Cowboys, Broncos likely to camp together again
Deal is in works for Dallas to pay Dove Valley visit
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Associated Press / 2007
The Broncos' Nate Jackson tries to make a catch during workouts with the Cowboys last year. The teams are planning to face off in practice situations at Dove Valley in August.
America's Team is set to camp out in Broncos Country.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are expected to finalize an agreement this week for the teams to practice together for at least two days in training camp this year.
As soon the teams are notified of the August date for the preseason game, they are expected to make the practice schedule. But it is expected to fall within the first two preseason games for both teams.
The league has not yet notified teams of the league's preseason schedule; for any team with a four-game preseason schedule like the Broncos have, the NFL sets three games and each team gets to negotiate with another team for the fourth. The Cowboys would work against the Broncos for two days at the team's Dove Valley complex in Englewood.
The preseason schedule is expected to be finalized at the league meetings this week. The meetings officially begin this morning with a presentation from commissioner Roger Goodell.
Shanahan said Sunday he expected to have the preseason schedule before these meetings were over.
The Broncos traveled to Irving, Texas, in August for two days of combined workouts with the Cowboys leading to an Aug. 18 preseason game at Texas Stadium, the Broncos' second of four preseason games last season.
The teams had one-on-one work against each other - that included receivers going against defensive backs and pass rushers going against offensive linemen - with some contact.
Shanahan and Cowboys coach Wade Phillips had stressed to their teams they wanted hard practices without any on-field brawls that often had erupted in similar practices around the league. Phillips even had said, "I've seen where these things can become melees."
But the teams practiced without incident; the closest thing to a skirmish was when Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban and Cowboys tackle Marc Colombo briefly grabbed each other's face mask after a play before quickly being separated, which was the impetus for doing it again this year.
It will be the third time in the past three seasons Shanahan has had the Broncos practice with another team leading to a preseason game.
The team went to Houston in 2006 to practice against the Texans.
Broncos training camp practices have been free and open to the public, with parking having been available on a lot adjacent to their complex.
It is not yet known if they would have to take any measures to limit attendance on any day they practiced against the Cowboys because of parking concerns or extremely limited seating around their practice fields.
NEW LOOK: The Broncos contingent at the meetings has a new look to it. With former general manager Ted Sundquist having been fired, assistant general manager Jeff Goodman and director of player personnel Jim Goodman are in attendance from the football side of the organization, joining Shanahan.
Along with owner Pat Bowlen, Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis and general counsel Rich Slivka have made the trip.
The Broncos, who still are on the lookout for a kicker, have had Jeff Goodman participating in negotiations.
RULES ARE RULES: The league's competition committee will give its report on proposed rules changes this week, with the votes expected to be taken Wednesday.
Among the items the league's franchise owners will consider are: giving a defensive player a radio headset in his helmet, much like quarterbacks wear; reseeding teams for the playoffs below the teams that have earned first- round byes; expanding rosters; and forcing players to tuck long hair into their helmets to keep from obscuring the names.
The hair proposal was submitted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
ETC.: Goodell is expected to also give an update on the current collective bargaining agreement. Several franchise owners, including Bowlen and Jones, have been critical of rising payrolls in recent months. There is a clause in the current agreement giving the owners the ability to vote later this year (in November) to opt out of the current agreement, which would make 2009 and 2010 the last two years of the deal. . . . Owners also will consider a proposal for creating a period of five to seven days before the official start of free agency where a player's agent could talk to teams. Such contact is not currently allowed. In the proposal, the player cannot meet with any teams, no visits can be taken or physicals given until the start of free agency, but the terms of a contract could be negotiated. The contract then could be signed once free agency started.
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March 31, 2008
8:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Patriot writes:
What, the Cowboys needed some patsies to practice against?
March 31, 2008
10:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
myerda00 writes:
Can we get some information on Marcus Thomas?
His hearing was March 26, 2008 and there has been no news.
Last info was lawyer, who stated that co-defendent finally claimed the gun and white stuff was his.
March 31, 2008
10:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
BroncoRick69 writes:
Very Interesting for a patsie to use that description for someone else.
March 31, 2008
12:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
ShowMe writes:
The Broncos should stop looking for a kicker and let Shanahan handle the chore. He seems to want to do everything else...
March 31, 2008
1:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
ShowMe writes:
Mare? Carney? How about George Blanda...?
March 31, 2008
2:05 p.m.
Patriot writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
March 31, 2008
5:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
Downey1967 writes:
Patriot, you may not be someone of the persona that enjoys being with other peeps of the same gender. But, you are a jerk to have made the comment you made to BroncoRick.
You wanna talk football let's talk about your patriots choking in the Super Bowl. The ultimate chokes of all choking was had during the Super Bowl by your team. Being undefeated means nothing unless you can finish with the ultimate prize which is the Lombardi Trophy. All of those TD's that Brady threw means NOTHING and the highlight reel is going to show what? the final score of the patriots debacle in the Super Bowl. You have nothing to be screaming about except the way your team showed low class ( even the coach running off the field w/o shaking the hand of the head coach who handed them their only loss of the season ) or no class at all.