NFC Notes: Cowboys, Lions, Saints

Cowboys

Cowboys HC Jason Garrett mentioned that they feel DE Damontre Moore has really matured over the course of his career.

“I think he has matured over the course of his career,” Garrett said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I think he recognizes the opportunity that he has here and is embracing it.”

Dallas actually worked Moore out last year, but elected to not sign him to a contract until after the season.

“It was part of the evaluation of him and where our team was at that particular time. We felt like the best thing to do was not to make a move then,” Garrett explained. “We were interested in him. We evaluated him over the course of this year. He did a good job. We brought him in and have given him an opportunity.”

Moore was considered a premium pass-rusher during his time at Texas A&M, but he wound up falling to the Giants in round three during the 2013 draft.

“I just asked myself, what do I really want from this game,” Moore said. “I really love the game, but if you really love it, why aren’t you doing everything to the best of your ability.”

Lions

Lions coach Jim Caldwell mentioned during an interview with Clark Judge on the Talk of Fame Network that he believes QB Matthew Stafford is still “on the rise.”

“Even prior to my coming [to Detroit], you could certainly see the way in which he’s played year after year after year,” Caldwell said. “He’s been pretty consistent in terms of generating yardage for his team.

“When we got here we found out some other things about him that you just didn’t see on film: His toughness, his intelligence, his desire. And all of those things, I think, without question rub off on his teammates.

“He’s also unflappable in very, very tight situations. And he’s improving. That’s the other thing I think you find with guys at that position in this league: When they get to around their fifth, sixth, seventh year, there’s still a climb, there’s still an ascension. You can see the direction in which they’re going.

“Stats don’t always tell the story, but I think when you couple that with wins it does. And Matthew certainly is on the rise.”

Saints

A league executive tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN that he expects Saints RB Adrian Peterson to show up in the big games such as their season-opener against his former team, the Vikings, and any meaningful NFC South matchup.

“You don’t want to run that guy out there for 16 games,” the executive told McClure. “Then you risk him getting hurt again.”

This would allow them to keep Peterson as fresh as possible, while also ensuring that Mark Ingram gets meaningful game action throughout the season.