Tyron Smith Agrees to Rookie Contract With Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have solidified the offensive line by singing first-round draft pick Tyron Smith to a four-year, $12.5 million deal on Thursday. Smith can now begin practicing with the Cowboys during the team’s training at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Smith’s drafting and now signing with Dallas all but ensures the release of veteran right tackle Marc Colombo. Cowboys team owner and general manager said Smith is “already penciled in as the starter” anyway.
Dallas Cowboys Lose DE Stephen Bowen to Washington Redskins Via Free Agency
The Dallas Cowboys’ goal of solidifying the defensive end position just got tougher. Free agent Stephen Bowen agreed to a five-year, $27 million deal with the Washington Redskins on Thursday. Bowen started the last eight games of the 2010 season for Dallas, recording 12 quarterback pressures and four tackles for loss. Bowen was expected to start this season in new Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s complex 3-4 scheme. Now Dallas must hope to re-sign free agent defensive end Jason Hatcher to have enough veteran players to fill the roster at defensive end.
Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers Planning to Practice Together During Preseason
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported on Wednesday the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers are discussing plans to practice together the week leading up to their preseason game on Aug. 21. Following the cancellation of the Hall of Fame game due to lengthened NFL labor talks, NBC decided to broadcast the Cowboys’ exhibition against the Chargers during primetime. To do this, the game had to be pushed back a couple of days and now it appears both Dallas and San Diego will take advantage of the extra time by practicing together.
Dallas Cowboys to Release RT Marc Colombo
Amidst all the veteran cuts by the Dallas Cowboys, it was originally believed the team would try to keep right tackle Marc Colombo and restructure his contract. Colombo is scheduled to make $1.9 million in 2011, but first-round draft pick Tyron Smith has “already been penciled in as the starter” according to Dallas team owner and general manager Jerry Jones. Sources say the Cowboys have already given up trying to negotiate a pay cut with Colombo and the veteran will likely be released.
Jason Garrett Promises Tough Training Camp for Dallas Cowboys
Despite rules in the new NFL collective bargaining agreement, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett plans to work his team hard during this short training camp. The new deal prohibits teams from conducting two-a-day practices as was the tradition for previous decades. Now the Cowboys will conduct walkthroughs in the mornings and a single practice in the afternoons of each day of training camp. Garrett says that won’t keep him from working his team into shape in a short amount of time. (more…)
