Cowboys Roster Moves: DB Sterling Moore To Be Signed, DE Ben Bass To IR

The Cowboys will sign Sterling Moore off the Patriots' practice squad in a move designed to to bolder their injury-riddled secondary, according to multiple sources.

Moore is already the fourth defensive back the Cowboys have brought in during the season. Safeties Eric Frampton and Charlie Peprah as well as cornerback Vince Agnew were signed earlier in the season to shore up a depleted Cowboys secondary. With Orlando Scandrick out with a fractured hand and Charlie Peprah out temporarily with a sprained foot, the move to get Moore became necessary.

Moore has played both the safety and cornerback positions for the Patriots over the last two years and has also played a rotational role in nickel and dime packages. This season, he was active for the first eight games before being released and re-signed to New England's practice squad. In 2011, he also played in eight games for the Patriots, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

The 5-10, 200-pound Moore did not begin playing football until his senior year of high school, when his school’s receivers coach saw him playing with his friends before the first day of tryouts and encouraged him to play. Moore played for two seasons at SMU in Dallas after transferring from Laney College, where he was a California all-JUCO selection.

Moore was earning $149,940 (or $8,820 per week) on the Patriots’ practice squad, which is unusually high for practice squad players. The Patriots have a history of paying their practice squad members well in an attempt to make them stay with the team and also to reward the players for their practice performance. Not only will Moore have a better chance to play in Dallas, he'll also be making more money: The Cowboys are likely going to add an extra year to Moore’s contract and sign him through 2013.

To open up a spot on the 53-man roster, the Cowboys are expected to move recently called-up DE Ben Bass to IR. Apparently, Bass suffered an ankle injury during practice this week that will make him the tenth Cowboys player on IR this season. In related news, Sean Lissemore looks like he's ready to return this week after sitting out 6 games high-ankle sprain, so Bass may have found himself on the inactive list for Sunday's game anyway.