Green Bay Packers quarterback Clay Matthews

On the AFC team, linebackers included Elvis Dumervil of Denver, Ray Lewis of Baltimore and James Harrison of Pittsburgh.

"No offense to those guys," Herring said, "and I know I'm biased. But Bradie James, Anthony Spencer and Keith Brooking were as good or better than any of those guys that I coached in the Pro Bowl.

"I think we've got the two best outside linebackers in the league and those two guys I've got inside are as good as any one of the inside guys on either team in the Pro Bowl."

Ware is a four-time Pro Bowler and has been a dominant defensive player since he entered the league in 2005. But fellow outside linebacker Spencer came on strong at the end of last season and was playing as well as anybody in the league.

James and Brooking (a five-time Pro Bowler) were important parts of a defense that ranked second in points allowed (15.6 per game) and fourth in rushing yards allowed (90.5).

But as good as the starters are, they can't be on the field every play. So when the Cowboys reported to training camp in San Antonio 12 days ago, coaches and starters were interested to see how the young backup linebacker corps would play.

So far, the reviews are positive with one major qualification.

"We won't know anything until we play in some games," Herring said.

With that out of the way, Herring went on to say, "We have a lot more guys that are closer to playing than there's been in a while. That is important in this league, especially because it's a game of attrition with injuries."


When the Green Bay Packers didn't make any significant off-season moves to improve their outside linebacker situation, the emphasis appeared to be on improving from within.

Now Packers coaches have tossed a wild card into their search, putting Brandon Chillar at right outside linebacker with the first-team defence during a training camp practice Monday.

Chillar is a versatile inside linebacker best known for his pass coverage skills. It isn't clear whether coaches are serious about a permanent position switch or are just experimenting while second-year outside linebacker Brad Jones sits out because of a back injury.

"It was a little bit of a surprise to me," Chillar said. "But with Brad going down, I think they just wanted to give me some reps just in case, later on in the year. And as I've showed them in the past, I can play different positions. I take it as a challenge and it's fun for me."

Chillar said he played a similar position on passing downs in St. Louis, a fact not forgotten by Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

"Playing against him his last year in St. Louis, we felt that he was a very good blitzer, a natural and instinctive runner, but also had the ability to play inside," McCarthy said. "As you know, he has even played strong safety for us in some situations last year. Once again, it's just an opportunity to try to find as many different combinations to keep getting these athletes on the field."

Chillar didn't get much advance notice from coaches on the switch but tried to make the most of it Monday, getting after the quarterback when he was on the field and hitting up Clay Matthews for advice when he wasn't.

"He's not your prototype outside linebacker, but we've seen the guy hurdle a running back and sack the quarterback," Matthews said, referring to Chillar's leap over running back Garrett Wolfe to sack Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler last year. "I think that speaks volumes for his athleticism. That's what we need out of an outside linebacker."

With Chillar lining up on the right side, Clay Matthews moved to the left Monday and said he didn't mind experimenting.

"I've been kind of growing into a right outside linebacker as far as my moves and just really perfecting them, and now it's time to kind of take them to the left side of the game," Matthews said. "And hopefully now I can become a master of both sides."

Finding a pass-rush threat to pair with Matthews at outside linebacker could help a much-improved defence take the next step.

Jones, a seventh-round rookie out of Colorado last year, did an admirable job filling in after Aaron Kampman was injured. Now Kampman has left as a free agent, and the Packers don't have much in the way of cover if Jones can't develop into a consistent pass rush threat over the course of a full season.

Another player in the mix, veteran Brady Poppinga, acknowledges he still is trying to master the art of rushing the quarterback as an outside linebacker.

With Matthews and Chillar flanking Nick Barnett and Clay Matthews on Monday, the Packers had a wealth of athletic linebackers on the field.

"It's definitely an intriguing idea," Barnett said.

Running back Ryan Grant said Chillar's athleticism could pose a unique challenge to opposing offences.