While there is plenty of attention on the run game for the Dallas Cowboys, the team has plenty of position battles taking place during training camp. As the team continues to deal with high salary cap issues, certain veterans are on the bubble with rookies improving by the day. One player that could learn that lesson the hard way is Morris Claiborne who is very aware that he is battling for a roster spot in 2015.
Claiborne is on the brink. In three seasons, the first-round pick has three interceptions. He has missed 19 games during that time period due to injuries. He is coming off a torn patellar tendon in his knee suffered last year while carrying a contract that will have paid him $16.26 million by the end of the season. Anyone on the outside looking in can easily say Claiborne has not been worth the money and the cornerback is aware that the team is keeping a close eye on his progress.
"I'm trying to make the team," Claiborne said, via ESPNDallas.com. "That's how I look at this whole thing. I'm trying to make this team. That I can play football, period, point blank. I feel great. I feel like I'm where I need to be right now. Nothing but getting better from here. I'm continuing to work how I'm working. I'll let God take care of the rest. Being through, going through it once, you know how to handle it. In this situation, it's a first time for me to miss a whole lot."
The issue for Claiborne is how much the team has beefed up the secondary in the offseason. The biggest threat to his future could be rookie Byron Jones who has been excelling since arriving in Texas. Orlando Scandrick has also been looking like a starter alongside Brandon Carr. If Claiborne cannot keep up with those three, his time in Dallas might be over.
One player not concerned about his place with the team is running back Joseph Randle who is competing with Darren McFadden to start. After the release of Ryan Williams, the pressure is on both players to perform and hold the run game down following the departure of DeMarco Murray. Several veteran players including Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson have publically requested contracts from Dallas, but Randle is not concerned about the added attention.
"That don't have nothing to do with me," Randle said, via The Dallas Morning News. "That's him, he's at home watching. We're just trying to get better here."
