Cowboys Claiborne Has His Confidence - And His Weight - Up
By Mike Fisher
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FRISCO ( 105.3 The Fan) - Cornerback Morris Claiborne's career in Dallas hasn't gone as originally envisioned when the Cowboys — and the rest of the NFL — viewed him as the best defensive player in the 2012 NFL Draft.
But Claiborne uses the word "love'' when describing his decision to return this season under the terms of a cheap one-year contract — even though he views his relationship with Cowboys Nation as sort of a love/hate one.
"It feels real good to be back, especially back here in Dallas, back with some guys that I'm used to and some guys that I love with all of my heart," Claiborne said this week from the team's charity home-run contest in Frisco. "I knew I wanted to stay in Dallas. I knew there was nowhere else I'd rather be. ... It's the only place I know, so I'm used to the guys and the coaches.''
Claiborne has experienced ups and downs with confidence, performance and injury during his time with the Cowboys, but tells me he's as healthy as ever, now weighing "around 190 or 194'' after playing at just 180 last season due in part to recovery from serious surgery.
The Cowboys are sold on Claiborne (at least as far as a one-year contract goes) as part of the cornerback competition that features two other vets in Orlando Scandrick and Brandon Carr. Claiborne concedes that maybe the audience isn't quite as sold.
"We have some tough fans, but I still love them all,'' Mo said. "I wouldn't rather play for anybody else."
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