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The Cowboys will host free agents, Alfred Morris and Patrick Robinson on Monday, but both Jason Garrett and Stephen Jones won't be a part of the visit.
"Jason's spent some good time on the phone with them,'' Jones said. "So have we. Obviously we tried to get them in there before we left but in their particular cases it didn't work out that way.''
Both players were scheduled to arrive in Dallas Sunday and will meet with position coaches tonight and Monday. Jones indicated everyone is on the same page with how to proceed if the players are interested in signing with the Cowboys.
"Sometimes, you're already on the page as to what's going to happen,'' Jones said.
I wonder what page that would be? I bet they could just get a cardboard cut-out of Jason smiling and they wouldn't even notice. There is no official word on who will be handling the negotiations, but early speculation is that it will be Rowdy.
Cowboys set for busy Monday with visits with CB Patrick Robinson, RB Alfred Morris - Clarence Hill, The Star-Telegram
Hill with some perspective on Robinson and what his signing could mean.
Robinson is the third cornerback the Cowboys have had visit in free agency, joining Nolan Carroll and Leon Hall.
If the Cowboys are able to secure Robinson it would help crystallize things with Brandon Carr, who could be a salary cap casualty because of his $9.1 million base salary and $13.8 million cap hit.
Which Alfred Morris would the Cowboys be getting? Numbers don’t lie - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
So what would the Cowboys be getting with Alfred Morris? K.D. breaks down his career in Washington to help identify what he has to offer.
Morris, 5’10", 219 lbs, is a two-time Pro Bowler, but as a possible indictment of the process, neither were for his finest season. Morris is seen as an average athlete who excels based on his vision and decisiveness.
Free Agency Film Room: RB Alfred Morris - Sean Martin, Inside The Star
The Cowboys could be trying to hedge their bets by adding Alfred Morris to the running back group. He doesn't offer up the exciting athleticism that fans want in a RB, but he's an instinctive runner who knows how to get from A to B. Sean Martin breaks down some of Alf's runs.
Dallas is likely interested in Morris for a number of reasons, as we will see coming up in his film, but most importantly because of his durability. While Darren McFadden was a very pleasant surprise this season, his health and sustainability remain a question entering his contract year. Bringing in a guy like Morris to split carries with McFadden could maximize both players production behind this offensive line.
— Sean Martin ✭ (@ShoreSportsNJ) March 20, 2016
If the Cowboys sign Alfred Morris, then surely we can stop all this Zeke at four talk, right? Wrong.
Cowboys OpEd: 2016 NFL Draft Wars pits Ezekiel Elliott vs Jalen Ramsey - Patrik Walker, Cowboys Wire
There have been many cases made for taking Zeke with the number four pick, but I haven't heard anyone challenge him ahead of Jalen Ramsey. Until now. Cowboys Wire newcomer, Patrik Walker bursts on to the scene with a thought provoking comparison of these two star players.
And the Cowboys may not have another shot at a talent of this caliber to place behind their offensive line (and at rookie pricing for four years, nonetheless) for years to come. Could they find other half backs to perform here? Sure. There is, however, a difference between 1,100 yards and 1,800 yards; between 9 touchdowns and 16 touchdowns, etc. You get the idea.
Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft profile: Derrick Henry - Saad Yousuf, WFAA.com
And while there is no shortage of love for Zeke over here at BTB, there are other running backs in the draft. The second best RB in the draft class is projected in the proximity of the Cowboys 34 pick so he's definitely in the mix.
Draft him because… Henry is the old school grind-it-out running back that would excel in any offense, especially one with an elite quarterback such as Tony Romo. With Romo under center (and Dez Bryant split wide), defenses will be reluctant to put eight in the box.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, Henry would shred any light box. If the defense decides to buckle down on him, it would open up the play action game for the offense. He’s a perfect fit for a team with an offensive identity such as the Cowboys. As shown in 2014, they are capable of getting ahead by outscoring the opposition as opposed to relying on the defense to get stops.
Henry would also be instrumental at the end of games to grind out the clock. He is a runner who is able to turn his speed to a different level in open space, evident by his game against Mississippi State in which he had touchdown runs of 65 and 74 yards. He would also prove an instant solution to the Cowboys in an area they were one of the very worst at in the league last year: 3rd and short.
Here's your starting running back to open Cowboys' season... - David Moore, SportsDay
Alfred Morris? Ezekiel Elliott? Derrick Henry? The answer may not surprise you, but as David Moore points out, it's not how you start, but how you finish.
Question: Who will be the starting running back for the Cowboys next season and why?
David Moore: Darren McFadden will open the season as the Cowboys starting running back. The more interesting question to me is who will be the starter to end the season. The Cowboys inability to add a veteran back in free agency means they will likely use a pick in the second day of the draft on a running back to pair with McFadden. I would expect McFadden to get the majority of carries early and most of the work on third down, but if the Cowboys find the right guy, that will probably shift over the course of the season.
The Cowboys are bluffing when it comes to their thoughts on drafting a QB at No. 4 - Matt Mosley, SportsDay
At the poker table, you're not allowed to talk about what you have in your hand...unless you're lying. Now, Jerry plays by his own set of rules, but maybe he's just doing a little table-talk here.
I believe now more than ever that Jones was full of it when he made those comments. The Cowboys haven't brought in a legitimate backup to Romo for one simple reason: They are thinking seriously about selecting either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff.
Top 10 quarterback busts in the last 25 years: Where does Johnny Manziel rank? - Staff, SportsDay
To help get you excited about the possibility of getting a new quarterback at pick four, let's take a stroll down memory lane and see who wins the honor of biggest QB bust in the last quarter century. And the winner is...
Vernon Hargreaves to visit Cowboys among eight teams - Chase Goodbread, NFL.com
While Jalen Ramsey is the defensive back that everyone loves to talk about, there is another really good one who is on the Cowboys radar.
Hargreaves (5-10, 204 pounds) ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last month with jumps that were top-five efforts at the position (10-10 broad jump, 39-inch vertical jump). In three seasons at UF, Hargreaves recorded 10 interceptions and 27 pass breakups. He was a two-time first-team All-SEC pick, and one of three finalists for the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.
Draft Notes: Hargreaves, Prescott, Cowboys, Ravens, Jags, Texans, Ravens, Pats https://t.co/lJNzXZrRn7 pic.twitter.com/yFvE1sJcq6
— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) March 20, 2016
Top 10 Draft Prospects for Cowboys - Jess Haynie, Inside The Star
While a player like Hargreaves might be a reach with the four pick, he could be a great player to land in a trade-back scenario.
6. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
While some wouldn’t like Hargreaves as a top-five pick I think he fits our defense very well. His detractors tend to focus on his size but he’s not any smaller than Ronde Barber was, who might have been the best corner to ever play in this Cover 2 scheme. Hargreaves is also much quicker than Barber was, giving him potential to get a break on balls when playing out of the zone
Cowboys hold workout with prospect who had 13 sacks last season - Staff, SportsDay
There are some good defensive line options in the second round, but could the Cowboys find a good player even later? The stock of one dark horse pass rusher seems to be on the rise and the Cowboys are taking notice.
The 6-2, 255 pounder is seen as a tweener without a natrual position, but his pass rushing skills are undeniable. His stock has been rising recently, so the Cowboys could be looking at him with their second or third round pick.
Cowboys Draft: Tight End Prospects & Strategies - Tommy Simmon, Inside The Star
Are you excited about the tight end the Cowboys will draft in April? Of course you're not. The Cowboys re-signed James Hanna to go with Jason Witten, Gavin Escobar, and Geoff Swaim, who are all under contract. Clearly, the Cowboys don't have a need at the position so it shouldn't be too hard for you to act surprised when they draft on. Tommy Simon provides a good breakdown of some draft prospects.