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Saturday, May 31, 1997

Cowboys plan to improve depth at receiver, linebacker

By Bart Hubbuch

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones has his calculator ready. Another round of addition and subtraction - and addition by subtraction - commences Sunday.

Possibly on the way in: Denver's Anthony Miller or another unemployed marquee name at wide receiver, followed by a weakside linebacker.

Possibly on the way out: 39-year-old center Ray Donaldson, with Charles Haley, Jay Novacek and their ailing backs not far behind.

"We've got a couple of things we're working on with Sunday in mind," hinted Jones, whose club opens a five-day quarterback school for veterans and rookies Monday at Valley Ranch.

Why the significance of Sunday? June 1 means NFL teams absorb less of an impact under the salary cap when they release high-priced veterans or have them retire.

That could mean a much-needed windfall of cap room - nearly $3 million - for the Cowboys if, as expected, they release Donaldson on Monday and Haley retires. The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end has had three back surgeries in the past four years.

But Jones warns not to expect any announcements from Haley or Novacek, at least during the mini-camp.

"I don't expect them to retire next week," he said. "If it happens, it'll happen later on. I'm pretty sure of that."

Jones, however, is tight-lipped about Donaldson's seemingly bleak prospects of remaining a Cowboy.

The 17-year veteran, who has not spoken with the Cowboys in three weeks, said through his agent that he did not attend Dallas' April mini-camp at the team's request and expects to be released. That would leave John Flannery or second-year pro Clay Shiver at center.

"I don't want to say anything about Donaldson right now," Jones said.

Of more interest to Jones and the Cowboys is the anticipated arrival of Miller from the Broncos as a five-time Pro Bowl complement to Michael Irvin. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Denver Coach Mike Shanahan threatens to block Miller's path to Dallas by not waiving the nine-year veteran.

Neither Miller's agent, Marvin Demoff, nor Jones sound concerned by Shanahan's apparent posturing.

"He's the property of Denver," Jones said. "It's at their discretion what they decide to do."

The Cowboys said they can always fall back on one of the numerous marquee free-agent receivers expected to become available. Michael Haynes, Brett Perriman and Michael Timpson are some of the high-profile names. Former Cowboy Alvin Harper is expected to be released by Tampa Bay.

"We've got Plan A, B, C, D and E when it comes to wide receivers," Jones said.

The Cowboys said they also have a plan at weakside linebacker, where Dallas has only special-teamer Alan Campos and rookie Dexter Coakley after losing Darrin Smith, Jim Schwantz and Godfrey Myles in free agency.

The Cowboys don't intend to go to training camp with just Campos and Coakley vying for the starting job. Among the potential additions: ex-Cowboy Vinson Smith, formerly of the Bears, and ex-Atlanta Falcon Ron George.

"More than likely, we'll add a linebacker before we get to camp," Jones said. "We're just not in position to pay a premium over the minimum for a linebacker."

Dallas isn't in the market for free-agent help at any other positions, including their depleted secondary. The Cowboys want to look at their rookies and second-year players in that area before making any moves, Jones said.

"We've got some decisions to make in a lot of areas," he said.

(The Cowboys open a five-day quarterback school for veterans and rookies beginning Monday at Valley Ranch.)

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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