OXNARD, Calif. — Six-time Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters is "back on our radar,'' a Dallas Cowboys source tells FOXSportsSouthwest.com in the wake of veteran free-agent guard Brandon Moore's last-minute change of heart regarding joining the team.
On Tuesday night following a training camp practice in Oxnard, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, "Stay tuned. We're trying to do something there. We're trying to improve in the offensive line. …We'll have something on this here real quick.''
Shortly thereafter, Dallas had a verbal agreement with Moore on a one-year deal that could reportedly earn him $2 million.
But early Wednesday morning, Moore (who once played under Dallas assistant Bill Callahan and has a good relationship with him) contacted the Cowboys and declined the deal, opting at 33 to retire and spent time with his family, which includes two young children.
A Cowboys source told FOXSportsSouthwest.com even at the time of the tabbing of Moore than he and Waters were a "wash, talent-wise.'' And Dallas is now turning quickly to discussions with Waters, a six-time Pro Bowler who at 36 has been out of football for a year.
Waters, a native of Waxahachie, would in theory bolster an offensive line that has struggled at the guard spots. Ron Leary seems on the verge of winning one job there. But incumbents Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau have injury woes. If Dallas doesn't sign Waters, Bernadeau will likely remain at right guard. And even if Waters does come to camp, it's unknown how long it will take him to return to playing shape.
"We might have a good opportunity here and we should take,'' Jones said on Tuesday. "It's about that as well, getting a good opportunity.''
That opportunity was Moore's. Now it might be Waters'.
