Dallas Cowboys News: Emmitt Smith Hall of Fame Induction

• NFL Network ranked Emmitt Smith as just the fifth best Cowboy ever .

We aren’t sure who in particular created this list, but wow. Bob Lilly, Michael Irvin, Roger Staubach, and Tom Landry ranked ahead of Emmitt.

• Speaking of Emmitt... we participated in a conference call with the Hall of Famer today.

Part-time Dallas Cowboys Times correspondent asked Dave Kraft asked Emmitt a few questions, including about his current workout plan. For those interested, Emmitt said, “I just started to get into P90X.”

• The Cowboys have begun contract negotiations with first-rounder Dez Bryant .

This is earlier than normal for the ‘Boys due to their extra preseason game (and extra week of training camp). We previously listed five reasons Bryant won’t hold out .

• The Cowboys agreed to terms with fourth-rounder Akwasi Owusu-Ansah .

“AOA” is a small school prospect (Indiana of Pennsylvania) who we have had the privilege of watching play live a few times. He is an incredible return man who will start out at free safety in Dallas.

• DMN lists five things to watch at Cowboys training camp .

We’ll have a similar list out shortly. The field goal kicking position heads their list and will be quite high on ours as well.

• BTB examines salary sap strategy .

If a team is truly only as good as its weakest link, then overpaying for elite players (and thus being forced to have numerous minimum salary players) is a poor strategy. Dallas has just two players who are paid in the top 10 at their position.

• Five more things to watch during training camp from ESPN Dallas’ Calvin Watkins

Watkins lists safety Barry Church, defensive end Marcus Dixon, safety Michael Hamlin, and wide receiver Jesse Holley as players to watch. We are currently projecting the first three players to make the 53-man roster .