Jones: Planning to be without ShanteAUSTIN - Dallas owner Jerry Jones said after Sunday's Blue-White scrimmage
that the team is making plans to play the season without backup defensive
end Shante Carver.
Carver, the team's first-round pick in 1994, left the team Saturday and
all Cowboy officials would say was that he left for personal reasons.
Jones said the same thing Sunday, but the Dallas Morning-News reported Sunday
that his leave could be a prelude to a lengthy suspension by the National
Football League.
"I can't comment on anything like that," Jones said. "He
left for personal reasons. We're making our plans not to have Shante this
year. Since he left the team, we have to base all our decisions that he'll
be gone for the year."
The Morning-News reported Sunday that two of its sources said Carver is
facing a lengthy suspension from the NFL for repeated violations of the
league's anti-drug policy. The source said Carver had tested positive numerous
times for alcohol use.
The source also said that Carver could be suspended without pay for the
entire season.
Carver's departure leaves the Cowboys hurting along the defensive line,
where starting ends Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert are recovering from offseason
surgery. Tackles Leon Lett and Chad Hennings were held out of Sunday's scrimmage
to avoid injury.
But backup tackle Hurvin McCormack injured his ankle in the scrimmage, rookie
defensive tackle Mike Ulufale injured his left shoulder and neck and will
undergo an MRI today, and newly re-signed tackle Tony Casillas is still
in Dallas with back problems.
However, Jones said the team won't pursue another free agent defensive lineman.
He also wouldn't say when, or if, he expects Carver to return to the team.
"I wouldn't speculate on that at all," Jones said. "When
you have a player leave the team like we have, you have to make plans to
move on without him."