| Rookie linebacker gets business lessons 06/02/2001 By Jean-Jacques Taylor / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – It has taken rookie linebacker Markus Steele less than two months
to learn first-hand that professional football is business.
Strongside linebacker Darren Hambrick, who led the team in tackles last
season, skipped this week's voluntary mini-camp because he didn't like
the one-year, $512,000 contract he signed two weeks ago.
Michael Ainsworth / DMN
Markus Steele (51) prepares to tackle Michael Wiley during
mini-camp.
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With veteran linebacker Joe Bowden in Houston all week trying to close
on a house, it meant Steele spent the week working with the first team.
"I didn't think I'd get introduced to the business side so quickly,"
said Steele, "but hopefully this is putting me in position to play more
this season. The best thing is that I'm getting practice time with the
first team, and it's allowing me to get an idea of how the safeties and
linemen play so I can adjust my game to them."
Campo said he likes the progress Steele has made since the Cowboys
selected him in the fourth round. With Hambrick and Bowden signing
one-year deals, it was clear the Cowboys believe Steele is their
starting linebacker of the future.
The future, however, could arrive this season, if the Cowboys grow weary
of tussling with Hambrick.
"I like Markus Steele because he's got tremendous potential," coach Dave
Campo said. "I haven't talked to him about anything other than learning
what we're doing because I don't want him thinking about anything other
than getting better. Anything else will work itself out."
Missing practice
Emmitt Smith, Joey Galloway, Hambrick, Joe Bowden
and quarterback Tony Banks each missed the Cowboys' final
mini-camp practice on Friday.
Smith had a personal matter to handle, while Bowden and Banks were
moving into new homes. Galloway delivered a speech to his high school in
Ohio.
Campo said each is expected to participate in Monday's mandatory
mini-camp.
Good impression
The Cowboys rewarded seventh-round pick Cha-Ron Dorsey by letting
him work with the first-team offensive line at right tackle.
"He's showed a lot of good things since he has been here," Campo said.
"There were questions about his work ethic at Florida State, but I
haven't seen any evidence of it. He's worked hard and he's done a good
job. It'll be nice to see what he does when we put the pads on."
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