Just some quick news & notes for a quiet Sunday afternoon.
New Cowboys' cornerback Brandon Carr has been making the rounds with the media recently, talking about his new team, and talking about some division rivals. Carr lays down the gauntlet with respect to the New York Giants, and their new-found receiving sensation, Victor Cruz. Cruz burst onto the scene in 2011 and helped lead the Giants to a world title, and was known for throwing a little extra spice into the mix with his salsa dance after scoring touchdowns. Carr has declared it a "no dancing" zone when he's covering Cruz.
During a Friday appearance on ESPN's NFL Live, Carr was asked how he planned to slow Victor Cruz -- the Giants receiver known for breaking into a salsa dance when he scores a touchdown -- and the cornerback had an answer ready.
"I want to use all my body. I'm six-foot, 200 pounds. I know he's got to run through me to get wherever he's running, so I'm going to be patient at the line. All that salsa dancing, that's fine, but you've got to come through me," Carr said. "I don't plan on seeing no dancing."
Let's hope he's true to his word.
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New free agent guard Mackenzy Bernadeau opened up to the Mothership about why he came to Dallas and what he hopes to accomplish. First and foremost, he wants to show the Cowboys, and the fans, what kind of player he is, and in his words that means one thing, and aggressive hitter.
For those who are unfamiliar with your game, what kind of player are the Cowboys getting in Mackenzy Bernadeau?
Bernadeau: They're getting a very aggressive, physical player. I'm just one of those guys who likes to make a lot of contact, likes to hit and just be as dominant as can be. That's been my mentality the last few years, just to be the aggressor and deliver the hit. I'm looking forward to being a smart, tough, dominant aggressor on the field.
As for where he'll play, it could be either left or right guard.
What have you learned so far from line coach Bill Callahan about your role here?
Bernadeau: He definitely sees me playing as a guard. Exactly which side, I'm not 100 percent sure. I'll be eager to play either side, to tell you the truth, just for an opportunity to play with a good group of guys, and be able to protect Romo.
Protect Romo, that's the key.
Sean Lee gives and expansive interview with an El Paso paper. The budding star in the middle of the Cowboys defense talks about his offseason workout program, how he feels as good as he has in a long time for this time of the year, and talks about the scandal at Penn State. It's a good read, but the most interesting quote was an off-beat answer about wanting to be a basketball player, and how one opposing b-ball player blew that dream away.
"I actually wanted to be a basketball player," said Lee, who went to Upper St. Clair High School outside Pittsburgh. "I played basketball every day from the seventh grade through the 10th grade. I remember playing an AAU game in Pittsburgh. I was playing this point guard and he kept going right past me and I couldn't get past him. I remember thinking there must be a lot of guys who can do that, that maybe I had better focus on football. That point guard was Darrelle Revis (All-Pro cornerback for the New York Jets), and we all know what a great athlete he is. So maybe I was a little hard on myself. Still, he had that burst and I figured I'd better go to football."
Jess Holley says he's still talking to the Cowboys about a return, and he likes the direction the team is going.
Receiver Jesse Holley said he is still talking to the Cowboys and hopes to come back. But if not, he's thankful for the chance the Cowboys gave him and hopes he’s established enough of a body of work to get another NFL job.
[snip]
"This team is going to be a good team," he said. "I’m still a Cowboy at heart. Coach Garrett has really got these guys going in the right direction. He’s brought in a bunch of top-notch free agents. He’s really shored up a lot of holes we had last season. I’m confident that Coach Garrett and Jerry really have this team going in the right direction. Once those guys get here and in the minicamps and get jelled in, I think it will definitely be a team to reckon with next year."
And finally, we might be seeing a little less of Rob Ryan. No, I don't mean he's going anywhere, there just may be less of him to see, literally.
—Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is undergoing the process of having lap band surgery like his brother and Jets coach Rex Ryan did. Rex Ryan made the announcement at the NFL owners meetings. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett declined to comment on Ryan's personal health decisions but said he has been in the office and will not miss any time during the offseason program, minicamp or training camp.