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HOT TOPIC
Bobby Carpenter is living a dream.
As the son of former Giants fullback Rob Carpenter, he has followed the career of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells all of his life.
For years he had poster of Parcells in his room, hoping that one day he would get to play for the man who had such a huge influence on his father's life and by connection his.
Although he was still in high school and nowhere close to NFL ready, Carpenter's heart sagged when Parcells retired from the Jets in 1999.
Parcells would come out of retirement to join the Cowboys in 2003. And as fate would have it, Carpenter developed into a NFL caliber player at Ohio State.
Destiny occurred in the first round of NFL Draft when the Cowboys selected Carpenter with the 18th overall pick.
The Cowboys chose him because he was the most ready of the prospects available.
But what would you expect from a player who has been groomed in the Parcells way from infancy?
Carpenter wasn't pushed toward football by his dad. But he was rooted in the teachings of teamwork, hard work, dedication and being a student of the game.
He will be the first to tell you that he didn't get here because of his status as an NFL legacy.
He got here because of a willingness and desire to go above and beyond the call of duty to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
Already armed with the proper attitude, the football part will take care of itself for Carpenter, who at 6-feet-3, 255 pounds will make an immediate impact at outside linebacker for the Cowboys.
In the end, it's a dream come true for Carpenter and Parcells.
PLAYER NOTES
--The Cowboys have 88 players on their roster and will need to make three cuts before the start of training camp in July.
--Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski interviewed for the vice president of player personnel position with Rams but did not get the job. The Rams chose Tony Softli for the position.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
--WR Tom Crowder was released. Crowder spent the spring with the Frankfurt Galaxy before his season was cut short with a broken jaw. He was on the Cowboys practice squad for the past two NFL seasons. His NFL Europe exemption has been placed on nose tackle Samuel Taulealea, who was signed June 2, 2006. Taulealea recorded eight tackles with the Berlin Thunder this spring.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Michael Barrow (not tendered June 1).
--LB Quinton Caver (not tendered June 1).
--S Tony Dixon (not tendered June 1).
--LB Eric Ogbogu (not tendered June 1).
--T Marcus Price (not tendered June 1).
--S Lynn Scott (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Terrance Copper: Potential ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--WR Patrick Crayton: Potential ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--S Keith Davis: RFA; $2.95M/2 yrs, $1.2M RB; 2006 cap: $2.025M; Cowboys matched Saints offer.
--G/C Andre Gurode: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--LS L.P. Ladouceur: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr.
--P Matt McBriar: Potential ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--S Willie Pile: ERFA; terms unknown.
--FB Lousaka Polite: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--CB Jacques Reeves: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Scott Shanle: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB Akin Ayodele: UFA Jaguars; $17M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
--LB Rocky Boiman: UFA Titans; $3.5M/3 yrs, $1M SB.
--S Marcus Coleman: FA Texans; $850,000/1 yr, $40,000 RB.
--OT Jason Fabini: FA Jets; $4.5M/3 yrs, $1.75M SB.
--TE Ryan Hannam: UFA Seahawks; $5M/4 yrs, $1.25M SB.
--OG Kyle Kosier: UFA Lions; $15M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
--WR Terrell Owens: FA Eagles; $25M/3 yrs; $5M SB/$3M RB '07-'08; 2006 cap: $6.67M.
--PK Mike Vanderjagt: UFA Colts; $5.5M/3 yrs, $2.5M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--OG Larry Allen (released).
--DT Willie Blade (released; failed physical/leg).
--TE Dan Campbell: UFA Lions; 5 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Scott Fujita: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--DT La'Roi Glover (released).
--WR Keyshawn Johnson (released).
--LB Dat Nguyen (retired).
--OT Jacob Rogers (released/failed physical).
--OT Torrin Tucker: RFA Buccaneers; $2.6M/2 yrs, $100,000 RB: 2006 cap: $1.3M (Cowboys did not match offer; no compensation).
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