Jerry Jones is hunting for defensive fireworks, but Miami remains reluctant to move their newly extended cornerstone linebacker despite mounting speculation surrounding a potential blockbuster trade.
OXNARD, Calif. - The Dallas Cowboys want to execute a trade for defensive help in order to create what owner Jerry Jones calls "fireworks.''
But the reaction from Miami on the idea of the Dolphins trading All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks?
That appears to be a dud.
Brooks, a two-time NFL solo tackles leader, signed a three-year, $51.3 million extension with the Dolphins. We assumed that effectively ending any chance of a move to the Cowboys; after all, what would be the point of having jerked the guy around by signing him ... and then dumping him?
But this week, 105.3 The Fan's Bryan Broaddus floated the possibility that Brooks remains on the Cowboys' radar despite the recent extension, suggesting Dallas may not be finished searching for an established answer at linebacker.
"I think they're going for a bigger fish. Big fish. ... I think they've got a linebacker in mind. The team I think you need to focus on is Miami... I would keep an eye on Brooks there. I would keep an eye on Brooks," Broaddus said.
Broaddus might be right - from the Dallas side of things, as here at training camp in Oxnard both Jerry and Stephen Jones have spoken openly about a major move.
Stephen Jones was on The Fan on Friday and said, "We've got several things we're considering right now, some of it trades, some of it signing guys. ...''
Enter the Dolphins.
Two NFL sources tell CowboysRoundtable.com that Miami signed Brooks because he is viewed as a foundational player for the rebuilding Dolphins and that swapping him is not part of some clever master plan, as has been speculated.
Of course, this is a Never-Say-Never business. Could the Dolphins eventually become more willing to part with Brooks if they get off to a bad start? Or before that, if Jones blows them away with an offer that represents an overpay?
Presently, Dallas has the athletic DeMarvion Overshown and ex-Niners starter Dee Winters at linebacker, and has been offering great praise this week to Michigan rookie Jaishawn Barham.
So maybe a trade is not needed? Or maybe a more affordable signing (free agent Bobby Wagner) might be good enough? Or maybe Miami is playing hard to get here so the Cowboys offer something "preposterous,'' as one voice suggested to us.
But ...
NFL teams rarely move a player just weeks after signing him to a multi-year extension, particularly when that player is viewed as a cornerstone.
That doesn't kill this idea. Nor does it mean Jerry won't pull off another "substantive" (his word) move, with Raiders pass-rusher Maxx Crosby another name on the wish list.
But at this moment? It seems that as far as Miami is concerned, the Cowboys' "fireworks'' plan isn't going to "work'' with the Dolphins.
