Video: Galloway & Big Mac debate whether to sign or wait on Tony Romo

 

 

 

 

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More evidence the Cowboys nailed the '05 NFL draft

Not that we didn't already know this, but amid all of this talk about the Dallas Cowboys and their ability to screw up a draft class it should be mentioned the team killed it back in 2005.

We know this because Buffalo Bills LB Shawne Merriman recently announced his retirement. He is 28.

In April of 2005 there was some debate the Dallas Cowboys should have selected Merriman with the 11th overall pick of the draft. They selected DeMarcus Ware. Merriman went 12 to the San Diego Chargers.

The fear was "Lights Out" was going to be an enormous pain to sign, and coach, so the Cowboys went with a player who went to the smaller Troy. 

Merriman had 39.5 sacks in his first three years in the NFL, and then a total of six the rest of the way. And there was that suspension for testing positive for roids in 2006.

A case can be made that DeMarcus Ware is the best player to come out of an entire class that included: 
Aaron Rodgers (24th), Packers, Cal
Roddy White (27th), Falcons, UAB
Frank Gore (65th), 49ers, Miami
Justin Tuck (74th), NY Giants, Notre Dame
Darren Sproles (130th), Chargers, Kansas State 

The obvious debate will be Rodgers, and certainly a case can be made he is the one.

Ware will turn 31 in July, played in all 16 games since he entered the league in '05, has 111 sacks in his career, and will likely end up in both the Cowboys' Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

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NFL mock drafts saying Cowboys will go with this need first

Now that the Dallas Cowboys have cut Gerald Sensabaugh to create salary cap space you can officially add "Safety" as a need position. It was a need before he was released.

The team likes second-year pro Matt Johnson, but who knows if he can play. Barry Church, who missed nearly the entire '12 season to injury, should return as a starter.

The Cowboys' first round needs look to be ...
1. GM
2. O linemen. Any except left tackle.
3. Defensive tackle.
4. Safety

As the NFL draft approaches - we're still more than one month away - the mock drafts are changing pretty much daily.

In the spirit of the great information consolidator that is the Huffington Post, here is a compiled look who/what is saying the Cowboys will pick with the 18th pick in the 2013 NFL draft:

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Cowboys selecting North Carolina DT Slyvester Williams.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has the Cowboys selecting Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com has the Cowboys selecting North Carolina OG Jonathan Cooper. 
Scout's Inc. rate Williams as the 18th pick.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com is going with Purdue DT Kawann Short.
Dane Bruger of CBSSports.com has the Cowboys selecting Cooper.
Something called DraftTek.com is going with Sheldon Richardson.
The Sporting News says the Cowboys will select BYU DE/LB Ezekiel Ansah.
FootballsFuture.com goes with Richardson.
Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram likes Cooper at 18.
And USA Today has the Cowboys selecting Georgia DT Jonathan Jenkins.

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1-year deal the best way to go with Anthony Spencer

Since he was a kid playing sports in Fort Wayne, Indiana his coaches had to beg Anthony Spencer to care just a little bit more. His indifference and apathy got him in trouble with his high school coach. He was the classic case of a young man who took his considerable ability for granted.

When he was in high school at Bishop Luers, it wasn't until his high school coach pointed out the college recruiters who were watching him practice and play in games was Spencer suddenly interested in dominating games. He signed with Purdue.

When Spencer was at Purdue, it wasn't until his college coaches told him he could potentially be a high selection in the NFL draft did his interest level change. He was a first round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys.

Keeping with a similar football trajectory, when Spencer saw that he could cash in huge as a free agent did his interest level match his talent, and the production took off.

For the second time in as many offseasons the Dallas Cowboys put the franchise tag on Spencer. It's expensive - Spencer will make a guaranteed $10.6 mil' in '13, but the best move to make regarding this player. He can't be trusted with a long term deal. The short term is the only way.

The Cowboys ensure they will have the services of a talented outside linebacker who will have the carrot of playing for a large contract after this season. He will be asked to return to defensive end, the position he played at Purdue, in defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's 4-3 scheme.

According to Star-Telegram Cowboys' man Clarence E. Hill Jr., the team and Spencer's agent are talking about a long-term deal.

What's the rush? They have Spencer locked in for one season, and the allure of a long-term deal. It's best to keep it that way.

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Video: Gallloway & Big Mac believe Jerry Jones from the Combine, at this time

 

 

 

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The Cowboys have been dumbing down their defense since '08

Since certainly it can't be the player's fault, and God knows it ain't the GM, we have figured out that the problem for the 2012 Dallas Cowboys' defense is actually the scheme.

According to Dallas Cowboys head coach Jerry Jones, part of the problem the Cowboys had on defense in 2012 is not a 3-4 but the type of 3-4 Rob Ryan operates. There was too much of it.

"Where we fundamentally came down with Rob is that his philosophy is about multiple scheme," Jones told Mr. Clarence E. Hill jr. of the Star-Telegram. "I think you have to skinny it down. Philosophically, I don’t think Rob believes in that. And it’s not something that happened and all of a sudden at the end of the year we had a problem. I think Rob will tell you we had long visits about this in the off-season last year that there was too much scheme. He tried to cut it back and he did skinny it back, but it’s still a lot.

"This is no revelation we had after we went 8-8. This was after the year before’s 8-8. We just didn’t feel like at the end of the day Rob could skinny it back enough to our satisfaction that we could make plays."

The problem was turnovers. The Cowboys' defense didn't generate enough of them. The rub is they are too busy in their own heads rather than just playing fast. According to this story by Mr. Hill, "Since the beginning of the 2007 season, Dallas ranks only 24th in turnovers. It has averaged 23.8 per season in that span, including a franchise-low 16 in 2012 under Ryan."

If this sounds familiar it's because it is.

You may not recall but during the 2008 season, the second year under then head coach Uncle Wade Phillips and his 3-4 scheme, the team fell apart late by losing three of their last four. In December of '08, Wade said he was going to simplify the defense so his players could just react and play fast.

But in 2009, when the team finished 11-5 and won a playoff game, it wasn't a problem.

Now we are in 2013, and the team apparently was unable to simplify this scheme enough so they just scrapped the whole thing and embraced the 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

(It should be noted that the St. Louis Rams and head coach Jeff Fisher were set to hire Ryan, but backed off after a second interview. One of the reasons was Fisher didn't like Ryan's schemes too much, either. There wasn't a fit. Now Ryan is the new DC in New Orleans).

Fast, simple, sophisticated ... has anyone given any thought that it just may be the players aren't good enough?

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The Cowboys are going to make Tony Romo uncomfortable with an extension

The news out of Indianapolis, Indiana at the NFL combine should not come as a great surprise - Tony Romo is going to sign a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys.

Speaking to reporters aboard the Cowboys bus in downtown Indy, Cowboys head coach Jerry Jones told Mr. Clarence E. Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that, "Yes, that would be the most positive result – to extend him, re-sign him, extend him and then have him retire. That means we’ve had some success. And I would like that to happen."

That means you should just plan on Tony Romo being the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys for the next four seasons.

Barring injury, Romo should be around at least through the 2016 season. He's only 32. Deal with it.

Giving Romo an extenion one season before he could become a free agent was highly likely because the Cowboys are desperate to create some wiggle room against a salary cap they are currently pressed against.

The other reason it was likely is the team not only likes him, but absolutely hates the alternative of quarterback hell. Jerry is obviously still very scarred from the years after Troy Aikman retired, which one time included Clint Stoerner making a start.

Despite some logical thinking that both sides would be better off waiting, that simply was not going to happen. Romo would be stupid to turn down an extension of large guaranteed dollars, even if leaving may not be such a horrid idea. The Cowboys need the cap space, and the idea of letting Romo walk puts them in a situation that teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and so many others find themselves in.

The Cowboys have decided the devil they know is better than John Skelton or Brandon Weeden.

What this cannot mean is the Cowboys do not seriously consider drafting a quarterback. This 2013 draft class may not be loaded with QB prospects, but just because Romo will be locked in with an extension is no reason to ignore this position. 

The San Francisco 49ers reached the NFC title game with Alex Smith, and the next year they reached the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick.

The Cowboys think they still have their guy, regardless of the body of evidence in front of their own eyes. The guy can play. He can also make some stunning bonehead plays.

He's not going anywhere, but that can't mean the team thinks they don't need to look for his eventual successor.

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Robot chimp to call plays for Dallas Cowboys in 2013

IRVING, Texas - One day after the assistant to the head coach Jason Garrett danced, fillibustered and dodged every single attempt to nail down who will call plays for the Dallas Cowboys offense in 2013, the next likely candidate to do so deferred.

Offensive assistant coach Bill Callahan said Thursday that it doesn't matter who calls the plays. With that offensive line, he's probably right. Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson said Thursday he does not call plays.

Hmmmm ... so if Jason Garrett is not calling the plays, and Bill Callahan isn't calling the plays that next logical choice would be Jerry Jones. He has wanted to for decades, so let's be all in with this circus and slap a headset on Jerry and let him live out the fantasy to the fullest.

Seriously, what is the big deal with Jason Garrett either saying he will or won't be this team's primary play caller? With an offensive line adept at blocking no one, it's not like it really matters whether the play comes from JG, Callahan or Don Coryell.

"Red Z-25, Oh, Hell, We're Screwed on three" should play out the same for anybody.

Garrett may be a fine play caller, but a few end-of-game clock issues (ar Arizona in '11; at Baltimore in '12) are an indication he may have too many things on his plate but has too much pride to give it up. JG may still be suffering from the "Smartest Guy in the Room" syndrome.

This lack of transparency, or decision, is a fairly decent indication that the assistant head coach is at odds with the real head coach, who also doubles as this team's owner. Immediately after the season Garrett sounded adamant that he did not want to give up the play-calling responsibilities.

Only in the weeks after the season ended did Garrett admit that he would be open to the possibility. When pressed on the issue on Wednesday by Clarence E. Hill of the Star-Telegram, JG could not have sounded more wishy-washy.

Some garbage about evaluation, delegating responsibilities, a process, blah blah blah. He would not say who, how, or when. 

Ever since Jerry Jones tried to find a coach to replace Barry Switzer he has always wanted a guy to call the plays. The "stand around" coach irked him.

The reality of another playoff-less season forced Jerry to re-consider everything up to but not including himself (funny how that works). 

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It's official - Jason Garrett has been neutered

Listening to Dallas Cowboys assistant head football coach to the general manager deliver a state of the staff on Wednesday afternoon was almost painful. Not since the State of the Union and the GOP rebuttal have so many words been spoken without anything actually having been said.

You can't blame Jason Garrett, though. The man has had his knees cut out from under him by the real head coach of this franchise. If Garrett is able to keep this team playing hard for him the way he has in the previous two years it will be a great achievement.

Garrett would not specifically say ... well, anything, but it does sound as if Bill Callahan will be this team's play caller in 2013. Garrett threw out some BS about how this process has evolved over the years, and this has been a collective exercise.

"My respect for him is off the charts," Garrett said of Callahan.

It should be noted Coach Process expressed similar respect for Skip Peete and Rob Ryan. Both of those guys were fired this offseason.

Apparently the play calling has always been a collective thing since Coach Process became the head coach. This is an outstanding way of sharing the blame. Bill Parcells was one of the best at this.

Garrett would not say whether he will call plays next season, but all signs point to Callahan carrying that responsibility with Garrett as the final say. That's not completely atypical for a lot of offenses.

This whole play-calling thing is a giant mask for this team's real problems - the talent level isn't high enough. Both lines have been weak, and the depth isn't there.

"We trust the offense and we're pretty confident we'll get it right," Garrett said.

At this point, he is strictly in the minority.

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Part of the problem: Dallas Cowboys contract extensions gone terrible

NFL teams are already trying to figure out how to re-shape their roster with what will be a "flat salary cap" in 2013. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, don't expect a big increase in the cap for 2014, either.

The Cowboys are not expected to be a major player this offseason in free agency because, once again, they are near the cap limit. In fact, despite consecutive 8-8 records, they are approximately $20 million over the 2013 salary cap of $121 million.

How does this happen to a team that does not make the playoffs, all the time? One reason is that the Cowboys have a history of over-paying their own prospective free agents, all the time. Take a look at the team's history of contract extensions against what the player did after he inked the deal.

Aug. 2006
Roy Williams, S, 4-years, $25 million, $11 million guaranteed. He was 26 when he signed the extension.
A lack of coverage skills eventually caught up to Williams, who was cut after disappointing years in '08 and '09. Williams was a dominant player in the first few years in the NFL.
Williams spent one season in Cincy in 2010 and then retired.

Sept. 16, 2006
Bradie James, LB, 5-years, $20 million, $8 million guaranteed
A nice player who enjoyed a career year in '08. Lots of tackles in '09, '10 and then little in '11. Cut after '11 season. Spent last season in Houston. 

2006
Jason Witten, TE, seven-years, $29.5 million, $12 million guaranteed
One of the top three tight ends in the game.  

Oct. 30, 2007
Tony Romo, QB, six-years, $69 million, $31 million guaranteed
Post season is lacking, but he has started, played and won.  

Oct. 15, 2008
Roy Williams, WR, 5-years, $45 million. $20 million guaranteed
A giant waste. Spent 2-plus seasons with the Cowboys. He was cut after the '10 season. Spent 2011 with the Bears, after which he retired.

June 3, 2008
Terrell Owens WR, four-years, $34 million. $13 million guaranteed
Played one season with the Cowboys after he signed this unnecessary extension. He was cut after the '08 Played one season in Buffalo in '09 and another in Cincy '10. Is currently begging for a NFL job.

May 20, 2008
Marion Barber, RB, seven-years, $45 million, $16 million guaranteed
One of the dumbest extensions this team has ever awarded. Production dropped after signing this extension, mostly because his body could not take the pounding of his running style. Had a decent year in '09 and then did little in '10. He was cut after the '10 season. Spent 2011 with the Bears after which he retired.

May 28, 2009
Terence Newman, CB, six-years, $50.2 million, $22.5 million guaranteed
Spent more more seasons with the Cowboys after he signed this deal. Now with the Bengals.

Oct. 27, 2009
DeMarcus Ware, LB, six-years, $78 million, $40 million guaranteed
One of the best players at his position. 

Sept. 10, 2010
Miles Austin, WR, six-years, $54 million. Guaranteed $18 million
A little frustrating, but fairly productive. 

July 26, 2011
Doug Free, OT, four years, $32 million,  $17 million guaranteed
Looks horrid now. 

Aug 25, 2011
Orlando Scandrick, DB, five-years $27 million, $10 million guaranteed
Not awful, but probably not necessary if the team drafted and developed guys. 

Sept. 9, 2011
Jay Ratliff, NT, five-years $40 million, $18 million guaranteed
A cut candidate this offseason. 

Sept. 11, 2011
Jason Witten, TE, five-years, $37 million, $19 million guaranteed
One of the best players at his position. 

Dec. 9, 2011
Gerald Sensabuagh, S, five-years, $22.5 million; $8 million guaranteed
Plays hurt, reliable, just not many plays from a position that needs them. 

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