COWBOY NOTEBOOK : Powe and Gonzalez Still in the Running for Receiving Work

It’s no secret that the Cowboys are looking for help at wide receiver.

Two rookies who have impressed Dallas Coach Tom Landry are Leon Gonzalez, a 5-10, 160 pound speedster from Bethune-Cookman, and seventh-round selection Karl Powe, a 6-2, 175-pound receiver from Alabama State.

Said Landry: “Powe has been impressive at times, but he’s not as far along as Gonzalez. Gonzalez has shown the most.”

Landry said Gonzalez, an eighth-round choice, could give the Cowboys immediate help.

The Cowboys have 108 players in camp, including 51 veterans and 57 rookies. Although the team has released a number of players during the past two weeks, its first mandatory cut is Aug. 20. By that date, the roster must be down to 60 players. The Cowboys then will have two more weeks to reach the NFL roster limit of 45.

Only two Dallas draft picks have not signed with the team. Both were fifth-round selections.

One is Matt Darwin, a center from Texas A & M. Darwin and Dallas have not been in contact for two weeks. “With each passing day his chances of playing with us dwindle,” said one Cowboy official. “He’s really behind now.”

Gil Brandt, vice president in charge of personnel development for Dallas, said the Cowboys have given up on signing Darwin. He said, “We’ve thrown in the towel.”

The other unsigned fifth-round selection: Herschel Walker.

Walker, a running back with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League, is not expected to sign.

Despite the Dorsett situation, this year’s training camp has been better than most, according to Brandt.

Said Brandt: “It’s been very smooth. We’ve had no rookie quit--that’s never happened as long as I know of in the team’s history.

“Everybody is having a harder time at camp this year. San Francisco is the only team in the league that has everyone in camp. Philadelphia has 10 vets out of camp, plus their first draft pick. Chicago has six vets and their first pick out of camp. . . “But we have just two, three if you include Walker.”