Cowboys: Mawae's agent contacted, other notes
Offensive line one of Cowboys' free-agent priorities
Protecting Bledsoe, opening running lanes tops team's concerns
11:58 PM CST on Friday, March 10, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / Staff Writer
COWBOYS BRIEFSIRVING – The Cowboys allotted more salary-cap room to their offensive line – nearly $19 million – last season than any other position group.
Still, that unit failed them.
As the Cowboys entered free agency at 11:01 p.m. Friday night, improving the offensive line ranked high on owner Jerry Jones' priority list.
After all, left tackle Flozell Adams is coming off a knee injury that forced him to miss the last 11 weeks. Right tackle Rob Petitti (13.5) and Torrin Tucker, Adams' replacement at left tackle, (12.5) yielded more sacks than any other tackle combination.
Guard Marco Rivera (back) was hobbled much of the year, and center Al Johnson battled backup Andre Gurode for his job. Even Larry Allen, who earned his 10th Pro Bowl appearance, struggled in the final month.
"How we were playing right before we lost Flozell is where I get a lot of hope," Jones said recently, referring to the Cowboys' 4-2 start. "That's where I base my decision on what type of team we can have.
"I think the team we had up there in Carolina – that was a great win for us – but we've got to be a lot better team than that team that beat Carolina."
To do so, look for the Cowboys to upgrade their offensive line through free agency.
At center, they could add a veteran such as Kevin Mawae, one of Parcells' best free-agent signings when he was with the New York Jets. Mawae's agent, Mark Bartelstein, has spoken with the Cowboys.
At guard, the Cowboys have been intrigued by Detroit's Kyle Kosier and New England's Steve Neal. If Dallas signed either, it could mean a parting of the ways with Allen, who is scheduled to count more than $7 million against the club's $102 million salary cap this season.
Veteran right tackle Jon Runyan, who has spent the past six seasons with Philadelphia, could be an option if the Cowboys don't want to use a high draft choice on the position.
This much is clear: Jones knows the Cowboys must protect quarterback Drew Bledsoe better and create more running lanes for Julius Jones to make the playoffs for the first time since Parcells' first season in 2003.
"We've got our needs handicapped," Jones said. "If we can reasonably take care of those needs, we can be a better team than when we were at our very best last year. If we can be better than that, then we've got a chance to really have some fun."
Fujita and Gurode: The Cowboys went into the final hours of free agency talking to the agents for linebacker Scott Fujita and guard/center Andre Gurode.
Fellow free-agent-to-be tight end Dan Campbell attended the Big 12 tournament at American Airlines Center believing he was in his final hours with the team.
"Everything's still the same," Campbell said. "I'm just floating."
Campbell caused a mini-ruckus when he said on radio and television that he believed the Cowboys would land wide receiver Terrell Owens. Campbell said Friday he has no inside information, and Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined comment. The Eagles have yet to release Owens, but that is expected to happen in the next week or so.
"I don't know anything," Campbell said. "It's funny how it stirs everything up, but I have no idea. I'm just guessing."
Looking for work: If the Cowboys do not re-sign Fujita, they could look at Jacksonville's Akin Ayodele or New England's Willie McGinest. Ayodele, who played at Irving MacArthur, was a Cowboys ballboy growing up, and McGinest was Parcells' second first-round pick in 1994, a year after Drew Bledsoe.
Protecting Bledsoe, opening running lanes tops team's concerns
11:58 PM CST on Friday, March 10, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / Staff Writer
COWBOYS BRIEFSIRVING – The Cowboys allotted more salary-cap room to their offensive line – nearly $19 million – last season than any other position group.
Still, that unit failed them.
As the Cowboys entered free agency at 11:01 p.m. Friday night, improving the offensive line ranked high on owner Jerry Jones' priority list.
After all, left tackle Flozell Adams is coming off a knee injury that forced him to miss the last 11 weeks. Right tackle Rob Petitti (13.5) and Torrin Tucker, Adams' replacement at left tackle, (12.5) yielded more sacks than any other tackle combination.
Guard Marco Rivera (back) was hobbled much of the year, and center Al Johnson battled backup Andre Gurode for his job. Even Larry Allen, who earned his 10th Pro Bowl appearance, struggled in the final month.
"How we were playing right before we lost Flozell is where I get a lot of hope," Jones said recently, referring to the Cowboys' 4-2 start. "That's where I base my decision on what type of team we can have.
"I think the team we had up there in Carolina – that was a great win for us – but we've got to be a lot better team than that team that beat Carolina."
To do so, look for the Cowboys to upgrade their offensive line through free agency.
At center, they could add a veteran such as Kevin Mawae, one of Parcells' best free-agent signings when he was with the New York Jets. Mawae's agent, Mark Bartelstein, has spoken with the Cowboys.
At guard, the Cowboys have been intrigued by Detroit's Kyle Kosier and New England's Steve Neal. If Dallas signed either, it could mean a parting of the ways with Allen, who is scheduled to count more than $7 million against the club's $102 million salary cap this season.
Veteran right tackle Jon Runyan, who has spent the past six seasons with Philadelphia, could be an option if the Cowboys don't want to use a high draft choice on the position.
This much is clear: Jones knows the Cowboys must protect quarterback Drew Bledsoe better and create more running lanes for Julius Jones to make the playoffs for the first time since Parcells' first season in 2003.
"We've got our needs handicapped," Jones said. "If we can reasonably take care of those needs, we can be a better team than when we were at our very best last year. If we can be better than that, then we've got a chance to really have some fun."
Fujita and Gurode: The Cowboys went into the final hours of free agency talking to the agents for linebacker Scott Fujita and guard/center Andre Gurode.
Fellow free-agent-to-be tight end Dan Campbell attended the Big 12 tournament at American Airlines Center believing he was in his final hours with the team.
"Everything's still the same," Campbell said. "I'm just floating."
Campbell caused a mini-ruckus when he said on radio and television that he believed the Cowboys would land wide receiver Terrell Owens. Campbell said Friday he has no inside information, and Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined comment. The Eagles have yet to release Owens, but that is expected to happen in the next week or so.
"I don't know anything," Campbell said. "It's funny how it stirs everything up, but I have no idea. I'm just guessing."
Looking for work: If the Cowboys do not re-sign Fujita, they could look at Jacksonville's Akin Ayodele or New England's Willie McGinest. Ayodele, who played at Irving MacArthur, was a Cowboys ballboy growing up, and McGinest was Parcells' second first-round pick in 1994, a year after Drew Bledsoe.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:10 AM
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