Cowboys Await Face Lift
Put a big sign up at Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas: “Dallas Cowboys Under Reconstruction.”
Owner Jerry Jones has some big decisions to make in the coming months to keep the Cowboys’ talent level competitive with the rest of the wild, unpredictable NFL.
The team’s crippled image also needs lots of work. Drug suspensions, allegations of sexual misconduct and other problems have turned off fans and caused several Cowboys to hint that they’ll retire if management doesn’t do something.
Players, although they were reluctant to provide details, said Jones discussed the situation at a closed-door meeting Monday.
Chad Hennings said Jones talked about “just having guys watch themselves this off-season and enjoy themselves, but be careful.”
Indeed, Jones appears inclined to begin moving away from the win-at-all-cost focus that might have led to the image problem.
On Sunday, Jones vowed to end the “incidents” involving the team, including the one-year drug suspension of Leon Lett. There’s also the ongoing police investigation of rape allegations against Michael Irvin and Erik Williams that caused daily distractions at Valley Ranch the week prior to Sunday’s playoff loss to Carolina.
Quarterback Troy Aikman will meet with Jones during the off-season to see just what will be done to keep some free-agent standouts. That group includes fullback Daryl Johnston, linebacker Darrin Smith, safety George Teague, linebackers Jim Schwantz and Broderick Thomas, running back Herschel Walker, punter John Jett and placekicker Chris Boniol, currently on a streak of making 34 consecutive field goals.
It will be a problem keeping any of them because the Cowboys already have 36 players under contract for next season. The cost: $44.88 million. The expected salary cap: $41.5 million.
Irvin’s collarbone isn’t broken after all, but the bone around Deion Sanders’ right eye might be, the Cowboys said. Both players were injured Sunday against Carolina.
Irvin’s right shoulder injury has been diagnosed as a sprain. Sanders is expected to be examined by a specialist to determine whether he has a fractured orbital bone.
NFL tackles Lambeau
Groundskeepers are going to try to completely re-sod the grass on Green Bay’s Lambeau Field for Sunday’s NFC championship game.
More than 85,000 cubic feet of grass, at a cost to the NFL of more than $100,000, is being trucked in today from the Summit Hall sod farm in Poolesville, Md.
Packers lose Koonce
George Koonce, Green Bay’s middle linebacker, defensive signal-caller and leading tackler, tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over San Francisco. He’s scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday.
Koonce will be replaced by seven-year veteran Ron Cox when the Packers host Carolina.
Notes
Northwestern coach Gary Barnett said he will not be coaching the Detroit Lions, or any other NFL team, next season… . Mike Nolan was named Washington’s defensive coordinator. The 37-year-old Baltimore native was the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator last season. Nolan replaces Ron Lynn, fired Dec. 27 after the Redskins collapsed from a 7-1 start to finish at 9-7 and out of the playoffs… . The Atlanta Falcons signed three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Tuggle to a two-year contract extension. … Green Bay police said they could not confirm reports by Packers fans that San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. punched a man after Sunday’s NFC playoff game. An investigation into the alleged incident has begun.