OXNARD, Calif. -- Without NFL teams cutting their rosters from 90 players to 75 this year, there's less wondering about the first wave of moves.
That doesn't mean there is no wondering. We've got five wonders.
Away we go:
Every time I'm asked who will be the Dallas Cowboys' starting cornerbacks, I say Orlando Scandrick and Nolan Carroll. I wonder whether I need to adjust that thinking. Not the Scandrick part -- the Carroll part. He was given a $3 million signing bonus as a free agent in March but has not made many plays so far in training camp. The issue is among the remaining corners: Anthony Brown has been slowed by a hamstring strain; Chidobe Awuzie has missed time with an ankle sprain; and Jourdan Lewis hasn't practiced much because of a hamstring strain. Coaches like to lean on veteran experience over rookies, but Bill Parcells was always leery of "progress-stoppers." Could the Cowboys walk away from Carroll? It's possible. He received a $3 million signing bonus. If they cut him, he would count $1 million against the cap this year and $2 million against it in 2019. Two years ago the Cowboys walked away from linebacker Jasper Brinkley despite a $2 million guarantee so it wouldn't be unprecedented.
As the Cowboys work on their 53-man roster, I wonder whether they need to add an extra linebacker. The Cowboys can get away with keeping six, but they likely could keep seven. What about eight? With rookie Jaylon Smith's left knee in question, the Cowboys might need an extra linebacker to help fortify special teams. Backup linebackers are generally special teams mainstays, but can Smith cover punts and kicks well enough? Right now Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, Justin Durant, Kyle Wilber and Smith are locks. Mark Nzeocha can fill a special teams role, as he did at times last year. With Damontre Moore missing the first two games because of a suspension, the Cowboys could find room for an eighth linebacker at least at the start if needed.
I wonder why I fall in the trap almost every summer. As quarterback Cooper Rush was completing his first eight passes after Kellen Moore struggled in the first half last week against the Los Angeles Rams, the calls for Rush to be Dak Prescott's backup started flying on Twitter. I said there was no chance that was happening, and it led to an avalanche of responses. I stand by what I said. Rush is having a good summer, especially for an undrafted free agent, but Moore knows the system, knows what he can't do and has offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's trust. Over the years, fans have been enthralled by young quarterbacks, and we're not just talking Tony Romo. There's Matt Moore and Richard Bartel and Alex Tanney and Dustin Vaughan and some others. The Cowboys will not rue the day if they choose to cut Rush and he doesn't slip to the practice squad. They'll just get the next Cooper Rush next year.
With Ezekiel Elliott looking at a six-game suspension, I wonder whether that could help Linehan's chances to be a head coach again. Think about it. If the Cowboys are able to excel without Elliott, then it would be the second straight year Linehan made it work without the most valuable offensive piece. Last year Linehan designed an offense for a rookie quarterback in Prescott after Romo got hurt. In 2014, Linehan directed an offense that was as good as any in the NFL. If the Cowboys can continue to run the ball effectively and score some points in Elliott's absence, wouldn't that have to make Linehan an attractive candidate somewhere?
Now that the New England Patriots have bought two 767 Boeing wide-body jets, complete with five Super Bowl trophies on the tail, I wonder whether the Cowboys would look to make such a purchase. Airlines have cut back on offering chartered planes to teams, though the Cowboys have a strong partnership with American Airlines, which is a major sponsor. Is there a way to make money on the planes when you're not using them? That's the question because for 10 charter flights a season, it doesn't seem worth it. If anybody can find a profit out of anything, it's Jerry Jones.