On Thursday, Rob had a blog elaborating about the rookie camp that will be held at Valley Ranch during the week before training camp begins in late July.
A new feature of the offseason, the practices are not just for rookies. Also eligible to attend are players who have been to a training camp or part of a practice squad but never played in a regular season game, quarterbacks and injured veterans - specifically, guys who did not participate in this summer's Organized Team Activities or minicamp.
This being the first year for these practices, not all parties are on the same page about whether attendance is voluntary of mandatory. Team Vice President Stephen Jones said they were voluntary for veterans, but others with the Cowboys have said they were mandatory - in other words, the Cowboys could get an early checkup on Mike Jenkins' shoulder rehab.
Jenkins isn't the only Cowboys veteran who didn't practice this summer due to injury. Felix Jones, Dan Connor, Kevin Kowalski, Alex Albright, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Sean Lissemore and Jay Ratliff all sat out the entirety of OTAs and minicamp, and would be eligible to practice with the freshmen.
However, it doesn't sound like the Cowboys will be pushing any veteran who is still ailing, or kind of ailing, and the team also won't ask all vets to practice.
Specifically, it appears, the more accomplished veterans won't have to participate.
That likely means no Ratliff, no Felix Jones, no Tony Romo, and perhaps others who, by rule, could be on the field.
The Cowboys will focus the practices on catching the youngsters up to speed, not a chance to get their starters an extra rep or two.
