IRVING — Three days ago, Dallas Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd barely survived the team's cut to 53 players. Now he's on the verge of ascending to a place of prominence in the locker room.
“We haven't voted yet, but I bet you he is going to be the special-teams captain for sure,” head coach Wade Phillips said Monday. “He's been outstanding on special teams, and he's a very good leader.”
The Brackenridge alum was on the bubble because of his $1.8 million salary, a hefty price tag for a special-teams ace. But his value came into focus after the club traded receiver Patrick Crayton to San Diego on Friday.
“We kept our best players that are going to help us win, and Sam is one of those guys,” Phillips said.
Hurd wasn't available for comment but did acknowledge earlier in the day that he rejected a request to take a cut in pay.
There apparently are no hard feelings.
“His attitude is great,” Phillips said. “You ask him how he's doing, and he says, ‘great' every day. And he is doing great. He's just a good guy to be around.”
Hurd, 25, had a team-best 19 special-teams tackles last season. But he's caught only 31 passes in four seasons.
“Sam is a little like Miles (Austin) was in that every time he's had an opportunity to play as a receiver, he's kind of gotten hurt,” Phillips said.
Phillips also praised former UTSA sprinter Teddy Williams, who earned a spot on the practice squad as a cornerback despite not playing football the last five years.
“We haven't voted yet, but I bet you he is going to be the special-teams captain for sure,” head coach Wade Phillips said Monday. “He's been outstanding on special teams, and he's a very good leader.”
The Brackenridge alum was on the bubble because of his $1.8 million salary, a hefty price tag for a special-teams ace. But his value came into focus after the club traded receiver Patrick Crayton to San Diego on Friday.
“We kept our best players that are going to help us win, and Sam is one of those guys,” Phillips said.
Hurd wasn't available for comment but did acknowledge earlier in the day that he rejected a request to take a cut in pay.
There apparently are no hard feelings.
“His attitude is great,” Phillips said. “You ask him how he's doing, and he says, ‘great' every day. And he is doing great. He's just a good guy to be around.”
Hurd, 25, had a team-best 19 special-teams tackles last season. But he's caught only 31 passes in four seasons.
“Sam is a little like Miles (Austin) was in that every time he's had an opportunity to play as a receiver, he's kind of gotten hurt,” Phillips said.
Phillips also praised former UTSA sprinter Teddy Williams, who earned a spot on the practice squad as a cornerback despite not playing football the last five years.