By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
rsabin@dallasnews.com | Bio
8:02 PM on Fri., Mar. 23, 2012 | Permalink
In a matter of days, the Cowboys dramatically transformed their roster earlier this month. They added seven new veterans -- most notably cornerback Brandon Carr, whom they signed to five-year, $50.1 million contract.
Before the Cowboys launched their aggressive campaign in free agency, team owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL combine that "I think this team will have talent to compete for a Super Bowl."
He couched that comment in the context that a championship-level team doesn't have to be dominant, pointing to the fact that 2011 Giants won the title despite finishing 9-7 during the regular season.
Flash forward to Friday, and Jones is even more optimistic about his team's outlook.
"From where were sitting at the combine," Jones said, "were improved. I feel we have fundamentally-improved our chance to have depth and improved our competition."
Jones said he was pleased with how well the team implemented its strategy, which he said was formulated in three months. He said "the combination of how we prepared, our plan, and how aggressive we were" yielded positive results.
The individual units with the team that desperately needed to upgrades -- offensive line and secondary -- were fortified, Jones added.
"We pointed to those areas and thought they needed improvement and had handicapped us last year," he said. "And so, if we can be better there, then we could be better. And I feel we're a better football team after what we've done in free agency."
The series of moves the Cowboys have made not only have changed the complexion of the team in its current incarnation but have also affected how the the club's executives, scouting department and coaching staff will approach the draft.
Last month, Cowboys officials expressed hope that they would be able to address their most obvious personnel deficiencies through free agency so that the team would be in position to take the best players available during the draft.
"We have done that," Jones said emphatically.
For that reason, Jones seems satisfied with the progress the Cowboys have made in their efforts to bolster their roster.
"We had a plan and we had a wish list of specific players," he said. "I don't know when we have ever had more success when executing our plan."
And, according to Jones, their mission to restore the Cowboys may not be over. Asked if there is a possibility the team will bring in additional players in the near future, Jones was coy.
"We have the room and we can," he said. "So I wouldn't close the door."
rsabin@dallasnews.com | Bio
8:02 PM on Fri., Mar. 23, 2012 | Permalink
In a matter of days, the Cowboys dramatically transformed their roster earlier this month. They added seven new veterans -- most notably cornerback Brandon Carr, whom they signed to five-year, $50.1 million contract.
Before the Cowboys launched their aggressive campaign in free agency, team owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL combine that "I think this team will have talent to compete for a Super Bowl."
He couched that comment in the context that a championship-level team doesn't have to be dominant, pointing to the fact that 2011 Giants won the title despite finishing 9-7 during the regular season.
Flash forward to Friday, and Jones is even more optimistic about his team's outlook.
"From where were sitting at the combine," Jones said, "were improved. I feel we have fundamentally-improved our chance to have depth and improved our competition."
Jones said he was pleased with how well the team implemented its strategy, which he said was formulated in three months. He said "the combination of how we prepared, our plan, and how aggressive we were" yielded positive results.
The individual units with the team that desperately needed to upgrades -- offensive line and secondary -- were fortified, Jones added.
"We pointed to those areas and thought they needed improvement and had handicapped us last year," he said. "And so, if we can be better there, then we could be better. And I feel we're a better football team after what we've done in free agency."
The series of moves the Cowboys have made not only have changed the complexion of the team in its current incarnation but have also affected how the the club's executives, scouting department and coaching staff will approach the draft.
Last month, Cowboys officials expressed hope that they would be able to address their most obvious personnel deficiencies through free agency so that the team would be in position to take the best players available during the draft.
"We have done that," Jones said emphatically.
For that reason, Jones seems satisfied with the progress the Cowboys have made in their efforts to bolster their roster.
"We had a plan and we had a wish list of specific players," he said. "I don't know when we have ever had more success when executing our plan."
And, according to Jones, their mission to restore the Cowboys may not be over. Asked if there is a possibility the team will bring in additional players in the near future, Jones was coy.
"We have the room and we can," he said. "So I wouldn't close the door."
