FRISCO, Texas – Orlando Scandrick spent Monday afternoon with his teammates, hitting home runs for donations to The Salvation Army.
He wasn't focused on the trade rumors from draft weekend that Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and the organization vehemently denied.
Scandrick won't focus on it going forward, either. The veteran cornerback is still a Cowboy, entering his 10th season in the league, and believes he still has plenty to offer the team that drafted him back in 2008.
"I just control the things that I can control," Scandrick said at the team's sixth annual Reliant Home Run Derby at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. "I feel that when I'm healthy and on top of my game, I can compete with anybody. I feel like I'm as good as they can get. I'm confident in my abilities."
The Cowboys still are, too, based on Jones' flat denial of reports that Scandrick was a trade possibility during the draft.
"I don't know who started that. It is completely erroneous, completely," Jones said on April 28, the second day of the draft. "We heard something, but that's never been the case. No one in this organization has ever insinuated or implied or anything with Orlando other than having him on the field. He's a valuable member of our team."
Scandrick said Monday, "I haven't spoken to Mr. Jones yet but I have spoken to others. It's just something that I don't really have control over. I just show up to work every day and get better."
The Cowboys will welcome their 2017 rookies to The Star later this week for rookie minicamp. The team spent three of nine draft picks on cornerbacks, including second-rounder Chidobe Awuzie (Colorado) and third-rounder Jourdan Lewis (Michigan).
Scandrick has gotten used to healthy competition since the Cowboys drafted him in the fifth round in 2008.
"This is going to be my 10th year and I'm sure they've drafted, I don't know, maybe 10 DB's since I've been here. So it's nothing new," he said. "I was here when they drafted Morris (Claiborne) No. 6 (overall in 2012). I'm just going to come to work and do the same thing."
