Brandon Carr admitted Sunday that he had to be broken in when he first arrived to workouts with the Cowboys. The 25-year-old, who spent the last four seasons in Kansas City, didn't know what to expect from his new teammates and coaches.
After all, according to Carr, the Cowboys are different than most teams when it comes to preparing for the upcoming season.
"I was just surprised coming into this whole process of being a free agent and meeting with the Cowboys that a lot of the guys stay here and workout," Carr said after an NFL Play 60 fitness event in North Dallas. "That's something you don't really see with a lot of teams, guys staying for the off-season when they could be out traveling to other cities and other states. The guys are here and getting it in."
Carr signed a 5-year, $50.1 million contract with the Cowboys last month. The 6-0, 207-pound cornerback intercepted four passes last season with the Chiefs and held opposing quarterbacks to a 61.7 QB rating, which ranked 8th-best in the NFL, according Pro Football Focus.
Leadership has been in question regarding the Cowboys over the last few seasons. Asked if he anticipated taking on a leadership role with his new team, Carr said he preferred to find his niche and go from there.
"It's still early on, but at some point it's going to call for me to step up and take that challenge," Carr said. "I'm not going to shy away from the situation or the responsibility. I like to lead by example, first and foremost. That's why I'm here, showing the guys I'm ready to work and as eager as them to get this sixth ring. As far as a leadership role, we have a lot of outstanding guys in place."
Even though Carr is considered the new guy to some of the veterans in the Cowboys locker room, he'll likely be asked for advice by the rookies that have been added during the draft and through free agency.
One particular new face that will be in close contact with Carr is first-round pick Morris Claiborne. The sixth overall selection is expected to immediately enter the starting lineup and play opposite of Carr.
So, what is his advice for the youngsters?
"I hope they all can come in and contribute," Carr said. "It's the NFL. It's the Dallas Cowboys. It's the biggest stage in the world, so my advice is for them is to come in and just settle down and play football. At the end of the day, it's just football."
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
