NFL Rumor Mill: The Truth on Cowboys 'Shopping' for a Trade for a Safety
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones apparently said something about it and NFL.com is obviously writing about it, but ... what's the truth about all the rumors regarding Dallas' "shopping'' for a trade for a safety?
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, and the Cowboys already shook things up with their bargain-basement deal to acquire three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett from New England. Additionally, Dallas gets to claim success for other recent "gets'' in trade, including the acquisition of Raiders Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper a year ago and Dolphins end and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Robert Quinn in the spring.
So why not keep rollin' the lucky dice?
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has Jones suggesting Dallas "could'' look at the idea by Tuesday, suggesting finding a Jeff Heath replacement. The paper even mentions Miami's Reshad Jones. The problem there? Jones is 31 and is guaranteed $13 million this year. It'd be doable ... but not ideal.
Meanwhile, NFL.com writes that Dallas should be "seeking help'' from either Reshad Jones or "a free agent like Eric Berry'' ... and adds that Jerry is "desperate.''
Again, we never say "never.'' But even less likely than Reshad is Berry; as we've written repeatedly in the face of frequent errant reports like this, the Cowboys met with Berry in the spring and passed on him due to physical concerns.
How about Jets star Jamal Adams? It's a grand idea; the DFW native is a budding star. But the buzz in New York is that they have no interest in parting with "budding stars'' - nor should they.
The Rumor Mill is fun but the truth is more important. I asked a Cowboys official on Monday morning if the team is "shopping for a safety in trade?''
The reply from inside The Star?
"Not really,'' the source said.
That's not the juiciest, sexiest or most fun answer. Nor does it mean Dallas isn't looking; every team is "looking.'' But "not really'' is, on the eve of the NFL trade deadline, the present truth.
