So, I'm assuming those of you reading this are Cowboys fans or are just really interested in the draft/free agency signings. I've been watching the mock drafts and sliding down to spot 18 to see who they think the 'Boys will take. Most have them taking Marucs McNeill (OT, Auburn), Winston Justice (OT, Southern Cal), Santonio Holmes (WR, Ohio State), or Ko Simpson (S, South Carolina). A few had them taking Jay Cutler (QB, Vanderbilt) but that was before he started climbing the ladder towards Leinart and Young.
Now, the Cowboys have three major needs going into the offseason. In no particular order they are: Free Safety, Right Tackle, and Kicker. For those of you who've paid attention, Parcells' trust is a hard thing to earn. And to do so you've got to perform and meet a high standard. Once you've earned this trust, though, he keeps an eye on you and tries to bring you with him if he can (Drew Bledsoe, Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Richie Anderson, Curtis Martin etc.).
I also think this talk of the Cowboys needing some youth at Wide Receiver is overblown. First of all, Patrick Crayton looked pretty strong last season and Terrance Copper also looks good. Finally, they're high on this guy named Tom Crowder in Dallas. They say he's the fastest guy on the team and are developing him into a Wide Receiver. I think they're confident enough in him, Crayton, and Copper to hold off on taking a Wide Reciever this year. For this reason I think they'll also take a pass on possibly signing T.O.
I think they'll sign Jason Fabini and put him on the right side. He played his first two years under Bill in New York at Right Tackle. Then if they can they may well pursue Adam Vinatieri (a Parcells' signing in New England) but that depends entirely on how much he's asking and how much some of the other quality kickers ask. Then I think they'll draft Ko Simpson. They may also sign another Linebacker and may even spend more time and money there than any other position but I think they'd make a mistake not getting Fabini and drafting a solid Safety.
would parcells really pay $2 mil or more for a kicker?
more importantly, would jerry jones allow him to pay $2 mil or more for a kicker?
i can see if he was 25 or 26, coming off 3 solid seasons maybe, but he's over 30 now, so i'm just curious if they would want to spend that much for him.
on the other hand, it makes more sense than mike vanderjact, who, like peyton manning, cant seem to perform when it really matters.
If I am Jerry Jones I would pay THREE million if I could get Adam Vinatieri. cuziffer do you actually watch Dallas games? A reliable kicker is huge if your team is close to getting over the hump. That would be money well spent if Adam leaves the red, white & blue which I'm not sure he will.
The Cowboys DO need youth at receiver. Those guys you talk about are clowns. If they just grab someone in the 3rd round that would suffice, but you are insane if you think Key & Fairy are not due for a fall pretty quick.
This is a Dallas team that is "right there" when it comes to competing, but there are variables involved. In the mock I am in they took Winston Justice (OT from USC) at #18. Added protection for the Statue of Bledsoe is defensible.
Ko fell to #31 where I (Oakland) traded up to grab him. It might be too soon for them to get him there because the value of himself & Bing is subject to much discussion. Bing went #38 to Seattle, who obviously I traded with.
You often don't realize how imporant something is until you lose it. Like your little toe, the kicker may be small but he is important. If you don't have solid kicker you're going to lose some key, close games. The Cowboys could've beaten the Seahawks and Broncos if they had Adam Vinatieri. They'll pay for quality.
By number 18 what quarterback of the future will be available? If there's still quality there maybe use it if not take a quarterback late (the last few Superbowl winning QB's were taking in rounds...six and later, I believe but none in the first).
I'm not crazy...I don't think. I never said Terry or Keyshawn would hold up all year. Clowns? I don't think so (though I've never seen Crowder play). Will they replace Glenn and Johnson. Maybe not but if you focus on the future you'll forget about today. Safety and tackle are much more pressing for a first round draft pick THIS year. You're right they're on the edge of being a top-tier team and they have a chance to get there next season.
Last edited by rusirious13 on February 26th at 3:06 PM.
yes norcal, i've seen enough dallas games to know the problems they have with kickers. not that i have to watch the games, since espn and every other sports hilite show cant seem to get enough of the big tuna on their programs every week.
what i am getting at is, if they bring in vinatieri or another high priced kicker, and he struggles, what do they do? parcells wont be able to just cut the guy, because of the salary cap implications. it would also not make much sense to sign him to a 1 year deal, then franchise tag him next offseason.
i also envision fewer rookie or free agent kickers wanting to sign with them, given the way parcells sends them packing every 3 weeks. there's enough pressure on kickers without worrying about losing your job over 1 missed kick.
rusirious13 - For the record, a few good QBs will be there at #18 but none probably "worthy" of being taken there. I am enamored a bit with Croyle and Jacobs who have my interest as I ponder my pick in the 3rd round (69th pick overall) in the mock I am participating in. Not to say Dallas would want either.... As for the receivers. You say one is going to help them in the future but you have "never seen him play"??? Guy, do some research before you make a statement like that. Exhibition football is a good start. If Santonio Holmes is around at #18 I think the Cowboys need to think HARD about taking him or even trading down a little for Sinorice Moss. Those guys can make plays and aren't over 30. The tackle position should only be addressed early if it is a "sure thing" pick. Many good ones go later. Do the Bills regret taking Mike Williams at #4? The Raiders took Robert Gallery at #2 and he can't even beat out Barry Sims. D'Brick is the only big time tackle at this point - it could change.
cuziffer - Adam Vinatieri is going to struggle? Where is the evidence of this? He is the biggest money kicker in the NFL and possibly the most consistent over the last several years. His attitude is also great and if he decided to take the dollars over loyalty to the franchise he made into a champion (yes, I credit him & if you watched the Snow Bowl it is obvious) then I think it would be a "for better or worse" long term deal.
Norcal- I'm just saying in Parcells' mind tackle and safety will be a more pressing concern for the number 18 pick than a Wide Receiver. They did resign Ahmad Merritt to add some depth. As far as doing research: what I'm saying is the organization is extremely impressed with him. They've gone out of their way to keep him around and have decided to develop him as a WR, apparently they don't think he's a clown. They seem content to wait on him so I assume they see him helping them in the future. The Cowboys may well use a pick at some point on a Wide Receiver or a Quarterback but I don't see them using #18 for it.
its a hypothetical situation norcal....say he misses a 50+ yarder in the meadowlands against the giants in mid november, or suffers a hamstring pull, and simply cant kick from that far. i'm not saying the man is rolling downhill like a snowball headed for hell, i'm merely stating that with parcells short fuse, and obvious lack of patience with anybody who uses their foot rather than their hands, it wouldnt be a situation i would want to get into, regardless of how much money the team threw at me.
1st round QB - except for a few notables - are always garbage. i would never waste my money on someone just cuz they killed in the Pac-10 or the MEAC. if Dallas needs a Qb they need to go after JAX's backup - Garrard is a monster waiting to happen - he wont mind sitting second chair 2 more years.
We need O-Line help and we need to go get proven veterans. Get Vinny and win those close games. Get a #1 receiver like TO who demands a double team. but knowing dalls they'll try to push someone into the role who didnt have the talent. grab Ko Simpson. i've watched that guy play in person - he's the truth. He was trapped in a Lou Holtz's defense which required him to play Rover (what the f@#$ is a Rover?) oh, and we need 1 more linebacker.
I am a FOX sports blogger because I like to talk and have opinions about pretty much anything and everything. I like pretty much any sport but I love football (basketball's a close second). The NFL is the only major sport I watch all season but I watch the others sporadically. My favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Red Wings, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
