Friday, August 23, 1996
Short at tight end, Cowboys expect to add
safety
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
Dallas Morning News
(August 23, 1996)
DALLAS (KRT) - The Cowboys expect to add safety George Teague
to their roster Friday, but they're still searching for a tight
end.
Teague passed a team physical Thursday. And Cowboys' owner Jerry
Jones said he anticipated signing the former No. 1 pick to a
one-year contract for $192,000, the NFL minimum for a four-year
veteran.
The Cowboys will have to cut a player to make room for Teague.
But Dallas was unsuccessful in its bid to land a tight end, although
it continues to pursue Johnny Mitchell, a former No. 1 pick of
the New York Jets. Mitchell has been an unrestricted free agent
since he quit the Miami Dolphins after 12 days. Miami had signed
him to a three-year, $1.47 million contract.
Anthony Hilliard, Mitchell's agent, said he has talked with the
Cowboys several times over the past two days about signing Mitchell.
Jones said he had thought Mitchell might fly to Dallas on Wednesday
to meet with club officials, but he didn't.
Jones said the two parties did not have a firm agreement to meet,
so he was not upset.
Hilliard said he and Mitchell could fly to Dallas on Friday morning
to meet with Coach Barry Switzer and Jones. The Cowboys are scheduled
to leave Dallas at noon for Orlando, Fla., where they will play
Houston on Saturday.
"We still have to work out a couple of details and take
care of some issues, but things are very positive right now,"
Hilliard said. "We have to reach a common ground before
we take a flight, but we're getting there."
The Cowboys want another tight end because Pro Bowler Jay Novacek
has a degenerative back ailment that will sideline him indefinitely
and his backup, Eric Bjornson, has been bothered by a strained
hamstring all month. Blocking tight end Kendell Watkins is out
for the season after having knee surgery.
The Cowboys will solve their depth problem at safety by adding
Teague, who started 31 of his last 32 games in Green Bay. Atlanta
traded for Teague in the off-season but released him during training
camp.
Strong safety Darren Woodson, a two-time Pro Bowler, is one of
the league's best, and free safety Brock Marion tied for the
team lead with six interceptions and finished second on the club
in tackles. But backups Charlie Williams, a free agent, tore
a knee ligament during off-season drills, and Roger Harper, acquired
from Atlanta the day before the draft, broke his arm in the Blue-White
scrimmage. He is still about a month away from being ready to
play.
That leaves Chris Hall, who has spent the past two seasons toiling
in the World League of American Football, and Bill Bates at safety.
Teague will provide help in the nickel package because he can
cover slot receivers or provide deep help.
Teague, who had 72 tackles, 13 pass deflections and two interceptions
in 15 starts last season, said he doesn't know why he fell out
of favor in Green Bay. Atlanta, he said, never gave him an opportunity
to compete for a job.
Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf said Teague never recovered
from a thyroid problem he had before the 1994 season.
"There was a noticeable decline in his performance,"
Wolf said. "The thyroid problem caused him to lose a lot
of weight, and he just never regained his strength."
(c) 1996, Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Information Services.
All content copyright 1996, AP, The Abilene
Reporter-News and Reporter OnLine
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