Thursday, April 16, 1998

D-Day approaches for Cowboys Fans

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

The NFL draft is pivotal for Dallas, which selects eighth, its highest draft position since 1991. If Randy Moss is avail able, will a franchise afflicted with off-the-field problems select a talented wide receiver who had his scholarship revoked at Notre Dame and experienced drug troubles at Florida State before he transferred to Marshall?

"We have him high on the board, and those are considerations that I really won't know where I am until we're in there on draft day," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

"With his talent, he's somebody that we have to give a lot of consideration to. We've evaluated him both on and off the field, and will look further at those off-the-field issues."

If the Cowboys don't select Moss, they're expected to select a pass-rushing defensive end, either Grant Wistrom of Nebraska or Greg Ellis of North Carolina. Regardless of who they pick, that player will be asked to produce this season.

"We're dealing with more value. We paid a high price to get it, i.e. winning only six games," Jones said. "I get a little more sensitive when I deal with something that has a higher value."

Jones said it's likely the Cowboys will keep the No. 8 overall pick, but could trade up or down with the 37th overall selection. Since the Cowboys don't have a third-round pick after last year's trade to move up three spots to select tight end David LaFleur, they may want to trade for additional picks.

"With the first and second picks, we've got to get some people who can come in here and be the equivalent of starters," Jones said. "Or if we trade down we have to come out of there with some people who can contribute now. We're not rebuilding, but what we're not doing is holding a veteran with experience as sacred as we have in the past."

Dallas has one selection in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, and three picks in the seventh round. To free up $853,000 under the salary cap, the Cowboys waived 15-year veteran offensive tackle Mark Tuinei on Tuesday. They might re-sign Tuinei as a backup if he's healthy.

"Mark's plan is to rehab both of his knees. We're not talking retirement," Jones said. "If Mark can rehabilitate and get his knees ready to play, we want to figure out a way to get him on this football team next fall."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)