Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Roster Cuts Are In, What's Next?

Dallas Cowboys' decisions Saturday go beyond finalizing 53-man roster - Dallas Cowboys Blog - ESPN
One man's trash may be another man's gold, but finding quality among yesterday's league-wide cuts may be a lot more difficult than many fans think who want to reflexively sign every running back or tackle whose name they recognize among the cuts.

The Cowboys could look for help on the offensive line, linebacker, secondary, wide receiver and running back in either low-level trades or waiver wire pickups. But they also need to determine if that potential player is better than what they have in-house already.

"We might be surprised when we go out there and start looking around. " Stephen Jones said. "It may be harder to find upgrades more than we think it will be."

More roster moves may be coming | Brandon George, Dallas Morning News
Some of the players who made it through roster cuts yesterday may soon find themselves cut - if the Cowboys sign extra players over the next few days.

The Cowboys will scour the waiver wire Sunday for possible upgrades, but the club is 27th in the claiming process so they might not be able to add players they desire.

Dallas Cowboys Roster Cuts 2015: Seven Potential Waiver Claims For The Cowboys - Blogging The Boys
Michael Sisemore looks at some guys that have hit the streets that could find a potential home at Valley Ranch, and thankfully avoids listing every single available running back.

Dallas Cowboys Roster Cuts: Which Players Are Most Likely To Be Claimed By Another Team? - Blogging The Boys
Players placed on waivers during the final roster cuts can only be claimed until 12:00 noon ET on Sunday. After that, the Cowboys can begin signing up to 10 players to their practice squad, and the hope is that they'll be able to sign all the players they have earmarked for a slot on their practice squad.

Dallas Cowboys Roster 2015: 53-Man Roster Finalized (For Now) - Blogging The Boys
BTB gave you the final roster at exactly 4:00 pm EST, ahead of anybody else in the Metroplex or anywhere else. Whether that initial roster lasts beyond the 12:00 pm EST waiver wire claim deadline today is an entirely different discussion.

Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain begin four-game suspensions | Rainer Sabin, Dallas Morning News
There's an important distinction between the two players' suspensions, Sabin explains.

Under the terms of his suspension, Hardy is banned from the team’s Valley Ranch facility. McClain is not. While McClain is permitted to work out and attend meetings there, he is prohibited from practicing. Both McClain and Hardy are eligible to return to the team Oct. 5, and the Cowboys will have to make two corresponding transactions to make room for their roster additions.

Scout's Eye: Which Of The Cowboys' Cuts Have Practice Squad Potential? | Dallas Cowboys
Broaddus offers a player-by-player rundown of who could make the practice squad.

Dallas Cowboys going with two QBs after final cuts - Todd Archer, ESPN
It just didn't work out for Vaughan this year, Archer surmises.

The Cowboys had hoped he could push Weeden for the No. 2 job in training camp but it never materialized even with Weeden missing two games with a concussion. Vaughan completed 35 of 67 passes for 343 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked nine times.

He possesses a big arm and is smart. He just needs more time to develop. The Cowboys are taking a chance in exposing him to the waiver wire, but if he clears he is expected back on the practice squad.

Cowboys keep four tight ends, showing how much they value the position | Rainer Sabin, Dallas Morning News
If you're a tight end and you can block, you have a future in Dallas.

Geoff Swaim, a seventh-round pick, made a positive impression during training camp because he resembles a "Y" tight end – the inline type who blocks. Some wondered if James Hanna would make the team, if the Cowboys were forced to decide between the fourth-year veteran and Swaim.

Hanna said he hadn’t "given it much thought." Why?

"To be successful in the running game, you need tight ends who can block," Hanna said. "I have always valued that and I’ve improved since I’ve been in the NFL."

It's an annual exercise after final roster cuts: Cowboys fans will focus in on any player whose name they recognize, and if that player plays at a position of perceived need, the clamoring to sign that player begins immediately. Sometimes, that clamoring begins even before the player is cut. Here are some names making the rounds.

Notable Cuts roster cuts as teams reduce to 53 - NFL.com
When players are cut during final roster cuts, it's because they simply aren't good enough to warrant a roster spot. This article offers up a list of players who weren't good enough for their teams, but at least have name recognition going for them.

Cowboys made calls about running backs | Brandon George, Dallas Morning News
Looks like the Cowboys made some preliminary inquiries.

They made some calls Saturday on some young backs but decided not to make a move at this time. A source said the Cowboys had preliminary trade discussions with Cleveland for running back Terrance West, a third-round pick in 2014 out of Towson. West (5-10, 225) started six games as a rookie for the Browns, rushing for 673 yards and four touchdowns on 171 carries. The Browns didn’t release him Saturday, however, as part of their final cuts.

The Cowboys also had some interest in Denver running back Montee Ball, who also survived final cuts with the Broncos. The Cowboys would prefer to pick up a running back via waivers instead of giving up a draft pick.

Cowboys are watching waiver wire | Drew Davison, The Star-Telegram

They are likely looking at running backs, and would be open to bring in a young, promising back. Among those to watch is Jonas Gray, who was cut by the New England Patriots.

Jonas Gray a likely option for the Dallas Cowboys - Endzonescore.com
Fresh off a surprising cut by the Patriots, running back Jonas Gray could be a fit in Dallas.

In Dallas, Gray could be the bruising in between the tackles runner that they need behind an elite offensive line, and an efficient goal-line back in an otherwise very good offense. The Cowboys have made it obvious by diligently searching for another running back that they don’t have anywhere close to full confidence in Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden to lead them where they need to go.

At the very least, Gray would be excellent insurance in the likely event the injury bug once again takes a bite out of McFadden, or Randle decides to shoplift a watch from a department store because his $500,000 a year salary doesn’t allow him to afford one.

Cowboys are not interested in trading for Gray, according to a source, but could be if he's cut. https://t.co/bd7pSJpDsB

— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) September 5, 2015

Cowboys, though, are not willing to give up a draft pick "unless it's a good player." Thinking most of these young RBs don't qualify as such

— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) September 5, 2015

Source says the Dallas Cowboys have been in talks with the Cleveland Browns about RB Terrance West (5-10, 225), a 3rd-round pick last year.

— Brandon George (@DMN_George) September 5, 2015

Giants to get early test when they open vs. Cowboys - NY Daily News
In case you missed it, the Giants had a lousy summer.

Eli Manning, still without a new contract, didn’t throw a touchdown pass in a preseason game. Odell Beckham, Jr., a marked man after a spectacular rookie season, averaged 6.2 yards on five catches. Victor Cruz, back from a disastrous knee injury, didn’t play in a game after injuring his calf. JPP, the pyrotechnics expert, is finally reporting and the first thing the Giants must do is count his fingers.

The Giants are coming off back-to-back losing seasons of 7-9 and then 6-10. They’ve not had three straight losing years since 1978-80. They’ve missed the playoffs the last three years following their fourth Super Bowl title. The last time they missed the playoffs four years in a row? They had a streak from 1964-80 — an amazing 17 seasons — when they missed the playoffs.

Lightly Used Quarterback for trade - Craigslist
RGIII is up for grabs on Craigslist, potentially for a Ruby Tuesday coupon.