ShortRound
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FRISCO - DeMarcus Lawrence was not bragging when at his Tuesday press conference here at The Star he said, “I’m just in my moment right now, so y’all got to excuse me. This is very special to me.''
He was actually humbled by his "moment,'' while also using it as a launching pad toward a goal.
“The contract is a big accomplishment, but my goal is still to have a gold jacket,'' said the Pro Bowl defensive end with the new five-year, $105-million deal. "That’s what I’m hitting on. I’m so honored just to be a Cowboys and to be able to do it here. I’ve got a lot of work to keep doing. ... But I’ve just got to keep building, keep building on my resume.”
Indeed, the "building'' continued on Wednesday, with Lawrence undergoing surgery to his left shoulder to repair the torn labrum that's been ailing him for more than a year. We're told this morning that the surgery has been deemed "successful.''
The prognosis on Tank's recover from the procedure performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, who works for the Cowboys but is also regarded as one of the world's finest surgeons? Agent David Canter continues to caution to us that it could be up to a six-month recover. The Cowboys generally view four months as realistic.
And Lawrence himself said, "I'll definitely be ready for the start of the season.''
That can make all the difference for a franchise with a rich history of rich talent. Being a Cowboy was a way for stars in Roger Staubach's era (though the NFL itself certainly never paid anyone like this). And in the 1990s, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders were among those who cashed in. Later it would be DeMarcus Ware and Tony Romo (before Tank's $65 mil guarantee the Cowboy with the largest deal, Romo having earned a $55 mil guarantee in 2012). But nobody has done it quite like Lawrence, who concedes his ups and downs in a Cowboys uniform -- complete with his own one-time concerns that injuries might've take him down.
“I have so many emotions going on right now,” said Lawrence. “It’s hard for me to take it in. I’m just blessed to be in this position in my life ... Going through the back surgeries and stuff, I thought my career was over. Before I even made a couple of sacks, I thought I would never see this day. I am blessed just to be here, let alone just taking it all in. It’s a lot.''
And once Tank Lawrence is recovered? The Cowboys hope he gives them a lot in return.