Sources: Cowboys may deal Nguyen to Saints for DE
12:02 AM CST on Saturday, March 12, 2005
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News



IRVING – The Cowboys, who have not had a defensive end with double-digit sacks in nearly a decade, are in serious negotiations with New Orleans to acquire defensive end Darren Howard, two sources said Friday night.

The sources said the Cowboys are considering trading middle linebacker Dat Nguyen and a second-round pick in April's draft to New Orleans for Howard.

Howard (6-3, 275 pounds), a five-year veteran from Kansas State, had 11 sacks last season and 41 in his career. The former second-round pick had 11 sacks as a rookie.

He is currently involved in a salary dispute with the Saints, who have placed the franchise tag on him, meaning his salary is equal to the average of the five highest-paid defensive ends. If he doesn't sign the contract by 3 p.m. Monday, he and the Saints can't negotiate a long-term deal that would help the Saints lower his salary-cap figure in 2005 and provide him with the long-term security that he desires.

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The Saints also franchised Howard last season.

A source close to Howard said he has not yet entered serious contract negotiations with the Cowboys, but the sides have an idea of the parameters for working out an agreement.

Howard's name first surfaced in trade talk three days ago at the club's Valley Ranch training complex, but the talks didn't gain momentum until Friday, according to two sources.

Jeff Ireland, who's running the Cowboys' pro and college scouting department, called SMU coach Phil Bennett last week to inquire about Howard. Bennett was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State when Howard played there.
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