Dallas Cowboys Training Camp News: Tony Romo and Henry Melton "Ready For All Aspects."

'State of the Union' Press Conference - Blogging The Boys
You'll see a lot of headlines today about the Jerry Jones-Jason Garrett "State of Cowboys" press conference from training camp yesterday. The most comprehensive summary of all the relevant points raised was put togehter by BTB's own Kegbearer. One of the highlights among many:

Will Tony Romo and Henry Melton be Ready for the First Practice?

Garrett explained (at different times in the press conference) that both players were outstanding in their recovery process and how they worked hard to get ready. They have both been cleared and are ready to practice day one. There are "No issues, no obstacles, full go tomorrow. Ready to go for all aspects" He did make it clear the team would be monitoring them closely and making sure they are getting quality reps and responding well and not getting overworked. Specifically for Melton, Garrett explained he could see tangible improvements during OTAs and he's "very optimistic about what he'll be able to do tomorrow."

Why do Cowboys train in Oxnard? Because S Barry Church says Dallas is "similar to Mojave Desert" in summer | David Moore, DMN
That's what he said, and now he's happy to be in Oxnard.

"I think it’s pretty bad for our health if we practice out there, so I’m glad we practice out here where we have a nice breeze and got the ocean right over there. It feels good.’’

Position Battles To Watch At Start Of Camp - Bryan Broaddus, DC.com
Broaddus runs down four position battles where he expects a "steady amount of rotating between players." One of those spots is right defensive end:

Jeremy Mincey has emerged as a leader on this line through his work at Valley Ranch this offseason, but in my opinion, his starting spot is up for grabs with rookie DeMarcus Lawrence. There is no question that Mincey’s experience will help him in this camp and his ability to work through it, but from what I observed in the earlier camps is that the learning curve for Lawrence appears to be small. Rod Marinelli post-draft spoke of a plan to just use Lawrence on rush downs to start his career until he can learn his craft of playing down-after-down.

If there was a silver lining to Mincey missing the majority of these practices in the spring, it was that Lawrence took all the snaps with the first defense and gained some experience working against Tyron Smith. I expect we’ll see Lawrence early and often on that right side regardless of how well Mincey is playing.

Cowboys message on camp: 'truly work' - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Travis Frederick with an early soundbite that Archer promptly elevates to the motto for the season:

"It's truly work," Frederick said. "We're out here to work. We're out here to make our team better. I think that the team's done a really good job of doing things in the offseason. I can speak especially for the offensive line and tell you that our group has put in the work and we're ready to go. I know that we've seen that throughout the other (groups). We don't always get to work out with everybody else but every chance that I've seen guys are in here working, they're working extra and guys are excited and ready to go."

What is Jerry Jones succession plan with Cowboys? | David Moore, DMN
Amid recent reports that Pat Bowlen is relinquishing control in Denver, David Moore writes that the NFL requires every owner update the league once a year on any potential changes to a previously agreed succession plan. For the Cowboys, that succession plan revolves around Jerry's three children, who are already heavily involved in the day-to-day management of the franchise, though Jerry wouldn't be more specific than that.

So what is the succession plan? Jones laughed.

"There is enough to go around,’’ he said.

What we learned on Day 1: Giants' offensive line still jumbled - Big Blue View
Ed Valentine writes that the biggest issue with the New York Giants "broken" offense last season was the sieve-like nature of an over-matched offensive line that could neither protect quarterback Eli Manning nor consistently open anything resembling a hole for a running back. Apparently, not much has changed since then.

How the Giants plan to restore Eli Manning to elite level | New York Post
I was wondering why the headline would use the word "restore" for a guy like Eli Manning, who has led the league in interceptions three times in his career, and has a career passer rating of 81.2. Then I read what Giants punter Steve Weatherford said about Manning.

"He’s the best quarterback’s that has ever been in this franchise, and this franchise has been around for a long time."

Well, if you lower the bar like that ...

Hatcher, Bowen start camp on PUP list | Comcast SportsNet Washington
Defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen will be placed on the physically unable to perform list to open camp. Cue jokes about injured Cowboys linemen.

Eagles' Lane Johnson suspended four games for PEDs - NFL.com
The Eagles announced that 2013 top-five draft pick Lane Johnson was suspended for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.