Dallas Cowboys players hold private workout
About 40 members of the Dallas Cowboys National Football League (NFL) team met for the first time since the NFL lockout started and worked out as a team.
The location of the workout that took place on Tuesday 3 May, 2011 was not disclosed but quarterback Tony Romo confirmed the workout to the press, saying "It went great. We had a great turnout. It was crisp. It was fast. You could feel the energy from the
guys being back out there. Guys were committed. It was great to see."
‘Boys safety Barry Church also confirmed via Twitter, saying “great team workout today.”
Romo did not tell which players attended and which didn’t or how many times the players plan to meet for more on field workouts.
"Just know that we'll be doing them throughout the month," Romo said.
However, a source told a radio station that receiver Dez Bryant was not in attendance. Bryant had 45 receptions for 561 yards and six touchdowns, along with 508 return yards and two return touchdowns before fracturing his ankle in a win over the Indianapolis
Colts.
After the lockout was imposed in March, players were forced to work out in small groups at private facilities. The players who are out of state chose to workout close to home, usually in schools.
"The guys know how important it is to be in football shape and ready to go when the lockout ends," Romo said.
Workouts were initially planned for May but their hopes were raised when the NFL lockout nearly ended last week. According to ‘Boys head coach Jason Garrett, about 20 players came to Valley Ranch, the Cowboys’ headquarters, for meetings and workouts with
their position coaches last Friday. Unfortunately for the players, the league was granted a temporary stay on the lockout and players were forced to refrain from contacting teams, and vice versa.
The 8th United States Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri granted the NFL a temporary stay on its injunction and is expected to rule on a permanent stay by 3 June. All of this came just a couple of days after U.S. District Court Judge
Susan Nelson lifted the lockout.
Romo told reporters that the workout was “conducted like a normal mini-camp practice.” Previously normal practices that were held under the supervision of coaches included walkthroughs for the defence and offence, as well as seven-on-seven drills and one-on-one
drills.
The defence needs coach-run practices because they have to learn the playbook of Rob Ryan, their new defensive coordinator. The offense needs practices because they will be working with Romo for the first time since 25 October, 2010. Romo fractured his left
collarbone in a game against the New York Giants. Shortly after the season was over, Romo was cleared to play but was not able to practice fully due to the labour dispute.
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