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Thursday, July 17, 1997

Joyner's jolt forces second option for Cowboys

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Any faint hopes of the Cowboys nabbing free agent Seth Joyner disappeared Wednesday when the former Pro Bowl linebacker signed a four-year, $6 million deal with the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

Nevertheless, the Cowboys' pursuit of a veteran to shore up their depleted linebacking corps continues, a source said, with the team turning its attention to one of its former linebackers, Vinson Smith.

The Cowboys are set to enter training camp tomorrow with second-year veteran Alan Campos and rookie Dexter Coakley battling for the weak-side linebacking spot in place of Darrin Smith, a free agent who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vinson Smith started 12 games for the Chicago Bears last season and was in on 89 tackles, 48 solo, recovered two fumbles and had one sack. He is a free agent and has expressed interest in returning to the Cowboys.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones declined to comment. George Mavrikes, Smith's agent, was unavailable for comment.

Smith seems to be a logical fit for the Cowboys. He played with the team from 1990-1992 and the Bears, coached by former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt, play a similar scheme.

As for Joyner, Jones characterized that quest as nothing more than wishful thinking, even though Joyner had said he would take less money to play for a Super Bowl contender. By signing with the defending champion Packers, he didn't have to take much less.

The salary cap-strapped Cowboys' offer of roughly $300,000 for one season wasn't even close to the other offers Joyner received. Arizona and Cincinnati pitched deals worth more than $1 million per season.

"We knew it was very doubtful we would even have a shot," Jones said. "They told us we were short on the money. It was always a long shot because of the money."

Jones said that the team has never paid a lot of money for linebackers and that the Cowboys weren't going to stray from their philosophy for Joyner.Absent tackle One day after receiving a stern scolding from Cowboys coaches for a perceived lack of effort, second-year defensive tackle Mike Ulufale was a no-show at the team's minicamp Wednesday.

Coach Barry Switzer was left guessing as to the whereabouts of the 1996 third-round pick.

"I don't know," Switzer said. "We called his wife and she doesn't know either."

Thomas Olsen, Ulufale's agent, was also unaware of his client's location.

Switzer, who said he expects Ulufale back at practice Thursday, speculated that the second-year defensive tackle might be doing some soul searching.

"The coaches were pretty tough on him" Tuesday, Switzer said. "It's disappointing. I guess he is reassessing how much he wants to play football. The game has got to be important. If you don't like to play, you ought not be out here."

Ulufale missed his rookie season in 1996 because of a knee injury. This season, the Cowboys are counting on the former Brigham Young standout to provide depth at defensive tackle.

If Ulufale fails to return, he would not be the first defensive lineman to walk away from the team. Defensive tackle Darren Benson quit during a spring minicamp in 1996 before returning for training camp.

(c) 1997, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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