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Dallas Cowboys By: Lester Updated 3/14/99 Previous Reports: 2/7/99 The Draft The Cowboys are set with veterans across the board, but they need to concentrate on bringing in some quality players they can start grooming as potential replacements. The main target area in the draft may be at WR or LB. If they can sign Ismail and Coryatt, these needs will be filled. If they can' sign a WR, then they will need a speedy WR who can stretch the field like Alvin Harper use to do. WR David Boston from Ohio St. or WR Torry Holt from N.C. State are coveted by the Cowboys, but may not be around with the 22nd pick. They may go after WR Peerless Price of Tennessee with this pick The Cowboys looked hard at WRs during the combine. They liked what they saw in the game-breaking skills of Tennessee WR Peerless Price and the play-making skills of LSU WR Troy Edwards. They feel that Edwards is a better-rounded WR than Price. They think that Edwards is the fearless type of WR that could compliment Irvin immediately. If not a receiver, they may go after a play making LB. If they don't get Coryatt via free agency, they may go after a LB in the draft like Clemson's 6'6'' 235lb Rahim Abdullah. He is the type of LB who can wreck havoc on opposing QBs. Some other targets the Cowboys are still looking at with their first pick are C Damien Woody, CB Antoine Winfield and North Carolina's DE Ebenezer Ekuban. They may look to get Ekuban in the later rounds. Latest News on Free Agency The Cowboys are still working on an extension for DB Deion Sanders even though he is not a free agent. He has one year left on his contract, but doesn't want to go into his last year without a new contract. Sanders would like to restructure his contract so it will be 6 years for $60 million with a signing bonus between $8-10 million. The Cowboys were interested in joining the WR Carl Pickens sweepstakes if the asking price is right. Well, the Bengals made Pickens there franchise player. So, the Cowboys moved on and targeted Carolina's WR Rocket Ismail, who visited the Cowboys and talked with Coach Gailey and Owner Jones earlier this month. The Cowboys would love to add a Rocket to their offense. Ismail and his wife were pleased with what they saw in Dallas. Well, the Cowboys were impressed also and offered Ismail a contract on March 9th somewhere in the range of $3 million dollars a year. If Ismail doesn't except the offer, then the Cowboys have said that Washington free agent WR Leslie Shepherd was their second choice. C Mark Stepnoski also visited the Cowboys late February. The are in the process of negotiating with him as well as LB Quentin Coryatt. Cleveland selected DE Hurvin McCormack in the expansion draft. This will save them $750,000. DT Antonio Anderson was also selected in the expansion draft. Free Agents Resigned DT Darren Benson (Resigned) Free Agents not offered yet or have not signed with another team CB Larry Brown PK Richie Cunningham (EFA) DT Nathan Davis (EFA) CB Wendell Davis LB Randall Godfrey (RFA) P Toby Gowin (EFA) LS Dale Hellestrae PR Tyrone Hughes WR Pat Jeffers (RFA) C Mike Kiselak (EFA) WR Ernie Mills OG Nate Newton QB Mike Quinn (EFA) C Clay Shiver (RFA) DE Artie Smith LB Broderick Thomas RB Sherman Williams Selected in the Expansion Draft DE Hurvin McCormack - (2nd pick) DT Antonio Anderson - (26th pick) Not Selected in the Expansion Draft WR Billy Davis RB Daryl "Moose" Johnston C Clay Shiver Going OverseasDB Terry Billups (Scotland), OL Chris Brymer (Rhein), DT Brandon Noble (Barcelona), OL Oliver Ross (Rhein), LB Robert Thomas (Rhein) and WR Jason Tucker (Rhein)
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