Camp a bit different for Prescott this time
OXNARD, Calif. — Dak Prescott climbed the stairs to the VIP tent that once served as Tony Romo’s perch for interviews at training camp, facing a phalanx of cameras similar to the one his predecessor and the longtime Dallas starter used to see.
It’s Prescott’s job now, and the second-year star quarterback has the attention to prove it.
“Last year I came in and I was just trying to figure everything out,” Prescott said on the opening morning of camp in California.
“Everything I do (now) they’re watching. Not just you guys but my teammates, the coaches as well. But that’s fun to me. That’s something that I embrace.”
An afterthought this time a year ago as a fourthround pick and third-teamer behind Romo and Kellen Moore, Prescott’s outlook first changed when Moore broke an ankle in a training camp practice. Then Romo went down with a back injury in the third preseason game.
Prescott answered with one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, leading the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC at 13-3 before a divisional playoff loss to Green Bay.
Kubiak returns in scouting role
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Gary Kubiak’s separation from the NFL is over.
Kubiak is returning to the Denver Broncos in a scouting capacity seven months after stepping down as their head coach over health concerns .
Kubiak will serve as a senior personnel adviser, scouting college and pro players. He’ll be based out of his Houston home and make periodic trips to Broncos headquarters for personnel meetings, general manager John Elway said Tuesday.
“With as much experience as he has evaluating players, Gary’s going to be a tremendous resource for our personnel department,” Elway said.
Cowboys stand behind decision
OXNARD, Calif. — Jason Garrett knew the questions were going to come on how the Dallas Cowboys handled the release of wide receiver Lucky Whitehead.
Whitehead was released after a report surfaced he had a warrant out for his arrest for shoplifting in Virginia. Turns out, though, that Whitehead was misidentified and the police got it wrong.
Did Garrett regret how that decision was handled? Why are other players with similar, or even worse, offfield issues still on the roster? Garrett addressed and answered 11 questions in similar fashion in a three-minute news conference on Tuesday.
On any regret cutting Lucky Whitehead: “Yesterday we made a decision that we deemed to be in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys. We’re standing by that decision and we’re going to move on.”
But it was based on a false arrest report: “Yesterday we made a decision we thought was in the best decision that we felt was in the best interest of the Dallas cowboys. We’re going to stand by that decision and we’re going to move on.”
On saying same thing over and over: “It’s the truth. We made a decision we felt was in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys.”
On why Whitehead wasn’t cut before camp: “Again, guys, I’m not going to continue to address this. We made a decision we thought was in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys. We’re going to stand by that decision and we’re going to move on.”
Newton on pitch count in preseason
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton is ready to roll at training camp.
Coach Ron Rivera said he’s excited to see a lighter, more confident Newton test his surgically repaired throwing arm when the Panthers take the field tonight for practice.
“Cam had a good week last week (throwing) from what I understand,” Rivera said. “So I am excited to see him in action.”
Look for Newton to be on a pitch count.
Rivera said head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion has a plan for Newton this summer, but wouldn’t elaborate on the details. But it’s clear the Panthers will limit his reps in some capacity, at least at the beginning of training camp.
Around the NFL …
› The Jacksonville Jaguars have made Brandon Linder one of the NFL’s highest-paid centers. Linder signed a five-year contract extension worth a little more than $50 million Tuesday.
› Receiver Andrew Hawkins says he is retiring from the NFL and donating his brain to research. The six-year NFL veteran signed with the New England Patriots in May.