IRVING, Texas - About four months ago, making the team wasn't even on the radar.
He probably didn't even know about the practice squad and the details surrounding it either.
All Ben Bass wanted to do was show up on film. For three days, all he had was a jersey number and was sharing a locker with other rookies.
He wasn't signed or promised to sign. He was among 15 hopefuls on a tryout basis only, mainly here so the Cowboys could conduct a full weekend of practices in the rookie minicamp.
But somehow in the course of three days without pads, the defensive lineman from Texas A&M showed the Cowboys just enough to be intrigued.
When a roster spot opened up, they signed him with the hopes of watching his development this summer.
Fast forward four months and as the Cowboys prepare for Wednesday night's preseason finale against the Dolphins, Bass (6-5, 283) finds himself as one of a handful of players right on the bubble to make this team.
Yes, the practice squad is a possibility, but as this point, it'd be a consolation prize for Bass, who seems to realize just how close he is to reaching his goal.
"When I first got here, I would say I had a practice-squad mentality. I was a tryout guy," Bass said. "But I am where I am now, and I don't know exactly where that is, but I know I have a shot to make the team.
"I'm just excited. I'm ready to get out there and show what I've got. I'm ready to make my family so proud of me and make the name on my back mean something for me."
It's safe to say Bass' family is already extremely proud of his accomplishments. The Plano West and then Texas A&M standout has come a long way in a short time.
Just the simple fact that he is even on the radar is somewhat surprising considering the depth on the defensive line. Veterans such as Marcus Spears and Kenyon Coleman are far from locks to make this team, especially Spears, a former first-round pick. Clifton Geathers and Sean Lissemore had a lot of hype around them this offseason and third-round selection Tyrone Crawford is obviously a player that will be heavily in the mix.
But Bass has quietly put together a nice training camp and preseason, which included his debut in Oakland where he was incredibly active in the second half against the Raiders. He recorded five tackles, including two for loss, with a sack and three quarterback pressures in helping the Cowboys preserve a shutout in a 3-0 win on *Monday Night Football. *
Bass has also played well in reserve roles the last two games against San Diego and Miami.
But, he says the turning point for him didn't come in one of the last three games, or even at training camp. In fact, it was about three months ago when he was sitting in the locker room at Valley Ranch after a workout.
"I was sitting here in my locker and Jay Ratliff came by and introduced himself. Of course, we're like "Yeah, we know who you are," Bass recalled. "He was asking us questions. I told him I was from A&M and I was a workout guy and he said, 'You can make this team.' He hasn't seen me play or knows anything about me, but he just said if you work your tail off and make plays, you can make the team. It doesn't matter where you're from."
Bass said Ratliff told his own story of being a seventh-round pick in 2005 who has not only overcome being a late-round selection, but has defied the odds of being a relatively smaller nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, making the Pro Bowl four straight years.
"When someone of his level tells you that you can make the team, you start to believe it and start to play like you belong here," Bass said.
Bass has definitely shown he belongs. He's hoping it's just enough to stick around on the 53-man roster. But as long as he sticks around, period, Bass said he'll be excited.
"Even on the practice squad, all it takes is one guy goes down and you're activated and then it's time to play," Bass said. "Wherever I'm at, I'm obviously shooting for the 53-man roster, but I'm happy to be here. This is the team I grew up wanting to play for and the team I love."
