Cowboys To Sign RB Darius Jackson
Darius Jackson is back in Dallas. On Wednesday, the Cowboys agreed to terms with their former sixth-round pick, according to Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram. 
Jackson did not see the field with the Cowboys in 2016 as he was buried behind the likes of Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris. In December, the team cut him to make room for Darren McFadden, who was returning from injury. The Cowboys were hoping to sneak him on to the practice squad, but the Browns claimed him, utilizing their top waiver priority to beat out the Eagles, Giants, and 49ers. Clearly, word had gotten out about Jackson’s impressive performance on the practice field.
Unfortunately, a knee injury cost Jackson all of 2017, which halted his momentum. He’ll now look to compete with Rod Smith, Trey Williams, and seventh-round pick Bo Scarbrough for a backup spot behind Elliott.
Jackson put himself on the NFL map in his senior year at Eastern Michigan. After spending his first three years as a part-time player, Jackson ran for 1,088 yards off of 208 carries, giving him an eye-popping 5.2 yards per carry average. He also had 14 rushing touchdowns plus 21 catches for 201 yards and two scores.
Latest On Cowboys DE Randy Gregory
Today, Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones provided a brief update on Randy Gregory. While the executive didn’t have a lot of news regarding the suspended player’s reinstatement, he did indicate that the process was “proceeding.” This would provide some optimism that the defensive end could return in time for training camp.
“You know, I know it’s proceeding,” Jones told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Dallas Star-Telegram. “We don’t have anything to report differently, other than that I know he’s wanting to move forward with the appeal. I don’t really have anything new to report on that front, other than that. I know he’s done the application process, but I’m pretty sure he hasn’t had the actual appeal. It’s in the league’s hands.”
The embattled 25-year-old applied for reinstatement last week, and the NFL has 60 days to approve the application. The 2015 second-rounder initially earned a pair of suspensions during his rookie campaign, forcing him to miss 14 total games. Gregory returned late in the 2016 campaign, but he was subsequently slapped with at least a full-year ban for a failed test and a missed test. The Nebraska product recently spent more than one month in intensive rehab for drug and alcohol use, and he’s also received counseling.
Gregory was a highly-touted prospect heading into the 2015 draft, but a failed marijuana test caused his draft stock to fall. In 14 career games, the defensive end has compiled 15 tackles and one sack.
Teams Have Asked Cowboys About Dez Bryant
Since rejecting the Ravens’ offer back in April, Dez Bryant hasn’t been able to generate a whole lot of reported interest from NFL teams. However, Cowboys’ Vice President Stephen Jones said plenty of teams have checked in on the team’s former star receiver.
“You know at the (NFL owners) meetings I have had different conversations about him,” Jones told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Dallas Star-Telegram. “At the competition committee meeting, some of the coaches there speak to it. I’m sure other coaches have called our coaches and wanted input on him. The greatest thing about Dez is he is a fierce competitor. I think he is now more driven and more competitive than he has ever been. We wish him nothing but the best.”
After having spent eight years in Dallas, the Cowboys let go of the 29-year-old is mid-April. Bryant did get an offer from the Ravens, but the three-time Pro Bowler rejected the multiyear deal. Reports indicated that the receiver was seeking a lucrative one-year contract that would boost his value for next year’s free agency.
Despite his demands, Jones expressed surprise that Bryant still hasn’t caught on with a team.
“I am sure Dez is being thoughtful,” Jones said on Tuesday. ”I don’t know the details as to why he hasn’t picked a home. I am sure he is being very thoughtful about it. I am sure he has good people talking to him too. I am sure at the end of the day he is being thoughtful about what his next steps should be. I am sure he is working hard. No one is rooting for Dez more than we are.”
Of course, teams may be underwhelmed by Bryant’s 2017 season and are ignoring him entirely. The wideout played in 16 games for the first time since 2014, but he finished with only 69 receptions for 838 yards, and six touchdowns.
Latest on Cowboys, Zack Martin
Although no deal is done, the Cowboys and All-Pro guard Zack Martin appear to be inching closer to an extension. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones spoke to the media recently and offered some details on the negotiations with Martin’s camp.
Jones revealed that he’s met with Martin’s agent, Tom Condon, within the last two weeks. While he said there’s no timeframe for a deal, he’s confident one will get done.
“We think he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the league,” said Jones (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Certainly we think the best offensive guard in the league (and) should be paid accordingly.”
Jones added that the holdup was just a “matter of structures.” In the meantime, while there remains no deal, Martin continues to be absent from OTAs.
Jones’ assertion that Martin is the best guard in the league and should be paid “accordingly” seems to suggest Martin will receive more than Andrew Norwell, the league’s highest paid guard. Norwell signed a five-year $66.5MM contract with the Jaguars back in March. His $13.3MM annual salary was the highest ever for a guard, but that might not last for much longer. Martin, who has anchored the Cowboys’ dominant offensive line the past several seasons, should reset the market for interior offensive linemen.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/29/18
- Waived: OL Sean Hickey
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Channing Stribling
- Waived/injured: S Michael Cirino
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Eric Pinkins
- Waived: LB Ed Shockley, WR Malik Earl
Cowboys Working Out Darius Jackson
Despite reportedly planning on using the recently acquired Tavon Austin as a running back, and drafting Bo Scarbrough in the seventh round last month, the Cowboys are apparently considering signing another running back. They’re working out Darius Jackson, who was recently waived by the Browns (Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
The Cowboys are quite familiar with Jackson, having taken him in the sixth-round back in 2016. Jackson made the 53-man roster his rookie season but was waived in December of that year to make room for Darren McFadden, who was returning from injury. Jackson was then claimed by the Browns where he spent the rest of the season. He missed all of 2017 with a knee injury.
Despite being on the active roster at various points for both the Cowboys and Browns, Jackson has never gotten a regular season carry. Before he was drafted, he was a standout at Eastern Michigan, scoring a school-record 16 touchdowns as a senior. Although the Cowboys already know a lot about him, they’re likely working him out to see how healthy he is and if he’s fully recovered from his knee injury.
With McFadden out of the picture, Rod Smith and Austin figure to soak up most of the playing time behind Ezekiel Elliott. If the Cowboys do decide to sign Jackson, that would leave him, Scarbrough, and journeyman Trey Williams all fighting for likely just one roster spot during training camp. Either way, whoever gets the final running back spot is unlikely to see the field much unless there’s a slew of injuries, as the Cowboys will want Elliott playing the vast majority of snaps. Jackson hasn’t shown much during his time in the league, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him get brought in for camp due to his familiarity with the team.
Jets Submitted Offer To Allen Hurns
In signing Terrelle Pryor and Andre Roberts, the Jets added multiple free agent pieces at wide receiver this offseason. But they navigated through the negotiation process with Allen Hurns as well.
One of several teams to be interested in Hurns after his Jaguars release, the Jets saw weather intervene and delay the veteran wideout’s March visit. But the Jets made Hurns an offer and indeed followed through with the rescheduled meeting. It just couldn’t steer Hurns away from Dallas and a two-year, $12MM deal.
“(The Jets) already had an offer for me, and I didn’t have an offer when I came (to Dallas),” Hurns said, via Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. “Once I came … I was in love. So I told my agent if it was less to come here, that I’d be willing to take it.”
Booked the same day the Jags cut him, the Jets visit was first on Hurns’ itinerary. By the time Hurns did get around to making his trip to the Big Apple, the Jets had already agreed to terms with Pryor. It’s unclear what Gang Green’s offer was, but the Jets possessed plenty of cap space. And at that time, Robby Anderson‘s legal outlook was cloudier than it is now.
Hurns posted a 1,000-yard season in 2015 but delivered significantly lesser production over the past two seasons, leading to the Jacksonville release. The Cowboys plan to deploy Hurns in the slot and on the outside, per Hairopoulos, and he’ll be a key component of a passing game that lost Dez Bryant and Jason Witten this offseason.
Dak Prescott Optimistic About Cowboys Offense
Following the Cowboys’ decision to move on from Dez Bryant, the offense was left with only two wideouts from last year’s roster: Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams. The team did an admirable job of adding Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson via free agency, Tavon Austin via trade, and Michael Gallup via the draft, but none of their options profile as a top-tier wideout.
While the team’s depth chart may be lacking, quarterback Dak Prescott believes the Cowboys’ offense will be just fine.
Latest On Terrance Williams Situation
The bizarre twist in the Terrance Williams car-crash saga involved Kendall Wright after the Cowboys wide receiver said the new Vikings pass-catcher was, in fact, the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Williams and Wright were teammates at Baylor together and had spent time together earlier on the night of the accident. But both Williams’ attorney, Chip Lewis, and Vikings GM Rick Spielman deny it was Wright who was behind the wheel.
“I have spoken directly with Kendall and his agent and both have assured me there is no truth to the matter,” Spielman said, via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Police arrested Williams, whose statement indicated he was the driver of the vehicle, for leaving the scene of an accident and for public intoxication. Williams told police he’d gotten a call from Wright informing him of the Lamborghini crash, but police were suspicious of this claim since Williams subsequently admitted his phone was still in the car at that point. Williams’ public statement of the events of that sequence did not include Wright.
Cowboys Expect Zack Martin Extension This Offseason
The Cowboys and Zack Martin have been circling each other for a while now, and the All-Pro guard decided to skip OTAs this week. However, Albert Breer of SI.com notes this doesn’t appear to be a contentious absence, adding the Cowboys expect to have this deal done before the regular season. This promises to be an eye-opening agreement.
Dallas expects to pay Martin at least $13MM per year. While only five linemen earn that, one of them is a guard. And as good as Andrew Norwell has been, Martin’s a more accomplished player with four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro distinctions on his resume.
So, it’s likely Martin’s deal will come in north of Norwell’s $13.3MM-per-year pact and set the market for guards, with Breer pointing out teams aren’t going to see 2018 deals for Norwell and Nate Solder as outlier pacts based on free agency but instead will view them as the norm in a changing marketplace. Quality linemen are simply more valuable now since these particular skills are much harder to acquire out of college.
The Cowboys view Martin as the game’s premier pass-protecting guard and a player who is close to the top in clearing run lanes, per Breer, so they’re eager to ensure he’s under contract well into the 2020s.
Martin, 27, is on Dallas’ books for $9.341MM because of his fifth-year option, and the Cowboys already have a significant negotiation to finish with Demarcus Lawrence. While Lawrence said he would be fine playing on the franchise tag, that is affecting the Cowboys’ books. The defensive end’s cap hold sits at $17.143MM — second-highest on the team behind Tyron Smith.