Senior Bowl notes: Jerry Jones says Tony Romo will be gung ho

January, 22, 2013
Jan 22
6:22
PM CT
MOBILE, Ala. -- The second day of Senior Bowl practices is over. We'll now spend the rest of it talking about the Dallas Cowboys.

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Coop and Nate discuss who will be calling offensive plays for the Dallas Cowboys next season -- Jason Garrett or Bill Callahan?

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* Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said quarterback Tony Romo should be fine with a potential change at playcaller. "Tony is certainly, one of his plusses is how aware, how savvy, how much he invests in himself with what we’re doing to win ballgames, and I will ensure you with whatever we ultimately come up with on how we go forward on the offensive side of the ball he’ll be gung ho and excited about it." Jones said he didn't feel the need to sell Romo on the idea of changing playcallers.

* The Cowboys are $26 million over the salary cap. This sounds like an outrageous number, but team officials are not worried. After the restructuring of contracts and the release of several players, the Cowboys feel they'll be fine. However, the potential moves by the Cowboys might prevent them from making moves in free agency. The Cowboys' two biggest moves involve outside linebacker Anthony Spencer who becomes a free agent, and Romo. If the Cowboys franchise Spencer it will cost them $10.6 million. Reducing Romo's cap number, $16.8 million, is also important.

* Cornerback Morris Claiborne suffered a sprained knee, ankle and all sorts of bumps and bruises during his rookie season. However, Claiborne finished the season with one interception, eight pass breakups and one forced fumble. Claiborne's agent, Steve Colston, said Tuesday his client is feeling great and doesn't need any offseason surgeries.

* It was interesting to hear Jerry Jones talk about who might play defensive tackle for the Cowboys beside Jay Ratliff. Jones said the franchise thought when it drafted Tyrone Crawford in the third round that he could play defensive end in a 3-4 or defensive tackle in the 4-3. If the Cowboys don't sign Anthony Spencer in the offseason, a possible front four could consist of ends DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher and defensive tackles Ratliff and Crawford.

* The early indications are guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau are returning in 2013. Each battled health issues, especially Bernadeau, who missed practice time in training camp. "Well, I’m looking forward to them having the full offseason, hopefully, without having to be compromised by injury, and then of course, full training camp," Jones said. "But Bernadeau certainly, as the season went along and they got clear of some of the injury aspects to them, they played at a level that met my expectations. They did."
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.

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