2008 Cowboys Off-season Thread

[Ninkobei]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nothing to worry about - Simms or Johnson, the fact is we're screwed if Romo goes down (to injury, not Jessica...)

"You must spread some reputation around before giving to Underdog again."

[alby]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Are there any other kinds of UT memories???

In addition to the greatness that is Vince Young, the Ricky Williams record-breaking run was pretty memorable as well.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by alby

In addition to the greatness that is Vince Young, the Ricky Williams record-breaking run was pretty memorable as well.

I suppose I was referring more to the school than the football team - sometimes I forget that most people cheer for colleges they never attended...

[alby]

That's very true. I am guilty. I never went to UT but I've been to Austin so many times and that 80% of my friends are from UT, I've just always associated with the school. Plus, it sucks being a Golden Bear--choke city! =]

[alby]

nevermind!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3481361

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by alby

nevermind!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3481361

Wow - great timing...

[DirkFTW]

I actually wanted Vince to go to the Texans just so I could watch him more.

Ugh to Simms.

And here's a little something to eliminate the bad taste.

[Underdog]

I don't think I like this rumor:

Cowboys WR Glenn to Bucs?

The speculation is that the Cowboys have an interest in trading for Chris Simms, who obviously wants out of Tampa Bay. Simms played collegiately for Texas. The Cowboys may be willing to part with receiver Terry Glenn, who underwent two knee injuries last season. The Cowboys have offered Glenn a $500,000 injury waiver if he re-injures his knee and is lost for the season. The Bucs have said they could add another veteran receiver before training camp. If healthy, Glenn would make some sense. It would enable the Bucs to unload Simms via trade, much the way they were able to swap Keyshawn Johnson for Joey Galloway. Both players were about to be cut by their respective teams. -- St. Petersburg Times

link

[chumdawg]

I really, really like Terry Glenn. Excellent shiftiness and a tremendous pair of hands. However, I'm afraid his tired old body isn't going to allow him to contribute much to our team anymore. I'm not sure how much I like Simms, but I guess he'd be better than nothing.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

I really, really like Terry Glenn. Excellent shiftiness and a tremendous pair of hands. However, I'm afraid his tired old body isn't going to allow him to contribute much to our team anymore. I'm not sure how much I like Simms, but I guess he'd be better than nothing.

I'd rather take my chances with Terry Glenn's knees than Chris Simms' spleen...

[alby]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/...85693&n8pe6c=1

[DirkFTW]

Neat!

[ty]

Simms is bad luck.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by ty

Simms is bad luck.

Can't argue with that logic...

[ty]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Can't argue with that logic...

Here ya go!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z1MpHG5x6q0

Bad luck, no?

Imagine if he becomes a Cowboy. He'll never hear the end of it.

On second thought, maybe it'll put a little more pep into Roy's step.

[Underdog]

Final Hours
Cowboys Working On Hamlin Deal As Deadline Nears

link


IRVING, Texas - For more than four months, the Cowboys and safety Ken Hamlin have let contract negotiations come and go without much progress.

But with a deadline fast approaching, both sides are now working feverishly to get a deal completed before Tuesday's 3 p.m. (CDT) deadline.

If Hamlin, who was given the franchise tag back in February, does not sign a long-term deal by then, the safety will not be able to sign a long-term deal between now and the end of the regular season. And therefore, Hamlin will have to play out this season on his one-year, $4.396 million tender.

The Cowboys have had ongoing talks with Hamlin and his agent Kennard McGuire lately. The two sides spent most of Monday trying to hash out a new deal.

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Hamlin back in late February. But since the fifth-year safety never signed the tender, he did not participate in any of the team's off-season activities, including four weeks of OTA (organized team activity) practices or the three-day mini-camp in June. And since Hamlin was not technically under contract, he was not subject to a fine for missing the mandatory mini-camp.

Since just before the start of free agency in late February, the Cowboys have reached long-term contracts with several Pro Bowl players, including Flozell Adams, Marion Barber, Terence Newman and Terrell Owens.

The Cowboys got creative on May 20, just before the deadline to extend contracts under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the NFL Players Association. The Cowboys gave both Newman and Barber six-year extensions, guaranteeing nearly $39 million to both players.

Two weeks later, the Cowboys gave Owens a new four-year contract, totaling $34 million.

But throughout the summer, the Cowboys have never seemed too anxious about their contract talks with Hamlin.

When asked last month at the team's mini-camp if he was concerned with Hamlin's absence, team owner Jerry Jones said, "I'm not at all. That's a lot of money . . . He'll play."

Jones was referring to the one-year tender of $4.396 million. However, if Hamlin played for that this year, the entire total would hit this year's salary cap.

A long-term deal would likely lower this year's cap hit and stabilize the free safety position, a spot the Cowboys have had trouble filling the last few seasons.

After signing a one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent from Seattle, Hamlin quickly made the transition to the Cowboys, earning his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2007. Hamlin recorded 102 tackles and had five interceptions.

The market for free safeties has increased thanks to a pair of contracts signed this off-season.

Oakland gave former Giants safety Gibril Wilson a six-year, $39 million deal back in March. And the Jets shelled out $33.5 million over five years for Kerry Rhodes. Neither Wilson nor Rhodes have made the Pro Bowl, however, and Hamlin making his first trip in February likely increased his asking price.

Whether it's with a new contract or just the one-year deal, Hamlin is expected to resume his free safety duties in the Cowboys' secondary.

Last year, head coach Wade Phillips dubbed Hamlin the quarterback of the defense, and it's unlikely those duties will change despite his absence this summer.

The Cowboys have used Pat Watkins and Courtney Brown more during the OTA and mini-camp practices. But Phillips said he expects Hamlin will return to the first-team defense as soon as his contract situation is resolved.

And because of Tuesday's deadline, that appears to be sooner than later.

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by ty

Here ya go!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z1MpHG5x6q0

Bad luck, no?

Imagine if he becomes a Cowboy. He'll never hear the end of it.

On second thought, maybe it'll put a little more pep into Roy's step.

Saw this video in the "Related links"

Roy Williams hits

If enduring Simms on the Cowboys bench gives us back the old Roy, I'm okay with it.

[DirkFTW]

Hamlin. $39 million. Link.

Show me some freaking football already!

[Underdog]

Just In Time
Cowboys Beat Deadline; Sign Hamlin To 6-Year Deal

link


IRVING, Texas - In the final hours before a deadline that would've prevented him from signing a long-term deal this season, safety Ken Hamlin has signed to a six-year contract worth $39 million.

The Cowboys had until 3 p.m. (CDT) on Tuesday to sign Hamlin to a multi-year contract, or else the safety would have played the 2008 season on the one-year, $4.396 million franchise tender the team placed on him back in late February. The Cowboys turned the deal into the league with less than an hour to spare.

The new deal includes $15 million in guaranteed money, including a $9 million signing bonus, and ranks right along with some of the other high-priced contracts that were doled out to safeties this off-season, which inflated the position's market value.

Hamlin is currently in Los Angeles, but his agent Kennard McGuire arrived in Dallas on Monday to finalize the contract talks with Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' director of player personnel.

The negotiations for Hamlin's deal were certainly altered when Oakland signed former Giants safety Gibril Wilson to a six-year, $39 million deal and the Jets signed Kerry Rhodes to a five-year, $33.5 million contract.

Neither Rhodes nor Wilson have made a Pro Bowl, while Hamlin made his first appearance in February after he recorded 102 tackles and five interceptions in his first season with the Cowboys.

Hamlin, a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2003, played four years in Seattle before signing the one-year deal with the Cowboys last season as an unrestricted free agent.

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Hamlin back in late February. But since the fifth-year safety never signed the tender, he did not participate in any of the team's off-season activities, including four weeks of OTA (organized team activity) practices or the three-day mini-camp in June. And since Hamlin was not technically under contract, he was not subject to a fine for missing the mandatory mini-camp.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips called Hamlin the quarterback of the defense last year, and said he expects Hamlin to return to the starting lineup as the free safety.

Since just before the start of free agency, the Cowboys have reached long-term contracts with several Pro Bowl players, including Flozell Adams, Marion Barber, Terence Newman and Terrell Owens.

[ty]

At least one Super Bowl in the next 3 years or bust!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by ty

At least 3 Super Bowls in the next 3 years or bust!

fixed

[Caseman]

If the Cowboys lose in the first round of the playoffs, I will laugh my ass off (transplanted Redskins fan). They are loaded everywhere except maybe WR's.

[ty]

What does a "transplanted" Redskins fan mean anyways?

[Dtownsfinest]

We're loaded at WR too. I'd consider Whitten a reciever and people still sleep on Patrick Crayton. Miles Austin and Sam Hurd are due for break out years.

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by ty

What does a "transplanted" Redskins fan mean anyways?

It means he's donated his heart and his brain!

I only say that cause I hate playing the Redskins every year.

[ty]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

I only say that cause I hate the Redskins.

Fixed!

[Caseman]

Originally Posted by ty

What does a "transplanted" Redskins fan mean anyways?

Raised in Texas, but whole family is in Maryland.

[ty]

^ In this case, I wish you were the black sheep. Oh well, go ahead and cheer for the inferior team!

[sike]

Originally Posted by Caseman

If the Cowboys lose in the first round of the playoffs, I will laugh my ass off (transplanted Redskins fan). They are loaded everywhere except maybe WR's.

I'm going to punch you.

[alby]

Not sure how anyone can cheer for the Foreskins.

[Caseman]

Originally Posted by alby

Not sure how anyone can cheer for the Foreskins.

You guys are really missing out. Not having expectations is great

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Caseman

You guys are really missing out. Not having expectations is great

Living up to high expectations is better...

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by Caseman

You guys are really missing out. Not having expectations is great

We've got that in Spades with the Rangers.

[Underdog]

Cowboys Agree To Terms With Fifth-Round Pick

link


IRVING, Texas - Signing a draft pick a full week before the team departs for training camp might not be that early for some teams, but it's rather unusual for the Cowboys, who normally wait until the last few days to ink all of their rookies under contract.

But the Cowboys got an early jump on the process, agreeing to terms Thursday with fifth-round draft pick Orlando Scandrick, a cornerback from Boise State.

Scandrick is expected to sign his four-year, $1.85 million deal on Friday, that includes a $185,000 signing bonus.

The speedy cornerback joins a crowded position that includes returning starters Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, not to mention newly-acquired Adam Jones and first-round pick Mike Jenkins.

With his top-rate speed, Scandrick might be in position to contribute right away on special teams, seeing that the Cowboys lost several key coverage players last year in Keith Davis, Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves, who all signed with other clubs in free agency.

With a relatively small draft class of only six players, the Cowboys now are down to just five players left to sign, although two are first-round draft picks.

However, the Cowboys do have one advantage in signing both running back Felix Jones (22nd overall) and Jenkins (25th) in that they both have the same agent in Eugene Parker.

Other draft picks left to sign include second-round tight end Martellus Bennett, fourth-round running Tashard Choice and outside linebacker Erik Walden, who was selected in the sixth round.

The Cowboys' team charter leaves for Oxnard, Calif. on Thursday, July 24 with the first practice slated for the following day. The team will conduct its first two-a-day practice session on Saturday, July 26.

[ty]

TO on the ESPYs

...also, TO is a freakin hero.

SOURCE

A night of unexpected heroes at '08 ESPYS

LOS ANGELES -- It was just after 2 a.m. Thursday when I exited an ESPYS after-party somewhere in some uncharted section of downtown L.A., hailed a cab and stepped off the curb. After that, things got fuzzy.

I remember a shout, screeching tires and the glare of fast approaching headlights. I got just enough warning to leap over the hard-charging Honda Civic's front fender and into the windshield, shoulder first.

So, this is what getting hit by a car feels like.

When I came to, I was on the sidewalk, my shoulder hurting like crazy, shards of glass in my forearm and blood dripping from my fingers, while limo drivers and other witnesses screamed this way and that. The paramedics told me I was lucky to be alive ("Last time I saw a windshield like that," said one, "guy lost both his legs"), and all I could think was, "Damn! I just bought this Banana Republic tie-and-shirt ensemble!"

That, and "Holy crap, that's T.O.!"

Terrell Owens was standing over me. I'm told he was the first do-gooder on the scene of the accident. That he helped me to my feet and off the street to safe ground. That he didn't leave my side. It seems the mercurial Dallas Cowboys receiver is my hero. But my hero looks scared, and this scares me.

"Wow, you all right, man?" Owens kept asking me, but in a manner that would suggest there is no possible way that I, in fact, could be all right. "Don't move. Just sit there. Breathe. Don't move."

It's now that I noticed the car's jacked windshield, which sports a hole the size of, well, my upper torso.

Yikes, I did that?

"That was crazy. Crazy," Owens confirmed. "You all right, man?

I'm fine, nothing to worry about, but Owens is so concerned, so kind, and I'm so touched by this -- we hardly know each other -- that I think my lip is quivering. There's a good chance I could break down like T.O. at that news conference. (It's just not fair. That's my receiver, man.)

This is embarrassing. The crowd grew to include friends, like Page 2 columnist LZ Granderson, and strangers (one vagrant offered to wipe the blood from my arms with his shirt; another asked me for change). Through it all, T.O. stuck by my side! I mean, it was ESPYS night, people! A hot party was raging in a building not 20 feet away, and another one, Justin Timberlake's late-nighter, would soon kick off at a hotel nearby, and yet one of the biggest names in sports was spending his night curbside with me?

"So, T.O. was nice, huh?" says the medic who took my blood pressure inside the ambulance. "Boy, you think you know somebody, but the media doesn't tell you the whole story. You never know how they really are."

Guilty as charged.

When the medics were done with the paperwork (note: patient has lacerations, bruised knee, stained shorts, etc.) I headed back to the street to deal with the police, meet the driver and thank my hero … but T.O. was gone. He didn't care to wait for the cameras, the spotlight, the attention. Didn't need to hear my thanks. He simply vanished into the dark night, alone (well, with his bodyguard, also a nice man) like a samurai, his work complete.

...

[alby]

After watching The Dark Night this weekend... it just gets you wondering doesn't it?

[Dirkenstien]

Originally Posted by alby

After watching The Dark Night this weekend... it just gets you wondering doesn't it?

"It's not who you are on the inside, but what you do that matters."

You may be on to something, Alby!

[Flacolaco]

When the medics were done with the paperwork (note: patient has lacerations, bruised knee, stained shorts, etc.) I headed back to the street to deal with the police, meet the driver and thank my hero … but T.O. was gone. He didn't care to wait for the cameras, the spotlight, the attention. Didn't need to hear my thanks. He simply vanished into the dark night, alone (well, with his bodyguard, also a nice man) like a samurai, his work complete.

The guy doesn't have all night to tend to someone who was dumb enough to get hit by a car. There was probably ice melting in his drink somewhere.

[u2sarajevo]

I am so ready for some Football. Even preseason Football sounds so interesting right now.

[alexamenos]

we've come to find out that one of our new hires has a checkered past. he's a really smart guy, and really talented, and hence we've nick-named him "our little Pacman Jones"....

I'm ready for some football.