Cowboys offseason Thread

[FilthyFinMavs]

They cut both Anderson and Williams. I can't believe they cut Randall. A guy that big and fast should be able to find a spot on atleast special teams.

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs
They cut both Anderson and Williams. I can't believe they cut Randall. A guy that big and fast should be able to find a spot on atleast special teams.

How many seasons have they given Randall?

[Just211]

I didn't think he was very good on special teams either. Plus Crayton will take his spot as promising young WR. I'd like to see Crayton return more PUNTS this year too. He has a natural flow to it.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: kingrex

How many seasons have they given Randall?

Wayyy too many but he still should find a spot on this team. I thought he made some pretty good plays on special teams last season. It's clear he was underachieving but I don't know. I probably would've given him another year.

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs

Wayyy too many but he still should find a spot on this team. I thought he made some pretty good plays on special teams last season. It's clear he was underachieving but I don't know. I probably would've given him another year.

It's not easy to give up on a guy with both size AND speed.

[chumdawg]

In case you guys didn't get to hear Big Bill come down from the mountain today, here is a bit of a recap of his press conference. I'm going from memory, so I'm sure I'll leave some things out.

On Ware...truly a flexible player...at times will be a true linebacker, at times will be a true end...doesn't want him fighting through the tackle 70 plays a game though...learned that lesson from McGinest

On Spears...needs to lose some weight

On Canty...not sure of the timetable for him, but thinks he has a shot to be ready to go by training camp

On Hunter...there was no substance to those Mickens rumors...doesn't know how that got started, though he can see how it would be logical for someone to make that conjecture...Hunter will stay at corner...that's how he will be trained...this is not to say he might not see time at nickle safety, but for the most part he's a corner

On safety...knows what he has in Scott...you need guys like Lynn Scott on your team...Davis will get a look there...he really showed Bill last season what he is made of...Beriault has a good chance to compete there...will probably work out some vets here in the future...wanted to draft another safety, but someone else took the guy they wanted...Danzler is in Europe trying to learn the position, who knows how he'll do

On Aaron Glenn...knows exactly what he'll get in Glenn...the guy will have himself ready to play on Sunday...he's a consummate professional...the media will like him...at 5'8", didn't make it this long in the league without being a consummate pro

On the fronts...there is not a single team that uses one front only...some teams use as many as three or four different fronts

On the offensive line...chance to be much improved...the guys, including the old guys, have worked very, very hard...Flozell has lost a lot of weight...Allen is running things he's never run before...Gurode will move to center...wanted to give him a chance to compete for a starting job, which was going to be hard to go at RG with Rivera here...the rookies have improved quite a bit...good rehab...Peterman (I think that's the one, I always get them confused...maybe it's Rogers) is slated at LT but will move to RT if he's the best option there...Vollers and Noll and Tucker are in the mix...Pettiti has a lot of potential

On running back...very happy to get Barber...Tyson Thompson has a lot of talent, if he can "figure out what he needs to do"...Polite has had a good offseason...Polite is actually the third or fourth strongest guy on the team

On quarterback...the kids have worked very hard this winter...Henson is approaching 5,000 passes thrown this offseason...they had to dial it back on him, the workload has been so heavy...(oddly, I can't remember any questions about Bledsoe)

On the team last year...knew they were better on paper than the team the year before...couple close losses early changed the outlook...couple things that may not appear obvious (Campbell and Glenn, I surmise) hindrered their chances

I'm sure there was quite a bit more, but that's all I remember.

Go Cowboys!!!

[capitalcity]

Thanks chum. I only caught the tail end but big bill seemed to be pretty confident regarding the offseason moves and the draft. He sounds sure of what he has at WR... and I think he's realistic. Glenn is good at what he does, Keyshawn is good at what he does and hopefully Morgan will become a good complementary option.

Overall, I don't remember being this excited about a cowboys offseason in a long, long time.

[sike]

very good recap....from memory you say??....I heard some of it and can echo cap's excitment! This Defense should be stout.

[chumdawg]

I feel you, cap. I'm excited, too. Yes, sikeymonkey, the Boys are going to knock some heads on defense next year. This team is going to look way different, I think. Bill has had enough time now to get his systems in place, to gather enough of the right kind of players. No telling how good we can be. But I'm sure we will be very dangerous.

[sike]

you heard it here.....chum just predicted a Dallas victory in the Super Bowl!

[chumdawg]

I call 'em like I see 'em, Sike. Call 'em like I see 'em.

[sike]

yes you do sir, yes you do.

[Dooby]

Originally posted by: chumdawg
I call 'em like I see 'em, Sike. Call 'em like I see 'em.

Of course, Chumdawg has a lazy eye, is color blind and wears bifocals, but he calls 'em like he sees 'em.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: Dooby

Of course, Chumdawg has a lazy eye, is color blind and wears bifocals, but he calls 'em like he sees 'em.

So he is like most of the officials in the Dallas-Houston series ? ? ? ?

[chumdawg]

Originally posted by: Dooby

Of course, Chumdawg has a lazy eye, is color blind and wears bifocals, but he calls 'em like he sees 'em.

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while!

Seriously, now...I will be extremely surprised if this Cowboys bunch does not make the playoffs. I will be at least mildly suprised if they don't win their first playoff game.

Anyone else have any early feelings?

[sike]

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while!

that's just something blind squirrels say to give themselves hope....false hope though it be.

[Ninkobei]

Originally posted by: sike

that's just something blind squirrels say to give themselves hope....false hope though it be.

False hope is better than no hope

[kingrex]

Steve Savoy WR Utah
Geoff McArthur WR California - I thought he was injured?

These guys aren't stars, but they're worth the look.

[chumdawg]

Cowboys signed the A-train, Anthony Thomas, RB Bears.

[Jamisonite]

he could be a nice change of pace back...but nothing more

[Ninkobei]

nice pickup wow. I think he can play fullback too. or maybe i'm confusing him with the other A-train hehe. This offseason just keeps getting better and better.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Whoa. Nice pick up. Maybe I overrate him but this guy showed alot of promise two seasons ago. Coincidentally he went from backing up Julius' brother to backing him up now.

[ocelot_ark]

I know this is the Cowboys offseason thread, but I didn't want to start a new one. If you have an extra 5 minutes check out this highlight compiled by the Jaguars of Matt Jones. They've got some video from the senior bowl that I had never seen before. I am officially depressed that the Boys didn't find a way to get MJ.


Hope we don't regret it

[chumdawg]

I see no reason not to believe that Matt Jones will be an ultra-stud in the NFL. You'd love to take him in the second or third, sure. But if he ends up being one of the three or four best playmakers in the draft, I'd say you got a hell of a deal there at 21 (or whatever it was).

It may sound crazy, but I wonder what the guy could do at safety. One day a guy with his size will play that position, I'm sure. At any rate, doubtless he will at least be a special teams demon for the Jags.

[endtroducing]

I saw footage of the Senior Bowl practices on the NFL Network...Ware is unbelivably quick. as soon as the offensive lineman TWITCHED, he was in the backfield. crazy stuff.

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: endtroducing
I saw footage of the Senior Bowl practices on the NFL Network...Ware is unbelivably quick. as soon as the offensive lineman TWITCHED, he was in the backfield. crazy stuff.

I can't wait to see Ware and Spears in NFL pads to see how well they fare.

[capitalcity]

Originally posted by: kingrex

I can't wait to see Ware and Spears in NFL pads to see how well they fare.

I'm salivating. Years and years without a legit pass rusher... and just think... we may have 2 or 3 guys record double digit sacks in 2005.

...and the qb's we don't get behind the line will be flushed out into the open field for Roy to feast on!

[Frost]

any online highlights that we can view of Ware, Spears, etc?

[chumdawg]

JJones was just on with Norm. Norm said that one team had Ware #2 overall on their draft board, and a few others had him in the top five.

[sike]

a good question would be "Where did the boys have him on their board?"

[chumdawg]

EIGHT!

[sike]

nice.

[endtroducing]

is Terence Newman that good?

[Ninkobei]

I suppose Newman is the cowboy's version of a shut-down corner. Although he isn't quite that good yet I think he may develop to be that good

[chumdawg]

Put it this way: Newman got a lot better this offseason.

[kingrex]

And if the Cowboys can actually get a pass rush this year, then Newman will only look even better.

[Flip41]

Ed Reed isn't showing up for camp untill he gets a new contract according to SI.com truth and rumors. Man if we had Mr. Ed Reed the defense would be unbeleivable.

[Flip41]

Sorry this is what it says exactly. There is a MIGHT in there

Although Ravens coach Brian Billick said there could be some no-shows, he anticipated safety Ed Reed participating. There has been speculation that the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year might not show up at training camp on time if he doesn't get a new deal. He has two years remaining on his contract.

[Ninkobei]

Yah, but what are the odds that the Ravens don't re-sign him? I'm not sure Bill Parcells would want a player who holds out. I'm not saying I wouldn't him on the Cowboys. He would give us a Solid secondary, and would probably be the best free agent pickup of the offseason.

[Flip41]

I thought this was interesting.

Glover, Ellis: Unhappy campers?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Jean-Jacques Taylor

The most interesting part of training camp and the early part of the season will be seeing how La'Roi Glover and Greg Ellis react to the 3-4 defense.

The early guess is that neither is going to be happy. The question is whether they can subjugate their egos – every professional athlete has an ego – to maintain peace and happiness in the locker room.

It's pretty clear that Glover, a five-time Pro Bowl performer, is not going to start. The Cowboys didn't give Jason Ferguson a $9 million signing bonus to bring him off the bench. Besides, it's pretty clear that Dallas is going to the 3-4 and he's a perfect fit.

Glover, who has been told he's going to play about 65 percent of the time, is fine with that percentage but has made it clear he wants to start and finish games. That simply isn't going to happen unless Dallas goes to the 4-3 like it should.

So Glover, the consummate professional, is not going to be happy. That could impact the locker room.

Then there's Ellis, who was so upset during minicamp that the normally affable defensive end politely declined comment about anything football-related.

Ellis is one of the hardest workers on the team. He is also a true professional.

But he's made it clear through some comments and body language that he doesn't want anything to do with the 3-4. That's understandable since it requires him to play head up on 330-pound tackles, which is not his strength.

He relies on speed, quickness and guile. All but his guile are neutralized when he plays head up on tackles, who outweigh him by 40-50 pounds.

Glover and Ellis will not run to the media with their complaints. They will probably give clichéd answers about how they fit into the defense.

The reality is that it's going to be hard for the Cowboys' defense to perform at a high level if their two defensive leaders are upset.

It's not too late for coach Bill Parcells to return to the 4-3 for one more season. But it isn't going to happen.

Stay tuned.