Cowboys not planning to trade CB

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GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he isn't planning on trading cornerback Mike Jenkins and hopes to keep him long-term despite drafting Morris Claiborne out of LSU with the sixth overall pick in April's draft and signing free agent Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal in the offseason.

"He's a vital part of our plan," Jones said of Jenkins at the Cowboys' annual golf outing Wednesday. "We know that we've got a situation where we can identify what we are on defense by having three corners in there a lot."

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A league source previously told ESPNDallas.com the Cowboys shopped Jenkins after picking Claiborne, but another source close to the situation said Dallas was reluctant to deal Jenkins unless it received a substantial return.

As it stands now, Jenkins, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery, will compete Claiborne and Carr for a starting job, but could also be relegated to the No. 3 cornerback spot, which was held by Orlando Scandrick last season.

"I see short-term and long-term with Jenkins," said Jones, who also serves as the team's general manager. "We've also got Scandrick, we got some room if somebody gets nicked not to have to adjust. We can come out there and spend some time really utilizing where we are at corner. The decision to bring Claiborne in was a big part of that. There's no interest on my part at all of trading Jenkins. None."

Jenkins is in the last year of his contract and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has been seeking a contract extension this spring.

Cowboys officials have been irked by Jenkins' lack of commitment to the team's voluntary offseason program this spring. Jenkins has attended Valley Ranch only a handful of times and while team executive vice president Stephen Jones noted the program is voluntary, he did say Jenkins "needs to get in here and get to work."

Meanwhile, Claiborne underwent a procedure Wednesday to remove three pins from his left wrist. Claiborne said he injured the wrist last season during LSU's regular season game against Alabama.

Claiborne, who had surgery after the NFL's annual scouting combine, is expected to be ready in time for training camp in late July.

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Calvin Watkins

ESPNDallas.com

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Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.