This is not the best time of year for Cowboys news, given than once a story breaks (TERRELL OWENS RECEIVES ROSTER BONUS! HERE! AND HERE! AND HERE!), every blogger and his sister runs a post on it. But here is a good faith effort to get caught up.

First, in addition to the aforementioned (via parenthetical) roster bonus story, some of the younger receivers have been given a chance to prove themselves. I personally think that the development of at least two of these receivers (meaning those other than Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, and Patrick Crayton) will be pivotal in the Cowboys’ season. My money is on Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.

Here is the story from the DMN:

With Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens missing this week’s organized team activities (OTA), it’s a given that younger receivers get more reps and a better chance to show what they can do.

“I think we have one of the better, young, talented receiving corps that’s really not playing, out there,” Tony Romo said Friday after the Cowboys’ OTA session. “I like what they’re going to do, and when they get their chance, I think they’ll be all right.”

Dallas has 11 receivers heading into the off-season’s final minicamp, June 8-10.

Last season, Dallas had five receivers on the active roster with three getting the bulk of the playing time: Glenn, Owens and Patrick Crayton.

The Cowboys like their veteran group, as evidenced by the team picking up a combined $8 million in roster bonuses this off-season for Owens and Glenn.

Crayton signed a one-year tender worth $1.3 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent next season. Owens and Glenn are in their mid-30s.

Players such as Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, Jamaica Rector and fourth-round draft pick Isaiah Stanback are the future.

Hurd enters his second season after earning a roster spot in training camp last year. The undrafted free agent caught only five balls for 75 yards with no touchdowns, but he played on special teams and tied for second on the team with 16 tackles.

Hurd said making the transition from college to the NFL was difficult, but he learned by listening to Owens during training camp.

“You’re used to being the starter in college and now, coming here, you have to learn everything all over again,” Hurd said. “Working with guys like T.O. put me in the best position because now I can read coverages and make a lot of moves.”

Austin developed into a pleasant surprise last season on kickoff returns after taking over for Tyson Thompson, who suffered a fractured left ankle in late October.

Austin finished the season with 29 kickoff returns for 753 yards and no touchdowns. He then returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the NFC wildcard game against Seattle.

Now, Austin and Thompson will return kickoffs.

Austin also wants to be in the mix at receiver.

“The competition – that’s what got me and Sam in the door last year,” Austin said. “With younger guys, you will get more competition and you will get better results.”

Rector played in the season opener last year and spent the last 10 weeks of the regular season on the practice squad. Rector will battle Austin and Hurd for roster spots while trying to stay ahead of rookies such as Stanback.

The OTAs are affording them all an opportunity to compete.

“With them [veterans] not here, we have to step up and do our jobs,” Rector said. “We have to make sure we can fill in that spot with them being gone. We now have a better chance to get more reps and make the big plays instead of T.O. and T.G.”

While we have cause for concern about the Cowboys’ receiving corps, at least we don’t need to worry about Tony Romo’s head getting too big. Now how in the world his head hasn’t begun to swell is beyond me, but alas, I am still a just a kick holder, 18 years removed.

A trip to Mexico City to judge the Miss Universe pageant, a Verizon commercial and a highly discussed relationship with a pop star sound like more than enough to distract a professional quarterback from his off-season duties.

Right?

Wrong.

Tony Romo was present and accounted for at the Cowboys’ first mini-camp, ready and able to practice – as he was at the team’s fourth of four organized team activity practice sessions here Friday, all of which are classified as voluntary.

“Football is what I love to do, it’s what I enjoy every day when I wake up,” said the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, knowing his off-season adventures have been the talk of the town, not to mention in the national media.

“It is what it is. I know you guys are going to talk about it and I know how hard I work, and at the end of the day I know what it takes for me to be successful.”

Fellow NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have become household names as a result of their high-profile relationships and commercial deals, as well as their winning records. But Romo is quick to dispel any ideas he has reached that status of celebrity.

“I can still walk down the street,” he said.

Internet blogs and tabloids have been flooded with media and fans wanting to weigh in on Romo’s recent rise in fame, leading others to be critical.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson recently remarked that he thinks Romo is “overhyped,” though not necessarily of his own doing, but will have to fulfill these expectations sooner now rather than later.

But Romo’s current teammates seem to be less worried. Tight end Jason Witten and linebacker Akin Ayodele had only positive things to say about the guy from Eastern Illinois.

“The thing about Tony is he’s so humble,” Ayodele said. “He’s still the same guy when I came in, the same guy who last year was second string.

“He deserves it.”

And frankly, who better to judge Miss USA as she trips on international television than Romo, the former Cowboys’ holder for place kicks who knows exactly what it’s like to fall in the spotlight.

Now he may be warmed by this new limelight, but don’t expect it to burn him in the fall.