Monday, July 20, 1998

Cowboys' defense loses 2 to injuries

By Bart Hubbuch

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Alonzo Spellman, Anthony Smith and Vinson Smith are among the veteran free agents being considered after the Cowboys' defense was staggered by two season-ending knee injuries over the weekend.

Less than 24 hours after backup cornerback Wendell Davis was lost for the year with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, outside linebacker-defensive end Broderick Thomas suffered the same injury to his left knee in Sunday afternoon's workout at Midwestern State.

Thomas, a No. 1 pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989, has not missed a regular-season game in his nine-year NFL career.

"It hasn't been a real good day for us," a downcast Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

The injuries left the Cowboys in search of at least one veteran addition. The team has approximately $350,000 available under the salary cap, or enough room to sign one veteran to the $325,000 minimum salary.

That veteran could be Spellman, the troubled ex-Chicago Bear. The Cowboys confirmed that they have made several inquiries about the Bears' former No. 1 pick, who was released June 12 after a tumultuous off-season.

In March, Spellman barricaded himself from police in his publicist's house outside Chicago and was forced to spend time in a psychiatric hospital.

Cowboys personnel director Stephen Jones recently spoke at length with Bears coach Dave Wannstedt about Spellman, and Dallas scouting director Larry Lacewell said he has reviewed several tapes on the 6-4, 292-pound veteran, who had two sacks in seven games last year.

Stephen Jones said the Cowboys also will look at ex-Oakland Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith, who also has a history of off-field problems, and linebacker Vinson Smith, who spent 1997 with Dallas. Vinson Smith might be the most attractive because he can play both linebacker positions outside and the middle.

Outside linebackers Greg Lloyd and Bryan Cox also are free agents, but the Cowboys aren't thought to be interested in either.

Thomas was expected to provide veteran experience after being re-signed in March, losing 20 pounds and moving back to outside linebacker after a disappointing one-year stint at defensive end. But he took a helmet to his knee early in Sunday's practice and buckled from the hit, his season over.

"We're really sick for Broderick," Jerry Jones said.

Davis' career, meanwhile, took another hard-luck turn Saturday. The backup cornerback, who had torn the meniscus in his right knee in the final game of the 1996 season, tore the ACL while defending a sideline pass in Saturday's practice.

Coach Chan Gailey said the Cowboys won't sign a veteran to replace Davis because they already have several promising players at cornerback, including Lee Vaughn and former Texas Tech quarterback Zebbie Lethridge.

Dallas also re-signed rookie free agent Ronald Bailey for depth and practice purposes, and veteran safety Charlie Williams is receiving work at cornerback.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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