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Long Shots
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - With so much attention being placed on the top half of this roster, a decent amount of players can often be overlooked, especially at this time of year.
With the roster frozen since the start of the lockout, the Cowboys currently hold the rights of 71 players, along with nine other unrestricted free agents.
Teams will get the chance to bring 80 players to training camp, and we haven't even factored in the rookie free agents - typically 10-15 undrafted players who will have a shot to make the club as well. So that means there's more than a few players on the current roster who will be hard-pressed to make it to training camp, much less land a spot on the actual roster.
Let's look at some of the lower-tier players currently in the fold and gauge their chances of sticking around.
Mike Balogun, ILB - Claimed off waivers back in February, the 6-0, 250-pound inside linebacker has a little playing experience in Buffalo and Tampa Bay. He's a bigger linebacker who needs to showcase his power on special teams. But with Sean Lee and Bruce Carter both serving as backups, any extra depth at ILB will be tough to keep.
Travis Bright, G - After two seasons on the practice squad, it's now or never for Bright, who has some ability to play both guard and center. With the drafting of both David Arkin and Bill Nagy, it's unlikely Bright will get many chances to unseat them as backups. But he at least has an experience edge, and with the lockout in place that could prove to be vital come training camp.
Troy Bergeron, WR - Unlike these other guys on the list, at least Bergeron is playing some football, albeit in the Arena League. That's where Bergeron has spent most of his career. But he took the chance to be on the practice squad last year and will compete for a spot if he's invited back once again.
Robert Brewster, OT - The third-round pick in 2009 is running out of time. He spent last year on the practice squad and with the team drafting three linemen this year, it'll be tough for him to stick around. He still seems like a possibility to move to guard, but the Cowboys have yet to try that option.
Kenwin Cummings, ILB - He might be the best player on this list because he's got the most experience, and even played two games with the Cowboys last season, primarily on special teams. Like Balogun, Cummings will have a hard time carving out a roster spot with two young inside linebackers already in the mix. But standing out on special teams can usually do the trick.
Alex Daniels, DE - With most of last season spent on the practice squad, Daniels has an impressive frame at 6-4, 260, but the Cowboys didn't seem to know the best place to put him. He started out at fullback but then switched to defense when the team lost a few defensive ends to injury. He's currently on the roster as a defensive lineman, but he may be fortunate just to get to training camp.
Clifton Geathers, DE - Signed at midseason to fill some injury-created holes at defensive end, Geathers played just one game and was inactive for three others. He's got some experience in the league, but if the Cowboys re-sign at least two of these free agent ends such as Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher and Marcus Spears, combined with Igor Olshansky and Sean Lissemore on the roster, there doesn't seem to be much room for him.
Isaiah Greenhouse, LB - Not many people even knew the Northwestern State (La.) product was on the roster until the Cowboys drafted Bruce Carter and put him in the No. 53 jersey, which had been theoretically occupied by Greenhouse, who was signed in January. Greenhouse is a street free agent trying to make the club in what has turned out to be a rather crowded inside linebacking field.
Jeff Moturi, WR - Another very late-addition to the practice squad at the end of the season. Motouri was signed basically to fill up a spot on the practice squad and help run some routes in preparation for the final two games. His chance of making an impression on the staff will be thin, especially with limited OTA and minicamp reps this summer.
Jason Pociask, TE - The tight end joined the club in training camp to help an injury-depleted position. He later came back on the practice squad and will be in the mix. But with Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett and John Phillips all expected to be in the fold, there's hardly any room for an outsider to squeeze onto the roster.
Martin Rucker, TE - Basically, he's in the same boat as Pociask. Now, he did play some last year, but he's not expected to be in the top three. Plus, he's more of a one-dimensional tight end, used primarily as a pass-catcher. But because of that, he's the type of player who can shine in preseason games with five or six catches, and that should help his stock, either with the Cowboys or other teams.
Titus Ryan, WR/KR - The Cowboys are giving him another shot to claim a roster spot, after he was injured in the first preseason game last season and received an injury settlement. Ryan has kickoff return abilities and despite the new rule changes, if he can prove to be a specialist on both punts and kickoffs, may have a chance.
Andrew Sendejo, S - Came over from the UFL during the season and ended up playing in two games on special teams. Once again, he's another player who probably wouldn't have been here had the Cowboys not had so many injuries. Now they're looking to add two veteran safeties and possibly two more rookie free agents. If he's invited to camp, he'll likely start out at the bottom of the depth chart.
Kelvin Smith, ILB - Midseason addition and finished on the practice squad. At 6-2, 240, he's an inside guy, one of many trying to stand out in a crowded position. Special teams will be his only way onto the field.
Ross Weaver, CB - He was one of the few players that spent most of the year on the practice squad and didn't get a call-up to the roster. Weaver has good size for a corner (6-1, 203) but now finds himself in a pack of young guys along with Bryan McCann, rookie draft pick Josh Thomas and probably even Alan Ball, who is expected to slide back from safety.
Teddy Williams, WR - He might be the most recognized player on this list, although he's still one of the biggest long shots. A former track star that joined the Cowboys in training camp and was called a "2-3 year project" to make it as a cornerback, Williams eventually switched to receiver late in the season and was called up to the roster, but never activated for a game. He's got the speed, but is still trying to learn the game. But speed obviously helps. He's the guy who probably needed OTAs and a training camp more than any other player, not to mention an offseason conditioning program.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - With so much attention being placed on the top half of this roster, a decent amount of players can often be overlooked, especially at this time of year.
With the roster frozen since the start of the lockout, the Cowboys currently hold the rights of 71 players, along with nine other unrestricted free agents.
Teams will get the chance to bring 80 players to training camp, and we haven't even factored in the rookie free agents - typically 10-15 undrafted players who will have a shot to make the club as well. So that means there's more than a few players on the current roster who will be hard-pressed to make it to training camp, much less land a spot on the actual roster.
Let's look at some of the lower-tier players currently in the fold and gauge their chances of sticking around.
Mike Balogun, ILB - Claimed off waivers back in February, the 6-0, 250-pound inside linebacker has a little playing experience in Buffalo and Tampa Bay. He's a bigger linebacker who needs to showcase his power on special teams. But with Sean Lee and Bruce Carter both serving as backups, any extra depth at ILB will be tough to keep.
Travis Bright, G - After two seasons on the practice squad, it's now or never for Bright, who has some ability to play both guard and center. With the drafting of both David Arkin and Bill Nagy, it's unlikely Bright will get many chances to unseat them as backups. But he at least has an experience edge, and with the lockout in place that could prove to be vital come training camp.
Troy Bergeron, WR - Unlike these other guys on the list, at least Bergeron is playing some football, albeit in the Arena League. That's where Bergeron has spent most of his career. But he took the chance to be on the practice squad last year and will compete for a spot if he's invited back once again.
Robert Brewster, OT - The third-round pick in 2009 is running out of time. He spent last year on the practice squad and with the team drafting three linemen this year, it'll be tough for him to stick around. He still seems like a possibility to move to guard, but the Cowboys have yet to try that option.
Kenwin Cummings, ILB - He might be the best player on this list because he's got the most experience, and even played two games with the Cowboys last season, primarily on special teams. Like Balogun, Cummings will have a hard time carving out a roster spot with two young inside linebackers already in the mix. But standing out on special teams can usually do the trick.
Alex Daniels, DE - With most of last season spent on the practice squad, Daniels has an impressive frame at 6-4, 260, but the Cowboys didn't seem to know the best place to put him. He started out at fullback but then switched to defense when the team lost a few defensive ends to injury. He's currently on the roster as a defensive lineman, but he may be fortunate just to get to training camp.
Clifton Geathers, DE - Signed at midseason to fill some injury-created holes at defensive end, Geathers played just one game and was inactive for three others. He's got some experience in the league, but if the Cowboys re-sign at least two of these free agent ends such as Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher and Marcus Spears, combined with Igor Olshansky and Sean Lissemore on the roster, there doesn't seem to be much room for him.
Isaiah Greenhouse, LB - Not many people even knew the Northwestern State (La.) product was on the roster until the Cowboys drafted Bruce Carter and put him in the No. 53 jersey, which had been theoretically occupied by Greenhouse, who was signed in January. Greenhouse is a street free agent trying to make the club in what has turned out to be a rather crowded inside linebacking field.
Jeff Moturi, WR - Another very late-addition to the practice squad at the end of the season. Motouri was signed basically to fill up a spot on the practice squad and help run some routes in preparation for the final two games. His chance of making an impression on the staff will be thin, especially with limited OTA and minicamp reps this summer.
Jason Pociask, TE - The tight end joined the club in training camp to help an injury-depleted position. He later came back on the practice squad and will be in the mix. But with Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett and John Phillips all expected to be in the fold, there's hardly any room for an outsider to squeeze onto the roster.
Martin Rucker, TE - Basically, he's in the same boat as Pociask. Now, he did play some last year, but he's not expected to be in the top three. Plus, he's more of a one-dimensional tight end, used primarily as a pass-catcher. But because of that, he's the type of player who can shine in preseason games with five or six catches, and that should help his stock, either with the Cowboys or other teams.
Titus Ryan, WR/KR - The Cowboys are giving him another shot to claim a roster spot, after he was injured in the first preseason game last season and received an injury settlement. Ryan has kickoff return abilities and despite the new rule changes, if he can prove to be a specialist on both punts and kickoffs, may have a chance.
Andrew Sendejo, S - Came over from the UFL during the season and ended up playing in two games on special teams. Once again, he's another player who probably wouldn't have been here had the Cowboys not had so many injuries. Now they're looking to add two veteran safeties and possibly two more rookie free agents. If he's invited to camp, he'll likely start out at the bottom of the depth chart.
Kelvin Smith, ILB - Midseason addition and finished on the practice squad. At 6-2, 240, he's an inside guy, one of many trying to stand out in a crowded position. Special teams will be his only way onto the field.
Ross Weaver, CB - He was one of the few players that spent most of the year on the practice squad and didn't get a call-up to the roster. Weaver has good size for a corner (6-1, 203) but now finds himself in a pack of young guys along with Bryan McCann, rookie draft pick Josh Thomas and probably even Alan Ball, who is expected to slide back from safety.
Teddy Williams, WR - He might be the most recognized player on this list, although he's still one of the biggest long shots. A former track star that joined the Cowboys in training camp and was called a "2-3 year project" to make it as a cornerback, Williams eventually switched to receiver late in the season and was called up to the roster, but never activated for a game. He's got the speed, but is still trying to learn the game. But speed obviously helps. He's the guy who probably needed OTAs and a training camp more than any other player, not to mention an offseason conditioning program.