NFC Notes: Cowboys, Panthers, Vikings

Cowboys

Dave Rich, the agent for former Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead, tells Todd Archer that they are discussing legal options with the NFL Players Association after Prince William County Police confirmed they mistakenly identified Whitehead as the suspect from a June 22 arrest.

Rich said he believes the Cowboys made an example of Whitehead in part because of the off-field issues that have hit the team over the last month.

“They needed to make an example of somebody to get those boys’ heads on straight,” Rich said. “It is calculated. But I get it. It’s business … Jason Garrett said it. They needed to do what’s in the best interest of the Cowboys. I think they’re wrong, but I get it.”

Panthers

Panthers TE Greg Olsen explained to reporters on Tuesday that he didn’t think it was right for him to hold out of training camp for a new contract after all that transpired with the team last week.

“We thought, obviously, long and hard about everything over the last couple months – our position, the team’s position, how things played out and things changed last week with the move to let go of (general manager) Dave (Gettleman),” Olsen said, via Panthers.com. “At the end of the day, with everything going on, and now with the transition to Marty (Hurney) and slight chaos that went around for another week, I just didn’t feel like it was right for me to add fuel to that fire and make things that much more complicated, add more controversy or distraction to our team.

“I didn’t think it was right to the players, I didn’t think it was right to the guys that count on me to be a leader on this team and coaches, people in this organization – Mr. Richardson on down – who count on me to set a certain example both by my presence here but also my play. I just didn’t think my selfishness would do any good.”

Olsen mentioned that he has already spoken with interim GM Marty Hurney about his contract situation.

“I went up to his office and we just sat and it was just catching up,” Olsen said. “He’s a guy I feel strongly about. He’s the guy who is responsible – along with Coach (Rivera) – for bringing me here. For that I am always grateful. We had a good talk. I think everyone kind of understands each other’s positioning on it. That’s where it’s at.

“As far as I’m concerned, today, all that stuff is over now. We gave it a run, tried to get something done. It didn’t work out. I’m going to play out my contract and try to win a Super Bowl.”

Vikings

• Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said DT Sharrif Floyd has improved, but he still doesn’t know when or if he’ll be able to practice: “You know that guy Carnac (the Magnificent), from Johnny Carson? I don’t have the envelope.” (Ben Goessling)
• Zimmer said he’s considering turning over defensive play-calling duties to defensive coordinator George Edwards, but will need to see how things go during the preseason game before making anything official. (Chris Tomasson)
• According to Zimmer, second-year WR Moritz Bohringer is making “noticeable improvement.” (Chris Tomasson)