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The Dallas Cowboys have finalized the dates and times of their pre-season schedule.
Mon. Aug. 13th - @ Raiders 8 PM EST (MNF)
Sat. Aug 18th - @ Chargers 9 PM EST
Sat. Aug. 25th - vs. Rams 8 PM EST
Weds. Aug. 29th - Vs. Dolphins 8:30 PM EST
Recently acquired cornerback Brandon Car was asked how he is adjusting to life with the Cowboys, and how things are going out at Valley Ranch. His answer was very encouraging because it was about the team and how they are preparing. I have few worries about Carr and how he'll play, but you got to like what he said about the team.
After all, according to Carr, the Cowboys are different than most teams when it comes to preparing for the upcoming season. "I was just surprised coming into this whole process of being a free agent and meeting with the Cowboys that a lot of the guys stay here and workout," Carr said after an NFL Play 60 fitness event in North Dallas. "That's something you don't really see with a lot of teams, guys staying for the off-season when they could be out traveling to other cities and other states. The guys are here and getting it in."
Nice, and I'm sure Mike Woicik is putting them through their paces.
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Initially, it appeared that fan-favorite UDFA Nathan Dick was a Cowboy. (I know, he's a fan-favorite just for the endless comments that can be made about his name.) Turns out, he's not a Cowboy yet, but he will get a tryout along with another quarterback.
...the team has invited two signal callers to this weekend’s minicamp, including Allen native Nathan Dick, on a tryout basis. Dick worked out for the Cowboys at Dallas Day earlier in the month. As a senior at Central Arkansas, he threw for 3,275 yards with 32 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
Vanderbilt’s Larry Smith will also attend the camp. He threw for 3,223 yards with 16 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his career. He started the first six games for the Commodores last year with a 4-2 record.
There was some conjecture that Dallas would go after a running back in the later rounds of the draft but that never happened. Dallas did add some RBs among the UDFAs (Lance Dunbar, Darrell Scott), but let's not forget about that other running back who was on the roster last year, Phillip Tanner. He's doing everything he can to be ready for the 2012 season.
When Tanner recently stopped by MTSU, he acknowledged a few changes he’s undergone through one year of NFL life, especially physical adjustments.
"I’m a lean 220 (pounds), and I take real good care of my body. My job depends on it," Tanner said. "I do some boxing now, which is something I picked up from Demarcus Ware. It’s real good for cardio. I do yoga and work on my core so I’m able to take on blocks and do special teams, which is a big part of my job description.
"I needed to work really hard to make the team last year, and you have to be even better each year to make the team again."
OCC asked for your pet cats earlier today. How about Caleb McSurdy? He certainly seems to be Mike Lombardi's pet cat. McSurdy was listed among his best value picks for the 2012 draft.
11. Caleb McSurdy, LB, Dallas (222nd). McSurdy might never start for Dallas, but he is capable of being a core special-teams member and playing a role in the Cowboys' sub defense. He is smart, tough and willing, which makes him a real value in the seventh round.
Mat McBriar is still a free agent. The only punter on the Cowboys roster is Chris Jones (as long as you don't count Danny Coale). The Cowboys will be adding some competition as another punter will get a tryout.
However, the team will look at one other option in this weekend's rookie minicamp, as former Idaho State punter David Harrington is among the players who will practice with the new Cowboys on a tryout basis. Harrington is the top punter in Big Sky Conference history, averaging 46.3 yards per kick in his two years with the Bengals.