Cowboys Corner

Morris Claiborne has pins taken out but will be out until training camp

First-round pick Morris Claiborne is both bored and frustrated. At the rookie minicamp, all he could do was watch. Now, all he can do is condition.

Claiborne had the pins out of his left wrist two weeks ago, and now he can run. So he is.

"Basically I’ve just been running, doing a lot of running," Claiborne said Wednesday. "Oh, yeah, it's boring and frustrating."

Claiborne recently tweeted a picture of his wrist. The LSU product had almost forgotten what it looked like after requiring surgery to repair ligaments he tore against Alabama in November. He played in the final five games with the injury before having surgery this off-season. 

"I was so excited to see it," he said. "I was scared to put water on it, because I haven’t had water on it in so long. I must have washed it a thousand times already."

He will wear a soft cast for two more weeks before beginning rehab. He doesn't expect to be fully cleared until just before the start of training camp in late July.

-- Charean Williams  

DeMarco Murray said he's 100 percent, glad rehab phase is behind him

DeMarco Murray said he is 100 percent and feels no apprehension about the fractured ankle that ended his season in Game 13 against the New York Giants. Murray needed surgery to repair the ankle.

“I have been doing everything in the past month and a half 100 percent,” he said Wednesday. “No limitations. I’m feeling good out there.”

Jason Garrett said Murray has missed none of the football work in the offseason, and running backs coach Skip Peete said Murray is looking like himself again.

"Typically you heal from that," Peete said. "Just the stress of planting and cutting on that, you want to see if they’re back completely from that injury. It seems like he’s obviously rehabbed, and he’s healed, and he’s 100 percent right now. He doesn’t look any slower or more sluggish than he would normally."

Murray said the rehab phase – strengthening his calf, ankle and quadriceps – is over.

“I’m finally done with all of that. It felt good to get back in the huddle with the guys and play some football,” he said.

Asked if he thinks about how he could have finished last year without the injury, Murray said, "You always have would-have, could-have and should-haves and all that stuff, but I am just one guy. Felix (Jones) is a great running back and he did good the last couple games I was out. You definitely want all of your pieces in when you’re playing top teams. And unfortunately I wasn’t there. But they did good."

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Jason Garrett says Jenkins making "business decision" to stay away, but he won't be traded

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Mike Jenkins is making “a business decision” not to be at OTAs, but that the team is not going to trade the cornerback.

“Mike Jenkins, we believe, is a big part of our football team right now,” Garrett said Wednesday after the second day of voluntary practices at Valley Ranch. “He’s making a business decision not to be here. But we’re not going to trade him. We like Mike Jenkins. We feel like he can be a part of our team. We’ve got to get him healthy. We’ve got to get him back on the field.”

The Star-Telegram reported last week that Jenkins has requested a trade in the wake of the Cowboys’ moves to acquire free agent cornerback Brandon Carr and to draft Morris Claiborne. Jenkins is in the last year of his four-year rookie contract, and his agent talked earlier in the offseason about seeking an extension.

Asked whether Jenkins is hurting his standing with him by not being at practice, Garrett said, “You know, I’m really not concerned with that. We’re concerned with his health first and foremost.”

Garrett pretty much confirmed Jenkins was the only player who wasn’t at Valley Ranch during the offseason.

“We want Mike Jenkins around our football team, just like we want everybody around our football team,” he said. “We had 60 guys on our roster for most of the offseason, and we had 59 at the facility working out involved in our offseason program. We have 90 guys on our team now, and we pretty much had 89 guys around here doing everything we wanted them to do.”

Jenkins is rehabbiung from offseason shoulder surgery and would not be participating in the OTAs, but the Cowboys would like him back. His teammates miss him.

"I understand. It’s a business," Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer said. "If anyone understands, I understand, but at the same time, you want a guy like that to be around the team and what not. I support him in whatever decision he makes. He’s my teammate."

-- Carlos Mendez

Rookie Danny Coale will require surgery for fractured foot

Rookie receiver Danny Coale will need surgery after fracturing his left foot on the first day of organized team activities at Valley Ranch, a source said. The Cowboys hope he can return for the start of training camp in late July. Rookies and select veterans are scheduled to practice a few days before the team arrives in Oxnard, Calif., on July 28.

Coale, a fifth-round pick from Virginia Tech, was a candidate for the No. 3 receiver, along with Kevin Ogletree, Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris. But the injury will give the others a chance to climb ahead in the position battle.

He is the third draft pick out with an injury, and defensive end Tyrone Crawford, a third-round pick, was diagnosed with a heart murmur at the combine, though he will not miss any practice time. Cornerback Morris Claiborne, a first-round pick, is rehabbing from left wrist surgery performed before the draft. Linebacker Kyle Wilber, a fourth-round pick, fractured his right index finger in the rookie minicamp and will not return until training camp.

-- Charean Williams

 

Rookie receiver Danny Coale suffers foot injury as Cowboys open OTAs

Rookie wide receiver Danny Coale suffered a foot injury Tuesday in the first day of OTAs at Valley Ranch, a team source said and DallasCowboys.com reported.

The team web site said Coale was seen leaving the MRI center at Valley Ranch on crutches and with a heavy wrap around his foot.

Wednesday's OTA practice is open to the media, and the Cowboys will likely have an update on Coale's condition.

Coale was drafted in the fifth round out of Virginia Tech. He is seen as a leading candidate for the No. 3 receiver position, along with four-year veteran Kevin Ogletree and second-year players Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris.

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

 

Cowboys, Redskins lose appeal of cap penalty; no comment from Stephen Jones

The Cowboys and Redskins lost their appeal of a salary cap penalty levied by the NFL.

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank on Tuesday issued a decision upholding the league’s move to dock the Cowboys $10 million in cap space and the Redskins $36 million for overloading contracts in the uncapped season of 2010.

The teams said there was no rule against that, but the league said it warned all the teams against violating the spirit of the rule.

The arbitrator’s ruling affirmed the request of the league to dismiss the claim.

Reporters were told of the decision in Atlanta by NFL executive vice president Jeffery Pash. The league is conducting owners meetings this week.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had no comment.

The Cowboys and Redskins were allowed to split the hit over two years, and each team took half the penalty this year. Naturally, they were hopeful of getting the cap space returned in full for next offseason.

The Cowboys and Redskins issued this joint statement:

"We pursued our salary cap claim pursuant to the CBA, and we respect and will abide by the arbitrator's decision to dismiss. We will continue to focus on our football teams and the 2012 season."

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins plans to boycott OTAs, wants to be traded

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Irving _ Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins will not be present for the organized team activities that begin Tuesday and wants to be traded, a source said.

The workouts are voluntary.

But for Jenkins, a 2008 first-round pick and former Pro Bowler who has seemingly gone from a starter to a backup following the signing of free agent Brandon Carr and selection of LSU's Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick, this is personal.

He was the team's best cornerback last year despite playing through knee, neck and shoulder injuries, while also showing courage and toughness. He underwent shoulder surgery following the season and should be ready for training camp.

The Cowboys spent the offseason upgrading his position with the signing of Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal and trading up from 14th to sixth in the draft to take Claiborne.

Jenkins, in the final year of his contract, has asked for a contract extension through is agent Drew Rosenhaus. He has done his rehab from shoulder surgery at his home in Florida, having avoided the team’s off-season workouts at Valley Ranch.

He plans to continue that absence with the OTA workouts that begin on Tuesday, a source said.  

With Orlando Scandrick already signed to a long-term deal as the third cornerback, Jenkins would seem to be ideal trade bait.

However, his contract situation and his injury hinder the process. He would likely want a new deal before joining another team and the Cowboys would likely want premium compensation in return.

The Cowboys, however, maintain they have no interest in moving Jenkins and want him on the team at least one more season.  Coach Jason Garrett said Sunday that he was hopeful that Jenkins would attend the OTA workouts. 

Owner Jerry Jones said last week Jenkins was vital to the team as a third cornerback.

He's a vital part of our plan," Jones said. "We know that we've got a situation where we can identify what we are on defense by having three corners in there a lot I see short-term and long-term with Jenkins. We've also got Scandrick, we got some room if somebody gets nicked not to have to adjust. We can come out there and spend some time really utilizing where we are at corner. The decision to bring Claiborne in was a big part of that. There's no interest on my part at all of trading Jenkins. None." 

 

 

Hatcher sticks to leadership comment, but says Cowboys going in right direction with Sean Lee, accountability, camaraderie

Jason Hatcher still believes in his winter thoughts about the Cowboys’ leadership.

But he also likes what he is seeing right now.

And if that’s a result of what he said in February, that’s fine.

“I wasn’t dogging nobody. I wasn’t dogging the leaders we had,” the veteran defensive end said Sunday night at a benefit in Dallas for the North Texas Food Bank. “I just felt like, you know, guys can do better.”

In February, when Hatcher was asked in a radio interview on KESN 103.3 FM “The Fan” who the team leaders were, he said, “That’s a good question. I really don’t know.” He added that the Cowboys have talent but need a “Ray Lewis type” who “everybody buys into.”

Hatcher told reporters Sunday night that he was speaking from the heart and that he has seen a change.

“Whether it rubbed somebody the wrong way or not, I say what’s on my heart at the time,” he said. “I’m not going to say anything I ever regret. It was on my heart at the time, so I said it. ... Guys have stepped up. I like the way this team is going. We’ve got camaraderie, guys looking out for each other, guys working together. That’s the direction you’ve got to go as far as getting to the championship game. I’m very excited.”

Hatcher said linebacker Sean Lee, the team’s leading tackler last year, looks like a born leader.

“Sean’s always been that guy,” Hatcher said. “He will call you out in a second. We just need more guys like that. We can’t accept certain stuff, and we’re not going to do it this year. It’s a totally different team. We’re just taking the approach, one day at a time, we’re all trying to reach the common goal, which is the Super Bowl, so everybody has got to go the same direction. So I’m very, very happy the way this team is going.”

Asked if he’s a vocal leader himself, Hatcher said no, that he leads by example.

“It’s not going to be me making no rah-rah speech,” he said. “It’s going to be the hard-working Hatch that I’ve been since I’ve been here. People saw me work hard. I never gave up. I didn’t get the playing time I wanted, but look at me now. I’m a starter. That’s the way I lead. I can’t give you a rah-rah speech to tell you to get going. But I can every day, work my butt off, and I can be an example for you. If you look at me and step on the field, I’m going to work. You know that. So Hatch is working, I’ve got to work. So if I can lead in that aspect of it, I will. As far as saying something to the team, getting them going? I’m not that guy. I’m just a hard worker.”

Hatcher, a seven-year veteran drafted in the third round by the Cowboys, said he does not mind someone keeping him in line – as long as that someone has credibility.

“If I’m approaching the game wrong, get in my face,” he said. “If you’re working hard, get in my face. But if you’re slacking, you can’t say nothing to me. If you’re not a leader, if you’re not taking care of your business, you can’t say nothing to me. But if you’re going out there working hard day in and day out and I respect you, you can say something to me. And we’ve got that this year. Guys are working hard every single day. And I’ve grown to respect a lot of cats on this team. And we all have. It’s a very, very neat deal. You just see things unfolding in front of your eyes. It’s just one of those things that you pray for at night, and you know what’s wrong, and once you see it starting to fix itself, you say, ‘Here we go, now we’re going in the right direction,’ and I definitely feel that about this team this year.”

Hatcher said the players are getting to know each other better, also.

“It’s hard to play for the man across from you when you don’t know him,” he said. “But if you know him inside and out, you know his family, you know him as a person, you can go to war for him. And that’s what we have right now. Guys have been up here two months working out together. I’m just getting excited right now thinking about it. I’m ready to roll, just to see how this season turns out.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Mackenzy Bernadeau's injury likely to keep him at right guard

Now that hip surgery will keep him out until at least training camp, Mackenky Bernadeau likely will concentrate on right guard. The free agent signee had been a candidate for the starting center job if one of the team’s young guards emerged.

“I think we would be less inclined to play him at a couple of different spots initially because he’s losing this off-season work,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “…We’re disappointed that he got banged up. He’s not going to be a part of this thing, but like with all our injured players, he has to stay close to it – be engaged in the meetings, be engaged in the practices and get as much information as he can – so when he comes back for the start of training camp, he’s ready to roll.”

Bernadeau, who signed a four-year, $11 million deal in March, is expected to miss 10-12 weeks after having surgery last week to repair a tear in his hip.

The Cowboys are hoping to provide Phil Costa with competition at center. Costa started every game there last season but struggled. Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski will get some work at the position.

"Obviously, we would rather him not be hurt," Garrett said. "But he did have that hip injury and had the surgery last week. He just has to be aggressive in his rehab and get back as quickly as he can. We have a number of other options in the offensive line, and we're excited to see those guys."

-- Charean Williams 

 

Cowboys "hopeful" Mike Jenkins will show up for OTAs

The Cowboys begin organized team activities Tuesday. The workouts are voluntary, but the Cowboys would love it if cornerback Mike Jenkins showed up to be with his teammates at Valley Ranch.

"We're certainly hopeful of that," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.

Garrett said he has no idea whether Jenkins will participate.

Jenkins has been rehabbing from right shoulder surgery at his home in Florida, having avoided the team’s off-season workouts at Valley Ranch. The front office has questioned Jenkins’ absence, saying he needs to return to work.

Jenkins, who enters the final year of his contract, became trade bait after the Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr and drafted LSU’s Morris Claiborne. But owner Jerry Jones said recently that Jenkins is a “vital part” of the team’s 2012 plans.

Jenkins is not expected to be healthy enough to practice until training camp, but the team would rather he rehab at Valley Ranch.

He was the team's best cornerback last season despite an injury-plagued season. Jenkins made 22 tackles and had an interception and 10 pass breakups.

-- Charean Williams