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Tender tied to tendon Cowboys owner, QB Leaf continue to talk contract
Updated: Wednesday October 10, 2001 1:26 PM
By Don Banks, Sports Illustrated The Dallas Cowboys are once again close to adding Ryan Leaf to their stable of quarterback projects. According to a team source, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is seriously considering signing Leaf, providing the quarterback's injured right wrist can be rehabilitated without requiring surgery. Leaf and Jones met twice last weekend at the Cowboys' team hotel in Oakland, and Leaf brought with him a wrist specialist's evaluation that an injured tendon will require rest and further treatment, but not surgery. Dallas was poised to sign Leaf to a two-year deal in early September, after Tampa Bay released 1998's No. 2 overall pick, but the Cowboys backed off after Leaf failed a physical. If Cowboys team doctors can be convinced that Leaf's wrist specialist is correct, Jones is likely to add him to the roster as a potential long-term option at quarterback. Cowboys rookie starting quarterback Quincy Carter tore a hamstring early in the 28-21 loss at Oakland and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. Anthony Wright will make his third start of the season in Carter's place when winless Dallas plays host to winless Washington on Monday night. Clint Stoerner is the Cowboys' only other healthy quarterback and will back up Wright. Dallas' renewed interest in Leaf pre-dated Carter's injury, and is not directly tied to the team's need for a third quarterback. With Leaf likely not able to play in the immediate future, he could be signed and installed as Dallas' third quarterback for the time being. A less likely scenario would be for the Cowboys to sign Leaf and then place him on injured reserve, giving him until 2002 to rehabilitate his wrist. Jones and Leaf met both Saturday night and Sunday. Leaf is not expected to work out for Dallas before any potential signing, but he does have to receive medical clearance from the Cowboys' team doctors. There are questions regarding his long-term flexibility in the wrist if he should require surgery at some point. "Jerry has legitimate interest in getting him cheaply for the long term," a Cowboys source said. "If he can still play, you have the possibility of getting a great quarterback for not much money. Right now, Jerry's totally in that evaluation mode, trying to find as many good players for the future as he can." Leaf was drafted by San Diego in 1998, but was released by the Chargers in early March 2001. Tampa Bay claimed him off waivers and later signed him to a long-term deal. But the Bucs opted to release him before their regular-season opener, and keep second-year veteran Joe Hamilton as their No. 3 quarterback.
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