-
-
-
2010-2011 Preseason: Sensabaugh Separation
Stings Sensitive Safety Situation
-
- August 23,
2010
At 11:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
Gerald Sensabaugh, a 6 year veteran, joined the Cowboys last year as
no more than a short-term answer to the safety woes Dallas had been
experiencing - ever since All-Pro safety Darren Woodson retired and
former Cowboy safety Roy Williams mentally fell apart in his
absence.
Sensabaugh steadily transformed himself over the course of 15 games
– missing one early game with a broken thumb - from stop-gap to
serviceable to sensible long-term solution.
He was interested in a long-term commitment as reward for his
unforeseen enhancement of the Dallas secondary – just like Ken
Hamlin a couple years ago.
There is always a danger in rewarding a player too much too soon –
just like Ken Hamlin a couple years ago . . . and just like the New
York Jets may find out if they succumb to the extraordinary contract
demands of their star cornerback, Darrell Revis.
The question, in all fairness, should not be whether or not the
player is worth the long-term contract extension – but whether or
not the player is mature enough to handle the hefty pressure that
comes with the hefty reward. Can the player reasonably deliver a
repeat performance the following year?
Sensabaugh signed his second-round tender worth $1.8 million just
before training camp began – with the mutual understanding that
Jerry Jones was going to work with Gerald’s agents to pursue a
satisfactory long-term commitment.
Fans can expect the Cowboys to tread carefully but respectfully
towards a quality offer, but Sensabaugh cannot reasonably expect
Jerry to hand over a Ken Hamlin deal – without numerous performance
clauses in place of an irresponsibly large signing bonus.
Fans should remember that, even in an uncapped year, players –
except for modern day first round draft choices – must earn their
big pay day. Sensabaugh – after all – could very well tank in his
second season, just like Ken “Hamburglar” Hamlin.
Any handwringing over how Sensabaugh would respond if rewarded with
a long-term contract has been realistically set aside for the next
2-4 weeks – as Sensabaugh begins recovering from a separated
shoulder endured against the San Diego Chargers a few days ago.
The Cowboys and their fans find themselves in a holding position
once again – holding their collective breath about who will be
leading the defensive secondary and how well they will perform.
The breath being held is a little more shallow than normal, and that
is a good thing this time around.
Sensabaugh’s x-rays were negative – even though it could be a few
weeks before he is available He has also been surrounded by a
steadily improving Alan Ball at free safety and an intriguing
collection of promising rookies with plenty of raw talent and can-do
attitude.
While rookies have no professional experience, that does not
preclude some from being special early on – and most of the
defensive rookies in question (specifically draft pick Owusu-Ansah,
along with free agents Church and McCray) put on a pretty good
performance against the Chargers.
Owusu-Ansah finally got an opportunity to show his stuff after
waiting through much of training camp for his off-season surgery to
completely heal. Owusu-Ansah showed some expected rust with a
fumbled kick-off return, but he joined Church and McCray in
performing reasonably well on both defensive schemes and on special
teams.
Sensabaugh is expected to make a full recovery with the potential
for missing no more than the season opener if any games. Sensabaugh
is also still expected to eventually receive a long-term contract,
but the pressure to complete that arrangement has cooled – in a way
that both parties can appreciate.
The Cowboys want to see Sensabaugh make that full recovery, stay
healthy, and quite possibly play through several games of the
upcoming season before they officially make him a happy man. This is simply realistic, and
Sensabaugh must be painfully aware of everyone’s desire to avoid
a Hamlin scenario: "Get your money for nothing and your chicks for
free" – Dire Straits with Sting (pun intended).
The status of two other veteran safeties – Pat Watkins and Mike
Hamlin – may provide just as much intrigue to Cowboys fans. Neither
player participated in the San Diego game. Watkins has been
struggling with injuries, and Mike Hamlin is trying to recover from
the concussion he received in the Oakland Raiders game.
Watkins has generally excelled at special teams, but will his Cowboys career
at safety be known more for looking like Michael Downs but not playing like
him? Will Watkins' degenerative neck condition – from a playing
injury a couple years ago – eventually make his already tenuous
roster spot with the Cowboys a moot point?
Will Mike Hamlin get a chance to recover enough playing time and
produce enough quality results before it is too late? Will
Owusu-Ansah, Church, McCray, and speedster rookie free agent Teddy
Williams do enough to claim the remaining secondary and special
teams roster spots? Will Sensabaugh recover in time to play the
first game of the season?
We shall see. We always do.
|
