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Reports: Cowboys Sign Guard Brian Waters - Blogging The Boys
The dance is over and Waters is headed to Dallas.
Guard Brian Waters signs deal with Cowboys - CBSSports.com
Josh Katzowitz cleverly deduces that Brian Waters may not be a big fan of training camps.
"There's a good chance Waters won't play in Week 1 as he gets up to date on his conditioning and on the Dallas offense, but the 36-year-old, six-time Pro Bowler shouldn't be out of the starting lineup for long."
"And yes, Waters has survived another preseason camp without actually stepping foot in one."
Brian Waters will be worth the wait - Tim MacMahon, ESPN Dallas
Better late than never, writes Tim MacMahon, and guarantees a better performance:
"But it’s a virtual guarantee that Waters will dramatically improve the Cowboys’ performance at right guard, allowing Mackenzy Bernadeau to serve as a backup and providing a veteran presence next to savvy rookie center Travis Frederick. Plus, the Free-to-guard experiment ends, letting him play his natural position."
Brian Waters signs with Dallas Cowboys - Ed Werder, ESPN Dallas
Werder also weighs in on the move.
"The Cowboys have made being more physical up front their first priority this offseason, using a first-round pick to draft center Travis Frederick, who carried a second-round grade on the Dallas draft board. The Cowboys also want to protect Tony Romo after the quarterback was sacked a career-high 36 times each of the past two seasons."
Brian Waters, Dallas Cowboys strike one-year contract - NFL.com
Brian Waters and the Dallas Cowboys reached a one-year, $1.5 million contract that can be worth up to $3 million.
"It likely will take Waters a few weeks to work his way into football shape. Once that happens, he should push Leary and Mackenzy Bernadeau for snaps at guard, allowing Free to kick back outside to offensive tackle."
"For all of the skill-position talent on the Cowboys' roster, the unsettled offensive line is keeping coach Jason Garrett up at night. The Waters addition helps, but the payoff might be weeks down the line."
Cowboys bolster offensive line by signing Brian Waters Clarence Hill, Star-Telegram
Hill writes that the free agent guard could be a major upgrade to a reshuffled line.
"The addition of Waters, who would start opposite Leary at guard, would allow Free to move back to right tackle. It would also give the Cowboys experienced and quality backups at guard and tackle in Bernadeau and Jeremy Parnell."
Dallas Cowboys sign guard Brian Waters to one-year deal - Examiner.com
The Examiner focuses on Waters' veteran impact on the Cowboys' O-line:
Waters is a six-time Pro Bowl player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs for 10 seasons. He brings a lot of veteran leadership to a very young offensive line. Two of the starters are a rookie and a third-year first round draft pick. Waters will line up alongside these young players and hopefully teach them how to play hard.
Cowboys will waive S Eric Frampton to make room for G Brian Waters - David Moore, DMN
Frampton will be waived/injured and will ultimately reach an injury settlement with the Cowboys.
Naming Cowboys' improved areas, Garrett cites OL - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
On Monday, Jason Garrett pointed out three areas where he thinks the Cowboys have improved from last year: maturity, defensive scheme and strength in the middle of the offensive line, starting with Travis Frederick:
"He’s been a Minute One starter for us," Garrett said. "He’s done a good job. I feel like we’re stronger up front than we’ve been in probably the last three years, and that’s a good thing for your football team. He’s a big reason for that. Hopefully, adding a guy like Ron Leary or some of the other guys who have been on our football team, that’s all going to help us."
Looks like Garrett already knew more than he let on.
Dallas Cowboys Acquire DE Caesar Rayford In Trade With Colts - Blogging The Boys
This acquisition got a little lost in yesterday's excitement over the Waters signing, but the Cowboys did bolster their defensive line with a player who's shown up big in 2013 preseason games.
Quick Look At Newly-Acquired DE Rayford - Bryan Broaddus, DallasCowboys.com
Broaddus watched preseason tape on Rayford, and comes to this conclusion:
"Low risk, high reward type of player that was productive against everyone he played."
Jury Still Out But ’13 Draft Class Already Impressive - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Eatman writes that all seven draft picks will likely be active for Sunday's game, quite an uncommon feat for the Cowboys: Only four times since 1994 have all drafted players eventually made the roster, and only twice did all drafted players make the roster straight out of camp (2004 and 2000). Eatman credits the scouting staff for picking seven players who are ready to play and contribute.
Orlando Scandrick may become more visible player for Cowboys in 4-3 defense - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
More responsibility in the run game for the nickel corner in the new defense means Scandrick will get more opportunities to make hits:
"The nickel position in this scheme, you’ve got more run gaps in some defenses," the veteran slotback said Monday at Valley Ranch. "So it’s a little bit more on me. It may be a little more showing up in the run game. But I mean, I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready for the challenge."
Dallas Cowboys have big hopes for healthy receiver Miles Austin - Tim MacMahon, ESPN Dallas
Quickness and explosiveness aren't words we've heard in connection with Miles Austin recently, but that's about to change:
"We were all very proud of how Miles played last year because he wasn’t himself," head coach Jason Garrett said. "He had a very productive year for us playing opposite Dez and opposite Witt in our passing game, and did a lot of good things for us, but he seems like he’s back to what we’ve seen in the past. He has quickness. He has explosiveness."
Cowboys crossing fingers about the return of injured starters - Keith Whitmire, FSSouthwest
If Spencer can't practice today, it's doubtful he will play in the season opener against the Giants.
NFL teams that will be worse in 2013 - Grantland
Bill Barnwell offers a look at the Cowboys and provides a best and worst case:
Best-Case Scenario: Everybody does their job from top to bottom on the roster, and that includes Garrett, who coaches like the guy the Ravens actually wanted to hire over John Harbaugh a few years back. Romo leads the way with a banner year as the Cowboys win 12 games.
Worst-Case Scenario: Romo lasts four games before getting hurt, and then Garrett doesn't last much longer before he gets canned. It becomes another lost season for a team that sure has a lot of lost seasons.
Cowboys Name Team Captains - Mike Fisher, CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
Mike Fisher broke the news about the 2013 team captains, which features familiar names: Romo and Witten on offense, Lee and Ware on defense. The surprise is Dan Bailey for special teams.
Tony Dungy: The health of the Dallas Cowboys defensive line ‘is what I’d be worried about’ - Jon Machota, DMN
Join the club.
What's different about the Cowboys' running game this year? 'You'll see come Sunday,' says DeMarco Murray - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
And the award for longest headline goes to ... the Star-Telegram.