The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys sign two running backs; Still avoiding big names

By Tyrone Starr

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Projected Dallas Cowboys starting running back Joseph Randle was a non-participant during this week’s round of practices, not to mention the first preseason game, due to a a strained back muscle.

One of the options to back him up, Lance Dunbar, has been out for approximately ten days after tweaking his ankle on August 5th.  Another option, free agent signing Darren McFadden, is finally about to start practicing but has not done so all camp long.

Thursday’s game featured a stable of running backs consisting of a guy (undrafted rookie free agent Gus Johnson) that the internet fan base has fallen in love, another camp invitee that’s already been cut by his first professional team (Lache Seastrunk) and last year’s starting fullback getting reps as the lead ball carrier.

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Johnson left the game with a sprained shoulder and will miss some practice time.  Seastrunk made the best of his situation running behind the third team line and Tyler Clutts was mostly a decoy or pass catcher from the tailback spot.

Safe to say none of these three will be threatening last season’s franchise leading rushing totals or Hall of Fame back Emmitt Smith‘s career marks anytime soon.

In fact, the Cowboys current running back situation can best be described as precarious.

Precarious… not desperate.

Anyone with any sort of interest in this organization is just a click of the remote on their television or mouse on their computer away from seeing, hearing or reading about a stop gap solution or savior to the perceived “problem” that Dallas has in their back field.

Just this week, two very reputable media outlets chose two very different options to plug into the Cowboys roster.  On NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk show, insider Mike Florio and former player, now analyst Rodney Harrison discussed Dallas possibly adding Ray Rice.

Meanwhile NFL.com pondered if former Patriots and Bengals workhorse BenJarvus Green-Ellis could be a fit for the Cowboys while he lets the whole world know he wants back into the league.

It has become so cliche to try to insert the square peg into the round hole that players themselves are taking to social media and cutting out the middle man altogether.

At least it appears we can at least remove one name from the wheel of which to spin as former Titans and Jets rusher Chris Johnson is on the verge of agreeing to a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Thankfully, the Cowboys continue to turn a deaf ear to all the nonsense.

No one wanted Green-Ellis last year and another year of non-activity isn’t going to restore any sort of luster to that idea.  His best role would be as a short yardage back given the fact he has only cracked 1,000 yards in a season twice in his career.

Rice is not only done skills wise, but also there is that whole media circus thing that would surround his presence that no team really wants a piece of.  Maybe if it was 2007 and Jerry Jones was still cock of the walk.  Not in 2015.  Not under Stephen Jones’ watch.

As for Jackson, don’t call us, we’ll call you.

The truth is that everything is just fine.  The injuries to Randle, Dunbar and Johnson are not serious.  McFadden will be practicing this weekend and Seastrunk will either get reps behind a better line or be gone to fully evaluate McFadden and Johnson.

Either way, when the Cowboys decide to bring in other backs, it’s going to be younger, “no name” types.  Earlier this weekend, Dallas signed two guys (Ben Malena and Michael Hill) to provide extra bodies for camp.  If one works out for more than that, great.  If not, it doesn’t matter.

Don’t worry if those names do not mean anything to you.  They don’t need to.

If those in the media and around the league haven’t gotten the memo by now, the job of replacing last year’s production will go in large part to Joseph Randle.  If it becomes evident that he cannot handle the load, that will be time that the Cowboys smile and dial for a veteran.

As for now, I have a message for all the media general managers out there…

Find another dot to attempt to connect.

Next: Dallas Cowboys: This undrafted free agent dominated the Chargers

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