OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened training camp saying he would be willing to give up some of the future to put his team over the top in the hunt for a Super Bowl.
After agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran pass rusher Von Miller on Sunday, Jones said Monday he remains willing to make a substantive move to further improve the roster if one should arise.
"I think it's fair to say that if we could improve it, which is almost a cliche, we would," Jones said. "Because again, I'm even more excited today than I was when we started camp that our team is going to be one that if we can have some things go right for us, avoid some injury, we could really be something that we all want to be. And that's a team that's competing for the big games. So bottom line is the answer is, yes, if we saw something that would help us any place, we'd do it."
On July 28, Jones indicated he had a recent conversation with another owner regarding a potential trade. Asked whether he had talked to any owners or general managers lately, Jones said he had talked to "a few" and would see "a bunch of them" at an owners meeting next week but that he did not think being with other owners would lead to a potential trade.
The addition of Miller has Jones excited for the Cowboys' pass rush. He said the Cowboys had been in communication with Miller for "a lot of weeks." Several members of the organization, including pass rush consultant BT Jordan, have experience working with Miller. Jordan told Jones of how Miller was working out and what he had remaining in his game.
"Obviously, you get someone that's been there and done that," Jones said. "He really wants to be here. We want him here and we believe he can come in here and really give us some additional pressure on the other quarterback."
Cowboys linebackers Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku have worked out with and learned from Miller in the offseason.
"He's a leader and he's a coach," Gary said, "so being able to have a guy that plays at a high level, won Super Bowls, things like that, just being able to pick his brain, that's all you need. So adding a guy like that to the team and to the room is great."
Before the addition was made, coach Brian Schottenheimer told the pass rushers on the roster.
"We understand this is the NFL," Ezeiruaku said, "and bringing a guy like that, a Hall of Fame guy into our room, it'll just help us be better and help this team."
Gary said he sees Miller's signing as another indication from ownership of urgency.
"Today, the beginning of the offseason, every move that the Cowboys did is they're serious about winning," he said, "and winning right now."
