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Jerry Jones says Dallas Cowboys can compete with any team - Jon Machota, DMN
Jones wouldn't commit to a specific win target for 2013, but said the talent on the roster gives the Cowboys a chance to compete with any of the other 31 teams in the league.
"If you look at the fact that these teams are pretty equal in the NFL, and you look at where we are, you know we can compete," Jones told 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. "We really can compete. Now, will injury decimate that? Will injury impact that? Who knows? The bottom line is we can compete."
Ware, Bryant, and Lee projected as 2013 All-Pros - NFL.com
Elliot Harrison takes an early stab at predicting the 2013 All Pro team, and includes three Cowboys on his 26-man roster in DeMarcus Ware, Dez Bryant and Sean Lee. Notable by their absence are the Giants and Redskins, while the Eagles have one player on the list with guard Evan Mathis.
Tuesday Garrett Presser: Starters To Get More Reps Saturday - Nick Eatman, DC.com
Garrett indicated that the practice schedule is starting to get into regular-season form, and that the Cowboys expect to play their starters most of the first half in Saturday’s "dress rehearsal" game against the Bengals.
Cowboys have begun prep work for Giants - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
The Cowboys have begun preparing for the season opener by simulating some Giants looks on offense and defense with the scout-team.
"Yeah, we’re watching some Giants tape," tight end Jason Witten said. "Obviously a big division game. We know them well. They know us. Everything’s moving that way."
NFC East Top 20: No. 17 Anthony Spencer - Dan Graziano, ESPN NFC East Blog
Graziano is counting down the top 20 players in the NFC East, and ranks Anthony Spencer 17th after ranking Jason Hatcher 20th. I'm not sure that Jay Ratliff will make this list, but with DeMarcus Ware a lock for the Top 5, you've got to like a Cowboys D-line that has at least three players in the NFC East top 20.
Jerry Jones: I like our offensive line; ‘I like what we have a chance to be’ - Jon Machota, DMN
Jones believes an emphasis on zone blocking and an increased use of tight ends are reasons to be optimistic about what the O-line could be.
"I like our offensive line, where we are right now. There are some things that if I could just draw it up on a piece of paper would be better. But where we are relative to what happens on offensive line – it requires five players, they gotta be healthy, you have that happening at various times, it’s a unit – I like what we have a chance to be."
‘Quarterback friendly’ Gavin Escobar - Jon Machota, DMN
The sure-handed Escobar could be an immediate contributor to the Cowboys passing game. Machota writes that Garrett called Escobar "quarterback friendly" because of his route-running skills and his ability to create separation from defenders. But Escobar still needs to add strength and improve his blocking.
Alex Tanney facing uphill battle for roster spot on Dallas Cowboys - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Archer argues that Tanney is not assured a spot on the 53-man roster, as the Cowboys did not keep a third QB last year either.
"We value the quarterback position a lot," head coach Jason Garrett said. "We would love to have a third quarterback to develop, but roster spots are competitive in this league. You have to make a lot of decisions when you get around the cut down date to 53. There are a lot of good players you have to let go. You've got to figure out who is going to help your team. Developing a player versus this guy can help our team right now; that is a big question we have."
The five most important useless facts about the Dallas Cowboys - USA Today
If you are a hardcore Dallas Cowboys fan, then you'll know how Brooke Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, "Pablo" Escobar, a FaceTime connection to a delivery room, and Jolly Ranchers are connected to the Cowboys. If you don't, you can read up on these truly useless facts in the link above.
Why I’m leading the DeMarco Murray hype train - Jonathan Bales, DMN
The DeMarco Murray hype train left the station two full seasons ago. Perhaps there still are some empty baggage carts left at the station for Bales to "lead".
Injury Updates
Short-Term Injuries Are Becoming Long-Term Problems - Rowan Kavner, DallasCowboys.com
Kavner takes an uncomfortable look at the overall injury situation:
"The uncertainty regarding the severity of these injuries may mean the Cowboys need to go longer at a position than they would have liked, which could also mean passing up on players they’d like to keep if everyone was healthy."
"More importantly, if these seemingly small injuries don’t get better quickly, the Cowboys may be suiting up against the Giants in the opener without starters and key contributors they expected back weeks ago."
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Beasley returns to practice, says first work since injury left him 'real sore.' - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Beasley hasn't hasn’t put his full body weight on his injured ankle yet, but he hopes he can practice this week and play versus Bengals. -
Ernie Sims Nearing Full Recovery - Rowan Kavner, DC.com
Sims hasn’t been given the green light yet to return to practice, but could still play this weekend against the Bengals after working on cutting and changing directions, Kavner writes. -
Lissemore returns to practice for Cowboys - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Sean Lissemore practiced for the first time on Tuesday after being sidelined with a groin injury. -
J.J. Wilcox to practice Thursday - Brandon George, DMN
Garrett said Tuesday that he expects rookie safety J.J. Wilcox to rejoin the team Wednesday and practice Thursday. - Morris Claiborne still out with knee injury - Idahostatesman.com
Claiborne hasn't returned to practice after jamming his knee two weeks ago, and Jason Garrett doesn't anticipate a lot of practice for Claiborne until the weekend, effectively ruling him out for the Bengals game. -
LB Brandon Magee joins list of injured players with a concussion - Brandon George, DMN
Magee sat out practice on Tuesday with a concussion and likely won't be back until next week at the earliest.
More from Blogging The Boys:
- Freeze Frames: Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals, 1st Quarter
- Assessing The Cowboys Roster: Mid-Preseason Edition: Ranking Players, Regardless Of Position
- Can The Cowboys Fit The Pieces Together?
- Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Dez Bryant Impressed With Terrance Williams, Injury Updates, More
- BTB Fantasy Football: Second Chance Leagues!