Dallas Cowboys Off Season News

[eagle eye]

I was not entirely correct when I wrote that Dallas had made no moves as yet in free agency. Dallas has signed defensive tackle Terrell McClain who has been with Houston for his first 3 years in the NFL. His role in the 4-3 defense will be considerably different than his role in the Texans 3-4. A change that will benefit him greatly from a wear and tear standpoint.

They also signed 6 year veteran DE Jeremy Mincey who comes from the Denver Broncos.

Both players fill a serious need to upgrade the D-line but neither is necessarily going to replace DeMarcus Ware. It is encouraging to see Dallas actually fill some major deficiencies in free agency. Neither player cost that much and they bring some youth AND experience to the table.

 

Here's a look at McClain from a scout's point of view by DallasCowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-BryanBroaddusBlog/Scouting-Report--New-DT-McClain-Is-Hard-To-Move/cabbfabd-2758-4573-af1b-765c6f026af9

 

 

[eagle eye]

The NFC East has a former Cowboy newly signed and one team just got a lot scarier on offense.

 

Washington Redskins - The Skins signed DT Jason Hatcher. Hatcher was the 2013 sack leader with 13 and now he will be chasing Tony Romo twice a year for the next 4 years. The deal with the Hatcher is around $27 MM over the 4 years. In the past two days Dallas has now lost it's all-time leader in sacks in DeMarcus Ware and the last season's sack leader. Newly signed DL from Denver with 20 career sacks and 2nd is George Selvie with ten, 7 coming last season.

 

The Philadelphia Eagle completed a trade with the New Orleans Saints that gives Chip Kelly another bullet for his offensive gun. Darren Sproles is now an Eagle and it only cost a 5th round draft choice and Philadelphia assumes Sproles contract. This isn't a bad deal either because there's only one year left on the contract he had with New Orleans for $3.5 MM. Sproles isn't the runner he once was but he doesn't need to be. Sproles will be a killer compliment to LeSean McCoy and there's no doubt he is top notch as a receiver out of the backfield.

 

Ex-Cowboy center Phil Costa signed on with the Indianapolis Colts. Terms of the deal are not readily know.

 

Dallas has signed their third free agent today. They signed LB Will Herring who came to Dallas from New Orleans where he spent the last three seasons. Prior to New Orleans he spent 4 years in Seattle where he was a 5th round draft pick in 2007. He played his college ball at Auburn. Herring is more of a special teams player who could fill in at LB.

 

 

[eagle eye]

The deal with LB Will Herring has fallen through. Due to disagreements in the language of the proposed contract Herring and the Cowboys will not be teaming up this year. No big loss. Herring isn't a starting caliber player and Dallas needs to upgrade their talent pool rather than remain stuck in the mud with mediocre players. Here's a link to senior writer for the Cowboys Mickey Spagnola's article about how the Cowboys are in trouble but maybe they have some hope for the future. Meaning the moves that have been made over the past week and losses they've suffered holds out hope for their salary cap. After this year, according to Spagnola, the Cowboys won't be in salary cap hell. They will actually be able to afford to upgrade the talent on this team before the older players on the roster are past their prime. The only guy who may not survive another mediocre team is Jason Garrett. To bad, because the team has gotten better since he came back to Dallas. The Cowboys have had talented players but the fact is Dallas has not had a talented team for a long while. Maybe Jerry thought since he had another 94, Charles Haley, that's all he needed but there wasn't another Tony Casillas, Leon Lett, Tony Tolbert and others a lot more talented than DeMarcus Ware has played with in his 9 seasons with Dallas. Just like Ware did in his opening press conference in Denver this week, I wish him well and I really hope he gets a Super Bowl ring or two before his career is over.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-MickeySpagnola/Spagnola-Let’s-Try--To-Make-Dollars--Sense-Of-All-This/55059ed5-dd0d-40ab-8e73-2c8ee5ecea71

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys are getting some visits from players who would be starters on the Dallas defense if they are signed. First is former Bears D-lineman Henry Melton. His visit was a bit of a surprise as it was thought his people were in deep negotiations with the Seattle Seahawks but Melton's visit in Dallas this morning clouds the picture somewhat. Melton is from the Dallas area and he played for D-coordinator Rod Marinelli when he had the same job in Chicago under Lovie Smith. The other visit is tomorrow by ex-Minnesota Vikings D-end Jared Allen. Allen is looking for a big contract and Dallas may not have the money he wants. If Dallas could snag these players it would seriously upgrade the Dallas D-line and make their draft day choices a lot easier.

 

Another player NFL.com is reporting will visit Dallas is former Browns QB Brandon Weeden. The only reason is so Dallas can have a 3rd string backup for cheap. I really hope it's just Weeden's agent trying to generate interest in his client which can't be easy to do after 2 very forgettable seasons in Cleveland.

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys have made a signing but, no, it's not DL Henry Melton. No word has come out either way about Melton as yet. The meeting today was with former Browns QB Brandon Weeden and yes, they agreed to terms on a contract for Weeden to become the third string QB. Apparently, there is some doubt about whether or not Kyle Orton will return as it could be possible Orton will choose to retire than play football next season. It's not likely with over $3 mm he is scheduled to make but you just never know. I like Orton as Romo's backup, I think he's about the best backup in the NFL and Dallas has him for relatively cheap. For his part, Weeden struggled badly in Cleveland but he played for two different coaching staffs and two different systems. I don't think it's very surprising he struggled as much as he did. It is being reported the Dallas was looking at Weeden in the 2012 draft and it may have been possible Dallas would have drafted him but his selection killed any hope Dallas may have had. That and the fact that Dallas traded up to draft Morris Claiborne.

[eagle eye]

The visits are over for prospective defensive line free agents Henry Melton and Jared Allen. Melton completed his final stop which was in St Louis today. He had also met with the Vikings, the Seahawks and of course Dallas. It was said his visit to Valley Ranch was a good one and having his former defensive coordinator in Chicago the DC in Dallas didn't hurt one bit.

Jared Allen completed his visit to Dallas today and it too was reported to be a very good visit. Allen came into Dallas on Monday night and was given the first class tour of the Cowboys facilities. Allen left Dallas to return home to be with his wife who is pregnant with their 2nd child. Allen has not scheduled any more visits other than the one he already made to Seattle.

Now, the only thing left is to wait on Melton and Allen to make their final decision on where they want to go. According to NFL.com Melton is the #2 ranked free agent available and Allen is #4. If Dallas wins the lottery and both players sign with the Cowboys it makes the upcoming draft look a lot different in terms who they NEED to draft rather than picking the best player available which is what team would prefer to do. Drafting according to need seldom works out well. Let's hope Jerry and Jason are good salesmen.

 

S Danny McCray is now a Chicago Bear. McCray became an UFA this year after being with Dallas since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. McCray was a bit of a liability as a safety but he is a special teams ace and a real backbone to the Cowboys coverage units almost from day one. McCray was signed to only a one year deal. The emergence of Dwayne Harris, Cameron Jordan and Jeff Heath on special teams sort of made McCray expendable.

 

Here's a scouting report from former scout and DallasCowboys.com writer Brian Broaddus on the Cowboys newest QB Brandon Weeden signed as a free agent yesterday.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-BryanBroaddus/Scouting-Report-The-Pros-And-Cons-Of-Weeden’s-Tape/f211baa2-3cf9-4124-bdc2-81fea9ffac2e

[eagle eye]

Okay Cowboys fans, one down and one to go! Henry Melton has agree to terms on a multi year deal with the Cowboys!

 

Quote from twitter: Henry Melton @ HenMel

 

Thank you chicago for the best 5 years of my life!...I can't wait to begin the next chapter of my life...With a star on my helmet!

 

posted 7:17 pm 18-Mar-2014

 

Dallas may have gotten a nice discount for Melton considering he's coming off ACL surgery suffered about mid season in 2013 AND he'll be rejoining his old coach at Chicago and current D-coordinator Rod Marinelli. Now, if we can just get Jared Allen to come around.

[eagle eye]

The Astros ended up batting .500 in their pursuit of two big name free agents to help begin rebuilding a weak defensive line. The began the week by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Henry Melton late of the Chicago Bears. It was probably an unfair advantage that Dallas had over 4 other teams who interviewed him. Why? For starters Dallas' defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was in the same job in 2012 which was Melton's only pro bowl season. For another reason, Melton is coming home because he is from Grand Prairie which is a skip and a jump from Dallas and finally Texas has no state tax which was an issue in Chicago and took a big chunk of change out of Melton's pay check. For Melton it was a win-win-win situation. As for Dallas, they got a darn good interior lineman to replace Jason Hatcher/Jay Ratliff who is young enough to be a force for Dallas for years to come. The biggest surprise is Jerry and Stephen Jones didn't heap a huge long term contract on a player coming off rehab from ACL surgery. The deal is for one year for about $3 MM and if he plays well Dallas has a group of 3 1-year options that will reward Melton if he plays well. Dallas has been burned by giving big contracts to players and not getting a bang for the Cowboys buck. Remember both Roy Williams'? How about Miles Austin? Marion Barber and few other come to mind so evidently the Jones family actually has learned a lesson or two.

The free agent hope is defensive end Jared Allen. Allen only made two visits this past week beginning last weekend when he went to Seattle and it was actually reported that they were working on a deal but on Monday Allen flew into Dallas for a meeting Tuesday with the Cowboys. Allen left Dallas without a contract saying he needed to get back to Minnesota to his pregnant wife to discuss his options. Must have been a short talk because today it was reported that Allen was making another trip to Seattle. Late this afternoon it was reported that Allen and the Seahawks have agree to terms so Allen takes his talents to the home of Starbucks. I don't care what the terms of his deal was all I know is I'm disappointed in losing out on Allen. It's not a surprise because after Dallas signed Melton NFL.com reported that the signing probably took Dallas out of contention for Allen because the Cowboys just wouldn't have enough money to pay him what it is believed he wanted. A bunch of my friends are happy because if they paid Allen $12 MM when they wouldn't pay the same for DeMarcus Ware. My friends being a loyal bunch I certainly could understand their point. While Allen is a year younger than Ware he has been in the NFL eleven years to Ware's nine.

Dallas has been trying to get younger for the past two years and signing Allen would not have been consistent with the path the Cowboys have been following. This allows Dallas to concentrate on drafting for defense by taking the best player available instead of reaching for a guy out of desperate need. Dallas could use another linebacker or two and a safety to go along with D-line help.

 

Tony Romo is now the proud papa of another baby boy. The newest addition to the Romo household was born on Tuesday and he is named Rivers Ray Romo. He came into the world at 8 lbs 12 ozs and 20 1/2 inches long. There is a picture on twitter of the proud parents and the baby you can see via the link below.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowbuzz.html

[eagle eye]

Here's a video from DallasCowboys.com featuring a segment from a local program in Dallas called "The Blitz, Dallas Cowboys Report". The segment linked is a feature called 'coache's clinic' and in this episode defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson talks about how to play press-man coverage.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/videos/The_Blitz_Jerome_Henderson_Coaching_Clinic_45/64de3589-53ad-47d9-960a-471f2b09a831

[LetItGo]

Can't wait to see Weeden starting for the Boys, guy. Hey guy... it's about time the Romo era is ending. Where do you think the Boys trade Romo to? Houston? Jerry is finally making the right moves......guy.

[eagle eye]

Okay, some news to talk about.

 

Remember DT Jay Ratliff? Sure you do if you're a Cowboys fan. The pro bowl defensive tackle who was given a $40 mm contract extension in 2011 and who only played 4 games in 2012 due to a groin injury and supposedly tweaked his groin during a conditioning run at the start of 2013 training camp. The same Ratliff who was put on the PUP list for the first six weeks of the season so he could heal and at the end of the six weeks he was released. The same Rat-liff whose agent claimed Ratliff was seriously injured and may not play until the 2014 or 2015 season and then signed with the Chicago Bears two weeks later and played the last 5 games of the year, including the Dec 9 game against the Cowboys, and earned a 2 year extension this year. The same Jay Ratliff who blew up on owner and GM Jerry Jones in the locker room after a 2012 Thanksgiving day loss to Washington when Jones simply went up to Ratliff and said he hoped he would be better soon because the team needed him. The guy is a tool bag and pretty much took money from the Cowboys under false pretenses. Since Ratliff's release last year the Cowboys have said nothing, until now. Today it was reported that the Cowboys have filed a complaint against Ratliff to recoup money paid to Ratliff in the 2013 season, a chunk of the $18 mm signing bonus given Ratliff in 2011 not to mention money Ratliff owes for a suite at AT&T Stadium. This could take months to resolve. Stuff like this usually does but I hope Dallas wins because Ratliff didn't play for Dallas to punish Jones for something. I'm surprised Jones and the Cowboys didn't sue Ratliff. Although, it may not be allowed under the players collective bargaining agreement.

 

Dallas got some good news today. They will receive 3 compensatory draft picks for this year's draft. They are all seventh round picks giving Dallas a total of six seventh round picks. Last year Dallas received an extra 7th in the deal in September that brought DL Edgar Jones to Dallas in a trade with Kansas City. The Cowboys also gave up their sixth round pick in the deal. Dallas received a seventh from Chicago in the deal that brought TE Dante Rosario to Dallas who was only on the team a short time.

Now, the Cowboys have one pick in each of the first 5 rounds and now the 6 seventh rounders for a total of 11 draft picks. It certainly gives Dallas the ability to trade up in the draft if they want to. Draft picks are completely invaluable to NFL teams and with Dallas having so many holes that need filling Dallas has seemingly fallen into some tall cotton.

 

If you want to play GM here's a link to Fanspeak's On the Clock Mock Draft. You choose the team you want to draft for and how many rounds and the computer picks all other picks. It's pretty cool, check it out.

 

http://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/

[eagle eye]

Well, any hope I had of Jared Allen signing with the Cowboys is gone. But at least the Seahawks won't get him either. It was announced today that Allen has signed with the Chicago Bears. The contract is a 4 year deal worth $32 MM with a $15 MM in guaranteed money with the 1st two years fully guaranteed and a bonus due next year. Certainly out of the Cowboys cap-strapped ball park. Now, the focus on finding a player or combination of players to replace DeMarcus Ware.

[eagle eye]

According to a report on NFL.com Jerry Jones assures that even if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs this year it won't cost Jason Garrett his job. I have not read the article yet but it's my belief, despite the fact Jones said the Cowboys were absolutely not rebuilding in light of the Cowboys release of DeMarcus Ware. He acknowledged they need to fix the d-line and so forth but you don't rebuild with Tony Romo on the downside of his career, that said, Dallas has been rebuilding for the past 3 years, since Jason Garrett became head coach. The Cowboys have gotten younger and the talent on the team has increased. Dallas needs to restock their whole D-line with quality players who can defend the run and pressure the opposing QB for the Tampa 2 defense they now run. I think that Dallas has been bitten in the butt by injuries, especially on defense, which has derailed their chances the past two years. They got receivers, tight ends and o-linemen. The offense is in good shape. Dallas' efforts to rebuild the defense has been hampered by those aforementioned injuries. Last season, 1st round draft choice Morris Claiborne, missed most of the season. Sean Lee has missed most of the past two seasons. Bruce Carter missed time AND took a step back in terms of his production. Justin Durant missed most of the season. If you're keeping score that a starting cornerback and your whole starting linebacker corp out. Dallas needs to draft D-linemen and a linebacker or two. And not only that they need to play well and stay on the field.

Jones knows this and, make no mistake, they are rebuilding the defense. In Jerry's mind I'm sure he's thinking they are reloading. Pot-A-to pot-ah-to. Same difference. I think Jerry understands it ain't coaching that cost Dallas a playoff birth--or was it? Certainly, some better play calling could have helped win the Detroit game and the Green Bay game. Two games Dallas had in the bag and let slip away. But maybe they have solved that too by hiring Scott Linehan to call plays. He's Garrett's guy where Bill Callahan was not. Linehan's offenses have done a good job in Detroit. Linehan's O could pass the ball but they took advantage of their RB's too. Could be that problem is fixed. Who knows but Jerry is apparently all in on Jason and unless the team collapses like the last season under Wade Phillips don't look for Garrett to be looking for a job any time soon.

[eagle eye]

Dallas is trying to reconstruct their defense. Everybody knows that, it ain't no secret. That defense has more holes than a bee hive. I understand that Dallas has been trying to get younger and they showed no remorse in allowing a cornerstone of the last decade go when they released DeMarcus Ware last month. With that in mind there is one guy I'm sure Cowboys fans may feel is a good idea. Sign Danieal Manning. The guy has been a really good player since he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Bears in 2006 out of Abeline Christian. He's spent the past 3 seasons with Houston although he missed a big chunk of 2013 due to a broken leg suffered against the Rams last October. A deal similar to the one Dallas made with Henry Melton that was reletively cheap with options for future years could very well apply here. This would fill a need as Manning is a good player and a good locker room guy and for a couple of years he would be have some value. His age may be a concern but a one or two year deal at the right price would make sense. For his part, Manning was born and raised in Corsecana Texas and it has been his dream to play for Dallas. So it would be a win-win for both the Cowboys and Manning. That is of course Manning still has some gas left in his tank. Realistically, Dallas likely won't be in the market. As I said earlier the Cowboys have been trying to get younger and they feel like they have a good safety on the roster to pair with Barry Church who seems to have cemented his role for the Cowboys at free safety. The problem has been finding a strong safety. JJ Wilcox did okay but he's still learning as he's only played safety for like 3 years. Matt Johnson hasn't played a down but apparently he's shown something when he did practice because they are hanging on to the kid like he's made of gold. Jeff Heath is the other guy but he's young and maybe needs a year or two to learn from a vet like Manning. All of these guys could use a strong veteran presence like Manning but Dallas decided a vet wasn't important since they cut Will Allen about as soon as they signed him last year. It is just a thought I had and I'm sure I'm not the only one to have it.

[eagle eye]

Okay, I'm convinced that Dallas should pick Jadeveon Clowney in May's draft. Unfortunately, Dallas doesn't pick until No 16 and Clowney won't fall past No 3 and probably not No 1. I can easily see Clowney being drafted by the Texans. So, there are clearly only two options left available. 1) Dallas can package enough of their picks to move up to No 1 if Houston is willing. It will likely cost Dallas every pick they have except for the 3 compensatory seventh round picks they have or 2) I can utilize my Jedi mind tricks to influence the other 15 teams ahead of Dallas to pass on Clowney. Honestly, I don't think either scenario is going to happen. My mind tricks are powerful but I'm no Yoda. Add to that, Dallas has too many holes to fill to sacrifice the whole draft for one player. Mike Ditka did it in New Orleans to take Ricky Williams and you know what a disaster that was. But there is one guy who could be there, or in a workable range and that's UCLA's Anthony Barr. The guy is athletic and fast for a 6'5" 255 lb guy. How do I know he's athletic? He began his career at UCLA as a running back! Dallas biggest need is a revitalized pass rush and adding a guy like Barr could go a long way to help resolve that problem.

[eagle eye]

Could Dallas already have some reinforcement for their beleaguered D-line already on the roster? DallasCowboys.com's Mickey Spagnola thinks so. Last season 1st year defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford was making a name for himself in OTA practices. He seemed to be thriving in the new 4-3 defensive scheme. Then the Cowboys when to Oxnard, California for training camp and WTF happened? Crawford tore his blankety-blank Achilles tendon. Season over. Done. Flash forward and Crawford is on and maybe ahead in his rehab. The fact is the only thing good about his injury is when it was suffered. Late July is way better than say, November, which would mean Crawford would likely miss half of the coming season. Rod Marinelli, who was Crawford's position coach last year and his defensive coordinator this year thinks Crawford will be a great addition to the roster even to the possibility having the talent to step into DeMarcus Ware's spot at weak side DE. Wouldn't that be awesome!

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-1/Spagnola-Marinelli-Has-Some-Tools-To-‘Tighten-Bolts’/9995f13b-ed00-4e4b-8bba-9bb2df09498f

 

There's another interesting possibility that looms possibly in Dallas' favor to further bolster the D-line. Anthony Spenser, remember him? The past two years Dallas thought enough of Spenser to use the franchise tag on him. In 2012 he had a breakout season recording 11 sacks, 27 QB pressures and he led the team in tackles with 95. He was the only NFL player that year to have 10+ sacks and 90+ tackles which went a long way to earned him his first pro bowl berth. Dallas had high hopes for Spenser and DeMarcus Ware as bookend D-ends last summer but that all went out the window when, after the first game of the season, Spenser had to have microfracture surgery on his knee. His season was over at that point, and maybe his career, because this type of knee surgery has been next to impossible to come back from. Spenser is still rehabbing his knee and he's still walking around Valley Ranch on crutches. But, he has been faithfully working hard on his rehab and even though he's a free agent Dallas has supported and guided him through that rehab. As a free agent Spenser has visited a couple of teams but as yet is unsigned. Like I said, microfracture surgery is pretty serious and teams seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude. That's a good thing for the Cowboys. The beat writers for their web site share a common opinion that Dallas will be able to re-sign Spenser for a substancially lower price than the $8.86 MM and $9.6 MM he made as a franchise tag player. If Spenser can beat the odds and make a successful comeback AND he signs with Dallas then another piece of the D-line puzzle will be resolved. Problem is, that's a lot of ifs.

[eagle eye]

Here's a segment of the Cowboys TV show called, "The Blitz" that features Cowboys position coaches giving fans an inside of how they coach certain aspects of playing the game. A while back I posted a feature by Cowboys defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson on how to play man coverage. Today I'm posting a video again featuring Henderson on how Dallas has their DBs play zone coverage.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/videos/The_Blitz_Coaching_Clinic_Playing_Tampa_2_45/e4c7e96f-924e-4f22-aafd-810e8924141a

[eagle eye]

Here's a link to an article from NFL.com listing 10 players whose stock seems to be rising. Labelled as draft day sleepers I can see a group of 10 players who would fit with the Cowboys. It almost seems like Bucky Brooks has assembled a list of potential Cowboys sleeper picks. All 10 of these players fills needs by the Cowboys including that elusive quarterback of the future that will surely need to be addressed with Tony Romo about to turn 34 in two weeks. (I knew there was a bond between Romo and me. We share April 21st birthdays!) Realistically, Romo has 3-4 prime years left barring injury so Dallas really needs to start grooming his replacement PDQ.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000340318/article/cody-latimer-tom-savage-among-10-draft-sleepers-to-watch

[eagle eye]

Big Rob and his son Trey were overnight national sensations when they danced a choreagraphed routine at their seats on the club level of AT&T Stadium during the NCAA National Championship Game this past Monday. So why mention this in this thread? Big Rob is an accounts payable accountant in the Cowboys accouting department. Not only that he's the captain of the Dallas Mavericks fun-loving dance team the Mavs ManiAACs. Here's a link to the Cowboys article about Big Rob and a link to the dance routine Big Rob and his son did that has garnered them so much attentions after the video of their dance routine went viral on youtube.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-NickEatman/Video-Board-Dance-Now-Life-Changing-For-Father-Son-Duo/1f86ef5e-9475-4acb-93c5-10631db182d3

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_AMDCs0O0

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys had 30 players in at valley ranch in for a visit to get a last look at players they may be interested in. It's not the top 30 players on the draft pecking order but players that Dallas may want some questions answered because they are trying to get an idea who their 3rd, 4th and 5th round draft picks may be. They have a lot to be answered so they can best use their 6 seventh round picks. That said, Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald was among the thirty that made the visit. Many mock drafts actually are projecting the Cowboys will select Donald. Donald is undersized and he's projected as a 3 technique tackle, the same spot free agent signee Henry Melton plays. I'm not sure, with the holes in the D-line, that Dallas has can they afford to double up on a position you've already addressed? If I'm Dallas and both Donald and UCLA DE Anthony Barr who do you go with? Barr is actually listed as a linebacker in draft projections but most agree he would be used as a DE in the NFL in 4-3 defenses. Dallas has a huge need to try to fill the hole left by the release of DeMarcus Ware. I'm not saying Barr is as good as Ware but he's a sort of tweener type that Ware was coming out of Troy State.

The Cowboys could be looking at a real dilemma because what do they do if Donald and/or Barr is available and Notre Dame's OL Zach Martin is there? What if TAMU WR Mike Evans or Fla State WR Kelvin Benjamin is available? It depends on if you think Dallas needs to add a piece to replace Miles Austin or if you feel it's important to draft a guy who can come right in and play guard and go to right tackle when Doug Free's contract is up. Does Dallas have to take the best available or fill the needs they have on defense? It's all pretty interesting if you follow the Cowboys or are a draft geek like me. One thing is certain---draft day is 23 days away.

[eagle eye]

Today the Cowboys are officially back to work as far as the NFL collective bargaining agreement is concerned. Off season work with 19 of the 32 NFL teams begin today. The teams with new head coaches were able to begin workouts two weeks ago and the last 6 teams will begin tomorrow. Today is also Tony Romo's birthday marking his 34th year on the planet. He is scheduled to participate in team activities but that really isn't saying much considering this Phase 1 of off season work is relegated to strength and conditioning and rehab work. QB's can throw passes to receivers as long as they are not covered by a defensive player. The beginning of Phase II starts after the NFL draft May 8-10 and after the rookie mini camp held a week after the draft. It will be the first time the coaching staff will be allowed to actually begin teaching. As in Phase I, Phase II does not allow players to wear helmets but they will be allowed to walk through offensive and defensive schemes although not against one another in live contact drills. Phase III is the 10 days of OTA's within the 3 weeks between May 27th and June 12th. That is followed by a mandatory veteran mimi camp starting around June 17 and ending 3 days later.

So, basically, today is a big whoop day all things considered but it does get us one day closer to the draft which, right now, seems like a long way off.

[eagle eye]

There has been no real news since the Cowboys started off season workouts on Monday. Not at all unexpected. But, as I look at all the mock drafts and via fanspeak.com doing my own mocks I am mocked out. We are 15 days away from draft day and I'm really quite tired of the wait. One thing I have noticed is that the guys who are ranked in the top 10 are really can't miss picks. As far as position players goes that is. QB's are still hit and miss and that's why it's so scary to use a pick on a top ranked passer. With several QBs ranked in the top 10 it's makes this draft a real crap shoot. It also got me to thinking that Dallas has two top ten picks on their current roster. The first is left tackle Tyron Smith and that guy has blossomed into one of the best tackles in the game. Smith was the 9th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He is coming to the end of his rookie contract and getting him signed should be a huge priority of the Cowboys preferably during the coming season when he would surely give the Cowboys a little hometown discount. 2013 saw Smith make the Pro Bowl and it should be the first of many to come. Dallas seems to have gotten good value from the #9 pick.

The next guy is Dallas first round pick in 2012--a pick they made a big trade to get. The fact that Dallas moved up from their #14 pick to the #6 in a trade with St Louis was one of the real surprises on day one of the draft. As yet, Claiborne has not played up to what you would expect the #6 pick should be. For one thing, he can't seem to stay on the field. He missed most of the 2012 OTAs and part of training camp as he recovered from a broken wrist and he did okay as a rookie all things considered but in 2013 he ran into more injury troubles. In the first place he missed a big chunk of training camp due to a pulled hamstring, an injury that reached almost epidemic proportions in Dallas the past two seasons. Then, in the first game of the season he dislocated his shoulder and he never regained his starting spot because of his own sub-par play and Orlando Scandrick's good play. This looks to be the first off season of Claiborne's pro career that he's healthy going into team workouts. Another hindrance was the move from Rob Ryan's pressure defense that required cornerbacks to play press-man coverage, which is Claiborne's forte, to a zone type coverage in Dallas' new 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme under new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Claiborne struggled in the new scheme and it didn't seem to suit Claiborne's style of play. Kiffin is now been elevated to be a consultant and Kiffin's close friend Rod Marinelli is the new DC but the overall scheme will remain the same. What needs to change is Claiborne's play. He needs to start to earn that #6 pick reputation he came into the NFL with. How well a cornerback plays in many cases has a direct correlation to how well the D-line can pressure the opposing QB but that said, Claiborne needs to ramp it up a few notches. It's time for Claiborne to shine and it's not negotiable. Play better or that 2012 pick will officially be labelled a bust and you know Jerry Jones won't like that one bit.

 

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys have wasted what little free agent money they have by signing another useless quarterback. It is being reported on NFL.com that Dallas has signed Caleb Haney to a one year deal. The terms of the deal were not reported. It is being speculated that Dallas is getting another veteran arm in case backup Kyle Orton retires. Apparently Orton has been considering just such a move. The move to sign Haney is along the same importance of their signing of Brandon Weeden last month. Neither guy has really done much in the NFL and nothing much is really expected of them. Hopefully, the signing dissuades Orton from retiring because I like him as a QB and as the Cowboys backup. Realistically, Orton may have been trolling for a raise and the Cowboys are, in effect, saying that we'd like to keep you but we do have other options. The money given either Weeden or Haney is likely negligible and it won't stop Dallas from releasing one or both if they don't work out. It certainly won't stop Dallas from drafting a QB if one worth drafting falls in the right spot. With Tony Romo turning 34 this past week Dallas needs to start thinking about the future and get someone in to groom for his replacement.

[eagle eye]

With less than two weeks before the NFL draft Dallas has signed a defensive end today. There is some good and bad to this and a lot we won't know whether it's good or bad for a good while. The signing was none other than Anthony Spencer who missed 15 of 16 games in 2013 and has been rehabbing his knee following microfracture last fall and has been in Dallas ever since rehabbing that knee. The latest update on his status was a couple of weeks ago when DallasCowboys.com reported he was still on crutches getting around Valley Ranch. There is still no real time table for Spencer's availability but all parties are hoping he will be ready to go by training camp which begins at the end of July. Frankly, that's a stretch because of the nature of what microfracture surgery is and the time it takes in rehab. If, by some miracle, Spencer can go for Dallas and assuming he regains his pro bowl form then Dallas has added a nice piece to their rebuilding project on the D-line. Dallas signed Spencer to a one year deal for what so far is for undisclosed money but I'm sure they were able to sign him pretty cheap considering what is options are at present. Dallas is playing craps right now betting Spencer will be able to play and at a high level. The dice are rolling and it will be a while before they know if they hit seven or eleven or snake eyes.

[eagle eye]

The draft is only 9 days away. The talking is just about over (thank the Lord!). All the pundits on ESPN.com and NFL.com and all the sports related .com's it plastered everywhere. Those of you who are into the draft probably have your own faves. Me too but I'll keep it to myself -- for now. Right now, here's a list of the top 50 draft prospects from DallasCowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus who is not just a writer for the web site he is a former NFL scout who worked for the Cowboys and Packers.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-BryanBroaddus/Broaddus-Big-Board-Ranking-The-Top-50-Prospects/eef1adf3-18f5-4bb2-8c74-4794220a3711

 

For all you draft geeks there's a pretty dope draft guide written by Broaddus and the staff of DallasCowboys.com and Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine. It is actually the current issue of Star Magazine and you can order it on line via DallasCowboys.com or you can go to the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop in Parkdale Mall and buy your copy there. It's a great intro to the top candidates in the draft--not just the top prospects--but guys Dallas or Houston or your favorite team may be looking at in the later rounds. If you order Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine online version you not only get the draft guide but you also get a full year subscription to the magazine all for only $14.95. Not a bad deal if you are a Cowboys fan. The magazine/e-zine is delivered monthly during the off season and weekly beginning when training camp begins.