Cowboys have an opportunity
Posted on Sat, Mar. 11, 2006
Cowboys have an opportunity
By JIM REEVES
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Forget about Terrell Owens. Please, Jerry, just let it go.
He's already torn apart two teams. Don't give him a chance to wreck the Cowboys, too.
He's already celebrated on the Texas Stadium star once wearing another uniform. Don't let him desecrate it again in your own team's uniform.
Besides, there's a franchise quarterback out there that deserves your attention.
I know, free agency kicked off at 11 Friday night, you've got a laundry list as long as Dirk Nowitzki's leg to work on and quarterback is probably not on it.
But it should be, because opportunity is knocking.
You did hear me say franchise quarterback, didn't you?
When was the last time the Dallas Cowboys had one of those?
Better question: How often do they come along?
You, better than anyone, should know the answer to that one, Jerry.
Yet, there's one looking for a new home that the Cowboys can have for a veritable pittance, maybe no more than what you spent on Jacob Rogers in 2004.
That's right, for a conditional second-round draft pick the Cowboys could have a three-time Pro Bowler who is only 29 years old.
His name is Daunte Culpepper.
Culpepper has asked the Vikings to trade him, and at least half a dozen teams, including Oakland and Miami at the forefront, are lining up to make their bids.
So why aren't the Cowboys right there with them, Jerry?
Hey, you were willing to take a flier on a flop like Ryan Leaf. You brought in a washed-up baseball player. You even stretched to pick Quincy Carter early, for gosh sakes. Culpepper has a few more skins on the wall than all those guys put together.
It was just two seasons ago that Culpepper threw 39 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions. For his career, the ratio is 135-to-86.
He's 6-foot-4, 260 pounds with an arm like a bazooka. So tell me again, Jerry, why the Cowboys haven't been on the horn with the Vikings?
Yes, there's the knee. He tore three of the four ligaments in it seven games into 2005, and that's definitely a concern. Yet, every report out of Florida, where he's reportedly been training religiously, says he's recovering quickly.
Besides, the conditional draft pick provides protection there.
"This would be a sliding scale that I've run past a few general managers that are not in the market for Culpepper," Pat Kirwan, a senior analyst for NFL.com and Sirius Radio, told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. "The draft picks are for 2007. If you trade for the guy, and he never plays, the compensation is zero.
"If he plays eight or less games, the compensation is a second-round pick. If he plays nine or more games, the compensation is a first-round pick. If he throws for 3,000 yards, then it's a first and a third. And if he makes the Pro Bowl next year, it's two first-round picks. With something like that, the risk is all off and everybody can take a wait-and-see approach as far as how much of Daunte Culpepper is left physically when he returns."
OK, so you might wind up spending two first-rounders on him, but only if he's great. Isn't a franchise quarterback worth it?
It's true that Culpepper still faces misdemeanor charges related to the Minnetonka "Love Boat" escapade, but let's be real here, guys. Patting a few lap dancers on the butt wouldn't even qualify him for his own key to the Cowboys' infamous "White House" of the mid-'90s. Until this episode, he's been a Boy Scout. This isn't an issue.
In fact, it's part of the reason why he's available. Culpepper is fighting the charges in court, and he's not happy with the lack of support he's had from the Vikings.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are not happy that he didn't spend any time in Minnesota this winter (yeah, right, leave Florida for Minny-Ha-Ha in January) learning new coach Brad Childress' version of the West Coast offense. Or that he's taken to updating the local and national media with e-mails, stating his position.
So what's the holdup, Jerry?
Don't tell me it's because Big Bill just can't quit Drew Bledsoe.
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist that one Brokeback reference.)
Seriously, we know that Parcells is comfortable with Bledsoe. He's the type of game-manager Parcells likes.
But we also know that Parcells isn't here for the long run. He's here to win it right now.
And that's fine.
But your job is to look at both the right now and the future, and when Parcells goes, Bledsoe won't be far behind.
It would be nice if the franchise quarterback was already here when Big Bill takes his hike. Don't let his narrow focus keep you from doing what's right for your franchise.
I know you have an offensive line to rebuild. You need a linebacker and a safety, and, yes, a wide receiver, too.
Just not T.O. Please, not T.O.
Culpepper needs a home and the Cowboys need a long-term answer at quarterback.
Jerry, here's your chance to fix your quarterback situation for maybe the next six to eight years.
This well could be the Super Bowl quarterback you've been dreaming about.
Don't tell me you don't hear opportunity knocking.
Cowboys have an opportunity
By JIM REEVES
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Forget about Terrell Owens. Please, Jerry, just let it go.
He's already torn apart two teams. Don't give him a chance to wreck the Cowboys, too.
He's already celebrated on the Texas Stadium star once wearing another uniform. Don't let him desecrate it again in your own team's uniform.
Besides, there's a franchise quarterback out there that deserves your attention.
I know, free agency kicked off at 11 Friday night, you've got a laundry list as long as Dirk Nowitzki's leg to work on and quarterback is probably not on it.
But it should be, because opportunity is knocking.
You did hear me say franchise quarterback, didn't you?
When was the last time the Dallas Cowboys had one of those?
Better question: How often do they come along?
You, better than anyone, should know the answer to that one, Jerry.
Yet, there's one looking for a new home that the Cowboys can have for a veritable pittance, maybe no more than what you spent on Jacob Rogers in 2004.
That's right, for a conditional second-round draft pick the Cowboys could have a three-time Pro Bowler who is only 29 years old.
His name is Daunte Culpepper.
Culpepper has asked the Vikings to trade him, and at least half a dozen teams, including Oakland and Miami at the forefront, are lining up to make their bids.
So why aren't the Cowboys right there with them, Jerry?
Hey, you were willing to take a flier on a flop like Ryan Leaf. You brought in a washed-up baseball player. You even stretched to pick Quincy Carter early, for gosh sakes. Culpepper has a few more skins on the wall than all those guys put together.
It was just two seasons ago that Culpepper threw 39 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions. For his career, the ratio is 135-to-86.
He's 6-foot-4, 260 pounds with an arm like a bazooka. So tell me again, Jerry, why the Cowboys haven't been on the horn with the Vikings?
Yes, there's the knee. He tore three of the four ligaments in it seven games into 2005, and that's definitely a concern. Yet, every report out of Florida, where he's reportedly been training religiously, says he's recovering quickly.
Besides, the conditional draft pick provides protection there.
"This would be a sliding scale that I've run past a few general managers that are not in the market for Culpepper," Pat Kirwan, a senior analyst for NFL.com and Sirius Radio, told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. "The draft picks are for 2007. If you trade for the guy, and he never plays, the compensation is zero.
"If he plays eight or less games, the compensation is a second-round pick. If he plays nine or more games, the compensation is a first-round pick. If he throws for 3,000 yards, then it's a first and a third. And if he makes the Pro Bowl next year, it's two first-round picks. With something like that, the risk is all off and everybody can take a wait-and-see approach as far as how much of Daunte Culpepper is left physically when he returns."
OK, so you might wind up spending two first-rounders on him, but only if he's great. Isn't a franchise quarterback worth it?
It's true that Culpepper still faces misdemeanor charges related to the Minnetonka "Love Boat" escapade, but let's be real here, guys. Patting a few lap dancers on the butt wouldn't even qualify him for his own key to the Cowboys' infamous "White House" of the mid-'90s. Until this episode, he's been a Boy Scout. This isn't an issue.
In fact, it's part of the reason why he's available. Culpepper is fighting the charges in court, and he's not happy with the lack of support he's had from the Vikings.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are not happy that he didn't spend any time in Minnesota this winter (yeah, right, leave Florida for Minny-Ha-Ha in January) learning new coach Brad Childress' version of the West Coast offense. Or that he's taken to updating the local and national media with e-mails, stating his position.
So what's the holdup, Jerry?
Don't tell me it's because Big Bill just can't quit Drew Bledsoe.
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist that one Brokeback reference.)
Seriously, we know that Parcells is comfortable with Bledsoe. He's the type of game-manager Parcells likes.
But we also know that Parcells isn't here for the long run. He's here to win it right now.
And that's fine.
But your job is to look at both the right now and the future, and when Parcells goes, Bledsoe won't be far behind.
It would be nice if the franchise quarterback was already here when Big Bill takes his hike. Don't let his narrow focus keep you from doing what's right for your franchise.
I know you have an offensive line to rebuild. You need a linebacker and a safety, and, yes, a wide receiver, too.
Just not T.O. Please, not T.O.
Culpepper needs a home and the Cowboys need a long-term answer at quarterback.
Jerry, here's your chance to fix your quarterback situation for maybe the next six to eight years.
This well could be the Super Bowl quarterback you've been dreaming about.
Don't tell me you don't hear opportunity knocking.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:15 AM
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