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2009-2010 Offseason: Pre-Selection Catch
Up And Other Considerations
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- April 22,
2010
At 5:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
Zebras Can Change Their
Stripes
A couple months ago Mike Pereira – now former NFL VP of Officiating
– mentioned the concept of offering his services as a “Penalty
Avoidance Coach” for hire.
While this is not an original idea – having seen the Cowboys utilize
referees in training camp for years prior – it is a good one that
requires absolute attention to detail in order for everyone involved
to enjoy success.
There are only a handful of NFL referees whom even the most educated
of fans consider at the top of their eagle-eyed, flag-throwing game.
Even fewer of those high performance zebras are available to pay
extended visits to NFL training camps to pass on their penalty
detection secrets.
Jim Rome – currently of ESPN and formerly of various Southern
California sports talk radio shows I followed – is fond of saying,
“If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
While New England and Bill Billicheat may be living, breathing
examples toward that methodology, gaining a better grasp of exactly
what causes untimely ticky-tacky penalties should give any team a
hall pass on the “Patriot Way.”
Therefore, “If you’re not attempting everything you possibly can –
outside of cheating – you’re not trying.”
Jerry Jones – playing the role of eccentric billionaire John Hammond
from the “Jurassic Park” films – “spares no expense” in his ongoing
attempts to improve the Dallas Cowboys, so it only makes sense that
America’s Team might inquire as to Pereira’s availability this
off-season.
Pereira will be primarily situated on the West Coast to care for his
aging parents, but the Cowboys may once again spend time in Thousand
Oaks. Attention to detail is at the core of every false start and
blown tackle the Cowboys absorbed on their way to the second round
of the playoffs last season.
Farewell Flozell And No
More Gamblin' With Hamlin
Speaking of false starts and blown tackles, the Cowboys recently
told Flozell Adams to flow away and Ken “Hamburger” Hamlin was
told to practice his dummy tackling elsewhere.
Flozell officially stopped flowing from the talent tap a few years
ago – displaying only intermittent consistency and fluidity while
waging a losing war with his right ear. Just ask Tony Romo – who
surveyed the field through the left ear hole in his helmet whenever
Flozell began to trickle.
Ken Hamlin failed to deliver the defensive steak the Cowboys
believed they were getting when they rewarded him with a big pay day
just two years ago.
Hamlin’s story – initially – was a good one. He was involved in a
horrible incident – while with the Seattle Seahawks – which left him
with a life-threatening head wound. He recovered on the sidelines
while the Seahawks made their way to the Super Bowl against the
Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Seahawks considered Hamlin an emotional leader and one of their
most ferocious hitters, and yet – with concern about the injury
recovery still fresh on the Seahawks’ minds – Hamlin was allowed to
seek employment elsewhere.
Hamlin desperately needed a new team, and the Cowboys desperately
needed someone to help out the clearly overwhelmed Roy Williams.
Hamlin – with his head completely healed – played his brains out in
exchange for his one-year contract.
The Cowboys – after some understandable negotiations – felt inclined
to deliver a longer-term commitment to Hamlin, with the hopes that
Hamlin would finally solve – in part – their nightmarish defensive
secondary woes. After all, while you rarely can replace a Darren
Woodson, you can certainly get close with a pairing of players.
The Cowboys ultimately got burned on a risk that all professional
sports teams take on a regular basis: signing short-term surprises
to long-term agreements – hoping to convert a brightly lit candle
into a raging forest fire.
Let me say again that it is a rare and special team that does not
eventually get bitten by this bug. You can extend a player – who
displayed potential or was regaining conditioning and form after
injury – that has pleasantly surprised you. The result will either
be a player with even more upside than imagined, a player that goes
into an increasing tailspin of decline, or a player who seems to
brain dead at the most crucial point of contact.
The Cowboys bravely chose to use and pursue younger, newer, and
potentially hungrier players at left tackle and free safety –
rather than the older, slower, sloppier, and potentially empty tank
players they had in Flozell and Hamlin.
Fans will learn soon enough if Doug Free, Alan Ball, Patrick Watkins
(who still reminds me of Michael Downs) – and anyone the Cowboys
draft over the next 48 hours – can adequately replace or improve
upon Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin.
Fans – as usual – can spend all their free time wringing their hands
over what might be, or what they think might be – good, bad, or
ugly. The best fans can do for themselves – and their collective
blood pressure – is to simply wait through any positive or negative
pre-season teases and see what happens against Washington to start
the upcoming regular season.
McNabb Nabbed From One Feathered Enemy By Another
Cowboys’ fans should take the Donovan McNabb trade – from the "Iggles"
to the "Snyderskins" – with a grain of salt.
While McNabb has every incentive to show up in D.C. in fabulous
shape and learn Shanahan’s offensive system like the back of his
hand – at the end of the day – he must execute . . . and do it with
a bandaged offensive line.
His new offensive line mates will certainly have the same fire in
their bellies, but they still must execute . . . and do it with a
bandaged set of running and receiving targets.
McNabb must still face a Cowboys’ defensive line that managed to put
the clamps on him for much of three games last season. Those
defensive linemen will certainly have every incentive to study
McNabb even harder and attack him from every possible angle.
While the Iggles are giving Kevin Kolb every incentive to spread his
wings wide, fly high, and fly far, Kolb must still face the same
defense Andy Reid felt only McNabb could handle for much of three
games last season.
The scenario remains the same. The NFC East has been and will
continue to be a hate fest between the Cowboys, the Giants, the
Iggles, and the Snyderskins. It does not matter who is added to
which team, if you can simply remember that kitchen sinks will
continue to be thrown in either direction from here until kingdom
come.
The least the Cowboys can do in the face of another competitive year
within their typically competitive division . . . is put a physical
beating on their opponents. The best they can do is finish those
beat downs with wins.
RIP – Texas Stadium:
1971-2008
Count me among the millions of Cowboys’ fans who have years and years
of memories – great and not so great, celebrated and forgettable –
from all the NFL games played at Texas Stadium.
All those star players, those big plays, the mystique, and the hole
in the roof through which God watched his favorite team play.
The hole is the roof is not gone, not forgotten, but has simply been
transferred to the new and brilliant Cowboys Stadium. I have never
personally been to Cowboys Stadium, but my parents – just two days
ago – took a tour of the facility.
They came away very impressed – just like everyone else who
appreciates fine construction and well-presented history – and I
will be receiving a photo-filled DVD filled from them very soon. I
simply cannot wait!
Stick To Football Instead
Of Futbol?
Tony Romo is a rare athlete who excels at almost every single sport
in which he playfully or professionally participates. If there is a sport in which Romo has
failed, I must wait for Romo to confess or ESPN to dig it up.
Romo was seen – in the past two months – playing indoor soccer. He
can play it and play it well. He knows that if he receives a freak
injury playing or doing anything outside of football . . . that he
could seriously jeopardize his NFL career or end it altogether.
I love NFL football, and I played 13 seasons of soccer in my youth –
so I appreciate futbol as well.
Most fans, coaches, and prognosticators would have Romo live in a
large plastic bubble that can be rolled from one destination to
another by a 24-7 team of bodyguards.
Most fans, coaches, and prognosticators are right to be concerned,
but you cannot ask Romo to stop living his (athletic) life. As an aside, the
Pittsburgh Steelers are praying that starting QB Ben Roethlisberger
stops living (troubled) his life . . . but I digress.
While it does not seem to matter if Romo were to hurt himself on a
kick-slide or riding an ATV, fans need to trust that he is
simply enjoying himself through “change of pace” physical fitness.
Romo no longer has Jessica “Basket Case” Simpson in his life. He
enjoys and succeeds at a variety of sports in ways that few outside
of Bo Jackson could. What else – besides being cautious – could fans
ask of Romo? Oh, right – that elusive Super Bowl victory in a team
sport.
Private Opinions Gone
Public
I cringed when I heard and saw what Jerry Jones had to say about
Bill Parcells the other day.
I take Jerry at his word – his sober definition of “endearment” –
regarding the Tuna, and I am glad to hear he called Big Bill as soon
as he could to explain himself and apologize.
Just like the slurred comments that provoked Jimmy Johnson to resign
– so many painful years ago – it simply did not have to be stated in
public . . . in the presence of alcohol or not.
It was unnecessary, especially in light of the apparent fact that
all is forgiven and understood with Parcells.
Jerry can afford to say whatever he wants whenever he wants, but he
simply needed to say nothing – both with Jimmy and Bill. The
difference – this time – is that Jerry was talking about a former
coach while his own coach, Wade, was sitting comfortably at home.
Here is to hoping Jerry begins enjoying a virgin margarita every so
often . . . or starts surrounding himself with bodyguards who frisk
everyone with whom Jerry chooses to speak.
Cuban Has Been Smoking Too
Many Cubans Again
I mentioned my appreciation for Mark Cuban in the past, and I will
re-state it here.
I love what Mark Cuban has done for the Dallas Mavericks
organization.
I love what Mark Cuban has done for his players and their fans.
I love what Mark Cuban has done for the NBA.
I love what Mark Cuban stands for – as equal parts fan and owner.
Mark – like anyone else – is not perfect.
My parents continue to remind me – to this day – to “think before
you speak.”
The difference between me and Mark is that he can afford to say
whatever he wants whenever he wants. I must at least be clever in
what I say . . . or simply say nothing at all.
Mark complained – towards the end of last season – that the first of
two Cowboys playoff games was poorly scheduled against a regular
season Mavericks home game . . . one of 41 home games (out of 82
total games) which was relatively early in the NBA season.
I love Mark, but he was wrong to even dare compare the importance of
the two events.
Mark has complained about the timing of the 2010 NFL Draft.
I love Mark, and he is correct in his view that it is unfair to have
the NFL Draft competing against the NBA playoffs . . . but the NFL
has been on this schedule for years.
No one asked the NBA to lengthen their season (officially a few
years ago if memory serves), to lengthen the number of days between
their own playoff games, or add to the number of playoff games they
play in each playoff round . . . and, yet, the NBA owners and
Players Association did just that.
I love Mark, but he was part of the decision-making process that led
to NBA playoff games competing with the NFL Draft – which makes him
wrong again.
Jeff Van Gundy (former head coach of the New York Knicks and Houston
Rockets and brother of Stan) complained the other day that there are
too many days between NBA playoff games. Jeff is uniquely qualified
to make such a statement and be correct.
Mark has complained – out of understandable frustration – about how
horrible the professional image of the NFL has become. It takes a
horrible image to know a horrible image, and all Mark can do is ask
NBA Commissioner David Stern to exchange notes and share a meal with
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
I love Mark, and he is right. The NFL has plenty of warts to freeze
off its own rear end . . . but the NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA share
those very same warts. The sole difference in the NFL’s favor is
Roger Goodell, as evidenced by his six game suspension of Ben
Roethlisberger.
Goodell seems to be the only commissioner thus-far who has decided
to punish players who simply decide to get too close to problems . .
. rather than wait for them to get thoroughly engrossed in them. Who
knows? Maybe the other sports will adopt this approach.
I feel Mark’s pain, but he knows better.
Determined Draft Day Design
I see no significant changes in the draft day plans for the Dallas
Cowboys.
The Cowboys need more options at left tackle and safety – regardless
of whether or not Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin remained on the
roster.
Doug Free will undoubtedly be given his shot, but he should expect
to potentially see an early to middle round pick spent on competition for the
left tackle spot – either a dedicated position player or a “tweener” like Cory Proctor
or Robert Brewster, both of whom can play multiple positions.
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- Brewster - a second year offensive
tackle who missed the 2009 season with torn pectoral muscle - has
evidently returned from his injury is much better shape and ready
for action. While Doug may be free to lock up left tackle, it could
ultimately be Robert enjoying "Brewster's Millions."
The Cowboys have a few existing players who will most certainly
fight with one or two draft picks for the starting free and strong safety
spots. Remember: Gerald Sensabaugh may only be around for another
year, Mike Hamlin is returning from injury, and the safety spot – in
general – can only get better and more solidified for years to come
through fierce competition.
Next up would be additional depth at linebacker so that the Cowboys
can better combat any loss of playing time – due to injury – by
DeMarcus Ware. Then, again, one or two of the rookie linebackers
from last year may accomplish much more in the upcoming training
camp as well.
The Cowboys can also use another wide receiver – in the event that
Roy Williams continues to make the least of his opportunities – and
maybe even a wide receiver / kick returner hybrid. Fans should
expect more production from Kevin Ogletree, but they should also
brace for the potential addition of another receiver.
At the end of the day, as long as the Cowboys find solutions –
either through the draft or free agency – for their offensive line
and defensive secondary depth, they should be in good shape on
training camp competition alone moving forward.
Will the Cowboys make up for passing on Randy Moss so many years ago
and select a Dez Bryant – if given the chance . . . or will Dallas
remain right guy defiant on balance? Will the Cowboys – GASP – draft
an offensive linemen with their first pick . . . or continue
expecting Romo to pull off a Houdini trick?
We shall see. We always do.
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