I'm definitely all about waiting it out, but I'm definitely worried. The concept of relying on a 5th round draft pick(Hamlin) who couldn't get on the field last year for anything is pretty scary. AoA seems like a super legit athlete, but he was playing football at the local community college last year. It's going to take him a while to make the adjustments.

We just need some kind of reasonable depth at OT and S, and I'll be happy going into the season. Unfortunately I don't see Barbie getting us what we need in trade.

Not Carpenter, they tried to get a 7th for him and couldn't, he'll get cut or be an extra in a draft package. To get any safety worth starting you'd need to give up a Bradie James or better. He has trade value, but then again he has value as a starter, isn't that old, and has a managable contract too.

Need to find a trading partner and balance this team out a little. It's very deep in several positions and very weak in others, and the Bryant/Lee picks only compounded this.

Knowing Dallas, how it's actually going to go is Free, Barbie & Ball will blow it up, while Jenkins regresses, Ware tears his ACL, and Dez shoots Witten over a mom joke.

lol

I for one am not overly confident about Free at LT. He did a good job filling in on the right side last year. But when he came in at LT after Flozell got hurt in the Vikes playoff game... it was ugly. Granted he was going up against one of the best D-linemen in the nfl, and it was just one game, but it's hard for me to shake that.

I don't think he's a long term solution for sure. But I think he'll be okay as long as he stays healthy.

I always kind of worry about players who are backups for several years, becoming starters for health/conditioning reasons.

Was it? A lot of people have been saying this but don't think it was Free at all or that he was even that bad. He supposedly gave up one sack to Allen. I say supposedly because if you watch it again, Free was blocking DT Kennedy and Witten was assigned to Allen (which happened twice in a row, is rarely going to work, and has Garrett written all over it). See for yourself, play is at 3:06.

Some believe that it was a missed assignment by Free and he was on Kosier's man, which is possible, but given how Witten lined up and some of the blocking schemes we've seen I don't think so. And then there's always this.

Watching the game the second time I think he did okay. He took care of Allen--an All Pro last three years--when he on him and kept Romo clean, even as the line was terrible overall with 6 sacks. That's coming off of the bench, having worked on the right for most of the season.

Arguments for Free:

1) Home-grown mostly under Houck, young, cheap
2) 4 penalties, 1 sack in 7 games on the right side
3) Everyone considers LT a better position for him than right; see #2
4) Flozell is old, constantly penalized, and his contract needed to be purged this year
5) Flozell is one shady play away from suspension
6) Keeping Flozell in 2010 means you will have this same issue next year, but now you may be forced to pay Free a large contract to keep him, having never seen him play LT for any real length of time
7) There are no better FA or RFA available that would not cost a ton, and the cap will eventually return. Gaither maybe, and he didn't sign his tender yet.

Against Free starting:

1) We lose an excellent backup tackle on both sides. A bit weak, as we at least know he'd probably wind up starting at RT before staying a backup anyway.
2) No tackle depth at all currently on the roster.
3) It's a superbowl-contending year and not the time to roll the dice on a critical position, without a backup plan.
4) Flozell's not as terrible as people make him out to be, and we can get him back I'm sure.
5) Columbo's injury history and age now as well. He's as big a question mark on his side, albiet for different reasons.


All told I just think we need a "quality" LT veteran for insurance at a minimum. Flozell is actually the perfect guy for that, but he wants to get paid and start.

As far as the rest of the tackles with Brewster and the rookie, hope for the best. Carry them both on the roster if they're both promising, the best of the two if not, and lose McQuistan in either case.

Looks to be happening, rumors of Carpenter getting traded to Rams for LT Alex Barron. Basically a Carpenter-esque draft bust, or maybe the new Leonard Davis, but has been a starter since getting drafted #19 overall '05, can play LT and RT, and looks durable.

Much as I'd hate to see Barbie go--lol--this seems to be the type of dude needed

Yeah, I don't know anything about Barron except that he was the LT for a horrible OL, but he can't be any worse than Brewster. We had absolutely no plans or hope of him being a LT last year before he tore his pectoral, and now suddenly we're thinking he'll just slide over to LT no problem. If he develops into a backup LT, wonderful. But we should at least see him practice first.

Although I guess the same thing could be said about Alan Ball. I never would have guessed he's be our choice for opening day Safety. The dude was our 4th CB going into last year, heh.

It's not a mindblowing pickup but definitely a sensible one. He's 27, has 70 starts and experience on both sides and we badly needed some insurance there. And we got him for essentially nothing, Carpenter was as good as cut anyway.

This guy's downside--and obviously there's going to be downside to an LT you get for nothing--is he's got more penalties than Flozell (lol?) and was probably drafted a bit high. But reading up a bit there seems to be mixed feelings about him among the STL media and fan base, the consensus seems to be that he's a decent enough player if he needs to start and certainly an ideal backup. It's a contract year for him, he's going to have to be competitive (and challenge Free), and he's getting a change of scenery. And he's got to be more valuable today than McQuistan, a late 6th-rounder, and Brewster who hasn't even been to a training camp himself. Houck might get something out of him.

If not, oh well. Make do and let him walk next year. This is pretty much a freeroll, and the same for the Rams with Barbie.

Now if we could get them to let go of Atogwe we could probably ship Crayton and improve both teams (maybe Hurd as well). I suspect both Crayton and Atogwe won't make the June 1 cuts.

Not that I'm that high on Atogwe all told, but safety is a far bigger need that WR. If Dallas can't get it done with Austin, RW, Bryant, Ogletree, and one of these practice squad or UFA guys at #5, with this TE depth to go with it, and with Romo passing, and with the RB squad we've got, then I give up lol

Cory Proctor released. Duke Preston also, he's off to become a priest or something.

Not sure what they're going to do at backup center, they're talking about maybe Holland but he's the only experienced backup guard. There's mention of Holland taking Kosier's starting spot at G, with Kosier becoming a backup C/G. Looks good on paper IF Holland is up to it. I don't know that he is.

Either way it looks like they need to sign another body, maybe 2, or luck out with Bright or some other guy off the street.

lol this dead-ass thread. sigh - anybody? Don't start showing up when they're 5-1 or something



Anyway, thoughts on the possibility of Atogwe now that's he's a UFA?

Coming off injury and a bad move with him could put you in salary cap hell quickly, esp with Sensabaugh and Austin looking at long-term deals, plus if Free or whoever else does well (those DE's in particular) they will need to be resigned. Also would mean Hamlin and Ball get no real shot.

On the other hand, signing him means you fill a hole and have a solid secondary with depth behind it as Ball is a proven backup option at safety and corner. You might also Atogwe off of the Eagles by signing him, who just lost Marlin Jackson (or another NFC East team).

If this roster wasn't so solid and the team a legit contender this year, I'd probably pass. But long-term effects aside, this one position could make all the difference this year. Very fortunate to have the roster we do but the window of opportunity may not be open much longer. We can't sustain this talent level financially so I think it would be a good time to take a shot unless you REALLY have faith in not only Ball, but Hamlin and your 4th corner. Does that seem likely?

Besides - if you sign Atogwe and he plays well (and Ball and Hamlin look promising enough), you don't necessarily have to resign Sensebaugh. It's an option.

PFT is reporting that Jerry Jones said he is not interested in Otogwe

Saw it in the Dallas Morning News also. Vikings and Miami don't seem to want him either.

I guess that's a good sign they have faith in Ball/Hamlin/Sensbaugh/AoA/(Church). Or, that Jerry is completely busto.

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUU Dez

Are the two Gonso's related? Also why is your status banned? Really dissapointed with Dez. I can not blame him not carrying Roys pads, as Roy sucks, but come on dude try to blend in your rookie year.

Hey fellow Cowboys fans! Before I make another thread somewhere, I thought I'd check with help on this here.

I'm going to my first ever Cowboys home game Oct 10th vs the Titans. Very excited. I've never been to Dallas, and need a bit of help picking hotel locations, and eventually maybe a few suggestions on things to see.

Is Dallas the kind of city where we'll be happy to rent a car for 4 days? I thought about doing something like:

land at DFW, rent a car, stay in hotel Fri/Sat in what priceline calls "downtown Dallas", which is near historic Dallas as far as I can tell. On game day I thought about a hotel closer to DFW, which is closer to Arlington right? Is it fairly easy to drive out to a game and drive back? We'll have a GPS and such.

If that makes any kind of sense, I'll book it. So stoked!

I havent been to the big D in a long time (besides just flying thru DFW), so sorry, can't help..

Man fist Columbo, now Kosier... WTFFFFFFFFF.

Yeah, we're going to be in alot of trouble if we don't get healthy or sign someone. Our line depth is completely non existant.

Rafiki, PM me if you still need help.

whats everyone think of our schedule this year? we've got the skins, da bears, and houston going into the bye week, which is pretty sweet. but then we have TN, the vikes and giants and week 9 we got GB, 10 giants again then the saints in 12.

Obviously it looks tough, especially since the East is so hard again. But you really never know.

If you go by opponents combined W - L we have the 3rd toughest schedule in the league.

Buehler 4/4 tonight - one 50+, one game-winner..... def feeling a little better about the K position.

We did sign Alex Barron fwiw. I think it should give us some much needed depth on the O-line. He could even challenge for the starting job, but idk.

On a side note, I live in Indianapolis and wanted to go to the colts/cowboys game but it's like $150 for the worst seats in the house. I haven't been to a game in the new stadium here in Indy, but I guess they rape you on ticket prices there now. FML.