerry Jones has acknowledged on more than one occasion that the Cowboys will have new faces in secondary after finishing up near the bottom of the league in pass defense for the second straight year. 

Cornerback Terence Newman is an obvious target for deletion because of age, salary and declining play.

Jones acknowledges that Newman could be a salary cap casualty, as the Cowboys could as much as $6 million by releasing him.

But the final decision has not been made and Jones said he could see a scenario in which Newman could return.

"There has been a difference in his play," Jones said. "How much of that was because of a new scheme, you can make a question. But I'm just not ready to get into where we're going to go with that. It obviously has financial implications relative to the roster. On the other hand, under one scenario, he could be good value."

Jones has yet to talk to Newman or his agent Ben Dogra about the team’s plans. But he said the Cowboys aren’t going away from the 2002 first-round pick until they have a viable replacement.

"Again, we haven't visited," Jones said. "I haven't discussed that with him and his representative. But he still has his speed. And what you have to do to complete this whole comment is tell me what you're going to do to replace him, and I'm not there yet."

With backup cornerbacks Alan Ball and Frank Walker set become free agents, the Cowboys will almost certainly target the position in the draft and/or free agency. Only starter Mike Jenkins and slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick are guaranteed to return.

But while it would seem that Scandrick would be logical option to replace Newman in the starting lineup, considering he was given a five-year, $27 million contract extension last August, that’s not the direction the Cowboys want to go.

Jones said Scandrick was solid last season but didn’t play as well as the Cowboys would hoped when he had to flop back and forth between inside and outside in place of the injured Newman and Jenkins at times.

Jones said he has no regrets about the contract they gave to Scandrick and what the Cowboys learned is that they have to let him do what he does best.

"He's a real value to us in star (slot cornerback)," Jones said. "Was he challenged doing both last year? Probably moreso in hindsight than we thought he would. We thought he could do both. Was it a challenge to him to do both? Probably. It's hard to do both."

"I'm glad to have him and glad to have that contract," Jones said continued. "Wouldn't dare go back there again and try to do better with a different player or different money. We think that much of him. He's that important to us for our future. He's a good player, a smart player. We've just got to play him right."

Clarence Hill

 

Garrett: Cowboys have discussed moving Raltiff to DE, will him play all over line but call him a NT and a good leader, too

Coach Jason Garrett acknowledged the Cowboys have talked about moving Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff to defensive end. He is a former end who has the versatility of playing several spots on the defensive line. He has done so in the past, including in 2011.

Garrett said the Cowboys will continue to move Ratliff him around but like him best at nose tackle because of his style, attitude and work ethic.

And for those who question the team's leadership, those are the attributes that Garrett says makes Ratliff a good leader too.

“We’ve talked a lot about that, and if you really watch our football team, you’ve seen Ratliff play a lot of spots on the defensive line," Garrett said. "He’s played over the center as a nose tackle, he’s played over the guards, he’s played over the tackle at different times depending on the front that we’ve been in. So he’s a guy who’s got great versatility. We like him playing nose. We like the style he plays with. He’s a heck of a football player, and one of those leaders. Someone was asking about leadership earlier. That’s a great leader. Just come to practice one day. Watch that guy play one day. So, we’ve got a lot of guys like that who have taken on that leadership mantle, we just need more of them. We’re happy to have Ratliff.”

 

Jason Garrett disagrees with Hatcher, says the Cowboys have several leaders but could always use more like any team

Coach Jason Garrett didn't want to comment specifically on defensive end Jason Hatcher's now much chronicled contention that the Cowboys lack big-time leaders in the locker room.

Hatcher made his comments on 103.3 ESPN Radio last week.

Asked about a void in leadership at the NFL Scouting Combine, Garrett said have obvious that everyone knows, pointing to quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff without saying their names.

"I don’t want to comment too much on what Hatch said, but we certainly have very good leadership on our team," Garrett said. "I don’t want to go into the names of the guys, but you know them. They set the pace for our football team and guys we wouldn’t trade for anybody. But like I said, the more of those kinds of guys that you have on your team, guys who get invested in what you’re doing, are willing to be the right example for their teammates, are willing to be the right example for everybody in the organization and make sure they hold everybody accountable to that standard, that’s a good thing. We have a lot of them now and we want more, just like every team in the league does."

Clarence Hill Jr.

 

Garrett still high on DeMarco Murray, says rehab has gone well, could be ready when offseason program starts

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said rookie sensation running back DeMarco Murray is making significant progress in his rehab from a fractured ankle and could be ready to go for the start of the off season program in April.

"He’s getting there. He is getting there," Garrett said. "At every turn, the rehab has gone well for him, all positive marks. And really it’s a tribute to our training staff but also to his approach. He’s a guy who has been there every day doing what he’s supposed to do and his body is responding well."

It all has given Garrett reason to be "hopeful" Murray will be ready to go for the start of the off season program.

In the mean time, Garrett continued to gush about the breakout season Murray had into 2011 when the third round pick from Oklahoma came out of nowhere to cement himself as the team's featured back. Murray, who missed much of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury, replaced an injured Felix Jones against the Rams on Oct. 23 and didn't look back before fracturing his ankle against the Giants on Dec. 11.

"DeMarco had a really good year for us," Garrett said. "He was a guy who was banged up throughout training camp and really didn’t play until our last preseason game. So he was just kind of getting himself acclimated during the early part of the season. But when Felix Jones got hurt, he got an opportunity to play and he really did a great job for us. I think he showed us what he showed at Oklahoma – a complete back, a guy who can run the football inside and outside, a physical runner, also can make the big runs for you, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he understands protections on third down, a good physical blocker as well. He’s just a really good football player. He has a lot of good football ahead of him. It was good to see him get out there and make a contribution for us. He did get banged up at the end of the year, so it seems like he’s doing fine coming off of that injury. We are excited about him in the off season program and going forward in 2012."

 

Jason Garrett: Tyron Smith will start at left tackle next year with Free and his $32 million deal moving back to RT

The reason the Cowboys took Tyron Smith with the ninth overall pick in 2011 is because they thought he had the potential and athletic ability to be a dominant left tackle in the NFL.

Well the future is now for Smith and the Cowboys.

Smith, who played right tackle as a rookie last season and was the team's best offensive lineman, will open training camp this season as the starting left tackle, coach Jason Garrett said.

Doug Free will be moved back to right tackle where he played in 2009 before manning the left side the past two seasons. 

Garrett said he has already spoken to both players about the teams plans.

 "The starting point for us next year is that Tyron will start at left tackle as a starting point and Doug will start at right tackle," Garrett said during the NFL Scouting combine on Thursday. "The versatility that Tyron has coming out is something that we were really attracted to. He was a right tackle in college, as you know. But we felt like he had the physical traits to play left tackle and the same thing with Doug Free. We felt like he could play either side. Our starting point when we get back together playing football is going to be Tyron is going to be on the left side and Doug is going to be on the right side."

Garrett said the Cowboys looked at making the move last season but felt it would be better to ease Smith into the NFL on the right side, especially since had never played left tackle before and the shortened offseason due to the lockout.

"We gave Tyron some snaps at left tackle last year," Garrett said. "We just felt like it was the best decision for our team to leave him at right with the shortened training camp and the shortened offseason. We feel like he is ready to make that move now. And we’ll see how it goes. I think both guys have demonstrated they can play either side. And we’re just trying to come up with the best combination."

The move a no brainer consering the type of season both players had in 2011. Free was a disappointment after signing a four-year, $32-million contract before the season that including $17 million in guaranteed money. 

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

 

 

What is the biggest thing scouts should use to judge prospects?

Scouts will weigh, measure, test, time and interview 317 draft-eligible prospects in Indianapolis beginning this week. The Scouting Combine, though, is just one factor teams using in drafting players.

Of all the factors, what should be the most important thing scouts look for in a player?

Clarence Hill, writer: Talent, production and character. I believe in the old adage hard work without talent is a dream but talent without hard work is a nightmare. I want a talented player who has produced on every level and is a hard worker. Plenty of guys look like Tarzan and play like Jane. It's not just about the size and speed but what do you do with it. Do they play hard consistently? Do they have a passion for the game? Do they care about their teammates? How have they demonstrated all of the above during their college careers?

Charean Williams, writer: It is about only one thing: Production in college. Potential needs to be drafted in the later rounds. The first three rounds need to be for players who have been there, won that. If they didn't do it in college, no matter the reason, including injuries, it isn't likely they're going to get it done in the NFL. Terrell Davis is perhaps the biggest exception. For quarterbacks, the record means as much as the production. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have the numbers and the wins. Nothing else should matter much.

Carlos Mendez, writer: Talent is important, but I'm going to assume every player I'm looking at is talented. So what I want to see is drive and discipline. I want a player who wants to be the best player on the field on every play, who doesn't make sloppy mistakes, who has a football IQ and who knows where he fits in on a team. I want everybody I talk to about a player -- his old coach, his former and current teammates -- to tell me that. I guess that's more than one thing I'm looking for, but that's where I start weeding out these guys. Again, assuming talent.

David Humphrey, editor: No. 1 for me is grading how a prospect plays in a game, not practice and not combines. Being good in combine drills is not enough. There have been too many players who run 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash who couldn't run a route or catch the ball. There have also been some record-setting bench press performers who get tossed around in the NFL because they have no technique. I would put a heavy emphasis on how they play in games regardless the competition.