Let’s round up the latest items out of Dallas, as the Cowboys gear up for their final preseason game against the Broncos….
- The Cowboys’ defense hadn’t expected to be an elite unit this season by any means, but suspensions may further diminish its effectiveness. As ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report, second-year defensive back Jakar Hamilton is facing a four-game ban for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse. Hamilton becomes the second member of Dallas’ secondary this month to be hit with a four-game suspension, as Orlando Scandrick will also miss the season’s first month. Of course, unlike Scandrick, Hamilton isn’t necessarily guaranteed a spot on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster.
- Now that the Josh Gordon situation has been resolved, one player still awaiting a decision from the NFL is Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent. Brent, who was charged with intoxication manslaughter, and served a six-month jail sentence, has already voluntarily taken a full season off. So, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, it’ll be interesting to see whether the NFL suspends him upon reinstating him or whether the league determines that by voluntarily – and temporarily – retiring, Brent has already served his penalty.
- Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News doesn’t think it’d be a bad idea for the Cowboys to let Dez Bryant play for his money. Bryant and owner Jerry Jones met yesterday to discuss a possible contract extension, but the talks did not advance.
Zach Links contributed to this post.