FRISCO, Texas– The NFL schedule won't be officially released for another month. When it does, you can expect newly-signed cornerback Nolan Carroll to quickly pinpoint a couple of games.
Coming over from the Eagles, Carroll admits he is already looking forward to playing his former team. Being on the other side of the rivalry for the last three years, he said it wasn't difficult to switch sides and join the Cowboys.
"It's not hard for me at all. If anything, I can't wait to play them," Carroll said of the Eagles. "It's definitely going to be fun and interesting to go to a place I used to play at. All I cared about is winning. Coming here and winning as many games as possible."
Now, this wasn't the first time Carroll has visited the Cowboys. A free agent in 2016, he made the rounds a year ago and even liked what he saw when he met with the coaches and staff, only to decide to return to Philly for another year.
But this visit was a little different, considering the Cowboys have since moved headquarters. This time around, Carroll was awed by The Star in Frisco.
"This is a castle compared to Valley Ranch," Carroll said. "It's nice. When you see it firsthand, it shows you they try to accommodate their players first and want them to have the best environment possible to succeed. Just seeing the guys and being around the coaches, you can feel the positive attitude around here."
Carroll apparently felt so comfortable at The Star that he decided to cancel his visit to the Steelers and chose to sign the offer from the Cowboys. He admitted he might've been able to get more than the three-year, $10 million contract he received from Dallas, but Carroll said he's interested in a bigger goal.
"It's really not about the offer," said Carroll, who played four years in Miami from 2010-13 before joining the Eagles. "I just want to win. I appreciate the opportunity Coach [Jason] Garrett and Mr. [Jerry] Jones have given me to come to a prestigious organization like this and be a part of a winning tradition and winning culture around here. I just see it as me being another piece to help the team win."[embeddedad0]
Carroll becomes the second player to sign from the Eagles in two years, joining defensive tackle Cedric Thornton. Having turned 30 in January, Carroll knows he's got some experience to offer.
"I know there're a lot of young guys in the room. One of my jobs is to help them and teach them," Carroll said. "Certain experiences they've gone through, I can help with that. It's really good to have a veteran guy who has been through it all. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes, but if they ask me questions, I'll help them."
With Carroll on board, he joins Orlando Scandrick as the veteran leaders of the cornerback position. As of now, Brandon Carr remains a free agent but the door hasn't been closed on his possible return. Morris Claiborne is another free agent and has drawn some interest from other teams. The Cowboys also have Anthony Brown, who had a solid rookie season, and could address the position even further in the draft, which is considered to be rather deep at the cornerback spot.
