Hitchens thrust into Dallas spotlight

Anthony Hitchens, middle linebacker?

The Dallas' Cowboys took the Iowa outside linebacker in the fourth round of this month's NFL draft as insurance for their best defensive player, Sean Lee. Hitchens was to play on special teams and learn how to play linebacker in the pros. It was a surprise he was drafted as early as he was, and no one had him slotted to vie for a starting job this fall.

Then came Tuesday, the first day of the Cowboys' organized team activities. And Lee apparently tore an ACL in Dallas' first practice of the spring during a drill that was supposed to be non-contact. Before the practice was over, Hitchens was inserted at middle linebacker with the starting defense.

'The tempo with the ones was a little faster,'' Hitchens said. 'It just shows me I'm not where I need to be right now.

'I need to get better.''

Here is a Wednesday story from the Cowboys' website about Hitchens:

None of this means Hitchens will be designated as the new No. 1 MLB. But it would certainly seem he has the opportunity to have a more-meaningful role with the Cowboys in Year 1.

Should Dallas go the free agency route, among the middle linebackers out there is another former Hawkeye. Pat Angerer, who was among the league's leading tacklers when he was with the Indianapolis Colts, is unattached right now as he works his way back from microfracture (knee) surgery.

But the buzz seems to be that Tampa Bay is Angerer's most-likely destination.

Angerer is 27. He posted this tweet on Tuesday:

Had my best week, in two years, of training last week. Going to beat this damn thing. Owe it to a lot of people and myself #resurgence

Angerer had 148 tackles in 2011. He missed five games in each of the following two seasons with injuries. He fractured a bone in his right foot in the first game of the 2012 preseason that eventually required two surgeries.