NFL Notes: Bengals, Cowboys, Packers, & Seahawks

Bengals

Bengals DC Paul Guenther mentioned that third-round pick LB Paul Dawson reminds him a lot of Vontaze Burfict.

“Honestly when I turned the tape on initially to evaluate him that’s exactly who came to mind,” Guenther said of Dawson, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s actually an ex-receiver in high school and he just started playing linebacker. When he got to TCU we know they coach them hard down there and they run a very good scheme and one thing you can’t coach is great instincts. He doesn’t take many false steps.”

Cowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed optimism that they’ll be able to get DE Randy Gregory to live up to his potential in the NFL, despite the obvious concerns.

“I think it gives us enough confidence that we can work through some of the issues that have basically caused him to drop and maybe improve on that,” Jones said. “That’s certainly the plan and have us a heck of a contribution to winning.”

“In Randy’s case, obviously there are some off-the-field concerns that we had,” HC Jason Garrett said Friday. “That’s one of the reasons a player so high on our board slid to the bottom of the second round. We had him in here and spent a lot of time with him. … But as Mr. Jones alluded to, we feel like that’s the responsibility of our support staff as well. We take great pride in that, we’ve had other players who have had different off-the-field issues that we feel like we’ve helped them with. So in terms of those off-the-field issues that Randy has, we feel that we can help him address those.”

Packers

• Rob Demovsky writes that the Packers look like they plan to play Clay Matthews at inside linebacker again this season after they have didn’t take a single inside linebacker during the first three rounds of the draft.

Seahawks

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll discussed the team’s decision to take Michigan DE Frank Clark.

“His mentality in the way he plays the game—he is such a competitive kid and it’s so important to him to play his best,” Carroll said, via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “He plays so tough and chases the football—he is physical in the way the players play. He just has the kind of nature that really fits in with those players. He has a ton of upside—as John said—and he is going to improve a lot. We think he is going to be a really exciting addition to the club.”

• Seahawks GM John Schneider said their primary interest in Tyler Lockett was due to his return ability. (Curtis Crabtree)
• Carroll added that he expects Lockett to return first kickoff of season. (Curtis Crabtree)