The Cowboys are trying to provide some guidance for Dez Bryant, the talented young receiver who has had issues off the field.
Coach Jason Garrett wouldn’t go into specifics yesterday or describe potential discipline for not abiding by the rules, but he said the Cowboys want to support Bryant and his family.
“What we’ve tried to do is come up with a plan for Dez like we would for any player who we feel like needs our support, and help him be his best as a player and as a person,” Garrett said. “And the accountability factor is an important part of that with him and with anybody on our football team.”
According to numerous reports, Bryant will attend weekly counseling sessions, have a full-time security team and not be allowed to consume alcohol or attend strip clubs. The security members will drive Bryant to team functions, including practices and games, and the receiver will also be subject to a curfew.
Bryant was arrested in July for allegedly assaulting his mother, who has since said she doesn’t want authorities to pursue charges against him. The Dallas County district attorney’s office has yet to make a decision about misdemeanor family violence charges.
EAGLES: Michael Vick will take his next snap in the season opener for Philadelphia. Who replaces him if he gets hurt again remains a question.
Vick is back at practice after leaving last Monday’s game with injured ribs. He didn’t play in Friday’s game at Cleveland, but returned to the field Sunday night for Philadelphia’s annual practice party at Lincoln Financial Field.
Vick has taken just 12 snaps in two preseason games and isn’t expected to play against the Jets in the preseason finale Thursday. The Eagles visit Cleveland in Week 1 on Sept. 9.
BILLS: Vince Young was too inconsistent to win Buffalo’s backup job, so now the team’s giving Tarvaris Jackson a shot to prove himself.
The Bills shuffled backup quarterbacks by completing a deal to acquire Jackson in a trade with Seattle. They then cut Young. The moves coincided with the Seahawks deeming Jackson expendable after naming rookie Russell Wilson their starter, and it came two days after Young struggled in his bid to lock up the No. 2 job in a 38-7 preseason loss to Pittsburgh.
PATRIOTS: New England gave Pro Bowl tight end Aaron Hernandez a new, five-year contract.
The deal is worth $40 million, according to reports, and comes just months after the team locked up another All-Pro tight end, Rob Gronkowski, through 2019.
Hernandez’s deal with the Patriots will run through 2018, and his base salaries of $545,000 and $570,000 for the next two seasons, respectively, will remain intact.
CARDINALS: Thirteen days before the regular-season opener and Arizona still has not named a starting quarterback.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he’s not ready to announce whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton will start the Sept. 9 game against Seattle.
RAVENS: Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been placed on the physically unable to perform list.
REDSKINS: Veteran kicker Neil Rackers was cut, giving Graham Gano the kicking duties for another season despite an NFL-high 10 missed field goal attempts in 2011. Gano also had an NFL-high five attempts blocked.