Cowboys article roundup

[Bobby] Carpenter hung out at DeMarcus Ware's house Saturday night. He also stopped by defensive end Greg Ellis' house, which he referred to as a "castle." "It just kept going," Carpenter said. He also said he's looking forward to spending time with former Oilers and Cowboys receiver Mike Renfro, who is close friends with his father, Rob. Renfro lives in Southlake, Texas....

I narrowly avoided a collision with tight end/deep snapper Danny Young during Saturday's afternoon session. Young has a decent shot at making the club because he's more versatile than incumbent deep snapper L.P. Ladouceur...

Although he wasn't in this camp, Marc Colombo is getting rave reviews during the off-season program. He'll be competing for a backup offensive tackle spot. Even last season, some coaches were calling him the toughest player on the offensive line. ...

Cornerback Marcus King (Missouri) was only brought in for a weekend tryout, but he may be one of the players sticking around. He made some outstanding plays in Big 12 games and made several nice plays during the camp. ...

Dallas
The team approached its "need" positions this offseason, other than placekicker, wanting to double up at those spots by adding both a veteran and a rookie. For the most part, it got that done. Terrell Owens was a huge upgrade at wide receiver, and fourth-rounder Skyler Green should compete for the No. 4 WR job. At linebacker, the team signed veterans Akin Ayodele and Rocky Boiman and drafted first-rounder Bobby Carpenter. At free safety, the Cowboys added former Texan Marcus Coleman before the draft and snagged sleeper Pat Watkins in Round Five. But what about the offensive line? They added veterans Kyle Kosier, ostensibly to replace Larry Allen at left guard, and Jason Fabini, who'll challenge Rob Petitti at right tackle, but the Cowboys' only OL draft picks were seventh-round projects Pat McQuistan and E.J. Whitley, neither of whom is expected to contribute in '06. It's possible the team could add another free agent before training camp, but there are few big names left.

Most of the rookies will return next Monday, the earliest date allowed under league rules. First-round pick Bobby Carpenter might be delayed because Ohio State does not hold graduation until June 11. Parcells said he hopes Carpenter could return once he takes his last final.

Second-rounder Anthony Fasano said he will return May 15 but leave for his graduation ceremony at Notre Dame on May 21.

The rookies will be joined by the rest of the team for a full minicamp June 2-4. Training camp begins July 27.

Few doubt that under Parcells, the Cowboys have had more productive drafts and their defense has been upgraded significantly. But a few more daunting facts remain. Parcells is 10 years removed from his last Super Bowl appearance and 16 from his last Super Bowl win. And in a results-oriented business such as the NFL, the Cowboys' results under Parcells have been maddeningly mediocre.

It happens to the best of coaches. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is 1-4 in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in '97 and '98. Mike Holmgren needed seven seasons in Seattle before he reached the Super Bowl. Colts coach Tony Dungy has yet to reach one.

Jones admitted that Parcells feels the restlessness, too, to return to the level that made him a coaching icon, or at least close to it.
"Yes. Yes. Yes," Jones said. "I know that he's very disappointed. He wanted, thought, we had a better chance to have a better year last year.... There is a resolve. You don't have to worry about him. What you see is what you get with him."