Dez Bryant and 6 Dallas Cowboys with the Most to Gain During the Lockout
The National Football League’s lockout hurts for many. It hurts for the players, the stadium workers, the local business owners and the fans.
ESPN can’t send reporters out to team sites to report on mini-camps or free agent signings, and if the league doesn’t come back soon I’m not sure how meaty Peter King’s famous Monday Morning Quarterback pieces will be.
But life goes on and the players understand that as well. Since they can’t work out at team facilities they are organizing their own mini player-oriented workouts.
For the Cowboys, the ongoing lockout provides an opportunity for some players to prove themselves as leaders and to show their worth.
Team owner Jerry Jones may not use the player workouts as a determining factor for keeping a player, but I’m sure a player who has a strong showing will be given consideration.
Dez Bryant has had his fair share of offseason press and criticism, and I’m sure he’s more than ready to get the season started to prove everyone wrong
So who are those players with the most to gain while the NFL is on hiatus?
Here are seven players who have the most to gain during the NFL lockout.
Dez Bryant
1 of 7
We all know what Bryant brings to the Cowboys on the field. He’s explosive, quick, strong and fiery.
Last season he scored an impressive eight touchdowns, two on punt returns, and managed a nice haul of 561 receiving yards on an injury-shortened season.
So there is no question that Bryant is talented and brings a lot to the table for the ‘Boys.
But Bryant has the opportunity to show his teammates just how serious he takes his craft. While some may see his off-the-field issues as just a blip on the radar, some of his teammates do not.
When veterans call a sit-down meeting with a player then there are some potential problems.
If Dez is able to prove to his team that any issues off the field are coming to a close and that football has his attention all the way then I think he’s in for a great 2011 campaign.
Tony Romo
2 of 7
Tony is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, just check the stat sheet. His 2010 season was cut short by a broken collarbone so we never got to see if that season would have been his breakout year.
Tony led the ‘Boys to a playoff victory a couple of years ago but his leadership is still in question. Is he the team’s true field general? Does he own the locker room?
His voice is heard in the huddle when calling plays, but does he have the ability to engage his team?
Romo took another step toward trying to quiet those critics when he called for the Cowboys to gather for workouts despite the lockout.
He seems vocal and all reports indicate that he’s the driving force behind organizing the events and keeping them together.
For Tony that good fortune has to carry over to the regular season and translate into victories and eventually a Super Bowl. Otherwise, the summer of 2011 will be a forgotten memory.
Marc Colombo
3 of 7
Don’t tell Marc that his job is done in Dallas. He graded as the worst Cowboys offensive lineman in 2010 and that forced the team to draft Tyron Smith in the first round. Well, Colombo wasn't the only reason they went after Smith but he was part of it.
Colombo has had a few injuries lately and with Marc entering his 11th season, the team felt that it was time to move on.
But like Tony, Marc has a chance to prove his doubters wrong. If he’s able to show in team workouts that his footwork and balance have improved then he may have an outside shot at staying in Dallas.
Of course he would have to completely redo his contract, but keeping Colombo as a fail safe isn’t necessarily a bad idea.
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Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
4 of 7
The fast guy with the funny name has a lot to prove this offseason. He converted to free safety from cornerback and the knock on him is that he doesn’t like to tackle and has no vision.
Not good characteristics for a guy playing a position that requires both.
Owusu-Ansah can answer a few of those questions by showing up and showing out at any player organized activities.
He can always watch film and work on his footwork and tackling technique in his spare time, and doing so will most definitively help his stock going into the 2011 season.
Owusu won’t start anytime soon, but he can improve his team profile with a strong offseason.
Mike Jenkins
5 of 7
That Pro Bowl Jenkins made is a thing of the distant past now. Most fans and pundits remember the nightmarish season he had last year and hope that he can somehow put that behind him.
Jenkins was 7th in the league last year in penalties called against him and gave up a league high 994 penalty yards in the process.
Hopefully Jenkins can forget how bad of a season he had last year and move toward improving himself for the 2011 season.
Mike seemed to believe his press clippings and that his selection to the Pro Bowl would carry him into 2010.
Jenkins has to prove to his teammates that the 2009 Jenkins wasn’t a fluke, and that he’ll be back to the form of a great young cornerback the ‘Boys desperately need.
Tashard Choice
6 of 7
For some reason Choice isn’t high on head coach Jason Garrett’s list and for that he isn’t used as much.
He had only 66 rushes last season for 243 yards, and with the arrival of Demarco Murray, Choice has to wonder if he’ll be collecting splinters in his behind in 2011.
Choice can try and prove to the team’s leadership brass that a mistake was made in decreasing his offensive role by working hard and attempting to convince Garrett and Jones that he’s committed to playing special teams just as much as being a running back.
But with Murray and Jones firmly planted in the team’s offensive playbook, the Cowboys leave much to be desired with TC.
Alan Ball
7 of 7
According to ProFootballFocus.com Alan Ball was the 84th "best" safety in pass coverage last season. He gave up seven touchdowns and looked plain lost at times.
It was not entirely Ball’s fault as he was asked to be the team’s full-time free safety last year with no proven experience at the position.
Even with that mouthful, Ball still needs to improve. He will not be the team’s starting safety next year but even in backup duty Ball can’t give up as many yards and touchdowns as he did.
Not sure if Alan will ever elevate his play to that off a starter, but if he works hard enough during the lockout to advance his footwork and discipline then I believe he’ll be okay.
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