Cowboys Gab

Sounds like the Cowboys are getting calls about wide out Sam Hurd.

Sam Hurd is not looking to leave the Cowboys, but he is hoping for a chance to be a regular contributor as a wide receiver. According to a source, the Cowboys have had some inquiries on Hurd’s availability but nothing appears imminent. Hurd finds himself in a precarious spot with the Cowboys in part because of his $1.759 million salary and spot on the depth chart at wide receiver. While he has had a solid camp and preseason (a team-high 11 catches for 132 yards), he does not appear to be at the top of the rotation with Miles Austin , Roy Williams, Dez Bryant and Patrick Crayton working more with the regulars. Hurd, however, is one of the Cowboys best special teams players.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company, a subsidiary of the adidas Group, has introduced a new line of hats and visors, which features the primary colors and logos of all 32 NFL teams. Golfers across the country can now fly the colors of their favorite teams on the golf course (not on Sundays of course).

Fans can choose from all 32 NFL teams at on-course and off-course retail locations, in addition to select sporting goods retailers. If you are a displaced fan and don’t think you will be able to find your favorite team locally, go to www.taylormadegolfgear.com for a complete selection.

Each hat and visor will feature an NFL team’s logo blazoned on the left panel. The team’s name will also be stitched onto the left corner of the hat/visor. The TaylorMade logo will appear in 3D embroidery on the front panel of the hat.

The hats will be available at retail at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $27.99.

The Cowboys released WR Terrell Hudgins and TE Scott Sicko on Monday. Both players had signed with the club as undrafted free agents following the 2010 draft. The club has three more roster moves to make by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday in order to get down to the league-mandated 75-player limit.

Dez Bryant has been cleared to play Thursday, and Jerry Jones says that as of now, he’s not sure if the coaches will put him in Thursday or not.

“I don’t know,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said when asked if Bryant would play Thursday. “He’ll be able to play. He’ll be ready to go. It’s a question of is it worth some of the risk. If we end up playing our regulars, then that might make a difference. We typically have not played a full set of our players, so that might be something we might consider since we’ve got a chance to have our starters out there.” Bryant ran routes before the game. He also ran full speed some Thursday. Bryant, who injured his right ankle in practice July 30 and has not practiced with the team since, said he feels great and eager to get back on the field. “I’m very anxious to get back on the field,” Bryant said. “At the same time, I know it’s a work in progress. I have to do everything everybody asks me to do to get to 100 percent. I know how calm I am about the game of football. I just have to be smart. Hopefully, when the trainers give me that go call, I’ll be ready to go.”

ESPN reports that rookie WR Dez Bryant continues to try out his ankle, and that all signs point to him looking good and possibly being ready for Miami next week.

Rookie receiver Dez Bryant targeted this trip to Reliant Stadium for his preseason debut. He settled for running routes full speed for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain July 30. Bryant ran routes and caught passes from Stephen McGee under the supervision of receivers coach Ray Sherman for at least 15 minutes before other players started warming up for Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans. There were no signs that Bryant’s right ankle gave him any trouble Saturday afternoon. He made several sharp cuts off his right foot without problems.

Things continue to progress along in the injury situation with wide out Dez Bryant. The first round pick continues to recover from a high-ankle sprain, and now there’s word that he would like to play in the teams final preseason game next week against the Miami Dolphins.

Dez Bryant showed some good signs at practice Thursday, running routes for the first time since he suffered a high-ankle sprain last month.

Before practice started, Bryant ran some routes for quarterback Stephen McGee under the watchful eye of wide receivers coach Ray Sherman. “I’m excited,” Bryant told the Cowboys’ official site early Thursday. “I am ready for it. I know I can (cut on the ankle).”

But by the end of the session Bryant was jogging through the routes with Sherman going over the proper release techniques and footwork. Full participation in practice could come as early as next week.

Bryant has been ruled out of this week’s game with Houston and it’s unlikely he’ll play against Miami, even though he will lobby to do so if he’s made progress. “If I do good or great,” Bryant said. “There’s a possibility I might get a couple snaps in next week against Miami.”

Bryant was on the fast track to being the Cowboys 3rd wide out when he went down, but if he can continue to recover and get back and show that he can cut on the ankle, there’s no doubt he’ll have plenty of time to make a big impact on a team that is expected to make a run in the NFC at the Super Bowl.

Cornerback Orlando Scandrick left the practice field with blood gushing from his nose, but is expected to play a preseason game against Houston on Saturday night. When Scandrick dived to block a pass Thursday afternoon, his helmet banged his nose hard enough to cause immediate bleeding from the inside. Once that stopped, there was bruising all around. Head athletic trainer Jim Maurer said while it could be called a break, he considered it a bruise.

Sam Hurd could be one of those vets on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot for the Cowboys, as today the Dallas Morning News reports that Hurd’s salary could find him getting released:

Cowboys WR Miles Austin and Sam Hurd have traveled dramatically different paths since their fork-in-the-road moment 10 months ago. Austin is a rising star and fan favorite at these training camp sessions in the strawberry and lima bean capital of California. He’s poised to receive a big payday from the Cowboys as the club works to ensure he’s part of their future. Hurd’s position is more tenuous. He fights for one of the final receiving spots on the roster, a spot that may be denied the fifth year pro because of his salary.

One of the positions the Cowboys had questions about heading into the season was free safety. With the release of Ken Hamlin in the offseason, the Cowboys decided to roll the dice on converted cornerback Alan Ball. Ball, and last year’s starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh, were figured to be the starters week 1 against Washington. But, there have been plenty of surprises at both safety positions in camp. With the amount of players vying for a roster spot, it was being compared to wide receiver, just without the proven capability.

Things have not gone smoothly for the Cowboys at the safety position this preseason. They have suffered injuries to fifth-year man Pat Watkins and fourth round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah keeping them out of most of training camp so far. Ansah made his debut against the Chargers and did not stand out in a good, or bad, way. The worst news may have come on Saturday when Sensabaugh went down with a shoulder injury. He will be out for at least 3 weeks with a shoulder subluxation. Mike Hamlin, who missed a couple of weeks with a concussion and was being groomed at free safety, will replace him against Houston and possibly until he returns.

There have been some good standouts at the position so far this preseason. Barry Church and Danny McCray have both played strongly in their appearances in the preseason games, and have held their own on the practice field. Where the Cowboys had many questions about depth, it seems now they have even more trying to figure out where to place these guys. They have all proven they can play, now they just need to prove they are worthy of sticking around.

Depth Chart:

1) Alan Ball – Given the free safety spot in the spring. Just needs to be careful not to lose it.

2) Gerald Sensabaugh – When healthy, will start at the strong position.

3) Mike Hamlin – Has looked good in camp and could find himself starting week one.

4) Pat Watkins – If he cannot get on the field and stand out, he will be gone in favor of the younger, cheaper players.

5) Barry Church – Plays well at strong safety. Strong play so far has the coaches questioning.

6) Danny McCray – Has proven to be valuable at both spots. Been a very pleasant surprise in camp so far.

7) Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – Has not had a lot of time, but the Cowboys like his potential so he will stick around during the season.

Sounds like Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is getting closer and closer to making it back to the field. ESPN says that Monday he made some big strides in his recovery from a right high-ankle sprain.

He has been ruled out of Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans, but on a positive not was running and cutting off his right foot for the first time since suffering the injury during a practice back on July 30th.

Head coach Wade Phillips said he does not expect Bryant to play during the preseason, but that decision hasn’t been made yet. “We’ll just wait and see,” Phillips said. “I know he wants to play and he feels better, but we still want to make sure that he’s healthy.”