Cowboys rookie DE Spears out 2-4 weeks

[Horry For 3!]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cowboysspears&prov=st&type=lgns

OXNARD, California - Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Marcus Spears, who was being counted on to start, could be sidelined for up to a month after suffering multiple injuries in practice Friday.

Spears was hurt during the morning practice on a pileup during a running play. He suffered a sprained right ankle and knee and a pulled groin.

After trying to walk off the injuries, Spears limped across the field to get his leg examined.

Selected 20th overall out of Louisiana State, the 6-4, 307-pound Spears likely was going to be counted on heavily in the Cowboys' new 3-4 defensive scheme. Dallas chose defensive end-linebacker Demarcus Ware 11th overall.

An All-Southeastern Conference selection the last two seasons, Spears was an All-American as a senior, recording 49 tackles and nine sacks. He has the ability to also play tackle.

[Horry For 3!]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cowboysspears&prov=st&type=lgns

OXNARD, California - Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Marcus Spears, who was being counted on to start, could be sidelined for up to a month after suffering multiple injuries in practice Friday.

Spears was hurt during the morning practice on a pileup during a running play. He suffered a sprained right ankle and knee and a pulled groin.

After trying to walk off the injuries, Spears limped across the field to get his leg examined.

Selected 20th overall out of Louisiana State, the 6-4, 307-pound Spears likely was going to be counted on heavily in the Cowboys' new 3-4 defensive scheme. Dallas chose defensive end-linebacker Demarcus Ware 11th overall.

An All-Southeastern Conference selection the last two seasons, Spears was an All-American as a senior, recording 49 tackles and nine sacks. He has the ability to also play tackle.
That sucks for the Cowboys & Spears as well.

[Horry For 3!]

Cowboys' Spears leaves field with apparent knee injury

By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
August 5, 2005
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) -- Cowboys rookie defensive end Marcus Spears, one of the two first-round draft picks considered potential defensive starters in Dallas, could miss a month after spraining his right knee and ankle and pulling his groin during a team drill Friday.

Spears was hurt at the end of a running play during the team's first practice Friday when a lineman was knocked down and rolled up on his leg. After remaining down briefly, Spears had to be helped up by teammates before limping to the sideline.

``It was a terrible play. When we reviewed it after practice, we became even more concerned because it was really very much a possibility that he could have had the most severe injury,'' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. ``The good news, there's a chance we get him back for the opening of the season.''

Jones said team doctors told him that Spears would need four weeks of rehabilitation for the sprained knee, during which time the other injuries also should heal. The Cowboys' season opener is Sept. 11 at San Diego.

``Right now, I'm encouraged,'' Jones said at the beginning of the team's afternoon practice, which Spears did not attend.

Once Spears got to the sideline, coach Bill Parcells and team trainer Jim Maurer checked on the 6-foot-4, 294-pound end who was the 20th overall pick by the Cowboys in April.

Spears then limped the length of the field, putting little pressure on his right leg. After he got on a training table and doctors examined his right knee, he was put on a cart and driven off the field. Jones said Spears was taken to a hospital for an MRI.

Spears and Demarcus Ware, the 11th overall pick from Troy, were expected to be immediate contributors -- and likely starters -- in the Cowboys' conversion to the primary three-man defensive fronts Parcells has always preferred.

Even though Spears was running with the second-team defense when he got hurt, Parcells said players aren't necessarily where they would be in a game.

``I think he's got good potential, but he needs a lot of work,'' Parcells said.

Kenyon Coleman was practicing with the No. 1 team Friday. Rookie Jay Ratliff, a seventh-round pick from Auburn, will move up the depth chart for now to take Spears' spot.

Ware and Spears missed the first day of camp Saturday while their five-year contracts were being completed. Spears got a $9.3 million contract, with $6.7 million of that guaranteed.

[Sense]

That really sucks..

Everyone was talking good things about him..

Let's hope he can make the season without another one.

[SpursFanInAustin]

When he first got injured, Jerry Jones feared the worst. Whenever a player gets injured, he usually stays upbeat and positive, but today, he was pretty down and was quoted and said "doesn't look good." Dallas was very lucky his injury was not the worst case scenario.

[Horry For 3!]

When he first got injured, Jerry Jones feared the worst. Whenever a player gets injured, he usually stays upbeat and positive, but today, he was pretty down and was quoted and said "doesn't look good." Dallas was very lucky his injury was not the worst case scenario.
He is going to be out for a month.

[SpursFanInAustin]

He is going to be out for a month.

But initially, they thought he was done for the season.

[King]

I'd much rather they took this injury slowly, than tried to get him back by the opener. Take all four weeks - hell, take six weeks. Don't rush this kid back.

[PeterBurns]

That really sucks.
Spears was a unreal DE at LSU. With the Cowboys changes to a 3-4. They need him to be 100% healthy.

A setback, but maybe more mental than physical

[SpursFanDan]

haha.. thats what you get for counting your chickens before they hatch. They've been hyping this kid up since he got to camp. Now his career is going to be plagued with injuries... welcome to the world of the cowboys.

[samikeyp]

plagued with injuries? isn't it a little early for that? Although I am guessing you are a Cowboy hater judging by the way you laugh about a player getting hurt.

[SpursFanDan]

No.. It was a joke, I love the cowboys by default. But green bay Is my team.

[samikeyp]

cool.

[scott]

Well, hopefully Canty will be as good as advertised - we don't have a lot of depth at DE. Coleman is our other option along with Jay Ratliff. Ellis and Coleman are the only two with experience.