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When you’re covering the Dallas Cowboys, just expect the stars to show and show out at these offseason practices. That was the case today as Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato paid a visit to the Star.
Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee with Indy 500 champ Takuma Sato pic.twitter.com/a217jDayKH
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
What, every team doesn't have the Indianapolis 500 winner at their organized team... https://t.co/LumROyPoci pic.twitter.com/sutbRh0z9g
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 31, 2017
#Indy500 Champ @TakumaSatoRacer meeting some @dallascowboys players after practice today! #Taku500 pic.twitter.com/spO0wa6zUe
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) May 31, 2017
.@DezBryant inspired by meeting #indy500 winner Sato, reveals he once drove 180mph. 'In the Bentley, of course!' #Cowboys WR laughs. pic.twitter.com/lJDfdJiue2
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) May 31, 2017
Sato wasn’t the only guy to show his face at OTA’s because a couple of Cowboys’ legends were also in the building. Deion Sanders set the goals...
.@DeionSanders & Big Nate. pic.twitter.com/HiLIWYla5X
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) May 31, 2017
HOW BAD DO U WANT IT? #Truth pic.twitter.com/hPbequZmPQ
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett spoke about the veteran leaders like Dez Bryant and Jason Witten and just how difficult it is to have them go half-speed or take a day.
Jason Garrett says Dez Bryant is passionate about being great both individually and as a team.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett says Jason Witten approaches every practice like he is a college free agent trying to make the team.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett says Dez Bryant is "a relational type person." Says that's why everybody is drawn to him.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett says you have to give compelling reasons to Jason Witten why he doesn't need to practice, or else he won't believe you.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Another guy that’s been a pretty consistent presence during these drills has been Terrance Williams. When asked why he stayed with the Cowboys, his response was L-O-Y-A-L-T-Y.
Terrance Williams pic.twitter.com/Rp14Qqq4tq
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
There was another former Cowboy at practice but he’s part of the coaching staff for the Dallas Cowboys. Miles Austin stepped in to teach route running to the tight ends:
Miles Austin pitching in helping #Cowboys TEs w route-running pic.twitter.com/gI3aLPlpUM
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) May 31, 2017
Speaking of veterans or former Cowboys teaching some lessons, the G.O.A.T. L.P. Ladouceur, teaching some “kicking game” work:
Cool thing: #Cowboys LP showing young @thejaylonsmith some tricks of the special-team trade. pic.twitter.com/mQJ7E7jOGa
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) May 31, 2017
For your daily Jaylon Smith update, he did NOT practice in front of the media but that’s been the plan all along. He did work off to the side and we just may get a glimpse when the mandatory mini-camp starts.
Jaylon Smith pic.twitter.com/NMteBqPJMB
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
No, Jaylon Smith is. He wears an AFO brace. https://t.co/fN4Xt6whdT
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Lots of players stood out today but for a few different reasons. Let’s start with the Good:
Best play of OTA 5 was red zone, when Kellen Moore threw a corner fade to Terrance Williams, only to see Jourdan Lewis dive and break it up.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) May 31, 2017
Tweets don't really do justice to how good of coverage it was. Lewis was all over him. https://t.co/4tlOCns1SZ
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett says the defensive coaches and players find inspiration in DeMarcus Lawrence.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
The Bad (although it’s just precautionary):
These 16 guys sat out of Wednesday's OTA. pic.twitter.com/JkpNpzEGvX
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) May 31, 2017
The ugly has to do with Nolan Carroll, who had a DWI arrest over the holiday weekend, which Jason Garrett wasn’t happy about.
Jason Garrett: 'No excuse' for Cowboys CB Nolan Carroll's DWI arrest https://t.co/q6IQw47nop via @sportsdaydfw
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) May 31, 2017
Garrett called Nolan Carroll's arrest for suspicion of DWI a "disappointing situation." Said there's no excuse; Carroll must learn from it.
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) May 31, 2017
Jason Garrett says Nolan Carroll's DWI is disappointing because it "hits close to home." Says there is no explanation for it.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Garrett says he doesn't want to discuss any internal discipline for Nolan Carroll. They'll take the situation "day by day."
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) May 31, 2017
Folks have been interested in what role, if any, will Chaz Green have this season. There is some that hope he can become the right tackle, though La’el Collins has filled that role exclusively as of late.
Jason Garrett says Chaz Green has been doing work, individual stuff, and he's doing nice with his rehab.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
This wouldn’t be an OTA update without a little more praise for Dak Prescott and leadership from Dez Bryant:
Jason Garrett says right since the first rookie mini-camp, he noticed how well #Dak connected with his teammates.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) May 31, 2017
Dez Bryant on how fast rosters change in the NFL: "It's a business. You gotta treat your body like a Bugatti. That's how I look at it."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
Dez Bryant: "I can't believe how I feel. I feel damn good. I feel like that's b/c of my teammates. They know we have something special."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
"This is the best team I've ever been a part of." -- Dez Bryant
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
Don’t worry folks, Zeke is back on the gridiron:
Ezekiel Elliott was back at practice pic.twitter.com/6TlW4zgwuk
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 31, 2017
If you want to catch the press conference, just click the link below as Jason Garrett weighs in on today’s festivities. We’ll be back again with some more updates tomorrow:
LIVE: Jason Garrett Press Conference at The Star as OTAs continue. https://t.co/XevqEp4YX3
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 31, 2017