The Cowboy Way

20 years is quite a long time.

Well, considering I am 20, i guess it may not be that long to others.

Jerry Jones just celebrated his 20th anniversary as owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Are any other 'boys fans wishing he would pack up and sell the team already?

I've liked some moves he has made, but for the most part he is meddlesome, and has very little football knowledge. So, I'm going to play Jerry for today, and take a look at some of the things that should be keeping him up at night.

Finding a safety net
No, I'm not talking about Roy Williams (S) yet. That's another story.

Right now, the Cowboys need a backup QB, after parting ways with 100-year old Brad Johnson. Brooks Bollinger was allowed the hit the free agent market as well, which means the Cowboys only have one guy on the roster.

There are many ways they can look at this:
- the draft, but it takes time to develop the kind of player they are in the position to draft.
- free agency, but who comes to mind?
- move Isaiah Stanback to QB from WR, but he hasn't thrown a ball in over three years.

Ergo, the boys need to make a move of some sort. Here's how it would go down if I was in charge.
1) draft Graham Harrell in the second round to groom
2) sign either J.P. Losman or Rex Grossman to back up for the time being.

So many hands, too few footballs
Romo can't please everyone. Let's be realistic. Owens, Williams, Crayton, Austin, Hurd and Witten. There aren't enough balls to go around.

This is an easy choice, as they just placed tenders on Hurd and Austin. Place Crayton on the trade block, and with the pick you get for him, take a speedy young WR to develop.

Defence wins championships
The defence has some holes now due to free agency. Chris Canty was allowed to leave, and that means a large hole on the end. Tank Johnson is also gone, so the depth in the middle is shaky.
My guess: the Cowboys target a few young d-lineman in the draft, but they should target a guy like ex-Charger Igor Olshansky to fill the immediate void.

Also, Zach Thomas and Kevin Burnett are out of the LB rotation. This shouldn't be a problem, as they have a tonne of depth here. Ware, James and Spencer will be the starters, and they may target a new middle. Bobby Carpenter will get every chance to start.

Back to Roy (S). Apparently they want to trade him. Fine. They won't get anything for him, so they should just sit pat. They don't want to make a splash in free agency, so they should stick with a talented player. He may be a liablity in coverage sometimes, but he was making strides before he went down last year. When healthy, he is an intimadating presence in the defence.

Those are just a few areas in need of fixing.

The Top Free Agents

I'll get right into it.

1. Albert Haynesworth, DT
2008 Team: Tennessee Titans
Strength: 8.5 sacks from DT
Weakness: Might get lazy after he gets paid
Looking for: Biggest contract in NFL History
Prediction: Signs with Washington

2. Ray Lewis, LB
2008 Team: Baltimore Ravens
Strength: Great locker room presence
Weakness: Getting up there
Looking for: Money, good situation
Prediction: Re-signs with Ravens or signs with Jets

3. Kurt Warner, QB
2008 team: Arizona Cardinals
Strength: Smart QB
Weakness: Old, not very mobile
Looking for: Money
Prediction: re-signs with Cards

4. T.J. Houshmanzadeh, WR
2008 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Strengths: Great hands and body control
Weakness: more of a #2
Looking for: A change of scenery
Prediction: Signs with Eagles or Titans

5. Derrick Brooks, LB
2008 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strength: Good player for man years
Weakness: Getting older
Looking for: Another chance
Prediction: Walks off into the sunset

6. Chris Canty, DE
2008 Team: Dallas Cowboys
Strength: solid 3-4 end
Weakness: Not a pass rusher
Looking for: Tommie Kelly-money
Prediction: Signs with Dolphins, or stays in Dallas

7. Fred Taylor, RB
2008 Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Strength: Fresh legs for his age
Weakness: Injury history
Looking for: Championship
Prediction: signs with Patriots

8. Derrick Dockery, OG
2008 Team: Buffalo Bills
Strength: Consistant Starter
Weakness: Injury Past
Looking for: A job
Prediction: starts somewhere next year

9. Brian Dawkins, S
2008 Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Strength: Strong leader
Weakness: getting older, starts slow
Looking for: A new contract with Eagles
Prediction: re-signs with Eagles

10. Derrick Ward, RB
2008 Team: New York Giants
Strength: 1000 yard season
Weakness: System player
Looking for: Starting job
Prediction: Signs big deal and falters (AKA Dominic Rhodes)

Friday should be very fun...until then...

The Evil Mock Draft

Yes, I said it.

Mock drafts have become evil, even if I love them dearly.


The evil I speak of is being universally declared a top 5 pick.


As we have seen in recent years, being delegated a number one pick pretty much excuses you from working out at the combine, and the latest example being Georgia QB Matt Stafford. Watch out boy, because Mark Sanchez is creeping up to your level...because he is actually practicing.


Jeez, and how about Pat White from West Virginia?

Anyways, with the combine in the books now, let's take a look back at some of the key performers:

- Darrius Hayward-Bey
WR, Maryland
Measures: 6-2, 220
40 Yard Dash: 4.3
Vertical Jump: 38.5
Stock: Up, possibly into first round

- Josh Freeman
QB, Kansas State
Measures: 6-6, 248
Strong Arm
Stock: Up

- Ray Maualuga
LB, USC
Measures: 6-2, 249
Tackling Machine
Left Combine with Injury
Stock: Down

- Michael Crabtree
WR, Texas Tech
Measures: 6-1, 215
Left Combine without working out
Stock: Same or Down

PS: Free agency starts Friday, what a glorious day to be in the blogging business.