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Jerry Jones: Mike Jenkins staying put
Updated: May 30, 2012, 3:34 PM ET.
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones reiterated that he has no intention to trade disgruntled cornerback Mike Jenkins, adding that no draft pick could change his mind.
“ There's nothing that I can conceive that would help us more as a football team and help us accomplish where we're going to be next year than having Jenkins on the team.
” -- Jerry Jones
Jenkins asked to be traded after the Cowboys acquired two probable starting cornerbacks in the offseason, signing free agent Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million contract and trading up in the draft to select LSU's Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick.
The Indianapolis Colts have aggressively tried to trade for Jenkins, but Jones said he has no interest in listening to offers for the cornerback. Jones envisions Jenkins playing the majority of the snaps this season with the Cowboys playing three- or four-cornerback packages on a regular basis.
"There's nothing that I can conceive that would help us more as a football team and help us accomplish where we're going to be next year than having Jenkins on the team," Jones said during the team's Wednesday workout at Cowboys Stadium. "I'm sure not interested in anything in the future. I'm all about what we can do (this) year."
Jenkins, a first-round pick in 2007 and Pro Bowler in 2009, is the Cowboys' only player not participating in the team's voluntary offseason program.
Jones said agent Drew Rosenhaus has informed the team that Jenkins, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, would report to the mandatory minicamp in June.
Rosenhaus had requested a contract extension for Jenkins, who is due to make $1.05 million in the final season of his rookie contract, before the Cowboys made their offseason acquisitions.
Jones downplayed concern about Jenkins not attending the team's organized training activities.
"I just think he's probably getting in shape, getting ready to play," Jones said. "There's no question that he wants to play.
"He can come in here and maybe be a part of something very special, a concept that's very special when you have that kind of talent, that kind of size in corners. He could have a year that could put him in great shape for his future and certainly have done what he was contracted and what he's paid to do and what he should be doing, and that's help the Dallas Cowboys win a world championship."
Once Claiborne signs, Jenkins will be the fourth-highest paid cornerback on the Cowboys' roster. Orlando Scandrick, a fifth-round pick in 2007 who has served as the team's nickel cornerback, signed a five-year, $27 million extension last season.
Jones said he can understand why Jenkins would be concerned about his fit with the team, but Jones stressed again that Jenkins remains a vital part of the Cowboys' immediate plans, hinting that Jenkins could be used some as a safety.
"I don't view this as a negative. I view it as a big positive," Jones said. "I want to emphasize the advantages that we could have with him and the other corners that we have out there. (It is) so intriguing and has the potential to be so impactful to our team that there's no draft pick that I'm interested in."
Updated: May 30, 2012, 3:34 PM ET.
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones reiterated that he has no intention to trade disgruntled cornerback Mike Jenkins, adding that no draft pick could change his mind.
“ There's nothing that I can conceive that would help us more as a football team and help us accomplish where we're going to be next year than having Jenkins on the team.
” -- Jerry Jones
Jenkins asked to be traded after the Cowboys acquired two probable starting cornerbacks in the offseason, signing free agent Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million contract and trading up in the draft to select LSU's Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick.
The Indianapolis Colts have aggressively tried to trade for Jenkins, but Jones said he has no interest in listening to offers for the cornerback. Jones envisions Jenkins playing the majority of the snaps this season with the Cowboys playing three- or four-cornerback packages on a regular basis.
"There's nothing that I can conceive that would help us more as a football team and help us accomplish where we're going to be next year than having Jenkins on the team," Jones said during the team's Wednesday workout at Cowboys Stadium. "I'm sure not interested in anything in the future. I'm all about what we can do (this) year."
Jenkins, a first-round pick in 2007 and Pro Bowler in 2009, is the Cowboys' only player not participating in the team's voluntary offseason program.
Jones said agent Drew Rosenhaus has informed the team that Jenkins, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, would report to the mandatory minicamp in June.
Rosenhaus had requested a contract extension for Jenkins, who is due to make $1.05 million in the final season of his rookie contract, before the Cowboys made their offseason acquisitions.
Jones downplayed concern about Jenkins not attending the team's organized training activities.
"I just think he's probably getting in shape, getting ready to play," Jones said. "There's no question that he wants to play.
"He can come in here and maybe be a part of something very special, a concept that's very special when you have that kind of talent, that kind of size in corners. He could have a year that could put him in great shape for his future and certainly have done what he was contracted and what he's paid to do and what he should be doing, and that's help the Dallas Cowboys win a world championship."
Once Claiborne signs, Jenkins will be the fourth-highest paid cornerback on the Cowboys' roster. Orlando Scandrick, a fifth-round pick in 2007 who has served as the team's nickel cornerback, signed a five-year, $27 million extension last season.
Jones said he can understand why Jenkins would be concerned about his fit with the team, but Jones stressed again that Jenkins remains a vital part of the Cowboys' immediate plans, hinting that Jenkins could be used some as a safety.
"I don't view this as a negative. I view it as a big positive," Jones said. "I want to emphasize the advantages that we could have with him and the other corners that we have out there. (It is) so intriguing and has the potential to be so impactful to our team that there's no draft pick that I'm interested in."
