Keeping the Team Pointed in the Right Direction
Posted: December 1, 2005 @ 12:29 pm
I was researching 2006 free agents, since you can never be prepared enough, and noticed that Stephen Jones has some important decisions to make. Dallas has some key young players who are eligible to void the last years of their contracts and become free agents.
The full list of potential unrestricted free agents (UFAs) includes: OTs Ethan Brooks and Mark Columbo, OG Andre Gurode, TEs Dan Campbell and Jason Witten, DE Eric Ogbogu, LBs Bradie James and Scott Fujita and S Lynn Scott.
The list of restricted free agents (RFAs) includes OT Torrin Tucker, LB Scott Shanle and S Keith Davis.
Witten and James are the most important names here, as they are the players who would create the highest market demand. The November 21st edition of Pro Football Weekly notes that the Cowboys have a buy-back option on the last years of Witten’s and James’ initial deals. It would be surprising if they did not exercise the options and get these players locked up with new long-term deals. Campbell is another player the team will likely keep.
Gurode is the most interesting question in the UFA list. He’s not the starter, but Dallas needs a quality backup, with Al Johnson’s development and health still in question. If Gurode goes, the Cowboys will have to sign a veteran or spend a high pick on another center. They cannot go into ‘06 without options at center.
The restricted players will get tenders, but at what level? The most important name on that list is Tucker. He was maligned during camp but has played respectably since Flozell Adams injured his knee. As Tucker is proving to himself that he can handle the harder left tackle position, he would likely give Rob Petitti a run for the right tackle job next summer. Tucker also played guard in college and would be an option if one of the starters went down, especially since Stephen Peterman has been slow to recover from his major knee injury in ‘04.
Giants - Cowboys preview later today.
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I say we need to hang onto Tucker and Gurode. You can never have too many quality backups on the O-line or D-line.
Raf-Do you know about any interesting 2006 free agents on other teams? Specifically OLB, FS and OT.
Rev Micheal,
here are the Safeties available in 2006
Adam Archuleta UFA Rams
Anthony Mitchell UFA Bengals
Antuan Edwards UFA Falcons
Antwan Harris. UFA Browns
Bracy Walker UFA Lions
Chad Williams UFA Ravens
Chris Hope UFA Steelers
Clinton Hart RFA Chargers
Colin Branch RFA Panthers
Corey Chavous UFA Vikings
Deke Cooper UFA Jaguars
Dexter Jackson UFA Buccaneers
Donnie Nickey RFA Titans
Earl Little UFA Packers
Gerome Sapp RFA Colts
Idrees Bashir UFA Panthers
Ifeanyi Ohalete UFA Bengals
Jarrod Cooper UFA Raiders
John Howell UFA Seahawks
Joseph Jefferson UFA Colts
Keion Carpenter UFA Falcons
Keith Davis RFA Cowboys
Kevin McCadam UFA Falcons
Lance Schulters UFA Dolphins
Lynn Scott UFA Cowboys
Marlon McCree UFA Panthers
Marquand Manuel UFA Seahawks
Mel Mitchell UFA Saints
Michael Stone UFA Patriots
Mike Furrey RFA Rams
Omar Stoutmire UFA Redskins
Omare Lowe UFA Falcons
Quentin Harris UFA Cardinals
Quintin Mikell RFA Eagles
Ramon Walker UFA Texans
Reggie Tongue UFA Raiders
Ronnie Heard UFA Falcons
Ryan Clark UFA Redskins
Sam Brandon UFA Broncos
Tank Williams UFA Titans
Terrence Holt RFA Lions
Vernon Fox UFA Lions
Will Demps UFA Ravens
Willie Offord UFA Vikings
Willie Pile RFA Cowboys
Here are the Tackles available,
Adam Haayer UFA Cardinals
Anthony Clement UFA 49ers
Barrett Brooks UFA Steelers
Barry Stokes UFA Falcons
Bob Whitfield UFA Giants
Chad Slaughter UFA Raiders
Courtney Van Buren RFA Chargers
Ephraim Salaam UFA Jaguars
Ethan Brooks UFA Cowboys
Jeff Backus UFA Lions
John St. Clair UFA Bears
Jon Runyan UFA Eagles
Jordan Black RFA Chiefs
Kevin Barry UFA Packers
Kevin Shaffer UFA Falcons
L.J. Shelton UFA Browns
Makoa Freitas RFA Colts
Matt Hill UFA Panthers
Mike Pearson UFA Jaguars
Rex Tucker UFA Rams
Scott Gragg UFA Jets
Seth Wand RFA Texans
Stocker McDougle UFA Dolphins
Todd Fordham UFA Panthers
Todd Steussie UFA Buccaneers
Tom Ashworth UFA Patriots
Tony Pashos RFA Ravens
Torrin Tucker RFA Cowboys
Victor Riley UFA Texans
Wayne Hunter RFA Seahawks
Here are the Linebackers available in 2006
Akin Ayodele UFA Jaguars
Andra Davis UFA Browns
Angelo Crowell RFA Bills
Antwan Peek RFA Texans
Artie Ulmer UFA Falcons
Bart Scott UFA Ravens
Ben Leber UFA Chargers
Ben Taylor UFA Browns
Brad Kassell UFA Titans
Brandon Moore UFA 49ers
Brett Keisel UFA Steelers
Carlos Polk UFA Chargers
Cato June RFA Colts
Clint Kriewaldt UFA Steelers
Dashon Polk UFA Texans
David Thornton UFA Colts
DeLawrence Grant UFA Raiders
Derek Smith UFA 49ers
Don Davis UFA Patriots
Earl Holmes UFA Lions
Eric Ogbogu UFA Cowboys
Erik Flowers UFA Falcons
Frank Chamberlin UFA Texans
Gary Brackett RFA Colts
Gerald Hayes RFA Cardinals
Grant Irons UFA Raiders
Hannibal Navies UFA Bengals
Hunter Hillenmeyer UFA Bears
James Allen UFA Saints
James Davis RFA Lions
Jamie Winborn UFA Jaguars
Jason Glenn UFA Dolphins
Josh Stamer RFA Bills
Julian Peterson UFA 49ers
Keith Adams UFA Eagles
Keith Burns UFA Broncos
Keith Newman UFA Vikings
Keith O’Neil RFA Colts
Kenyatta Wright UFA Jets
Kevin Bentley UFA Seahawks
Khary Campbell UFA Redskins
Marcus Reese RFA Bears
Marcus Wilkins UFA Bengals
Mario Haggan RFA Bills
Matt Chatham UFA Patriots
Matt Wilhelm RFA Chargers
Nate Wayne UFA Lions
Nate Webster UFA Bengals
Nick Greisen UFA Giants
Nick Rogers UFA Dolphins
Orlando Ruff UFA Browns
Paris Lenon UFA Packers
Patrick Chukwurah UFA Broncos
Raonall Smith UFA Vikings
Rob Morris UFA Colts
Rocky Boiman UFA Titans
Rocky Calmus UFA Colts
Ronald McKinnon UFA Saints
Sam Cowart UFA Vikings
Scott Fujita UFA Cowboys
Scott Shanle RFA Cowboys
Sedrick Hodge UFA Saints
Shantee Orr RFA Texans
Stephen Cooper RFA Chargers
T.J. Slaughter UFA Saints
Tim Johnson UFA Raiders
Tommy Polley UFA Ravens
Tony Gilbert RFA Jaguars
Tracy White RFA Jaguars
Trev Faulk UFA Rams
Troy Evans UFA Texans
Vinny Ciurciu RFA Panthers
Wali Rainer UFA Lions
Warrick Holdman UFA Redskins
Will Witherspoon UFA Panthers
Zeke Moreno UFA Eagles
Here is a link for all the players that are available in 2006,
http://www.theredzone.org/2006/freeagents/
i heard that ty law was gonna be off of the jets this off season too, him at FS and julian peterson at the other OLB spot and we have a top ranked D right there.
Derrick,
tell me you cut/pasted and didnt type all that.
Rafael,
We’ll see if dallas takes the opposite approach from the iggles. sign guys who have played and proven something, or at least try to sign them by making reasonable offers. Eveyone on your list is contributing, and it appears to be the wise move to lock them all up (within reason). Do you have any insight as to how much room the boys have under the cap next year?
Jarhead,
As you can tell by the excellent spelling and typing with regards to the previous posts, I DID, cut, paste and post it.
that sight will start getting alot of hits as teams get eliminated from playoff contention.
jess,
i would think the 9ers will lock up peterson. if not, he will command big bucks.
ty law has issues. why not go for a younger, true FS in FA?
Jason Witten is an automatic slam dunk. But that is too obvious, right?
Ty Law will be in his 12th season next year. While I beleive he still has gas in his tank, he is slowing down and I would rather the Cowboys look to the future. Not necessarily a rookie. They need a veteran with some experience, but 12 years is kind of long in the tooth if Dallas expects to win for more than a year or two. A breif look at the 2006 free safty free agent list did spark much interest. I will have to take a close look when I have more time.
I wouldn’t mind if we upgraded FS but I think there are other spots that need to be upgraded first. KD is not doing a bad job remember he is a first year starter. I rather them work on the offense. We do need an OLB.
aw,
i agree that LB gets the priority, but i think BP sees KD as a quality backup who contributes significantly on special teams first. i think thats how he wants to use him. i think they will take a hard look at signing a more solid starting FS, especially with the pass-oriented NYG and iggles in the division.
Anyone hear Parcells press conference today? What’s Henry’s status?
Cash,
Second that. And what’s Al Johnson’s status? I heard he was having his knee scoped last Friday. Too bad, because he was starting to play better and they need better C play.
AJ is questionble. Did not practice yesterday.
Henry is also questionable, but BP said he’s making progress.
Bill said that Al Johnson was practicing today, and Henry was still questionable for the game.Sounded like Bill was getting fustrated with Henry’s injury that its been over a month.
Hey Derrick,
Had a question for you in the previous thread. Any good Cowboys bars in Tampa? Only place I’ve found is the Wing House (Crawford Kerr’s place).
Jarhead
I think KD is doing a good job, if he was the starter next year I wouldnt be mad but this offense needs to be upgraded. We need to find ways to put points up.
Fighter15,
Tampa??? sorry, never been there, you must have me mixed up with someone else.
Kieth davis has played better as the year has gone on but he really has to learn to wrap up when he makes a tackle instead of trying to make a big hit and missing like he did against Denver.
Derrick,
Half the DBs in the NFL make that mistake. They’d rather be on ESPN’s “jacked up” than just make the damn tackle.
AW,
yep, points would help.
There was another Derrick that posted then. Sorry, thought it was you.
jarhead:
I’m also thinking that Parcells wishes that Keith plays as a backup with lots of ST’s mixed in. And looking at the way he plays, he’s also more of a SS isn’t it?
Looking at the list the only names that come to mind are: Chris Hope of Pitt and Will Demps of Baltimore as the UFAs. There’s this guy in Detroit, Terrence Holt, that could become a player and being a 5th rounder you could make a case about him being a restricted agent.
I second Chandus–guys like Hope and Demps, quality players that have been upstaged by Polamalou and Reed in their respective secondaries, are the ones we should be looking for. They can provide some veteran leadership on the field and in the secondary, and are solid players. I think I remember both of them as solid tacklers, but my memory off the top of my head isn’t too good. I don’t think drafting another safty is the answer, we just need someone to complement Roy and be that guy who can make the tackle as the last line of defense
The safety that jumps out at me, besides Davis and Pile (good special teams players) is Corey Chavous, now in Minny. He started out as a corner in Arizona. He is an extremely hard worker who is one of the top film study guys in the league. He is a quarterback of the secondary type guy that I was hoping that we would have this year.
There are a number of linebackers who might work well. Peterson is the biggest name but there are a lot of good players there.
Not a whole lot of tackles jump out at me. Resigning Tucker seems like a reasonable plan.
I’d say lets let Jeff Ireland and Parcells do their job. They did pretty well this past year. Hopefully they can do it again next.
By the way, I think that we are in decent shape cap wise next year. Nothing like the ~$20 mil that we had available this past year. But I don’t think that we will have to make any cuts to get under the cap, either.
Of the LB’s list: obviously Peterson heads the list (but I also think that he’s going to be signed long term), Hunter Hillenmeyer of Chicago, Sedrick Hodge of NO and Tommy Polley of Baltimore as the names that I like.
I think that OLB is a need that has to be solved via draft, there you can draft Chad Greenway (Iowa), A. J. Hawk (O.S.) although he’s too little for the 3-4, Thomas Howard (UTEP) or one of the many DE/OLB tweeners.
Another name that jumps out of the bunch in the UFA market is Steve Hutchinson of Seattle, that could be a signing if Parcells finishes the season not so happy with L.A. or Rivera’s level of play. But I figure that Seattle might find a way of tying him up to their line.
A.J Hawk is a STUD…..
How little is he? Little in weight or height? You know the weight will go up when turning pro…..
Will Demps would be a great fit in our backfield…..
Im another one who thinks the Boys need to focus on offense the off season.
kokpelli
Yes the offense needs to get the focus the defense got this past off season.
Is Philly going to let Jon Runyon become free??
AW,
Werd.
Jammar Martin was one of two players brought in today for a workout, so clearly their is a problem with the fullback position and our running game that bills not happy with. We’re 29th in the league with yards per rush attempt, thats mnot going to cut it in the playoffs if we get there.
Also sounds like a very conservative game plan this week, so get ready for another close one and dont be shocked with the play calling.
While we have a lot of solid rookies and young players (JJ, MBIII, Pettiti, et al), we have a lot of older players at key positions - Bledsoe, L. Allen, K. Johnson, T. Glenn, A. Glenn, A. Singleton, etc. If we are talking about our future, we really need to consider the age of some of these guys. They aren’t going to be playing forever.
maybe 3rd time is the charm with Jamar?
I really think we’ll go defense in the draft. FS, MLB, OLB, NT, late round CB. We’ll pick up an Offensive lineman, a QB, WR and KR/PR.
Ahmad Brooks, DeBrickashaw Ferguson, D’Quell Jackson, Jimmie Williams… all Cowboys next year.
The NFL is so perturbed with the Eagles calling shenanigans on the Cowboys, they give the Cowboys another first round pick and two extra second picks, and they select the above players. I mean, c’mon, the writing’s on the wall.
There is nothing wrong with our defense that a solid Olb in the draft wouldn’t help.
If we can get some production from a Beriault/Davis combination our fs positon is fine.
We do need replacements at WR, Oline, and more TE’s or FB’s
The D would improve a great deal (next year and beyond) with a huge young NT, if available, a solid MLB (also addressable in FA) a freak at OLB, and a freak at FS.
We can draft Jimmy Williams in the 20s. He’s VA Tech’s huge CB who will have to be a FS in the pros. He’s purely ridiculous. Like Matt Ware but quicker, faster and talented. 6′3″ 220lbs. Beriault is 2nd team all the way.
The offense really just needs a Center, and a steady tackle. A young WR would be great along with a young, raw, talented QB.
Dump Gurode, and make Al Johnson the back up to a real center. Bid Rivera a fond adieu. Trade Flozell, yeah, you heard me right. Trade Glover. Cut Henson and Romo loose. Bring in a FA QB and draft a real QB.
Glenn and Key are old. Yeah. But, they’ve got other good seasons in them, and Parcells has Peerless Price and Crayton, which is not to be dismissed.
Bledsoe has 2 more seasons.
The RBs have 12 more seasons.
Witten…. I don’t know. Maybe bring in another TE? He’s hardly antonio gates or mark bavaro or even as complete Novacek.
The final glaring need on Offense is FB. We have to have an aggressive blocker who can stand up MLBs.
Does anybody know the conditions attached to Jujita’s conditional pick? Do the Cowboys save anything if they let him go completely before next year’s draft? Is Bill likely to do that, or does he think Jujita will improve with a camp and a year’s experience? More to the point, will he improve?
Either way, I see a new OLB, probably drafted, with Fufita as his backup, if that. Besides the positions named already, I can also see a new kicker getting picked up.
LOL get rid of the whole team while you are at it. If you guys havent noticed this is a 7-4 team, not a 1-10 team. We have a couple of needs but why would we get rid of 4 pro bowlers? I like Ashworth from NE and let Tucker and Pettiti fight for the last spot. Glenn and KJ have stayed healthy all year (knock on wood) so I think we could go another year without a big time WR.
I dont understand how you guys can question Witten. Hes an All Pro. Gates has LT, Shockey has Barber, Crumpler has Dunn, Gonzalez had Holmes and now Johnson. Witten is the focal point of defences against us. If we had a better running game just watch his numbers get even better.
I wouldn’t get rid of Glover either. They guy is still a player and has 2-3 more great years in him. Its a 34 defense, stats are not going to jump out at you.
Agree with Lou. Witten is going to stay in Dallas and get paid like a top 5 TE and be here for a while. Jones keeps his players to a fault and will probably redo his contract either early next season or in the off season.
Flozell is probably not going anywhere either. The boys will definitely keep Tucker and Bradie James. With a low 1st rounder, we’ll probably draft OG, NT, ILB, OLB, or FS if a top FS falls. Those positions are the ones where the top players in the draft are still around in the mid/late first.
The thing about the Cowboys running game is that it’s not a particular individual or position (perhaps short of FB). Witten is not the best blocker but he’s shown the willingness to block and you can’t replace him. The same with Larry Allen, Marco Rivera, and Flozell. They’re being paid big money, and still have the ability to perform at a high level. You can’t just dump them and expect a top FA or draft pick to fill the spot.
My best guess is that the boys will address positions like FS, OLB, ILB, FB through free agency. Positions where there’s no clear starter. For the offensive line they’ll add quality players that are capable of challenging for the starting spot. This is exactly how they turned our underperforming defensive line into one of the best rotations in the league.
Unless TO comes to us via FA, WR depth will probably come through the draft as well. In general the offense is average and inconsistent. You don’t get consistency by replacing half the players.
I am sick of this TO junk. Do you all really want that cancer on our team? This feels like Deion Sanders all over again. I wept the day he joined the Cowboys. They weren’t tears of joy! I rejoiced the day he was gone…and before you say it…I think we could have won Super Bowl XXX without him. Possible bias and rose-colored glasses…maybe. But I want NO part of Mr. Owens. Let him join the Cards and stink up the desert! Agree or not?
The only intriguing player I could see on the list above is Julian Peterson. He will cost a bundle but he would make a great bookend OLB along with Ware. Despite that though, I do believe the 49ers will sign him to a long term deal. Offense should really be the key in next year’s draft since most of the 30 something players we have are on that side of the field.
Yeah, Julian Peterson would be a great pick-up, but I doubt the Niners would let him go.
We need o-line help and linebackers, and perhaps FS.
This is an interesting subject because I don’t see this team as a SB team, they’re good but… You can’t have a but in a Championship team, so I’ll make a run throughout all the positions in the roster just to check where are those buts.
- QB: Drew Bledsoe is an inmobile QB, as far as we are in this season that’s what we know, and for those that saw games while he was at Buffalo know too. But he has a cannon as an arm and is as accurate as what you can find in this league. For an example of what you have to do to make it in this league with a QB like that look at Dan Marino’s career, he didn’t had the best receivers in the league, he had good ones, but he had some of the best OLines in the league, that was the foundation of his teams. Dallas needs to do the same, inconsistency between good play and average is a drag that’s going to doom this season.
- RB’s: Just like QB, this is another position where success is related to the OLine play. A little less important is the TE and FB play. You can make a case out of who’s better between JJ and MBIII, but you just need to look at the distribution of the ball in the last 3 games in which JJ has been healthy to find your answer and I just think that Parcells knows more of his team than what we all do.
- FB: This is one of Parcells misses while at Dallas, throughout his career as a coach the only FB’s with names that can be recognized between Football people are Richie Anderson and Sam Gash. While Gash won’t be compared to the Moose he was a force at blocking for the run and the only one Parcells ever had. Meanwhile Anderson wasn’t known as a force while blocking, he was just good at it, he was a receiving threat, and Parcells wants that added dimension, he didn’t needed to have a mauler at FB, his OLines and TE’s were succesfull at, for this year that’s just not enough, because it isn’t working.
- WR’s: There’s this crusade against the Dallas receiving corps, and has some foundation there’s a need and I’ve never said otherwise, to be precise I was up for signing Clayton in this years draft, but you’ve got to tell me which receiving corps has made his team better just based on his talent, Arizona? Nope. Detroit? Nope. Oakland? Nope. A good passing team starts with OLine and finishes with the RB chipping a guy that went by them.
TE’s: Witten is as solid as what you can get, the only comparison you can make with him and another TE in this league could only be made with Crumpler, who’s a great receiving target and a good blocker. Comparisons with Gates, Gonzo and Shockey can be categorized as unfair because they’re known as receiving targets that aren’t that good while at the dirty work. Then Campbell comes through the door, is it me or we were seeing less play from Campbell this season? Too much Brett Pierce, right? He’s a leader, but as a player since his injury isn’t back to his old self.
OLine: I’m not happy with the level of play of this unit, not even when Flo was healthy. They’re facing constant 6 to 8 man fronts in opposing D’s and it’s working, why? Because while in running plays they stop the run and in passing plays they get to Bledsoe, so 6 to 8 man fronts will be seen until the OLine proves to be capable of stopping and burning them for good. The question is: can this line (Tucker, Allen, Johnson/Gurode, Rivera and Petitti) stop 6 to 8 man fronts with minimum help?
DLine: There is just one but with this unit and doesn’t come from the members of the DLine, it comes from the fans that want to get rid of some of the players in it (especially Ellis and Glover) because they seem to think that with the young guys is enough talent, and here’s the but: But why in heavens name would you like to do that in a team were the DLine is already feared? Without those 2 guys you would need to kiss goodbye to those 4 man fronts we’re seeing a lot.
LB’s: Ware is fine, it’s already difficult to get by a good Left OT and a RB in chipping duties and even more if you’re a rookie that also has responsabilities in the running game and coverage for the first time in his career. On the other hand Nguyen will be missed, Shanle isn’t ready and might never be, for next season Burnett needs to step up and considering that he would be playing next to another experiment at OLB that failed (James) he has a good shot. At SS OLB the story line is that the starter, Fujita, is showing us what he showed while at KC, he isn’t a complete player and one that can be distracted.
DB’s: The cornerback corps is a strength as it is, Jacques Reeves could play in Glenn’s duties with some more experience. Roy Williams looks good at his SS spot, he will be a Pro Bowler because there isn’t one SS that’s playing better than him in the NFC, he was burned earlier in the season but he has rarely missed since then. You can’t say the same out of Davis, he’s solid but gets lost in the open field at times he hesitates and is late for the hit or tries to make a highlight tackle and misses. I’d go for Hope of Pitt in a heartbeat and Davis could still be making his highlight hits in ST’s.
What is wrong with Witten? I think the reason he not putting up numbers are one he has to stay in and block and two I don’t think Bledsoe looks for him enough. The oline needs to be upgraded, we need a young wr. I think its time to let TG or KJ go after this year. We need a olb or two. Maybe a new oline coach. I don’t feel like we have to upgrade FS.
This team is two dominant OTs from being complete…at least as complete as the salary cap allows.
One FA LB (Petersen would be excellent) and a WR (yes, t.o. would be the best choice, talent-wise) would be a nice finishing touch.
Considering their team needs, potential rookie draft picks, and where they will pick in the draft (probably between 22 and 27), there first 5 draft picks should look like this:
1. Daven Joseph OG/OT
6-3, 315
Oklahoma
2. Devin Hester CB
5-11, 185
Miami (KR)
3. Fred Roach LB
6-1, 240
Alabama
4. Dale Robinson LB
6-1, 240
Arizona State
5. Joel Klopfenstein TE
6-6, 245
Colorado
I say we draft a FS somewhere in the draft, and resign Keith and let them duel it out for FS. We probably draft either O Line help or a OLB depending on the better player at the pick. Parcells will draft a WR late because this is a weak field.
- Bledsoe is immobile, but those types of QB’s win SBs. The only thing that holds Bledsoe back from being a Super Bowl Caliber QB is holding the ball too long and O-Line help.
And lets remember, Glover is a NT in a 34 defense. His job is to occupy the center and guard and let his LB’s get in there. Its not his fault if we dont have a good blitzing LB other than Ware. We need another one next year.
Chandus,
Not to be picky but when B.P. was with
the Giants he had several excellent blocking F.B.s Mo Carthon was probably
the best.I just don’t think there are
many guys coming out of college willing to play the role anymore.There are what 5 good blocking F.B. in the whole league?Most of the guys in that role are older and have no future career running the ball.I think B.P.’s
wanted that type of role FB/bb for A-Train but he felt otherwise.
Board,
who thinks that Dallas goes into the Meadowlands and wins on Sunday. Simple yes or no.
I say yes.
I am not afraid of their two ends as Bledsoe is immobile but he CAN and does step up into the pocket very well.
i say YES
giants defense is overrated big time. they are getting a lot of praise but they arent as good as they seem. on offense they are very talented but under achievers when they play a decent or great defense. if the boys offense play average they have a good shot at winning, if they play good they will win for sure./
Joey2zs,
Wow. Where did that come from? You want to sell off dang near the whole team!!! BTW, Witten is by far a more *complete* TE than Novacek. Novacek wasn’t a *great* blocker nor was he a *great* TE, he was a very good one. Jay’s bread and butter was converting 3rd down conversions. Thats why they called him “Johnny Paycheck” and said that he had “Velcro for Hands”. The most TDs he ever had was 6 (’92), receptions 68 (also ‘92) and the most yards were 705 (’95)in a season, but usually only tallied 4. Witten on the other hand CAN block and last year alone matched Jay’s highest TD count with 6, receptions 87, and had 980 yards receiving. (almost 1,000 yards receiving for a TE!) He has great hands and runs routes very well. Witten is by far a *more complete* TE than Novacek and thats coming from a huge Novacek fan! My favorite player during the Cowboys run of the 90s was in fact; Jay Novacek!
NY has the best offense in the nfc, they have only been under 20 points once this year. Once again it will come down to our offense and turn overs. I dont expect our D to hold them to 13 points again. Our offense needs to put points up.
aw,
get off the F**KING FENCE!!
Yes or No?
I say NO.
With our inability to run the ball consistantly to set up playaction and our two inexperienced tackles that need help from our tightends and backs to chip Strahan and Omenyiora,look for a very very conservative game plan looking to control the clock, it will be close but all will be for not,
Giants 20 Dallas 17
Yep 34-31 on a late Cundiff field goal. And heres another big prediction: the two #21’s each run for 100 yards, JJ going for 110 and Barber 119.
lol ok no. 24-14 NY. Offense has two turnovers and the running game is nowhere to be found.
Hi, Rafael
Jason Witten and Bradie James have only been in the league 3 years, so they cannot become unrestricted free agents yet.
They would both be restricted free agents (meaning we could tender them).
But Mick Spagnola (dallascowboys.com) said that Dallas has already used the option in Wittens contract, so he is signed for next year.
Also I have not heard that James has voided the last year of his four year contract. It usually depends on playing time in the first two years. Where do you have your information from?
Hey Cowboy Fans:
I look at this game & say it`s going to be close ? NO !!
The biggest problem with both the Giants & Dallas is they both play tight to the vest ball controlling offense. This keeps for the most part a very close game at the end. Like BP says , it all averages out, you will win approx 50% of the time.
I look for BP to play it a little different this time. I think he will try to get an early lead on the Giants & have them play catch up in this one. Take away Mannings running game & have him throw it 40-50 times.
I look for a quick 14-17 point lead by Dallas & then a strong defensive effort .
Dallas 27
Giants 20
Usually, whatever I feel before the game turns out to be the opposite. I feel that the Cowboys will win the game. Which generally is bad news (Giants win) though, my feelings arn’t always correct. (about 80% time they are) I’m not supersuperstitious, but I do find it curious. I don’t believe it’s going to be as close and most predict either. I suspect, the game with be decided by more than 7 points.
So, with that said my prediction is:
Giants 23 (2 TDs 3 FGs Feely 3/4)
Dallas 12 (4 FGs Cudiff 4/4)
btw, Down with the Giants!
Here is a “Did you know” about the Giants. The New York Giants do not have cheerleaders. Why? Quote: “The Giants do not have a cheerleading squad. We have always felt that the game should be the focus of the day of game presentation.”
Becker:
Was Maurice Carthon one of the best fullbacks in the league in the years in which he played? Nope, he was more of a Richie Anderson that had a bit of more power and wasn’t that good catching out of the backfield, so, as a whole he was good, I just mentioned the best ones.
makes it harder when players decide to finally show up in their last year of a contract…….
Chandus,
If you are going to include Gash I think
Carthon belongs there too.Carthon was a
better blocker than both anderson or gash.