Last year, the Dallas Cowboys took training camp on the road, splitting training camp between San Antonio and Oxnard, California, and making stops along their five-game preseason schedule in Canton, Ohio, San Diego, Arlington and Houston. Players denied that the travel would affect them, and perhaps it didn’t. But it certainly didn’t help, as Dallas began the season 1-7.
Perhaps it’s for this reason that the team would like to remain in San Antonio for the entirety of training camp in 2011--if there is a training camp in 2011, that is. Sources close to the situation have told ESPN that the team will not split training camp this year, that Oxnard will not be on the team’s itinerary when and if the lockout comes to an end in time for training camp.
This is a pretty big “if.”
Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered the two sides to return to mediated negotiations earlier this week. Players’ representatives met with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan in his chambers in the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse on Tuesday. Owners reps will meet with Boylan today, before the two sides meet face-to-face for the first time since March 11, on Thursday.
Still, there’s been little news from either camp that can be described as encouraging for fans. Which is to say, the Cowboys staying home for camp might be good news--but there still appears a good chance that it won’t really matter, as the possibility of training camps being canceled or shortened grows.
Stay on top of the latest Dallas Cowboys news with NBCDFW.com. Follow NBC DFW Sports on Facebook or have breaking Cowboys news sent directly to your phone with Blue Star SMS alerts. Text "bluestar" to 622339 (NBCDFW) to subscribe to this free service. Read more about it here.
