Camp Roundup — Saturday, July 30th
Posted: July 30, 2005 @ 7:18 pm
The end of the offseason and the beginning of camp are overlapping in a messy way. Bill Parcells complained this afternoon that there are at least five things disturbing his preparations. They include:
The big news of day one was the absence of guard Larry Allen. Allen failed a conditioning test and was expected to be placed on the PUP list. However, Allen’s predicament does not appear as serious as Campbell’s. Parcells informed the press that Allen was not injured. The player was working out in shorts with trainers and could be working with the team as early as Sunday.
Parcells’ comments make it sound like the league has beefed up conditioning standards during camp in the wake of Minnesota OT Korey Stringer’s heat-stroke-related death a few summers ago. “The league has really mandated us to be very, very cautious in light of some incidents that have happened in the past,” said Parcells. “I would say we’re erring on the side of caution. That’s the best way to put it.” It sounds like Allen failed the conditioning standard, which is probably more strict for large linemen, and cannot participate in two a days until he meets it.
Allen’s failure is a surprise, since Parcells complemented Allen for his offseason conditioning a few weeks ago. Whatever the case, this does not appear to be a long-term problem. Or so we can hope. OG Stephen Peterman has taken Allen’s place at LG in the meantime.
Burnett Signs
There was one significant positive development Friday evening. LB Kevin Burnett, the Cowboys’ second round pick, signed a five year deal and reported for practice Saturday morning.
Comments
13 Responses to “Camp Roundup — Saturday, July 30th”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
-
"The Sports Doctors"
iTunes/
Winamp
Windows
Media
RealOne -
Cowboy Up
Dedicated to providing the best Cowboys analysis anywhere, our efforts are free of charge but not free of expense. Your kind donation today will keep our drive alive.
Thank you
Or mail payment to:
RV2 Enterprises
P.O. Box 150093
Austin TX 78715-0093
Advertisers
-
Fave it!
-
SiteMeter
Burst Media
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys completed a first-round daily double Saturday evening, reaching five-year contract agreements with linebacker Demarcus Ware and defensive end Marcus Spears, the team’s two selections in the opening round of the 2005 draft.
Both players are expected to start as rookies, as the Cowboys move to a 3-4 defensive front, and Dallas officials were anxious to get the highly-regarded youngsters to camp. The Cowboys began making progress on the deals on Friday and then negotiated with agents Pat Dye Jr. (for Ware) and Jimmy Sexton (for Spears) for much of Saturday.
The 11th overall choice in the draft, Ware, from Troy State, will sign a five-year deal worth $13 million, with $10 million in guarantees. Former LSU star Spears, who was the 20th player chosen, will get a five-year, $9.35 million contract that includes guarantees totaling $6.7 million.
Ware, who turns 23 on Sunday, played defensive end in college. But the Dallas coaches view him as the kind of hybrid outside defender essential to succeeding with their move to a 3-4 scheme. One of the fastest rising players in the month preceding the draft, Ware is a superb all-around athlete with great quickness and playmaking potential.
In 44 games college games, 35 of them starts, Ware had 201 tackles, with 58 of them for losses, 27 ½ sacks, 76 quarterback pressures, 10 forced fumbles and four recoveries. The Dallas coaches felt Ware, during the spring minicamps, looked comfortable at linebacker despite never having played the position before.
Spears has the kind of size (6-feet-4, 295 pounds) and anchoring ability versus the run to be a solid 3-4 defensive end. A three-year starter, Spears appeared in 48 games at LSU, finishing his career with 152 tackles, 34 ½ of them for losses, 19 sacks, 47 pressures, two forced fumbles and one recovery.
– Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com senior NFL writer
Ware and Spears has finally signed. They both should make the third practice. Whew!.
Eric Williams of NFL.com has come out with his ranking for NFL coahes.
1. Belichick
2. Parcells
3. Reid.
4. Etc…..
Even though he rated BP approperly, his hatered for the BOYs still clearly shows. What is the deal with these people?
I didn’t liked that of Allen sidelined for not passing a physical until I saw Spags insight, he makes a strong point of Parcells wanting to make two things: the first one was seeing Peterman on the first team, just to be sure of the chances of being OK or better at left Guard if Allen moves to RT. The number two, was more of a statement to the rest of the team, during spring practices and mini-camps, Parcells was high on comments related to Allen and his physical condition, now he makes the statement that everyone can get caught with his pants down if they get careless. Again some Psichiatric mumbo-jumbo that some people won’t like, but can be beneficial.
Mickey Spags makes some good points, but these kids should already know that Parcells means business. My prediction is the big message will be sent on the first cut day when one of the guys who has been here gets cut … “you don’t produce .. you don’t make the team”. I would definately put Bradie James on that list of players to watch, cause if he starts slipping down the depth chart, he may go.
Darrel,
You mind posting a link to that article about the coaches?
Chandus,
You may feel free to include me in the “won’t like the psychological mumbo-jumbo” crowd. Although in this case it is serving a good purpose. LA being on the PUP is TunaMans way of sending this message: “I don’t give a rats butt who you are, you’d best have your poop in gear and get serious like the rest of us”! Interesting that BP used a decision by the NFL about heat injuries to justify his mind games. I will tolerate THIS instance because of its importance.
I was in Minnesota on business the week of Stringers death. I clearly remember that day. 101 degrees, 98% humidity. Being there I was able to read local paper, watch local TV, and talk to the man on the street. I left extremely pissed at the Dykings staff for their STUPIDITY!. I am a veterean of the the 6th U.S. Infantry. In all the hot and humid summers I spent in Georgia, my unit never had a heat injury. This is because the military ( particularly Army and Marine Corps infantry) long ago learned to deal with this problem. It could be something as simple as having extra water available to everyone within a few yards of your position or just teaching EVERYONE to recognize the signs and what to do about it. They STILL pushed us to our breaking point, but once that was reached YOU WERE DONE. If that meant going to the hospital so be it. The Dykings flocked up by ignoring everything about the situation (including the common knowledge on the team that Stringer was popping an ephedra supplement, which makes you more susceptible to heat-stroke). It took a death to make the league take action and if that causes some inconvenience so be it. ( even if it gives BP a good excuse to explain the use of his head games LOL!)
James,
Your on target. It sounds like the conditioning standard is league mandated. What’s more, my understanding is there are several linemen around the league who have not passed it. And it does not sound like those tests we had in high school, where the skill guys had to run a mile in a certain time and the linemen under a slower time. This drill seems harder.
What nobody is telling us is how badly Allen failed. (The drill is running six 50 yard sprints in under 60 seconds, waiting two minutes and doing it a second time, waiting two more minutes and doing it a third time.) Did he miss it by a few seconds? Did he do the first two under time and miss on the third? Or was he never in the ballpark?
If they said he could just miss a day or two, a day or two of cardio prep could get him past the test. OTOH, if he’s in San Antonio shape it could be a while. I saw him in SA and he could barely run. I guess we’ll just have to wait.
Rafael,
If I am not mistaken there is a different standard for the linemen. But obviously LA failed it, notwithstanding that result giving BP an opportunity to send a legitimate message to everyone else. I never did find out the final result of Stringer’s widows’ negligence lawsuit against the Dykings, but I would assume that a shrewd businessman like Jerry doesn’t want those kind of headaches if he can avoid them. LA will be off PUP when he’s ready physically AND the message has sunk in.
the way spaggs explained it they had to run up and down the field in 59 seconds then 2 minute break then run again then 2 minute break then run it again. so they had to run up and down 3 times while having 2 minute breaks. to me that seems alot of runnin in 59 seconds….
It ain’t easy, thats for sure. It’s also a lot harder for the linemen just because they are much bigger than say, a WR. Simple physics. Takes less energy to move a 190 lb body than a 330 lb one.
i know i couldnt do it, thankfully hes supposed to be back in a couple days.
rapheal,
how did the 2 first rounders look today? or anyone who was there like to know how they looked…
lol sorry about the miss spell rafeal
Rafael,
It is my understanding that there is NO retest. So, whenever the training staff considers Allen to be ready, he will be allowed to practice. Until then, he gets to run around on the sidelines with the trainers. Actually, that might be tougher than the practices.