The Cowboys still are talking to Brandon Carr's representatives in hopes of getting a deal done with the former Chiefs cornerback. He would be a huge upgrade over Terence Newman, at least based on last season's results.
The Cowboys parted ways with Newman hours before free agency started. Dallas paid the former first-round pick $8 million in base salary in 2011, and Newman counted $10 million against the salary cap last season. He was due $6 million in base and was scheduled to count $8 million against the cap in 2012. The Cowboys will save $6 million in salary-cap money by counting him as a post-June 1 cut.
Newman was only the 97th-best cornerback in the NFL in 2011, according to Pro Football Focus. He was targeted 78 times and gave up 49 catches for 797 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks completed 62.8 percent of their passes against him and had an 88.5 passer rating. Newman, who turns 34 in September, did have four interceptions. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones blamed some of Newman's problems on injuries, which Newman played through.
The Cowboys flirted with replacing Newman in free agency last summer by attempting to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, who landed in Philadelphia instead. They will replace Newman this year, and they hope it is Carr who replaces him.
Carr, who turns 26 in May, was the 30th-rated corner last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He was targeted 79 times, gave up 39 catches for 511 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks had a 49.4 completion percentage against him and a 61.7 passer rating. He intercepted four passes and defensed seven.
Carr could get a bigger deal than that of Cortland Finnegan, who is 28. Finnegan, rated the third-best corner last season by PFF, agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal with the Rams on Tuesday. Finnegan played for new Rams coach Jeff Fisher in Tennessee.
-- Charean Williams
HEADLINE:
Brandon Carr would be huge upgrade for the Cowboys at corner
What a gross misstatement of fact. Tarzan's pet Cheetah the Chimpanzee would have been a huge upgrade at the corner back position for the Cowboys. Brandon Carr would be a lifesaver for a drowning secondary.
Posted by: John Q | March 14, 2012 at 02:45 PM