EMMITT SMITH HIRED AS ESPN ANALYST:

Dallas Cowboy legend to join NFL programming on the network.

(March 13, 2007)

*"Dancing With the Stars" champ Emmitt Smith has quickstepped
his way into a plush new gig as a studio analyst for sports cable
channel ESPN.


The NFL's all-time leading rusher and winner of the ballroom
dance competition on ABC will now work for its Disney sister station
as a commentator on "NFL Countdown" and "Monday Night Countdown," as
well as ESPN Radio and ESPN.com, the network announced Monday.


"I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and insight of
football with the fans of the NFL," Smith said in a statement. "I am
excited to be joining the ESPN family, particularly the highly
respected Countdown crews."


Smith will take a seat next to Chris Berman, analysts Mike
Ditka, Tom Jackson and Ron Jaworski, and reporter Chris Mortensen
on "NFL Countdown."


The Dallas Cowboys veteran will join Berman, Jackson, Mortensen
and analyst Steve Young for the "Monday Night Countdown" show each
week from the site of the "Monday Night Football" match up.

Brad Johnson signs as back up Quartberback for the Cowboys

IRVING, Texas -- Brad Johnson made it clear Tuesday that he didn't sign with the Cowboys in order to be Tony Romo's mentor.

"I've never agreed with that terminology, that term: mentor," Johnson said in a conference call. "My role is to be ready to play at any moment, and my role will be defined in time."

Johnson became an unrestricted free agent last week after he was released by Minnesota. The Cowboys needed another quarterback after releasing Drew Bledsoe, who lost the starting job to Romo in the Cowboys' seventh game last season.

Johnson's deal is reportedly for three years and $7.5 million.

Johnson, 38, said his decision came down to the Cowboys and Broncos. He chose the Cowboys because of his friendship with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and his displeasure with the role the Broncos had in mind for him -- as mentor to quarterback Jay Cutler.

"They drafted Jay in the first round and he is the franchise. They want him there for the next 10 years," Johnson said. "He is loaded with potential and talent and they are looking for more of a mentor kind of role. That mentor thing, I really kind of disagreed with that."

Johnson, who was a teammate of Garrett's in Tampa Bay for part of one season, said he hopes Romo and the Cowboys have a successful season but added that he is "not there for my health." Johnson plans to have a role in that success, and not one that involves holding a clipboard.

Romo, he said, "already has a quarterback coach. He doesn't need another coach. My thing is to work hard in practice and have a great relationship with Tony and hopefully he has the best year of his life."

In a statement, the Cowboys said Johnson "will provide depth and experience" in his 16th NFL season.

Johnson went 6-8 as a starter last season, losing his role to backup Tarvaris Jackson for the last two games. He completed 62 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Johnson started the 2005 season as a backup, replacing the injured Daunte Culpepper after seven games. Johnson went 7-2 that season with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay after the 2002 season, has thrown for 28,548 yards with 164 touchdowns and 117 interceptions in his career.

------

Associated Press Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report.

The Dallas Roster as of 3/6/07

NO	NAME	POS	HT	WT	EXP	COLLEGE
76	Adams, Flozell	OT	6-7	340	9	Michigan State
14	Austin, Miles	WR	6-3	215	R	Monmouth Univ
50	Ayodele, Akin	LB	6-2	250	5	Purdue
24	Barber, Marion	RB	6-0	220	2	Minnesota
67	Berger, Joe	G	6-5	305	2	Michigan Tech
74	Bowen, Stephen	DE	6-5	300	R	Hofstra
57	Burnett, Kevin	LB	6-3	240	2	Univ. Tenn.
36	Butler, Quincy	CB	6-1	190	R	TCU
99	Canty, Chris	DE	6-7	300	2	Virginia
54	Carpenter, Bobby	LB	6-2	257	R	Ohio St
93	Coleman, Kenyon	DE	6-5	295	5	UCLA
75	Colombo, Marc	OT	6-8	320	5	Boston College
84	Crayton, Patrick	WR	6-0	205	3	NW Okla State
29	Davis, Keith	S	5-11	205	4	Sam Houston
00	Davis, Leonard	OT	6-6	366	6	Texas
37	Elam, Abram	S	6-0	210	R	Kent State
69	Fabini, Jason	OT	6-7	309	9	Cincinnati
80	Fasano, Anthony	TE	6-4	258	R	Notre Dame
95	Ferguson, Jason	DT	6-3	310	10	Georgia
55	Fowler, Ryan	LB	6-3	250	3	Duke
26	Glenn, Aaron	CB	5-9	185	13	Texas A&M
83	Glenn, Terry	WR	5-11	195	11	Ohio State
53	Glymph, Junior	LB	6-6	272	3	Carson-Newman
7	Gramatica, Martin	K	5-8	170	7	Kansas State
65	Gurode, Andre	C	6-4	312	5	Colorado
97	Hatcher, Jason	DE	6-6	295	R	Grambling
42	Henry, Anthony	CB	6-1	208	6	South Florida
46	Hoyte, Oliver	LB	6-3	250	R	NC State
17	Hurd, Sam	WR	6-2	195	R	N Illinois
56	James, Bradie	LB	6-2	250	4	Louisiana State
52	Johnson, Al	C	6-5	311	3	Wisconsin
21	Jones, Julius	RB	5-10	211	3	Notre Dame
33	Jones, Nathan	CB	5-10	192	3	Rutgers
63	Kosier, Kyle	G	6-5	305	5	Arizona St
91	Ladouceur, L.P.	LS	6-4	255	2	Cal
1	McBriar, Mat	P	6-1	223	3	Hawaii
77	McQuistan, Pat	OT	6-6	315	R	Weber St
41	Newman, Terence	CB	5-11	195	4	Kansas State
81	Owens, Terrell	WR	6-3	224	11	Tenn-Chatt
34	Parrish, Tony	S	6-0	209	9	Washington
39	Polite, Lousaka	FB	6-0	248	2	Pittsburgh
71	Procter, Cory	G	6-4	305	2	Montana
90	Ratliff, Jeremiah	DE	6-4	305	2	Auburn
35	Reeves, Jacques	CB	5-11	192	3	Purdue
62	Rivera, Marco	G	6-4	309	11	Penn State
9	Romo, Tony	QB	6-2	225	4	E. Illinois
51	Singleton, Al	LB	6-2	250	10	Temple
96	Spears, Marcus	DE	6-4	298	2	LSU
60	Stanley, Montavious	DT	6-2	310	R	Louisville
94	Ware, DeMarcus	LB	6-4	257	2	Troy St Univ
25	Watkins, Pat	S	6-5	211	R	Florida St
31	Williams, Roy	S	6-0	229	5	Oklahoma
82	Witten, Jason	TE	6-5	265	4	Tennessee
Injured Reserved
98	Ellis, Greg	LB	6-6	270	9	North Carolina
88	Pierce, Brett	TE	6-5	263	3	Stanford
28	Thompson, Tyson	RB	6-1	220	2	San Jose State
Practice Squad
16	Baker, Matt	QB	6-2	212	R	N Carolina
19	Bilbo, Damarius	WR	6-2	220	R	Georgia Tech
48	Bjork, Carl-Johan	LB	6-0	253	R	No College
89	Curtis, Tony	TE	6-5	265	1	Portland State
27	Kincade, Keylon	RB	5-11	208	1	SMU
3	Martinez, Carlos	K	5-8	180	1	Buena Vista
49	Randall, Jason	TE	6-5	270	1	Michigan St
85	Rector, Jamaica	WR	5-10	186	1	NW MO State
15	Urban, Jerheme	WR	6-3	212	3	Trinity (TX)

By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
March 5, 2007

AP - Mar 5, 1:48 pm EST



IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Leonard Davis got exactly what he wanted by
signing with the Dallas Cowboys.

It was more than just the money: a seven-year contract worth nearly
$50 million. It was a return home after six disappointing seasons in
Arizona, where the 6-foot-6, 372-pound offensive lineman never became
the dominating Pro Bowl-level player so many envisioned after he was
the No. 2 pick out of Texas in 2001.

"I felt like I did everything that I could possibly do. ... Sometimes
expectations can be unrealistic,

" Davis said. "I'm excited just to
know that something new is coming up. It will be a challenge, but I'm
all about challenges."

The deal with the Cowboys includes $18.75 million in guaranteed
money, a team-record $16 million signing bonus and a $2.75 million
salary for 2007. Davis became an unrestricted free agent when Arizona
decided not to name him a franchise or transition player.

Davis played guard and tackle while starting all 91 of his games in
Arizona. Where he plays for the Cowboys depends on whether they re-
sign right tackle Marc Colombo and the future of right guard Marco
Rivera, who just had surgery on his back for the second time in less
than three years.

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"We understand what he is as an offensive lineman. There's nothing in
my mind at all unknown about what he is as a player," Cowboys owner
Jerry Jones said. "We can talk about expectations all we want to.
What he's done is the kind of play at any of those positions that
will get it done for us, or we wouldn't be making the commitment."

Jones said the Cowboys had also agreed to terms on a new contract
with kicker Martin Gramatica, who was picked up in November when Mike
Vanderjagt was released.

The 28-year-old Davis visited with Washington, and the New York
Giants were interested.

"The decision when it came down to it was not about the money. It was
about where I really wanted to live my life," Davis said.

Davis is from Wortham, Texas, about 80 miles south of Dallas. Being
close to home will provide the opportunity for his 84-year-old father
to see him play in person and for Davis to play for the team he grew
up watching.

"It's a new chapter in my life," he said. "I want to win games, which
obviously I haven't been able to do in this part of my career. Right
now, all I can do is look forward to being successful. ... I want to
be able to have some respect, earn respect."

Davis' signing bonus surpasses the $13 million the Cowboys gave Hall
of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, defensive back Deion Sanders and
former perennial Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen.

The deal came days after free agent linemen Eric Steinbach (Cleveland
Browns) and Derrick Dockery (Buffalo Bills) got similar seven-year
deals that included $17 million to $18.5 million in guaranteed money.

While Davis was being introduced to the media, quarterback Tony Romo
came in to greet his new protector.

"I just know that he's a good player. We definitely got someone that
gets me excited," Romo said. "Anytime you can get a guy to protect
you up front, it's a huge addition."

The Cowboys are still hopeful of re-signing Colombo, and Jones said
the signing of Davis "doesn't preclude" that. The Cowboys already re-
signed center Andre Gurode to a $30 million, six-year deal with $10
million guaranteed.

Jones said the offensive line was a priority this offseason.

"We've missed on a couple of our picks the last three or four years,"
Jones said. "(Davis) gives us a chance to really play catch-up and
really get back to where, arguably, if we had gotten a little better
results on our draft there on a couple of picks, we would be."

Updated on Monday, Mar 5, 2007 4:28 pm EST