Notes: Safety Hall To Visit; Cowboys Sign Love

[BuckFoston]

IRVING, Texas - Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Bill Parcells both have made references over the past two weeks about the club still searching for some veteran insurance at free safety.

"We'll probably, at some point in time, work out a couple of veteran guys to see where we are," Parcells said.

Well, true to their word, Thursday the Cowboys will inspect Cory Hall, a six-year veteran who started four seasons in Cincinnati and the past two in Atlanta. The Cowboys had researched the veteran free agent prior to the draft, though Hall appeared poised to re-sign with the Falcons immediately following the NFL Draft even though he had been released March 1 so the club could clear cap space.

But Hall apparently reneged on his verbal agreement when he didn't show up for the team's first two mini-camp practices, and Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. said the club no longer had any interest in signing the safety who started 13 of the 14 games he played in 2004. Hall finished the season with 60 tackles, but only on interception and one pass defensed. Evidently, Hall was in the process of changing agents, which caused the confusion.

With the retirement of Darren Woodson and the evident lack of interest in re-signing unrestricted free agent Tony Dixon, the Cowboys do have a need for experience at free safety. At this moment, the candidates for the starting free safety job would be Lynn Scott, who did start nine games last season; Keith Davis, predominately a special teams player Parcells said would get a legitimate look during training camp at actually playing safety; and sixth-round draft choice Jason Beriault, who was more of a run-support safety at Ball State than a guy who played 15 yards off the line of scrimmage.

The Cowboys did have some thought of moving cornerback Pete Hunter to safety, but the fourth-year veteran balked at the idea, and he will be thrown into the crowded cornerback field to compete for a roster spot. Projected starters at cornerback are Terence Newman and the recently-signed Anthony Henry, and 12-year veteran Aaron Glenn, signed just after the draft, is expected to come on as the extra defensive back in the nickel defense.

Hall originally was a third-round pick out of Fresno State by Cincinnati, and forged his way into the starting lineup by Game 5 of his rookie season. He went on to earn a spot on several NFL All-Rookie teams. Over his career (starting 70 of 87 games played), Hall has played both free safety and strong safety. That would fit into the Cowboys scheme of using their safeties interchangeably, although they would prefer to use two-time Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams closer to the line of scrimmage.

A New Project



Having previously found success with basketball players, the Cowboys have taken on a new project, signing former Duke wide receiver and basketball player Reggie Love to a free-agent contract Wednesday with the idea of converting him to linebacker.

Love will receive his second chance to latch on in the NFL, having gone to camp last year with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free-agent wide receiver. When he was released before the start of the season, Love returned to Duke, where he still had basketball eligibility remaining. The 6-4, 224-pounder played in 21 games this past season for the Blue Devils, starting four. He averaged 2.7 rebounds a game and 1.6 points a game.

As a wide receiver at Duke, Love was a four-year letterman, starting 26-of-40 career games. He finished his career with 75 receptions for 895 yards and six touchdowns.

The Cowboys view Love strictly as a project, and possibly a guy who at best would make the practice squad if he shows enough between now and the start of camp to remain on the 80-man roster. His athleticism will give him a shot at making an impression as a special teams player, which would buy him time to possibly make the conversion to linebacker.

The Cowboys already have rights to a former Duke linebacker, Ryan Fowler attempting to make the team as an inside backer in the 3-4 defense. The Cowboys would have some insight on Love since Parcells was coaching football at Army when current Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was a basketball player there for Bob Knight.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news_ca...32B81830743C59

[BuckFoston]

Wow congrats to Reggie Love. I thought he was going to the NBA but I was wrong. But I am very happy that there are more Duke players going big time.

[nyjunc]

Wow congrats to Reggie Love. I thought he was going to the NBA but I was wrong. But I am very happy that there are more Duke players going big time.

You thought he was going to the NBA????

Did you watch him play in college?

[Taylor]

Rumor is Hall's workout was less than impressive and he wasn't offered a contract.

[Eric The Red]

Any Bengal fan would've told you that Hall was nothing to write home about. Maybe a special teamer but not much more.