2012 Camp Cowboys: 7.31.12
10. Only owner Jerry Jones can top his infamous "Glory hole" christening of camp. Monday he officially opened camp in Oxnard with a civic event that included the Cowboys Cheerleaders, 4 skydivers and Oxnard Mayor Thomas Holden calling Jason Garrett "Coach Payton." But then, a year after defensive coordinator Rob Ryan made camp headlines by promising the Cowboys would "beat the ass of the all-hype team", Jones took the microphone and encouraged California Cowboys fans to journey to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington to "watch us beat the Giants' asses." The Cowboys, who are 0-3 all-time versus the Giants in Cowboys Stadium, host the defending Super Bowl champs Oct. 28.
9. Happy 30th Birthday, DeMarcus Ware. Seems like he's been around forever doesn't it?
8. Shame on the 3 players – Andre Holmes, Brodney Pool and Felix Jones – for failing Sunday's conditioning test. During their 6 weeks away from Valley Ranch after June's minicamp they all fell out of shape. While Jones isn't going anywhere, Pool and Holmes will fight for roster spots this summer. "With Holmes it's very disappointing," said Jerry Jones. "He left minicamp in great shape. As for Pool, he's gotta get it done. He knew this was coming." Jerry was also shocked by Felix' failure. "It's the complete antithesis of what Felix is all about. You have to shoot him to get him off the practice field." All 3 are expected to miss Tuesday's workouts as well.
7. How intense are the morning walk-throughs? Defensive end Kenyon Coleman wears those creepy 5-toed shoes.
6. I asked linebacker Bruce Carter, No. 54, if he knew the history of his number with the Cowboys. Chuck Howley, Super Bowl V MVP: "Yeah, I heard of him." Randy White, co-MVP of Super Bowl XII: "Heard of him, too. But I don't think I'll be as good as those guys." Hmm.
5. So far so good for incumbent kicker Dan Bailey. He went 6-of-6 in Monday's field goals between 20-45 yards.
4. Morris Claiborne left Monday's practice with "general body soreness." Raise your hand if you've ever wanted to leave early for that excuse? Lame.
3. After Monday's practice Tony Romo was in a reflective mood, assessing his 10 years in the NFL to a media gangbang. "Well, it doesn't seem like that, that's for sure," said Romo, suddenly the team's second-oldest player at 32. "I didn't play for the first three and a half seasons and missed basically a full season (2010) in another one. I guess I've only really played, five, five and a half seasons of football. It kind of feels like that, but 10 is definitely a big number." Romo was 19 of 29 the first day of camp.
2. For the first time since his July 16 arrest for assaulting his mother, receiver Dez Bryant has talked to the media. In fact, after Monday's practice it became very clear that it is the Cowboys – and not Bryant – who are dictating Dez's silence. While signing autographs Bryant fielded a question about his former Lufkin High School coach John Outlaw. The coach passed away in December and Lufkin ISD has renamed the city's football stadium as "John Outlaw Field." Said Bryant: "I will talk about that. I did not know that." At that point a Cowboys' employee attempted to stop the interview, but Bryant answered anyway. "No no no, we good," Bryant said to the staffer before continuing. "Oh man, that's a great honor for him. He's a legendary high-school coach in my eyes. He did a great job with me, and not only me but my ex-teammates and he deserved it. The field should be named for him." With that, the staffer interrupted again and ended the interview, saying "Sorry … sorry … sorry."
PLAY: Dez speaks at Cowboys Camp in Oxnard, CA
Podcast
1. We're only getting stretched out here in Oxnard but Jerry Jones is already in Super Bowl form. The guy is 3-for-3 with headline-grabbing zingers. Day 1: "Glory hole"; Day 2: "Beat the Giants' asses"; And this morning on Day 3 – on the Elf and Slater Show on 105.3 The Fan – he was asked again why he has yet to talk to Bryant regarding his recent arrest for domestic violence. Sunday Jerry said "I don't know why," but today he revealed it was because he is still too "pissed" to meet with his receiver. Fact-finding be damned, apparently the owner is still in a "cooling off" mode. Wow.
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