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The Dallas Cowboys are back together for mandatory minicamp practices out at the Star in Frisco.
Back at it!#DallasCowboys minicamp starts now. pic.twitter.com/yG066fQYsk
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) June 12, 2018
Before we get underway, here’s how the depth chart lined up for the majority of this first practice:
The first day of minicamp practice is over. This is what the first-team offense and defense looked like #cowboyswire pic.twitter.com/NdYO5Zpebt
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 12, 2018
It was reported yesterday that the Cowboys had reached an agreement to make guard Zack Martin the highest paid at his position. Martin was back on the grind and spoke to the media about his short time away:
Cowboys RG Zack Martin went through individual drills in practice today despite his extension not being finalized. He said the sides made enough strides this weekend that he felt comfortable participating in minicamp.
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Zack Martin was at practice today: “I want to be here in Dallas. I’ve said that from the beginning. I never want to go anywhere else.” pic.twitter.com/GcsC3J18y8
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 12, 2018
Martin on becoming the highest paid guard in football when deal is done: My agents and I that's what we were shooting for. It's a huge honor. That will probably get beat by someone...that's how it works. Whenever we lock this in very excited to get it over with and move past.
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
The Cowboys deal with Martin isn’t finalized but the All-Pro isn’t worried about it at this point believing it’s going to be finalized soon:
Martin: Both sides are still talking and hopefully we'll wrap it up here sooner than later. ...I'm not going to get into details but both sides are communicating
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Zack Martin on his contract extension talks: “Both sides are still talking. We made some strides and I felt good about coming in this week.” Said it was tough being away from OTA’s but has been working out at the facility. #cowboyswire
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) June 12, 2018
Martin explained that it was pretty tough staying away during OTA’s as Martin always expects to be out on the field regardless of if it’s voluntary or not:
Martin on holding out: The hardest part was not being around the guys every day and coming in and working out and having to leave before you see those guys. I was kind of going stir crazy at home. It feels good to be back
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Martin: If you would've asked me, I never would've thought in a million years I'd be the guy holding out & not coming to things. That's just kind of how it worked. At the end of the day I had to make a decision, as hard as it was, what was best for me at the time. And that was it
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Another guy who was back at the Cowboys facilities was David Irving. He had been dealing with some personal problems outside of football.
David Irving was at minicamp today, said he’s happy to be back and that he’s working through some things. But that’s it for today. Said he’d talk with reporters tomorrow pic.twitter.com/xejLj5OJTe
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 12, 2018
Cowboys DL David Irving, RG Zack Martin both at minicamp today working mostly on side pic.twitter.com/S88GMnGYtq
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2018
Irving only spoke briefly but he was more than happy to get back to football and put some of these other issues on the back burner:
Cowboys DL David Irving had one statement for us: "It feels great to be back out there working with my boys. I had a lot of stuff going on in the offseason as you all know and I'm working through it the best that I can and put it behind me and focus on the season."
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) June 12, 2018
Good to see David Irving back? Rod Marinelli: "Oh yeah. Dino, big dinosaur roaming around out here. We just gotta come in, go to work and get ready for camp."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 12, 2018
Cole Beasley spoke about new position coach, Sanjay Lal. He certainly didn’t mince any words:
Cole Beasley a big fan of new Cowboys WR coach Sanjay Lal: It feels like the first time we’re actually being taught how to run routes instead of just naturally doing
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2018
Beasley: When you get to NFL and you’re supposed to know, stuff is assumed. Lal narrows down step by step, doesn't assume anything from basics. Beasley working to use speed for out routes too now, not just under https://t.co/qJ60RQxnmL
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2018
Speaking on the receivers, David Helman had a few notable standouts from today’s drills:
Few standout moments, that I noticed today:
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 12, 2018
- Byron Jones had a nice, leaping PBU on Allen Hurns on a go route in 7v7
- Michael Gallup beat Byron in the same situation, but dropped the pass
- Tavon Austin beat Anthony Brown on a crossing route from the slot in 7v7 #cowboyswire
In linebacker news, Leighton Vander Esch is still rehabbing his ankle but Sean Lee was out there in individual drills:
Marinelli on Leighton Vander Esch missing practices to ankle injury: these practices are precious. But things happen. And he's a good student in the classroom, walkthroughs, those things. But right now you got to practice football. And he'll get that in camp.
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Sean Lee took part in individual drills for this first time this offseason as he ramps up his work with the Cowboys opening minicamp. It's doubtful he takes any 11 on 11 snaps over the next two days with the idea of getting him... https://t.co/J0Nt0MuMW2 pic.twitter.com/5UhwEqKiQP
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) June 12, 2018
As was reported yesterday, it seems Randy Gregory is looking for reinstatement. Rod Marinelli admitted that it’ll be a long road to get him back a ready to go:
Marinelli on if DL Randy Gregory wins reinstatement. (He's in New York today meeting w/ NFL): 1st with him, get him in a stance & get him going. He's been off a long time. He's talented, no question, & he's a great guy. And smart. No. 1 thing we've got to do is groove him back in
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) June 12, 2018
Back into the action, a couple of young guys were really stepping up their games today:
In 2nd team 7v7, Cooper Rush found Dalton Schultz on a really pretty route down the seam. Rico Gathers also made a nice, leaping catch on an outroute from Mike White #cowboyswire
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 12, 2018
According to Helman, it was the defense that would end up winning the majority of the day in the first practice:
Play of the day in 11v11 came from Anthony Brown, who sacked Dak for a six-yard loss on a nickel blitz. First-team defense seemed to get the better of the first-team offense for most of the day #cowboyswire
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 12, 2018
Practice usually ends with some jumping jacks at the end of practice led by Jason Garrett but it ended differently today:
Jason Garrett or one of the Cowboys' strength coaches typically leads the team in jumping jacks at the conclusion of team stretch at the beginning of every practice. Garrett handed that duty over to Zack Martin today in his first practice back with the team. #cowboyswire
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 12, 2018