Cowboys notes: Team not counting on Scandrick suspension being lifted

Reports surfaced Friday that the NFL and the players’ association are close to agreeing on a new drug policy, which would change how the league deals with players who test positive for amphetamines.

That could directly affect the Dallas Cowboys and cornerback Orlando Scandrick, who has been suspended for the first four games of the season for testing positive for amphetamines. Scandrick said he took a recreational drug, commonly called “a Molly,” while on vacation in Mexico.

Under the current agreement, amphetamines are classified as a performance-enhancing drug, which carries an automatic four-game suspension. With the new policy, amphetamines would fall under the recreational/street drug category, which comes with no suspension on the first offense.

If the policy is changed, it’s possible that Scandrick could be available to play as early as Sunday’s season opener. Cowboys officials feel Scandrick would be ready to go even though he’s missed a week of practice.

That, however, would be a bold step by the league to retroactively lift a suspension.

“I’m not planning on it, let’s put it like that,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday on his weekly radio show on KRLD-FM/105.3. “The quicker we can get him back, the better our team would be because he arguably did have ... a great training camp.

“I really admired the way that he really kept competing and kept preparing himself for the season even though he knew he was going to be out for the four games.”

Jones said he is in favor of moving amphetamines from the PED category to the recreational drug category.

Jerry on Sam

Jones disputedrefuted a report that claimed the NFL pushed teams to sign defensive end Michael Sam, saying the Cowboys did it for football reasons.

Sam, who is trying to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, was cut by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday before finding a spot on the Cowboys’ practice squad on Wednesday.

“It’s no secret we need pass rushers and we need some defensive linemen,” Jones said.

Jones added that Sam has “a long way to go,” though, in terms of becoming a better special teams player and working in space. So Sam is not a candidate for the active roster at this point.

As for an NBC report Thursday that said NFL officials approached multiple teams to gauge their interest in Sam, Jones said: “We were not [contacted].

“That would not be something that I have ever done is visit with the league other than reporting a transaction. I am our voting representative with the team, and technically nobody goes anywhere unless I OK it with the league office.”

Jerry on Brent

The 10-game suspension the NFL handed down to defensive tackle Josh Brent when he was reinstated surprised Jones.

The Cowboys felt the league might factor in “time served” with Brent, as they did with Michael Vick and Donte Stallworth. Brent retired last season as he dealt with a charge of intoxication manslaughter from his December 2012 drunk-driving accident that took the life of teammate Jerry Brown. Brent was sentenced in January to 180 days in jail.

Brent can’t attend team meetings until Week 7 and can’t begin practicing until Week 9, as long as he adheres to conditions imposed by the league.

“A critical part of the terms of his reinstatement was that he was going to get to have some time in pads with the team earlier than that 10 games mentioned,” Jones said. “That’s a big deal. In this particular case, because of the time of year, we were concerned we were going to [have a problem] because we hadn’t seen him with pads on at about 18 months.

“But certainly 10 games was a lot more than I thought that it would be. But we’ll make it work.”

Injury updates

Zack Martin and Terrance Williams returned to practice Friday, but are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Martin, the rookie starting at right guard, is dealing with what he called “a little plantar fasciitis,” but said he expects to play. Williams suffered a back injury Wednesday and was held out of Thursday’s practice, but also said he’ll play.

Defensive tackle Terrell McClain (ankle) has been limited in practice this week and is also questionable.

Defensive end George Selvie, who has dealt with a shoulder injury, and quarterback Tony Romo are both probable.

The only players who are “out” are defensive end Anthony Spencer (microfracture surgery on left knee) and offensive lineman Darrion Weems (shoulder).

Captains named

The Cowboys’ captains were announced Friday. Tony Romo and Jason Witten are the offensive captains, Barry Church and Justin Durant on defense and Dan Bailey on special teams.

This story was originally published September 5, 2014 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Cowboys notes: Team not counting on Scandrick suspension being lifted."