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2008-2009 Offseason: Cowboys Trade Anthony
Henry To Detroit For Veteran QB John Kitna
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- February 28,
2009 At
3:53 PM EST
- By
Eric M. Scharf
It seems the Cowboys and Lions enjoyed their last trade so much that
they decided to give it another go.
The Cowboys just sent starting right cornerback Anthony Henry to the
Lions in a straight-up swap for back-up QB John Kitna.
While the Cowboys may have appeared content to stick with Henry for
next season, as either the slowest starting right cornerback in some
time, or as a makeshift free safety, I am not surprised at the move,
and I applaud it.
Both of the Cowboys rookie cornerbacks, Mike Jenkins and Orlando
Scandrick (an absolute steal in last year’s draft), really came on
towards the end of the season . . . as Henry began to get slower and
slower. Sometimes, if I crossed my eyes, Henry’s 42 turned into 24,
and I thought I was watching Everson Walls getting burned, again.
To be clear, I think Everson Walls was one of the best cornerbacks
in Cowboys history, and a great person to boot, but when he began to
slow down, just like Henry, it became painfully obvious that it was
time for him to retire or move on. Of course, Walls moved on all
right – to a Super Bowl win with the Giants. Who knew? Good for him,
but I digress . . .
Henry was in the final season of his five-year deal he signed in
2005. He was expected to count about $3.6 million on the 2009 salary
cap, including a $1 million roster bonus due in June. The Cowboys
will absorb a cap hit, but instead of approximately $5.6 million, it
will count about $2 million.
Kitna was also entering the final year of his deal with the Lions,
and his $1.95 million base salary will be on the Cowboys' books for
2009. A back injury that got him shelved on injured reserve last
season appears to be all but healed.
Kitna is easily a huge upgrade over the aged-overnight Brad Johnson
and the non-existent Brooks Bollinger. Kitna’s good relationship and
on-field experience with Roy (the receiver) Williams is a bonus,
should Romo get injured again.
Does the trade of Henry mean that the Cowboys have not given up on
Roy (the safety) Williams? I believe he is good as gone. He is the
2nd of two basket cases in the past few years, including Julius
Jones, who has simply forgotten how to play the way that got him
drafted in the first place. Roy is mentally “broken” in a way that
even a hypnotist may not be able to correct.
The 2009 draft will be here soon enough, and there may a couple more
free agent moves before training camp arrives.
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- We shall see. We always do.
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