Cowboys sign Michael Sam to practice squad

Carp

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Gameday: Sizing Up Cowboys-49ers After Preseason

Posted 2 hours ago


David Helman

DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer


Sunday marks just the fifth time in franchise history the Cowboys will open the regular season after a winless preseason. They allowed at least 25 points in all four games – a good portion of that coming against backups. Their first offense scored 23 combined points during that stretch, highlighted by a touchdown strike between Tony Romo and Dez Bryant during the second preseason game.

Health appears to be on the Cowboys’ side as this Week 1 clash against San Francisco approaches – something that hasn’t often been the case in recent seasons. Romo is healthy after working through a limited schedule in training camp, and Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday that key defensive starters Morris Claiborne and Henry Melton should be ready for Sunday.

Jones also said that George Selvie’s shoulder injury shouldn’t hold him out against the 49ers, which means the Dallas defensive line should be as healthy as it’s been in the past month – that’s despite longer term injuries to Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The expectations for the offense are as high as the expectations for the defense are low, and there are unknowns on both sides of the ball. This will be the Cowboys’ first opportunity to see Rolando McClain – the best hope of a placeholder for the injured Sean Lee – in full game action. It’ll also be the first look at No. 16 overall pick Zack Martin, and how he holds up against a top-notch pass rush. Plenty of eyes are also bound to be on Romo’s back and how he holds up against contact.

One game isn’t a good sample size of a season, but Sunday marks the first chance anyone will have to evaluate a lot of the key pieces to this season.

It’d be hard to find a steeper challenge, on paper at least, than NFC West powerhouse San Francisco.

The big talking point about the 49ers is the obvious fact that this team has played in three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl since 2011. That success hasn’t necessarily translated to the offseason, however, as San Francisco has had one of the bumpiest rides in the league.

Pro Bowl pass rusher Aldon Smith finally saw the conclusion to his off-field issues last week, and the result was a nine-game suspension from the league. That loss, combined with the fact that fellow Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman is still recovering from his ACL tear during the playoffs last January, means the 49ers will be without two of their top defenders. The news isn’t much better from there, as San Francisco also lost starting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to a torn biceps in the preseason, and fellow defensive lineman Ray McDonald is in doubt for the opener after he was arrested over the weekend.

The offensive line, which struggled at times in the preseason, received a boost Monday when guard Alex Boone returned to the team. Boone held out for the duration of the team’s training camp over contract issues, which he resolved Sunday. His return should be a big positive for a line which has been among the league’s best for the past few years.

Much like Dallas last year, San Francisco made a statement in the offseason by committing a lengthy contract to quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The fourth-year veteran passed for 3,197 yards and rushed for 524 in 2013, and his dual-threat capabilities figure to be a steep challenge for the Dallas defense.

Kaepernick brought the 49ers within five yards of a Super Bowl championship in his first season as the starter, before ultimately losing to Baltimore. The young quarterback returns most of his weapons from last season – Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin – and he adds free agent Stevie Johnson and second-round draft pick Carlos Hyde to his arsenal.
Nice post.
 

Cotton

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Regardless of him being gay or not...and I childishly have been having fun with it...I think it is a smart signing.
I agree. It's solid. Rock solid.

:unsure
 

mcnuttz

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Gameday: Sizing Up Cowboys-49ers After Preseason

Posted 2 hours ago


David Helman

DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer


Sunday marks just the fifth time in franchise history the Cowboys will open the regular season after a winless preseason. They allowed at least 25 points in all four games – a good portion of that coming against backups. Their first offense scored 23 combined points during that stretch, highlighted by a touchdown strike between Tony Romo and Dez Bryant during the second preseason game.

Health appears to be on the Cowboys’ side as this Week 1 clash against San Francisco approaches – something that hasn’t often been the case in recent seasons. Romo is healthy after working through a limited schedule in training camp, and Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday that key defensive starters Morris Claiborne and Henry Melton should be ready for Sunday.

Jones also said that George Selvie’s shoulder injury shouldn’t hold him out against the 49ers, which means the Dallas defensive line should be as healthy as it’s been in the past month – that’s despite longer term injuries to Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The expectations for the offense are as high as the expectations for the defense are low, and there are unknowns on both sides of the ball. This will be the Cowboys’ first opportunity to see Rolando McClain – the best hope of a placeholder for the injured Sean Lee – in full game action. It’ll also be the first look at No. 16 overall pick Zack Martin, and how he holds up against a top-notch pass rush. Plenty of eyes are also bound to be on Romo’s back and how he holds up against contact.

One game isn’t a good sample size of a season, but Sunday marks the first chance anyone will have to evaluate a lot of the key pieces to this season.

It’d be hard to find a steeper challenge, on paper at least, than NFC West powerhouse San Francisco.

The big talking point about the 49ers is the obvious fact that this team has played in three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl since 2011. That success hasn’t necessarily translated to the offseason, however, as San Francisco has had one of the bumpiest rides in the league.

Pro Bowl pass rusher Aldon Smith finally saw the conclusion to his off-field issues last week, and the result was a nine-game suspension from the league. That loss, combined with the fact that fellow Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman is still recovering from his ACL tear during the playoffs last January, means the 49ers will be without two of their top defenders. The news isn’t much better from there, as San Francisco also lost starting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to a torn biceps in the preseason, and fellow defensive lineman Ray McDonald is in doubt for the opener after he was arrested over the weekend.

The offensive line, which struggled at times in the preseason, received a boost Monday when guard Alex Boone returned to the team. Boone held out for the duration of the team’s training camp over contract issues, which he resolved Sunday. His return should be a big positive for a line which has been among the league’s best for the past few years.

Much like Dallas last year, San Francisco made a statement in the offseason by committing a lengthy contract to quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The fourth-year veteran passed for 3,197 yards and rushed for 524 in 2013, and his dual-threat capabilities figure to be a steep challenge for the Dallas defense.

Kaepernick brought the 49ers within five yards of a Super Bowl championship in his first season as the starter, before ultimately losing to Baltimore. The young quarterback returns most of his weapons from last season – Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin – and he adds free agent Stevie Johnson and second-round draft pick Carlos Hyde to his arsenal.
Never consider that...excellent point, booznatch.
 

Cotton

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Thread rebuild!
 

BipolarFuk

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Smart signing. We should be kicking the tires in anyone who can possibly provide a pass rush.

Fag.
 

NoDak

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So, are the reporters allowed to laugh the first time Sam says how happy he is to be getting some love from Big D?
 

Cotton

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:unsure
 

Cotton

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So, are the reporters allowed to laugh the first time Sam says how happy he is to be getting some love from Big D?
:lol

Yes.
 

p1_

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All's I know is there had better not be any episodes like this:

 

NoDak

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I've been kinda meh so far this preseason, but I gotta tell ya... I am SO looking forward to finding out what name Marinelli is gonna tag him with.
 

p1_

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:unsure
Nice...
 

Texas Ace

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I've been kinda meh so far this preseason, but I gotta tell ya... I am SO looking forward to finding out what name Marinelli is gonna tag him with.
Well, there's already a golden cock on the team.

How about....Holding Cock?

:unsure
 

Cotton

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Cotton

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Will Cowboys' defensive state lead to Sam?
September, 2, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- In search of pass-rushing help, the Dallas Cowboys will bring Michael Sam in for a physical on Wednesday and potentially add him to the practice squad.

Forget the off-the-field attention that would accompany Sam should he join the Cowboys, how does he fit on the field?

Sam was not on the Cowboys’ draft board in May. At the time, they did not believe he would be a good fit in Rod Marinelli’s scheme. Marinelli constantly stresses speed all over the defense and Sam timed poorly leading up to the draft despite being the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year last season at Missouri.

When Sam was cut by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, the Cowboys did not initially budge from their stance in May. Perhaps more time and the pressing need to improve defensively changed the perception of Sam. He had three sacks and 11 tackles in four preseason games, but was unable to crack St. Louis’ strong defensive front.

The Cowboys do not have a strong defensive front and can use pass-rush help.

Since the final preseason game the Cowboys added two defensive linemen to the 53-man roster, picking up Lavar Edwards in a trade from the Tennessee Titans and signing Jack Crawford on Monday. They re-signed Kenneth Boatright, who was among their final cuts, to the practice squad on Monday.

The Cowboys will take a committee approach with their defensive line this season and need numbers. They have 11 defensive linemen on the active roster and could dress as many as nine for games.

If Sam becomes a Cowboy, then he could get a chance to be part of that rotation down the road.
 
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