: Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will present Emmitt Smith at Hall of Fame induction

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:02 CST

By JAN HUBBARD

ARLINGTON -- Emmitt Smith paid tribute to Jerry Jones by asking the Cowboys owner to be his presenter when Smith is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.

Jones, however, sees a bigger picture than simply the honor of making the presentations.

"This is very special -- his induction," Jones said Friday at Cowboys Stadium, where weigh-ins for tonight's 10-bout boxing card were held. "It is really a feel-good, it is really an honor on behalf of everybody -- his teammates, our fans, and everybody to be a part of it like that.

"It's going to be a very special time for the franchise, for the Cowboys. We lobbied hard when he was voted in to get that [Hall of Fame] game and wanted that game for that very reason. You add that all together and it's just going to be a great occasion for the Cowboys."

Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, is the second of the three "Triplets" that Jones will present at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Jones also presented Michael Irvin while former Cowboys assistant Norv Turner presented Troy Aikman.

Smith will be the 12th member of the Cowboys in the Hall, joining Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Mel Renfro, Aikman, Rayfield Wright, Irvin and Bob Hayes.

Joining Smith in the Class of 2010 will be Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, and Jerry Rice.

Jones addressed several other Cowboy-related topics on Friday.

On signing a free agent this weekend: "I would say no, but I would want to leave it open in case a couple of things happen."

On possibly signing former Cowboys defensive end Greg Ellis, who was released last week by the Raiders: "That's not unrealistic. The circumstances are the right kind of circumstances."

On splitting training camp between San Antonio and Oxnard, Calif.: "We don't have anything to announce, but I feel good about that happening."

Staff Writer Clarence E. Hill contributed to this report.

Few others can sell sports as Jerry Jones can

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:15 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

ARLINGTON -- Jerry Jones has been called P.T. Barnum before.

Of course, it's never been considered a compliment.

But when boxing promoter Bob Arum recently called Jones "the best promoter he's ever run into it, the best of all time," the Dallas Cowboys' owner was flattered.

"That's a compliment from him," Jones said. "I've heard it in a different vein. I know I have an inordinate amount of enthusiasm for sports."

Jones takes a back seat to no one when it comes to promoting the Cowboys and his $1.2 billion baby, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

And in bringing the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey WBO welterweight title fight to Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Jones certainly has found a brother in arms in Arum. The two spent two days in Mexico recently bonding and promoting the fight.

"He never gets tired," Arum said. "We were on a two-day trip, and he was able to drink everybody under the table. He kept going and never stopped with dozens and dozens of interviews. It was really something to see.

"He has been one of the great partners that I have ever, ever worked with."

But while Arum is promoting his fighters, Jones is focused on selling the Cowboys brand and Cowboys Stadium. The football team is already world-renowned. He wants the same for the stadium, which is nearing that if he continues at this pace.

Since it opened last June, Jones has brought in mega-concerts, international soccer matches, professional bull riding, college basketball, college football, the NBA All-Star Game and, of course, Cowboys games. Following Saturday's fight, which is the first pay-per-view boxing match to be held in a domed stadium, the Cowboys will host the Super Bowl in 2011.

"The goal here at this stadium is to have it recognized all over the world as a place to compete and a place of importance," Jones said. "You get someone like Pacquiao in here, it earns that. You get the Cowboys and [New York] Giants in here, it earns that. You get an NBA All-Star game in here, it earns that. You put the Super Bowl in here, it lifts all boats."

Jones wants it clear that his focus remains on his team.

"The stadium allows me to have this kind of interest without being known as a multiple sports owner or have my attention divided," Jones said.

Jones says he knows what's happening in NFL free agency.

He said he was involved in a meeting about potential free agents before the fight news conference Wednesday. He said nothing was imminent. He reiterated that the Cowboys plan on being active. They are waiting on the right opportunity.

If all goes well Saturday, Jones plans to bring more big boxing matches to Cowboys Stadium.

Forget P.T. Barnum. Don King, watch out.

Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760

Some famous North Texans belt out a super rendition of 'This Kiss'

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30 CST

By RAY BUCK

It's so bad, it's good.

That's the general consensus of the 21/2-minute video that records 21 local sports, political and media notables shown singing This Kiss, the song that launched Faith Hill's career in the late '90s.

From Roger Staubach to Tony Romo, Nolan Ryan to Jerry Jones and Dirk Nowitzki to Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, the musical compilation is a good-natured attempt by the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee to show there really are a lot of North Texans willing to do anything to pull together for the Feb. 6, 2011, Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium.

Apparently. two or three of them can even carry a tune.

"Dirk and Romo got into it the most," said Tony Fay, director of communications for the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee.

"But they all had fun, actually, and every single participant was a good sport about it."

The video is called This Kiss, North Texas Version and, for some reason, it's tough to turn away, as the 2:38 digital counter winds down rather quickly with one familiar face after another trying to hit the right note.

"The great thing about it," Fay said, "is that the very first person to do it was Roger. And if Roger is willing to do it, who can possibly say no?"

Staubach also serves as host committee chairman.

The video was first shown prior to the recent Faith Hill concert at Bass Hall, emceed by Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. That show kicked off the Super Bowl XLV concert series.

The video project was filmed at various locations, in order that the "talent" didn't need to travel.

"It took us a couple of weeks to do," Fay said. "Nobody was asked to sing the whole song from start to finish, just different portions of the song."

Faith Hill referenced the video in a positive way as she got ready to sing This Kiss during the Bass Hall concert. Hill's publicity people also expressed strong approval to the host committee as well, according to Fay.

Mayors to media to jocks both past and present... no one invited to sing on camera turned down the host committee's offer, according to Fay.

"This again goes to show just how everybody in the region wants this Super Bowl to be a success," Fay said. "We got to talking later, if you make a list of the top seven or eight sports personalities in the history of this region... probably five of 'em are in the video."

Ray Buck, 817-390-7760

Jerry Jones not worried about Cowboys' quiet start to free agency

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:22 CST

By JAN HUBBARD

GRAPEVINE -- No one is better than Jerry Jones at providing a Jerry Jones-ism to describe the Cowboys' approach thus far in the NFL's uncapped year.

"There's no angst about getting anxious here," the Cowboys owner said. "We're just watching it unfold."

Jones visited the Gaylord Texan Resort on Monday to watch welterweight boxer Joshua Clottey work out in preparation for the Clottey-Manny Pacquiao championship fight on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

"We're pleased with what we have in place with the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said, "but if you look at our past several years, we've never jumped right out there in free agency.

"The last several years, we haven't been big off the bat right out front. We've been concentrating on our own players and you see the result of it. DeMarcus Ware signing, and the fact that we've signed a lot of the players that we've signed and we're in various stages of trying to sign the ones that aren't signed."

Jones said again that receiver Miles Austin "is a priority. But there's no news on that. We restricted him [with a first and third-round tender] and [safety Gerald] Sensabaugh is the same way, too. That will work out."

Several teams were active as soon as free agency began with the Chicago Bears signing Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers and the New York Giants signing Arizona safety Antrel Rolle, but Jones said that had no effect on his approach.

"I don't ever look at what other teams are doing," Jones said. "That just doesn't fit the Cowboys. I look at what we're about right there. We have some places that we could improve our team in free agency just as we will in the draft."

No message to Spears

Jerry Jones said the original-round tender received by Marcus Spears, which is worth $1.226 million next season and is less than second-round tenders given to backup defensive linemen Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher ($1.759 million each), is not an indication of any unhappiness with Spears.

"Not really," Jones said. "Our motivation in how we did our free agency was strictly relative to what we thought we could handle as a club [rather than] anything to create any incentive or disincentive."

Swimming anyone?

The world's largest football stadium could become the world's largest swimming pool if Jerry Jones has another dream come true.

Jones said last week that he would like to have an Olympic swimming qualifying meet at Cowboys Stadium, but admitted that right now, it is only a wild vision.

"Picture simplistically taking that entire lower event level and putting in a type of container that would [be made of] forms of plastic and filling it up with water," Jones said. "Start at the bottom of [the front row seats] and you could fill it right up to the seat."

And how far along are plans?

"We aren't very close," Jones said, "but you asked me to envision. That's about as much sophistication as went in the initial thoughts on that digital board."

Jan Hubbard 817-390-7760

Veteran players subject to leave Cowboys

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:48 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

IRVING -- In some ways, an uncapped 2010 NFL season could be looked at as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

In other words, it's an opportunity for teams to save money by releasing players with big-money contracts without punitive damages against the salary cap.

As for free agency, which is under way, the Dallas Cowboys are in good financial shape and feel good enough about their players that they don't need to bail out of any deals just for the sake of saving money.

But that doesn't mean the Cowboys aren't considering making a few roster moves with some veterans that could result in some savings.

While vice president Stephen Jones wouldn't discuss any names, owner Jerry Jones has acknowledged that left tackle Flozell Adams will be part of the team's discussions because of his age, injury history and contract status.

It will be similar to the decisions the team ultimately made last year when it got rid of receiver Terrell Owens and linebacker Greg Ellis to allow younger players more playing time. It's a safe assumption that receiver Miles Austin and linebacker Anthony Spencer would not have had breakout seasons in 2009 if Owens and Ellis had been in Dallas.

"I think it [releasing veterans] could ultimately happen," Stephen Jones said. "It hasn't been decided, but it could ultimately fall that way. I think we've got a lot of young players, if given the opportunity, would probably play better than most people think."

Adams has been a mainstay at left tackle for more than a decade. He also turns 35 in May and is due a $7.5 million salary next season.

The good news is that the Cowboys don't have to make a decision on him until June when he is due a roster bonus. Although his agent, Jordan Woy, has informed the Cowboys that he would rather have a decision made sooner than later, Jerry Jones said the decision about Adams is not about money but skill and dependability. They liked what they got from him in 2009 after a down season in 2008. The question for them is what to expect next season when he is a year older.

"If we could have a season like that out of him [again] this year, it would be great," Jerry Jones said. "I was very pleased with his season. But certainly, that's the question mark. That's when you have decisions to make. Can you get [another] year like that out of him?"

Other mitigating factors are the emergence of Doug Free and the possibility of taking a top tackle in the first round of the 2010 draft. The Cowboys certainly liked what they saw from Free during his time as an injury replacement for Marc Colombo last season and they like his potential. The question is whether they are ready to trust him to protect Tony Romo's blind side.

"When you give guys an opportunity to play, a lot of times they end up playing pretty good," Stephen Jones said. "When you don't see them play, then that's difficult, not the 100 percent confidence they will step up and do it.

"Now I will say this, there are people in the organization, some are a little more leery of a player, some are a little more bullish on a player. Sometimes, when you run a business, you have to say, hey, we're going to take that chance. We're going to give this guy a shot. Just like Spencer. He played enough, you could see the things you wanted to see."

Like every team in the league, the Cowboys were impressed with the performance by Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell at the NFL Scouting Combine last week.

At 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds, Campbell ran an official 4.85-second 40-yard dash, turned in a 32-inch vertical jump and put up 34 repetitions on the standard 225-pound bench press.

According to one Cowboys scout, Campbell has the best body he has ever seen on a prospect. Before the combine, most mock drafts had him available when the Cowboys picked at 27th in the first round. However, his impressive showing could have him shooting up the draft board.

Another starter who appears to be on his way out is defensive end Marcus Spears based on the restricted free-agent tenders.

A starter since being a first-round pick in 2005, Spears will make less money in 2010 than backups Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen. Spears was tendered an original draft pick level and is slated to get $1.226 million next season. Bowen and Hatcher were given second-round tenders that have them making $1.759 million.

Jerry Jones has gone on record saying he expects more from Hatcher and Bowen next season. It apparently will be at the expense of Spears, whether he is on the roster or not. The Cowboys certainly didn't given him any incentive to not look for a better offer on the free-agent market.

If he does sign with another team, the Cowboys are hoping to get a first-round pick in return. However, it could only be a second-round pick per a clarification of the rules by the league and the players association.

With Roy Williams, Jerry Jones is just trying to avoid sour grapes

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:22 CST

JENNIFER FLOYD ENGEL

An autographed bottle of wine hardly measures up to a hurled funeral wreath, yet I am guessing the late and great Harvey Martin somewhere is smiling.

Saints coach Sean Payton did him proud.

In maybe my favorite story ever to originate from the usually overplayed NFL Scouting Combine, courtesy of SI's Peter King, Payton talked the St. Elmo Steakhouse in Indianapolis into giving him the magnum of Caymus Special Selection cabernet sauvignon owner Jerry Jones had reserved for his Cowboys party a day later. Nor was wine thieving enough for Payton. He scrawled a note on the empty with instructions that it be waiting for Jerry upon arrival.

"WHO DAT!

World Champions XLIV

Sean Payton"

The only thing that would have made it better was if Payton had attached a scouting report of receiver Roy Williams.

"Mental loafer. Nonexistent footwork.

"Below average route runner. Has lost trust of QB, OC and team.

"Drops likely. Do not fear him.

"Better find a way to squeeze a little juice from that lemon, Jerry.

"xoxo, Sean"

And why not? Roy was big talk in Indy, as in what to do about his underachieving and overpaid self and mostly whether his starting job was up for grabs. "No, no, a big no" was Jerry's response, which was divined as yet another sign his powerless coach was indeed powerless.

Really? Wade powerless? Who knew?

And while nobody loves a good Coach Wade-as-powerless-puppet giggle more than I, let's be real. This latest slight is based on the premise Wade actually called Roy's job into question at all.

Talk about funny.

Ask yourself: When was the last time Coach Wade publicly criticized any of his players? This is the same guy who refused to say Nick Folk was struggling despite the fact he could not hit the broad side of a barn, much less a field goal beyond 40 yards.

Wade did not throw Roy's job on the line, nor backtrack after Jerry guaranteed it. He simply answered a hypothetical question how he always does, in totally generic coach speak. If Patrick Crayton or Kevin Ogletree is better, would they start?

"We will play the best player, no matter what," he said.

What was Coach Wade supposed to say? He'd say this about every position, even though he has rarely, if ever, applied this in game settings. So let's dispense with this false outrage on Wade's behalf, like he'd be holding guys accountable if Jerry let him.

Jerry Jones says Dallas Cowboys will stick to plan in free agency

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:22 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

IRVING -- When free agency begins at 11:01 CST tonight, don't stay up late waiting for the Dallas Cowboys to cash in on Jerry Jones' promise of change with a big-money free-agent signing.

The Cowboys will probably sit back and pick their spots rather than charge full speed ahead into free agency.

But that's more about the Cowboys already having a pretty talented team coming off an 11-5 regular season and a wild-card win than any financial constraints because of the uncapped season and unresolved labor situation.

Certainly there are rules in place that limit what teams that finished in the final eight last year can do in free agency during an uncapped season.

According to figures announced by the NFL on Wednesday, the Cowboys can sign one free agent with a first-year salary of $5.807 million or less and as many as they want at $3.861 million or less.

While there are overall concerns about spending amid the unknowns of future cap implications whenever a new labor deal is finalized, Jones said the Cowboys will not be deterred by any factors in their attempt to improve the team.

"I decided this when we knew what was coming in our system, that I'm not interested in what anybody else is doing," Jones said. "I'm interested in what we're doing. We have blinders on in our decision-making. It's all about what is in the best interests of the Cowboys as it relates to that given player. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's the way we look at it."

The Cowboys, like other teams, are placing a self-imposed cap. But Jones acknowledges that his cap is based on his own budget and probably looks a lot different than that of other teams.

He said there is nothing about his budget this year that would prevent him from signing anyone he felt would help improve the Cowboys, as in any year.

"We do have a budget," Jones said. "We can operate within that budget and do whatever we want to do. If it made sense to us then, it makes sense now. Just by the definition, there's no cap this year. We have that right at the top of our budget."

It's also why Jones remains hopeful despite the challenges of getting contract extensions for restricted free agents Miles Austin and Gerald Sensabaugh. Jones has been on record as saying that he wants a long-term deal for breakout receiver Austin.

But Jones is just as focused on getting something done with Sensabaugh, who brought the best all-around play to the safety position since the days of Darren Woodson.

"[Our focus is about] what does it take to get a deal done with Sensabaugh and what does it take to get a deal done with Miles?" Jones said. "There are some changes because of free agency that give us a couple of more things to think about, but at the end of the day, you want contracts with these guys."

Restricted tenders due

The Cowboys must make tender offers to their 13 restricted free agents today, including Miles Austin and Gerald Sensabaugh.

It's a good assumption that Austin will receive the highest tender possible -- a one-year salary of $3.168 million and compensation of a first- and third-round pick if he signs with another team. Sensabaugh will likely be tagged with the first-round tender of $2.62 million. If he signs with another team, the Cowboys would get a first-round pick in return.

The other restricted free agents are defensive tackle Stephen Bowen, guard Cory Procter, guard Duke Preston, defensive end Jason Hatcher, nose tackle Junior Siavii, receiver Sam Hurd, safety Pat Watkins, tackle Pat McQuistan, defensive end Marcus Spears, kicker Shaun Suisham and cornerback Cletis Gordon.

Not all of the restricted free agents will receive a contract tender because the Cowboys don't want them back or think they can sign them to a less-expensive free-agent deal.

Suisham, Preston and Gordon appear the most likely to not be offered contract tenders.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. 817-390-7760

Keeping Austin a top priority for Cowboys

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:01 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

INDIANAPOLIS -- According to owner Jerry Jones, one of the Cowboys' main objectives this off-season is to sign wide receiver Miles Austin to a long-term contract.

Jones said it will be difficult because of the potential of an uncapped season in 2010 and the uncertainty that lies ahead, but he believes it can be done.

Austin, 25, will most likely receive the highest restricted free agent tender offer possible -- a $3.168 million salary and compensation of a first- and third-round pick if he signs with another team -- on Thursday. But the Cowboys will continue to work toward a lucrative contract extension for the receiver.

"To some degree, there's some ambiguity [in the current labor climate]," Jones said. "But I don't know at the end of the day that you ought not to be able to overcome that and come to an agreement on his contract. You ought to be able to overcome that."

Austin's agent, David Dunn, said he has no worries about the labor uncertainty affecting Austin's ability to cash in big on his breakout season.

He refused to talk about specific teams, but he believes there will be a healthy market for Austin in free agency, despite the seemingly high cost of first- and third-round picks as compensation for signing him to an offer sheet.

Vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys will do whatever it takes to keep Austin.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. 817-390-7760

Roy Williams escapes the wrath of Jerry Jones

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:01 CST

RANDY GALLOWAY

Between the resurgence of the Dallas Mavericks and the Winter Olympics -- not just hockey, all of it -- my personal jock kingdom mood-o-meter has been banging nines and 10s the last couple of weeks.

Good entertainment is normally hard to come by this time of year. But not lately. And I'll say it again, as I do every two years, nobody writes the Olympics like my man Gil, who just wrapped up another 17 days of masterful, tough opinions on these pages.

But...

You also gotta love it when reality comes crashing through the front door.

And that's the way this week started, with both a crash and a laugh.

Let's get back to the Cowboys.

Come on down, Jerry.

You too, Wade.

The NFL scouting combine, of course, is an annual late February process that gathers most of the upcoming draft prospects under one big roof in Indianapolis.

It's always a crapshoot on how much good talent evaluation goes on in Indy, even for the best minds in the pro game. Miles Austin once went to the combine. So did Tony Romo. Two months later, in the April draft, neither were deemed worthy of being picked over seven full rounds.

But everybody from the NFL is there, and they do talk.

Mr. Jones, our local owner, was talking on Sunday.

When the quotes hit print Monday morning, I'm reading the words of Jerry, but I'm thinking Big Bill, despite Parcells' parting comment in 2007, "Within two years, you won't even know I was here."

He meant that Jerry would be right back doing things Jerry's way, which, for the record, was a real good prediction.

But what Jerry was telling our reporters on Sunday was full of Big Bill-isms.

To sum it up:

"I want our players nervous. I want no complacency. I want nobody comfortable. There will be changes. There will be new faces. I want nobody thinking we are ready to take the next step.

"After what was seen in Minneapolis, we aren't ready to take the next step. I want our players nervous. I can see maybe 11 new faces on this team next season."

Jerry, man, way to rock 'em. No free lunch at Valley Ranch, big boy.

Overall, that was a rant rated Big Bill-worthy.

Jerry Jones: Standing pat not an option for Dallas Cowboys

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:51 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sitting on the Dallas Cowboys' bus outside the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, owner Jerry Jones was direct and to the point.

Gone were the good feelings and sense of accomplishment he felt in the immediate days following the 2009 season, which featured the team's first playoff win in 13 years.

Reality has set in about his team, about how far it has come and how far it has to go.

Jones, still smarting from the 34-3 blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC divisional playoffs, said there is no room for complacency and that the Cowboys are not close to being ready to take the next step.

With the Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington next season, Jones is ready to do whatever it takes in the NFL Draft and free agency to be the first host franchise to play in the Super Bowl.

He also has a warning for his current Cowboys: Be uncomfortable, nervous and fearful because roster changes are coming. Jones sees possibly 11 meaningful additions, including three or four playing large roles.

"We're not comfortable, I'm not comfortable," Jones said. "There is no fear of standing pat here. We're not caught up in the fact that by some definition we had a good season. One of the things I'm the most sensitive about, even with myself, is to think, well, we've got something good going and let's just ride this thing on into the season. It's going to be just the opposite."

Jones answered a number of questions about his mind-set, free agency, the draft and the futures of Roy Williams and Flozell Adams.

What message did you send about continuity and building on last season's success when you gave coach Wade Phillips a two-year contract extension? I did stress continuity in extending Wade, but that's about where it stops. Last year, it was not any fun in the off-season. Everybody was pointing fingers.... I want some of that right now. I want some people nervous. I want our players nervous. I want to have the taste in my mouth that we had when we left Philadelphia the year before.

So when did it sink in for you? Vivid in my mind is the Minnesota game. We weren't close enough and good enough for anybody to get comfortable about where we are. We've got to do something to change that. Somebody says, 'Well, you've got to get some home-field games for the playoffs and play some games there in Cowboys Stadium.' No, we've got to get to where, if noise is going to bother us like that, we've got to figure out a way to have a team that can play somebody in their noise and win the game.

Do you feel it is tougher to take the next step standing pat? I think it's dangerous for this team -- I think it's a bad thing for this team -- to think that we're about ready to take that next step.... I think it's more than that. We better be ready to take a step. You start the season with that in mind and don't even think about [how] we just missed last year, we were close last year. This is the real deal with me.

Will the lineup changes come in the draft or free agency? I'm talking about everything. I want to look at everything. We've got to get it from within our club. I know we're going to have some opportunities in this off-season and I'm going to take advantage of it. Make no mistake about it, I expect to see some new faces. If we see a way we can get better at the start of free agency, we are going to try to figure out a way to get better.

Can you envision receiver Roy Williams not being a starter, and what needs to be done to get more out of him? No. No. A big no. I'm optimistic about Roy Williams. He's certainly got room for improvement. We all know that. But we've got to do some things with the way we get him the ball to enhance his game. We're going to do that.

Considering his age, declining skills and salary, do you have a decision to make about the future of left tackle Flozell Adams? I was very pleased with his season. If we could have a season like that out of him this year it would be great. Certainly, that's the question mark. That's when you have a decision to make right there -- can you get another year like that out of him?

What positions are you looking at in the draft, and will you trade your first-round pick, 27th overall? There's not a position we wouldn't take with that first pick other than quarterback. I don't want to speculate on [the pick]. That has everything to do with how much it costs you. But with these juniors in the draft we are going to have good players there at 27. We are probably less likely to move around.

Is your lack of interest in a quarterback because of Stephen McGee's potential? No, but it says everything about [backup Jon] Kitna. I love Kitna. Kitna can win games for us. We are really in good shape there. We need to see more of what McGee is. We really haven't seen that much.

Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760