the experience left his mind blown.Im just more fascinated he can handle that challenge and still perform on the field, Malone said.Dobbs latest assign

IRVING, Texas -- With Rolando McClain suspended the first 10 games of the regular season and inexperienced depth across the linebacker position, the Dallas Cowboys signed Justin Durant to a one-year deal on Monday.Durant was a starter for the team in 2013 and 14, serving as a defensive captain in his last season. He signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 but was released in February.McClain was re-signed to a one-year deal in March that included a $750,000 signing bonus and is worth up to $5 million. If the Cowboys release McClain, which remains possible, they would not be able to recoup any of the signing bonus.McClain skipped most of the voluntary offseason program, tending to what coach Jason Garrett called family issues. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the team gave McClain some slack in working out with the team. He showed up for the mandatory minicamp in June but was held out of drills because he was not in good enough condition.Durant started 12 games for the Falcons last season and was the second-leading tackler on the team with 82 stops, including three for losses. But he also missed three games due to calf and elbow injuries.Durant was productive in his time on the field with the Cowboys, but he missed as many games (16) as he played (16) because of injuries. In six games in 2014 he was credited with 59 tackles to go along with four tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures, one interception, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery before suffering a torn biceps.He missed three games last season in Atlanta with a sprained elbow and finished with 82 tackles.Durant can play all three linebacker spots for the Cowboys. Anthony Hitchens is penciled in as the starter at middle linebacker for McClains absence. The Cowboys could prefer to keep Sean Lee at weakside linebacker after he led the team in tackles last season despite missing two games.The only current Cowboys backup linebacker with significant experience is Andrew Gachkar. Kyle Wilber could start at strongside linebacker;?Damien Wilson and Mark Nzeocha saw limited playing time last year as rookies. This years second-round pick, Jaylon Smith, is expected to miss the season as he recovers from a knee injury.To make room for Durant on the 90-man roster, defensive tackle Casey Walker was released.The Cowboys will fly to Oxnard, California, on July 28 and hold their first training camp practice on July 30. Cheap Custom Titans Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Custom Titans Jersey China . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.customtitansjersey.com/custom-jeffery-simmons-jersey-large-71g.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Custom Titans Shirts . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Jeffery Simmons Jersey Large . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs added one more assignment to his long list of responsibilities.The face of Tennessees program also has become the voice of its offense. Coaches and teammates say theyve noticed a difference in him this year in that regard. He doesnt hesitate to let the entire offense know when something needs to be corrected or when someones done something well.Hes definitely more vocal, senior guard Dylan Wiesman said. He stands up and hell get on guys and call them out. That has definitely improved. That is whats making him a better leader.Dobbs, whose 22 career starts lead all active Southeastern Conference quarterbacks, downplays the changes in his leadership approach. The senior said he has always tried to lead ever since taking over the starting spot for good late in the 2014 season.But he acknowledges he has made a few tweaks to his leadership style.Im just being myself, pushing my teammates, holding them to a higher standard, Dobbs said. Ive always held them to a high standard and have said things when needed, but this year its just holding them to an even higher standard than I have in the past. Im glad theyre seeing that and theyre responding to it well.No. 9 Tennessee has its highest preseason ranking since 2005 as it heads into Thursdays opener with Appalachian State. Tennessee is seeking its first conference title since its 1998 national championship.Dobbs is making sure the Volunteers understand whats at stake.If were not executing, hell let us know, junior wide receiver Josh Malone said. If in a certain period of practice were not executing, well start that whole entire period over and make sure were executing that period of practice.Dobbs willingness to face challenges on and off the field explains why Tennessee coach Butch Jones says that when you look at the definition of a student-athlete, it starts with Josh Dobbs.Dobbs has rushed for 1,160 yards and 19 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He threw for 2,,291 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2015.ddddddddddddHis classroom performance is also impressive. Dobbs majors in aerospace engineering and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll last each of the last two years.Dobbs wants to design airplanes when hes done playing football and has spent portions of the last two summers performing internships for Pratt & Whitney. His latest internship took place in Montreal, and Dobbs said it gave him an opportunity to test out the French he had learned in high school.I could hear it well, Dobbs said. But speaking it, I was a little rusty.Malone decided to sit in on one of Dobbs engineering classes last summer before they started a workout. Malone said the experience left his mind blown.Im just more fascinated he can handle that challenge and still perform on the field, Malone said.Dobbs latest assignment is to improve his passing accuracy. Dobbs threw just five interceptions last season but he completed only 59.6 percent of his passes, down from 63.3 percent in 2014. He has talked about trying to get his completion percentage up to 65 or even 70 percent.Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says Dobbs still performed well enough that Tennessee ranked second in the SEC in third-down efficiency last season, but he added that the seniors accuracy has really improved this summer.DeBord also described the change in the way Dobbs is communicating with teammates and really taking control of the offense.He knows all of us, he knows how to work with all of us and knows how to talk to all of us, which is a pretty important part of being a leader, Wiesman said. You have to know how to talk to your guys. He has that connection with all of us.Just him getting closer with everybody has allowed him to be a great leader because he knows how to talk to us, how to motivate us.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '