Home > News > Cowboys sign Fowler from PS, release TE Ricks

Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Oct. 13, 2004, 5:22 p.m. (CDT)

IRVING, Texas -- - Rookie linebacker Ryan Fowler has impressed Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells with this size (6-3, 243 pounds) and intelligence over the last several months - so much so Parcells made a bold move on Wednesday to keep him around.

The Cowboys released tight end Mikhael Ricks and signed Fowler from their eight-man practice squad to the 53-man roster to prevent the Giants from signing the rookie to their 53-man roster. Practice squad players essentially are free agents, and are free to sign with another team if placed on a 53-man roster.

"It shows a little bit of confidence in my potential, so that's really exciting for me," Fowler said. "I'll just help any way I can, and probably be on special teams if I get a chance . . . I just hoped that Dallas would (sign me), and when they did that was awesome. It was really exciting because this is where I really want to be."

The Cowboys initially signed Fowler as a rookie free agent following the draft. The linebacker from Duke had become only the second player in school history to lead the Blue Devils in tackles for three straight seasons. Fowler was released in late May after needing surgery to repair a bulging disk in his back, but the Cowboys re-signed him a week into training camp after he could pass a physical and successfully work out for them.

"Quite frankly I didn't want to lose him (to) another team," Parcells said about moving Fowler to the active roster. "I had to make a spot. There's a couple guys I don't want to lose."

Linebacker is one of the Cowboys' deepest positions, so Fowler likely will be relegated to special teams duty. Parcells also recently worked him for about a week at fullback in practice.

The Cowboys had signed Ricks, a six-year veteran, for his pass-catching ability after tight end Dan Campbell was placed on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his foot. The Cowboys then signed Brett Pierce - more of blocker in Campbell's mold - off Baltimore's practice squad and activated him for the Giants game to help protect quarterback Vinny Testaverde against New York's blitzing defense in the team's two-tight end sets.

The Cowboys also signed rookie tight end Landon Trusty to the practice squad to replace Fowler. Trusty has been released from the Cowboys' practice squad three times in the last month.