My legs feel really fresh

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Fraley: 13-year veteran [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] keeps shedding blockers, age
COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
[url=mailto:gfraley@dallasnews.com]gfraley@dallasnews.com[/url]
Gerry Fraley
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] | [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] | [url=mailto:gfraley@dallasnews.com]E-mail[/url]
IRVING – When the Cowboys open the season at Washington on Sunday night, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] will be starting his 13th year as an [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] linebacker.
He has played the position longer than Hall of Famers such as Jack Lambert , Willie Lanier, Mike Singletary and his role model: Dick Butkus. Less than two months from his 35th birthday, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] will be the sixth-oldest linebacker in the league on opening day.
"I've been blessed with staying healthy," [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said.
Do not ask, "Is [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] near the end?" The more relevant question for this season is, "What more can [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] do for the Cowboys' defense?"
The answer: Plenty.
"I still have it," [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]said. "Sometimes it takes a little more effort to bring it to the surface, but I feel really good."
A year ago, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]and Bradie James formed a dynamic inside linebacker tag team. They were principle figures in a defense that allowed the second-fewest points per game (15.6) and fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.5) in the league.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] also extended his consecutive-games streak to 144, second-longest among all active defensive players.
"Having [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] helps, certainly," coach Wade Phillips said. "There's a difference with him, because he's real good player. He's a very good leader."
For an encore this season, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] will divide himself into two players.
To avoid burning out [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Phillips often replaced him in the third-down nickel defense last season with the younger Bobby Carpenter. The nickel played a major role in the defense's ability to force punts – 92, third-most in the league – and limit points.
Opponents gained the first down on only 56 of 171 third-down pass plays, a 32.8 percent success rate. The Cowboys overall held opponents to a 35 percent conversion rate on third down, fifth-lowest in the league.
Carpenter is gone, traded to and released by [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . Rookie [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a second-round pick, missed too much time in training camp because of injury to play in the nickel at this time.
That forced the Cowboys into a late-camp search for [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]'s stand-in for the nickel. They have legitimate candidates, but the best choice to stand in for [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] stands right in their face.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
Hobbled by a balky left knee that required surgery, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] was good in pass coverage last season. He was credited with eight passes defended, the fourth-highest total on the Cowboys. Carpenter, who had more chances in pass coverage, had one pass-defended.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] underwent off-season surgery to clean out the knee. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] admitted to being concerned before the surgery about whether he would emerge with less speed and change-of-direction ability.
"Would I have all the things I had before?" [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said.
That and more. One play in an exhibition game calmed that concern. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] ran stride for stride with San Diego [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] tight end [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] to break up a pass.
With the nickel so important to the overall defense, Phillips can justify using [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] on third down and resting him at other times. The Cowboys could have a first- and second-down [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] and a third-down [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. He likes the idea.
"My legs feel really fresh," [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said. "I plan to make an impact on this team in third down. I know they don't want me to do it every play. I understand that."
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] fights the good fight against time.
He is a denizen of the weight room, continuing a long affection for the compound exercise of squat-cleans. He follows a restricted diet. He takes care of his body.
Most of all, the fire inside still roars.
"I don't look at this season as I'm 34 years old and have something to prove,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]," [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] said. "I just want to compete on a daily basis."
Or an every-down basis. The old linebacker could show new tricks this season.