Nick Eatman is the author of the recently published ****If These Walls Could Talk: Dallas Cowboys***, a collection of stories from the Cowboys' locker room, sideline and press box, with a foreword written by Darren Woodson.*
IRVING, Texas - Asked on Tuesday what he would bring to the table if he were pressed into duty as the Cowboys' quarterback, backup Kellen Moore was rather honest .
"I don't know," said Moore, who has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game. "I just control what I can control and continue to improve and take advantage of whatever reps."
Moore did say he was eager to make his NFL debut and whenever his time comes, he'll be ready. But for now, he seems content on getting his mind right to be the backup to Matt Cassel in Saturday's game with the Jets.
"Everyone loves to play. At the end of the day, everyone has roles. You do your best with that particular role and that's how it works."
Moore spent some time on the Lions practice squad and is familiar with Cowboys' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who served as Detroit's play-caller.
"There's some overlap with what Scott did in Detroit," Moore said. "Obviously it's fairly different terminology here. You can connect dots when you're here."
But for now, it appears the Cowboys aren't ready to turn to Moore. Tuesday, owner Jerry Jones said Cassel gives the offense the best chance to succeed, and he fears a move to Moore might not sit well with the rest of the locker room.
"If you don't give yourself the best operator under that center, then you're taking away from a lot of work that a lot of other people are doing," Jones said on 105.3 FM The Fan. "I understand gaining from an evaluation. We'll keep all of this in mind as we move forward here. It will be Cassel starting."
Familiar Foe?
If the Cowboys indeed sign Terrance Mitchell off the practice squad this week to replace the recently-waived Tyler Patmon, the cornerback will see at least one familiar receiver.
Last year, Mitchell spent part of the season on the Bears roster and went up against Brandon Marshall, who is now starting for the Jets.
"I was blessed to have the opportunity to play against Brandon Marshall and (Alshon) Jeffrey when I was in Chicago," he said. "It's something I'm familiar with. You just want to get in their way and stay in their way. And be in good position to play their hands if they throw it up high."
Mitchell said he's not sure if the Cowboys will sign him to the roster, but he's definitely ready.
[embeddedad0]
"I'm just working, still working hard trying to work my way," Mitchell said. "Learn the plays, just do what the coach asks me to do."
Mitchell, a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2014, was waived after camp and picked up by the Bears.
"It's kind of like coming back home. It's a blessing to be back," said Mitchell, who said he already knows the business side of the NFL in less than two years. "You have to take care of business. You have to take advantage of all the opportunities. If you don't handle your business you can be gone."
