While the Cowboys are never short on current superstars, their legacy was built on legends, many of which have long retired from the game. Still, former Cowboys players and coaches constantly garner headlines, which will be captured in the ongoing “Past & Present Blog.” Here are some of the latest news items that have come from some members of the Cowboys’ alumni.
Romo Still Trying To Become Pro Golfer
Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will be at AT&T Stadium Sunday to call the Jags-Cowboys game for CBS. He’s on the No. 1 team for CBS’ NFL coverage and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon.
But Romo wouldn’t mind adding some “competition” to his life again, and that would come in the form of golf. Romo has been playing more golf lately, evening winning a couple of tournaments this past summer, including the American Century Celebrity Pro-Am at Lake Tahoe.
Recently, experienced golf writer Art Stricklin caught up with Romo to discuss his future and how it likely includes a legitimate attempt to make the PGA tour at some point. Right now, Romo already has some strong support from PGA stars Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, who were both quoted in this story that details Romo’s expected journey to professional golf.
-Nick Eatman
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Church Headlines Return of Former Cowboys
The Jaguars have plenty of elite players coming to town this weekend, mostly on the defensive side of the ball that makes up Jacksonville’s No. 1 ranked defense.
The team also has a few former Cowboys on the team, and coaching staff as well.
Barry Church – After seven years with the Cowboys, including being a defensive captain at one point, Church is now in his second season with the Jaguars. He is the team’s starting strong safety in a talented secondary that has multiple Pro Bowlers.
Jermey Parnell – A former Cowboys offensive tackle, Parnell signed a five-year, $32 million deal with the Jaguars back in 2015. From 2011-15, Parnell was mostly a backup, but started seven games, including five in 2014. That helped him land a deal in Jacksonville, where he has been a starter for the past four years, starting all 49 games he’s played.
Tyler Patmon – The cornerback spent two seasons with the Cowboys from 2014-15. He joined the Jaguars last year and played in 13 games. He also earned one start already this season.
Joe DeCamillis – The Jaguars’ special teams coordinator was with the Cowboys from 2009-2012 in the same role. A special teams coach since the early 1990s, DeCamillis has been with seven different teams, and his on his second stint with the Jaguars.
-Nick Eatman
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NFL Network Debuts “A Football Life” on Romo
In just his second full season since retiring as a player, Tony Romo certainly is far removed from the NFL. As the lead analyst for the No. 1 team on CBS, Romo has seemed to make the transition better than anyone could’ve imagined.
Still, he’s still remembered more as the face of the franchise for the Cowboys during the 10+ seasons he was the starting quarterback.
NFL Network will air “A Football Life” on Tony Romo, which debuts Friday night.
There are plenty of stats and milestones that Romo achieved, but postseason success obviously escaped him.
Romo talked about that empty feeling, coming up early in his career coached by Bill Parcells and what it was like to get the star treatment that came with his role.
Plus, Jerry Jones brings some insight into what kind of legacy Romo has left behind and watch the future holds for him at AT&T Stadium, perhaps with the Ring of Honor.
-Nick Eatman
Click HERE to watch a preview.
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Bailey Connects For 3 FGs For Vikings
Held without a single attempt in his first game with the Vikings last week, Dan Bailey was much more involved Thursday night against the Rams.
The former Cowboys’ kicker made his first field goal, although he hit the upright first, of 37 yards. He then drilled a 39-yarder, followed by a 40-yard kick in the fourth quarter to pull the Vikings within a touchdown. Bailey also made both extra points.
The Cowboys’ all-time leader in field goals made, Bailey was released by the team at the end of the preseason and spent two weeks without a job before the Vikings signed him before last week’s loss to the Bills.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys haven’t had many issues with Brett Maher, who is 4 of 5 this year with his only miss occurring in the season opener against the Panthers of 47 yards. Last week, he hit a 50-yard kick against the Seahawks.
-Nick Eatman
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Obada Earns NFC Player of the Week
Although it seemed a given that Seattle’s Earl Thomas would claim the top defensive honor for the NFC this week for his two-interception game vs. Dallas, the actual winner began his remarkable journey to the NFL with the Cowboys.
Defensive end Efe Obada, who played in his first-ever regular season game, had a huge impact for the Panthers on Sunday. In a win over the Bengals, Obada filled up the stat sheet, recording a tackle for loss, a sack, an interception, a pass deflection, earning the game ball from head coach Ron Rivera.
Obada then earned more than that, taking home the weekly honor from the NFL.
After making the 53-man roster for the first time in his career, Obada was inactive in Week 1 when the Cowboys game to Carolina. The Panthers also de-activated him last week against the Falcons.
But his journey to the league actually started with the Cowboys, who signed him back in 2015. Obada, born in Nigeria but sent to the UK at the age of 10 where he was abandoned and lived on the streets for a while his sister, didn’t play football until the age of 22. He started playing professional ball in London before eventually getting connected with the Cowboys, who had him on their practice squad for two years but never made it on the active roster.
-Nick Eatman
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Switzer Gets First Career TD Catch
Already playing on his third team in two seasons, Ryan Switzer had a big impact for the Steelers Monday night.
The former Cowboys’ draft pick had a 1-yard touchdown catch from Ben Roethlisberger before halftime in Pittsburgh’s win over the Bucs Monday night. It was Switzer’s first career touchdown catch. The fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2017 returned a punt for a touchdown as a rookie against the Redskins.
But traded to the Raiders on draft day, Switzer spent the majority of camp in Oakland before being dealt again, this time to Pittsburgh.
Playing with a crowded group of receivers including Antonio Brown and highly-drafted teammates such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington, Switzer still managed to catch three passes (nine yards) in helping Pittsburgh to its first win of the season.
-Nick Eatman
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HOF Receiver McDonald Passes Away
While Tommy McDonald spent a good portion of his career trying to run past the Cowboys, the speedy receiver did spend one of his Hall of Fame seasons in Dallas, playing the 1964 season.
McDonald, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, mostly for his success as a Philadelphia Eagle, passed away this week at the age of 84.
McDonald played 12 years in the NFL, including his first seven in Philadelphia as an undersized receiver.
He was traded to the Cowboys in 1964 and actually made the cover of Sports Illustrated with Dallas. He caught just 46 passes for 612 yards and two scores in his 14 games with the Cowboys. He was then traded to the Rams and played four more seasons with three other clubs.
While the Cowboys don’t recognize McDonald as one of their Hall of Fame players, he is included in the team’s media guide as one of seven players/coaches that spent time with the organization, although they spent the majority of their career with other teams. Some of those players and coaches include Bill Parcells, Mike Ditka and Herb Adderley.
-Nick Eatman
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Former Draft Pick Clinches Browns’ First Win
While no one could’ve possibly stolen the spotlight away from No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, who came off the bench to deliver the Browns’ first victory in nearly two years, there was a former Cowboys draft pick that actually slammed door on the Jets Thursday night.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell, who actually had two stints with the Cowboys, picked off Jets rookie Sam Darnold in the final seconds to preserve the win.
Mitchell is only in his fifth season but is considering a journeyman. After being one of five seventh-round picks of the Cowboys in 2014, Mitchell was cut at the end of his first training camp. After playing five games in Chicago the next year, Mitchell returned to Dallas and played three games. But he spent 2016 and 2017 with the Chiefs before joining the Browns this year.
Mitchell has five career interceptions, including four last season alone with the Chiefs, which sparked him to sign a three-year, $10 million deal with Cleveland this past offseason.
The Jets, head coached by former Cowboys secondary coach (2005-07) Todd Bowles, dropped to 1-2 on the season.
-Nick Eatman
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Dan Bailey Signs With Vikings
Dan Bailey wasn’t without a job for too long. Just a couple of weeks after being released by the Cowboys, the team’s all-time leader in field goals is expected to join one of the NFC’s top teams.
Bailey signed with the Vikings on Monday after Minnesota played to a 29-29 tie, thanks to three missed field goals by rookie kicker Daniel Carslon, including two in overtime.
Bailey, who was one of the Cowboys’ final cuts after the preseason, was without a team for the first two weeks of the season. But after several teams, including the Vikings, had kicking issues last Sunday, it was plausible he would join another team this week. Minnesota makes sense, considering they kick indoors and the Vikings are one of the favorites this year to contend for a Super Bowl.
The second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, Bailey has made 88.1 percent of his kicks, only behind Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (90.3).
Bailey’s replacement, Brett Maher, has made 1-of-2 field goal attempts this year.
-Nick Eatman
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Ex-Cowboys Nominated for 2019 HOF
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has unveiled its 102 modern-era nominees for the 2019 Class, and several players and coaches are on the list.
Among the nominees: Jimmy Johnson, Darren Woodson, Daryl Johnston, Herschel Walker, Jay Novacek, Russell Maryland, La’Roi Glover and Bill Bates.
Gil Brandt, the Cowboys’ vice president player of personnel from 1960-89, has already been named one of two contributor finalists for 2019.
On “Selection Saturday” – February 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Ga – the 48-member Hall of Fame selection committee will consider 18 finalists, including a senior finalist (Johnny Robinson), two contributor finalists (Pat Bowlen and Brandt), and 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined.
This initial modern-era nominee list will be trimmed to 25 semi-finalists in November and 15 finalists in January.
Here is the complete list of nominees: (Former Cowboys in bold)
QUARTERBACKS
(5) – Randall Cunningham, Dave Krieg, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair
RUNNING BACKS
(14) — Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Earnest Byner, Larry Centers, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, *Edgerrin James, Darryl Johnston, Eric Metcalf (WR/KR/PR), Clinton Portis, Fred Taylor, Herschel Walker (also KR), Chris Warren, Ricky Watters
WIDE RECEIVERS
(9) — *Isaac Bruce, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard (also PR), Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Sterling Sharpe, Rod Smith, Hines Ward
TIGHT ENDS
(4) — Mark Bavaro, Tony Gonzalez, Brent Jones, Jay Novacek
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
(15) — Willie Anderson (T), Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ray Donaldson (C), __Alan Faneca (G), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), *Steve Hutchinson (G), Mike Kenn (T), Olin Kreutz (C), *Kevin Mawae (C/G), Tom Nalen (C), Chris Samuels (T), Richmond Webb (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
(7) — La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Russell Maryland (DT), Leslie O’Neal (DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Richard Seymour (DT), Neil Smith (DE), Bryant Young (DT)
LINEBACKERS
(14) — Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, London Fletcher, Seth Joyner, Wilber Marshall, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Chris Spielman, Takeo Spikes, Darryl Talley, Zach Thomas
DEFENSIVE BACKS
(18) — Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Champ Bailey (CB), Ronde Barber (CB/S), Bill Bates (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Nick Collins (S), Thomas Everett (S),Rodney Harrison (S), *Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), Tim McDonald (S), Ed Reed (FS), Dennis Smith (S), Troy Vincent (CB), Adrian Wilson (S), Darren Woodson (S)
PUNTERS/KICKER
(3) — Jason Elam (K), Jeff Feagles (P), Sean Landeta (P)
SPECIAL TEAMS
(2) — Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (ST also WR)
COACHES
(11) — Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, Tom Flores, Jim Hanifan, Mike Holmgren,Jimmy Johnson, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
CONTRIBUTORS
(2) — Pat Bowlen, Gil Brandt
-Nick Eatman
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D-Ware Joins DWTS Season 27
The season 27 cast of Dancing with the Stars was announced this morning and former Pro-Bowler and Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware will be joining the reality show line-up.
Unsure of what this dancing journey might have in store for him, DeMarcus is sure of one thing… that he wants to take home some more hardware.
The excitement level is there, and he is ready to go!
Ware has been partnered with season 25 champion, Lindsay Arnold.
Ware will be joining Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens as former Dallas Cowboys who found their way to the dance floor of Dancing with the Stars.
Emmitt Smith won Dancing with the Stars season three and took home the mirror ball trophy, so hopefully DeMarcus Ware can follow in his fancy footsteps!
Catch Ware on the season premiere September 24th at 8pm on ABC.
-Courtney McKenna
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Colombo Enters Boston College Hall of Fame
One assistant coach not on the team charter last Saturday to Charlotte was Marc Colombo, who was already on the East Coast for another reason.
Colombo, who played nine seasons in the NFL, including six with the Cowboys, was honored by his alma mater Boston College, being inducted into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame.
Colombo, an assistant offensive line coach for the Cowboys, left for the Boston area immediately after Friday’s practice at The Star and made it just in time to be honored during a Friday night ceremony. Colombo, who was inducted alongside eight new members, including ex-NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck, was introduced to the halftime crowd on Saturday during BC’s game with Holy Cross.
Colombo, a first-round pick of the Bears in 2002, played into his third year with Chicago before injuries led to him being a free agent. He joined the Cowboys late in 2004 and eventually became a starter the following season and held that spot until 2010. He played his final season in the NFL with the Dolphins.
For more information on Colombo’s trip back to Boston, click here:
-Nick Eatman
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Hitchens Has Productive Debut For KC
Former Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, one of the team’s biggest departures this past free agency, had quite a debut for the Chiefs on Sunday.
Hitchens, who had battled a hamstring injury earlier in the week, had a career-high tying 15 tackles in the Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Chargers. While tackles aren’t an official stat and can be altered by the team after studying the film, Hitchens was listed atop the NFL’s tackle leaders by ESPN and NFL.com.
A fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2014, Hitchens spent four years with the Cowboys, mostly as a starter in the 4-3 scheme. He registered 92 tackles in 2017 despite missing four games with a knee injury. The Chiefs signed him to a five-year, $45 million ($21.2 million guaranteed) contract back in March.
-Nick Eatman
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What Aikman “Loves” About Dak
As he enters his 18th season in the broadcast booth for Fox, Troy Aikman has to make sure he has a great feel for all teams, especially in the NFC, and most of the quarterbacks.
But when it comes to Dak Prescott, that’s one position he knows everything about. Quarterbacking America’s Team is not like any other, and therefore, Aikman shares a bond with Prescott and all the players who have shared that spotlight.
This week, Aikman talked about what he likes the most about the Cowboys’ current quarterback.
“I like him, I love him, for that matter,” said Aikman. “I love the intangibles that he brings. Is that in-and-of itself enough? No, but it’s such a big part of it. We’ve seen a lot of really talented guys that have come through this league that have lacked in a lot of those areas and they’ve really flamed out.
“I’ve been a big fan of Dak’s since the day I first met him and he’s done nothing to change my opinion of him. I think he works exceptionally hard. I think it’s important to him. I think his teammates love playing for him.”
For more of Aikman’s comments on Prescott and the Cowboys in 2018, check out the full article on 5 Points Blue.
-Nick Eatman
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Holley Joins Cover 4 Crew
Former Cowboys wide receiver Jesse Holley, who made his way to the team from the help of TV, is back on behind the camera again. This time, Holley joins the Cover 4 crew on DallasCowboys.com.
Each day throughout the week, Holley will bring his perspective in the fast-paced, fun-filled show that enters its third season.
Holley played two years for the Cowboys, including a memorable catch in overtime to help the team beat San Francisco back in 2011.
He got on the team’s radar thanks to a reality show, “4th & Long” that starred Michael Irvin. Holley won the contest and earned a spot on the team at training camp. He eventually landed a spot on the practice squad and eventually on the roster at the end of 2010 and then in 2011.
Click Here to watch the his debut episode.
-Nick Eatman
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Past/Present: Vikings’ Newman Announces Retirement
Cornerback Terence Newman, the first draft pick of the Bill Parcells era in Dallas, will retire after 15 seasons, the Minnesota Vikings announced.
The 39-year-old Newman will join Mike Zimmer’s coaching staff in Minnesota, the Vikings announced.
Newman was part of a 2003 Cowboys rookie class that included tight end Jason Witten (third round) and quarterback Tony Romo (undrafted). Newman played nine seasons in Dallas and made two Pro Bowls.
He spent the last six seasons playing in Cincinnati and Minnesota.
Newman’s decision comes five months after Witten announced his retirement from the Cowboys to call games for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Romo is now the lead NFL analyst for CBS Sports.
-Rob Phillips
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Switzer Traded to Steelers
Ryan Switzer’s time with the Raiders didn’t last very long. The former Cowboys’ draft pick who was traded in April to Oakland, has been dealt again. This time, Switzer is headed to the East Coast.
The Raiders traded Switzer to Pittsburgh, where he will join a receiving corps that already includes arguably the NFL’s best receiver in Antonio Brown, along with JuJu Smith-Schuster and recently-drafted second-round pick James Washington.
Switzer, who scored the Raiders’ first touchdown of the preseason, didn’t have a strong role on special teams as was expected, considering former Cowboys special teams coach Rich Bisaccia now handles the kicking game in Oakland.
Switzer, a fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2017, returned a punt for a touchdown as a rookie against the Redskins.
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Cardinals Bring Some Familiar Captains
While it’s unlikely Arizona has named its captains for the regular season, the Cardinals made sure to trot out some guys the Cowboys have seen before to the opening kickoff.
Arizona sent receiver Brice Butler and defensive end Benson Mayowa out to the 50 before the game. Both players had been with the Cowboys last season, including Butler, who spent nearly three full seasons in Dallas.
Butler is currently listed as the starting receiver on Arizona’s depth chart, but he didn’t start the game on Sunday. The veteran receiver did get a few snaps in the middle of the Cardinals’ 27-3 win on Sunday.
Arizona also had two more former Cowboys on its roster in defensive back Bene Benwikere and offensive lineman John Wetzel.
-Nick Eatman
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Gil Brandt Selected As Hall Of Fame Contributor Finalist
Gil Brandt, legendary former Cowboys personnel chief, has been selected as one of two contributor finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is also a contributor finalist. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones was elected to the 2017 Hall of Fame class as a contributor.
As Cowboys vice president player of personnel from 1960-89, Brandt had an essential role in bringing of some of the franchise’s all-time players to the organization, helping build Dallas into a dynasty. He’s also widely considered an innovator in the way front offices are built and operated today.
To be elected to the Hall of Fame, Bowlen and Brandt must receive 80 percent voting support by the entire 48-member Selection Committee on “Selection Saturday” – February 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Ga. The committee will consider 18 finalists, including a senior finalist (Johnny Robinson), two contributor finalists (Bowlen and Brandt), and 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined.
-Rob Phillips
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Former Cowboys Great Andrie Passes Away
George Andrie, one of the best defensive linemen in the Cowboys’ illustrious history, passed away Tuesday morning. Andrie was 78.
A sixth-round draft choice in 1962, Andrie played 11 seasons for the Cowboys at defensive end, earning a starting job as a rookie at right end. Andrie started at defensive end for 10 consecutive seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors five straight years, from 1965-69. He led the Cowboys in sacks for four consecutive seasons, from 1964 through 1967, totaling a team-high and career-high 18½ sacks in 1966, the first season in franchise history the Cowboys finished with a winning record (10-3-1). He was part of the team’s Doomsday Defense that led the Cowboys to the 1966 NFL Title game, losing in the final seconds, 27-24, to Green Bay at the Cotton Bowl, and was there again in 1967 when the Cowboys lost the Ice Bowl to the Packers at Lambeau Field, 17-14.
Andrie’s 97 career sacks rank fifth all-time for the Cowboys, though sacks were not considered an official NFL statistic until 1982.
Former Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt tweeted this about Andrie, the absolute best player the Cowboys selected in that ’62 draft:
https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/1031916570530861058
Brandt has a heck of a memory. Andrie indeed went to college at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and played there through the 1960 season. Marquette dropped football following the 1960 season, but Andrie decided to remain at Marquette to finish out his degree work in 1961-62 and did not play football that year.
Andrie was diagnosed with dementia in 2014.
-Mickey Spagnola
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Scandrick Picked Up By Kansas City
Orlando Scandrick wasn’t on the street for too long. Just days after being released by the Redskins, the veteran cornerback signed a 1-year, $1.5 million deal with the Chiefs.
Scandrick signed with the Redskins this offseason after being cut by the Cowboys. However, Washington decided to part ways with the veteran to give him time to sign with another team. Scandrick’s salary was not guaranteed by the Redskins, but he did get a $1 million signing bonus when he signed.
Drafted in 2008 as a fifth-round pick, Scandrick played 10 years with the Cowboys and was a solid piece to the defense for the majority of his career. But he only has eight career interceptions and never had more than two in one season.
-Nick Eatman
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Murray Joining Fox College Football Booth
Former Cowboys tailback DeMarco Murray, who holds two prestigious team rushing records, recently retired from the NFL. But he wasn’t out of a job for long.
Murray has signed with Fox Sports to cover college football this season. The former OU running back will join play-by-play commentator Justin Kutcher, along with Petros Padadakis. Murray’s broadcasting debut will be Aug. 31 when San Diego State travels to Stanford. Murray will get a good look at a Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love, who was the runner-up for the prestigious award last year for Stanford.
Murray retired in July with 7,171 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. He owns the Cowboys’ single-season rushing record with 1,845 yards set in 2014 and also has the club’s single-game mark with 253 yards against the Rams in 2011.
-Nick Eatman
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Witten Making MNF Team Debut
As the Cowboys wrap up the Oxnard portion of training camp, Jason Witten’s new career is beginning.
Witten is making his debut as Monday Night Football’s new analyst Thursday on ESPN’s broadcast of the Jets-Redskins preseason game.
Witten, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, retired to pursue a broadcasting career in May after 15 seasons with the Cowboys.
“I think he’ll do great,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “Jason Witten’s a special guy. I was so privileged to be around him for 11 years. He’s simply one of the best players and one of the best people I’ve ever been around in my life. We have a great friendship.
“He’s going to approach the Monday Night Football analyst job just like he’s approached everything in his life. He’s going to do it 100 miles an hour. He’s going to be completely prepared. And I think people are going to find out how charming and engaging he is. He’ll obviously provide great analysis of football.”
-Rob Phillips
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Redskins Decide To Part Ways With Scandrick
The Redskins gave a $1 million signing bonus to Orlando Scandrick earlier in the offseason, not long after he was released by the Cowboys.
However, that will likely be the only thing the veteran cornerback will get from Washington as the club decided to cut Scandrick and rely on younger cornerbacks.
According to reports, the Redskins made the move early enough in hopes Scandrick could sign with another team seeking veteran help at the cornerback position.
Drafted in 2008 as a fifth-round pick, Scandrick played 10 years with the Cowboys and was a solid piece to the defense for the majority of his career. But he only has eight career interceptions and never had more than two in one season.
-Nick Eatman
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Alfred Morris To Sign With 49ers
Former Cowboys running back Alfred Morris is expected to join the 49ers this week at training camp this week.
Morris, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, spent the last two years with the Cowboys, starting five games, mostly in the place of Ezekiel Elliott last season. Morris rushed for 790 yards the past two years with the Cowboys, but had a pair of Pro Bowl seasons with the Redskins in his four years in Washington, including a 1,613-yard rookie season in 2012.
Morris rushed for 547 yards and one touchdown in 2017 with the Cowboys, including 127 yards against the Redskins.
The Cowboys chose to let Morris test free agency this offseason, opting to stick with Elliott, Rod Smith and Trey Williams, along with added rookies Bo Scarbrough and Jordan Chunn. The Cowboys also added Darius Jackson before camp.
-Nick Eatman
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Switzer Scores Raiders’ First Preseason TD
One of the Day 3 surprises of the NFL Draft involved a trade with the Raiders that sent wide receiver Ryan Switzer to Oakland in exchange for Jihad Ward, who has been taking first-team reps with the Cowboys’ D-line at camp.
But Switzer had an impressive debut in Oakland, catching a touchdown pass in the first quarter last weekend, diving to the ground to haul in the Raiders’ first score. Switzer celebrated the play by leaping into the “Black Hole” behind the end zone with the fans. The touchdown came from quarterback Connor Cook, a player the Cowboys reportedly wanted to draft in 2016 before the Raiders traded up for the former Michigan State standout. The Cowboys eventually took Dak Prescott later in the draft.
-Nick Eatman
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Spears Joins Cowboys Broadcast Booth
A former first-round pick has joined the Cowboys media team for the preseason and parts of the regular season. Marcus Spears, who is also an analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network, worked the preseason opener in San Francisco as a member of the Cowboys’ TV Network. Spears, the 20th overall pick in 2005, played eight of his nine pro seasons in Dallas, recording 10 sacks. Spears finished his career in 2013 with the Ravens.
Throughout the season, Spears is also scheduled to appear on occasional internet pregame shows for the Cowboys in the regular season.
-Nick Eatman
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Deep Blue: Parcells’ Final Ride
The first installment of this year’s Deep Blue Documentary series, presented by Pepsi, kicked off with an extensive look at the 2003 season and the partnership formed by the Cowboys and Bill Parcells.
The documentary, titled, “Parcells’ Final Ride,” starts with a secret meeting on the runway back in 2002 when Jerry Jones and Parcells first discussed the possibility of him becoming the head coach. The documentary chronicles the entire 2003 season and how Parcells not only changed the culture, but elevated a team that had endured three straight 5-11 seasons, but managed to make the playoffs despite a lack of talent on both sides of the ball.
This kicks off the fourth season of Deep Blue, an annual series of four documentaries that have featured a wide range of topics over the years.
Click Here To Watch Deep Blue: Parcells’ Final Ride
-Nick Eatman
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Before USC Job, Campo Stops By
The head coach of the Cowboys the first time they came to Oxnard, Calif. returned to the fields this week. Dave Campo, a head coach from 2000-02, but also an assistant coach for 15 other seasons, said hello to some familiar faces. Campo is spending this season in LA as part of the coaching staff at Southern Cal. Campo is a defensive assistant for a defense run by Clancy Pendergast, who spent seven years as a Cowboys coach from 1996-2002.
Campo isn’t the only former coach or player who has visited the team during the first 10 days of camp.
Along with Pendergast, who spent seven years as a Cowboys coach from 1996-2002, former offensive line coach Tony Wise has been on the sidelines for a few days. Wise spent 1989-92 coaching the O-line and helped win a Super Bowl in his final season with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys also welcomed former tight end Eric Bjornson, who has remained a close friend of Jason Garrett over the years. Bjornson spent five years with the team from 1995-99.
-Nick Eatman
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Witten, Dez Still Make Headlines
For the first time in 16 years, Jason Witten is not with the Cowboys at training camp. For the first time since 2009, Dez Bryant isn’t here either. Yet, both of them have managed to stay in the news, offering up some insight to how things were, at least in their eyes, in the locker room and behind closed doors.
Witten, who now works for ESPN as part of his new job on Monday Night Football, wrote his first column this week, basically explaining how social media sites such as Twitter can be problematic, distracting and actually “poisonous” for a football team. He mentioned there were times players have checked their own accounts at halftime of games.
Ironically enough, later that day, Dez Bryant took to Twitter in an attempt to defend himself of a tweet he thought was directed solely at him by Stephen Jones. Bryant promptly went off, blasting former teammates and coaches, including the play-caller Scott Linehan, owner Jerry Jones, Travis Frederick and Sean Lee, whom he referred to as “Snake Lee.”
The messages were quickly relayed back to the Cowboys in Oxnard, where both Lee and Frederick responded, saying they admire Bryant as a teammate but Lee went as far to say the wide receiver needs to “look at himself” and needs to be more accountable.
-Nick Eatman
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First Great Cowboys WR Passes Away
Frank Clarke, one of the original players on the Cowboys back in 1960, passed away at the age of 84 on Thursday.
Clarke was the first 1,000-yard receiver in club history, recording 1,043 yards in 1963.
Although he retired after the 1967 season, Clarke still ranks seventh in Cowboys history in receiving yards with 5,214 and he’s one of seven players in franchise history with 50 touchdown catches.
Clarke’s final game of his career was the “Ice Bowl” in Green Bay for the NFL Championship.
-Nick Eatman
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Jerry Says T.O. Making HOF Mistake; Owens Fires Back
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said many times one of the more enjoyable moments of his entire life occurred last year in Canton, Ohio when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Recently, he said he visited with Terrell Owens about the former receiver’s decision to skip out on the Canton festivities next month.
Owens has made plenty of headlines over the last month for deciding to hold his own private party at his alma mater, Chattanooga, instead of attending the ceremony with fellow inductees such as Randy Moss and Ray Lewis.
“I did have discussions with him. I had one of the great experiences that ever happened to me last year,” Jones said. “He did not ask my advice. Had he asked my advice, or had I been compelled to, I would have shared with him that this is a mistake. You, for your own reasons, but more importantly because of fans, you should participate. I didn’t give him that advice and consequently, you see where he’s going. He is making a mistake, but that’s his decision. Terrell, as you know, has a mind of his own.”
Owens, who played three seasons for the Cowboys from 2006-08, responded to Jerry’s comments with a tweet:
_ “Jerry ‘made a mistake’ of releasing me after listening to others when I produced, gave my ALL, sacrificed my health for the team but who am I?!” Owens wrote in a post on his verified account. “But hey I thought Jerry had a mind of his own too. #GOFIGURE What I'm doing is for the FANS. #THISISFORYOU”_
-Nick Eatman
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Romo Rallies For Celebrity Golf Victory
Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is no stranger to playing in golf tournaments. But the former Cowboys quarterback arguably won his biggest tournament on July 15, winning the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe
Romo edged out celebrity stars such as baseball pitcher Mark Mulder and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer.
The American Century Championship uses a modified Stableford scoring system which rewards points for eagles (six), birdies (three) and pars (one) and deducts points (two) for double bogeys or worse. Bogeys are worth zero points.
For more info on Romo’s win, along with the results of DeMarcus Ware at the tournament, check out a full story on 5Pointsblue.com.
-Nick Eatman
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Greg Hardy Earns UFC Contract
Former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy has not played in the NFL since his one year in Dallas, but has found a new home in the UFC.
Hardy was signed to a developmental contract this past summer and is expected to fight again on Aug. 7 in Las Vegas at Dana White’s Contender Series 16.
Hardy’s record is officially 1-0 as a UFC fighter.
Hardy spent just one season for the Cowboys in 2015 and was filled with controversy, stemming from an NFL four-game suspension for personal conduct. Hardy was convicted of domestic violence in 2014 but the charges were dismissed when his accuser did not testify against him. Hardy played in 12 games in 2015 and recorded six sacks and an interception. However, he has not played in the NFL since that season.
Check out is full bio here.
-Nick Eatman
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Dennis Thurman Graduates 40 Years Later
Although he didn’t finish college at USC because he was drafted by the Cowboys in 1978, Dennis Thurman never gave up on his goal.
At the age of 62, the former Cowboys cornerback recently graduated from UNLV, earning his bachelor’s degree in Las Vegas.
Following the ceremony, Thurman flew to Virginia to surprise his 82-year-old mother and two daughters, who were both college graduates, who were all unaware that he had returned to school.
Thurman was an 11th-round pick in 1978 but not only made the team but eventually became a leader in the Cowboys secondary. The namesake of “Thurman’s Thieves,” he played eight years in Dallas and nine overall. He ranks fourth in Cowboys history with 36 interceptions and had seven more in the playoffs, including a franchise-record-tying three in a 1982 Divisional win over the Packers.
-Nick Eatman
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