Free Agency Spinning Past Cowboys
NFL: COWBOYS: Free Agency Spinning Past Cowboys
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
March 15, 2006 6:10 PM
IRVING, Texas - The NFL free-agency carousel continued to spin Wednesday afternoon, but after signing three guys in the first three days, the Cowboys haven't bought another ticket yet to extend their ride.
Though the Cowboys did jump into action on Tuesday, it was to release a player, Keyshawn Johnson, and they have not signed anyone since Monday after inking Jacksonville linebacker Akin Ayodele to a five-year deal.
Interestingly, though, there were several signings over the past 24 hours that might have affected the Cowboys, or at least signings involving players at positions projected to be areas of need for Dallas.
Possibly the highest-profile player to exit free agency on Wednesday was linebacker Willie McGinest, who agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal with Cleveland, where his former New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel now is the head coach. It's not known if the Cowboys were interested in the 34-year-old McGinest, who was released by the Patriots to avoid a $10.5 million payout in 2006, but they sure could use that type of player to man the left outside linebacker position in their 3-4 alignment.
At the moment, with eight-game starter Scott Fujita signing with New Orleans, the Cowboys have veteran Al Singleton and possibly last year's second-round pick Kevin Burnett for left-side duty. There also is a possibility of Scott Shanle, who replaced an injured Dat Nguyen in the middle alongside Bradie James last season, being moved to outside linebacker following the Ayodele signing.
One guy thought to be a possibility for that outside linebacker spot, Julian Peterson, has scheduled a visit with Seattle. Peterson, franchised by San Francisco last year coming off a torn Achilles injury, would seem ideal for that outside spot if healthy.
Also, two free-agent safeties were swept off the market Wednesday. The New York Giants signed Baltimore strong safety Will Demps, and Tennessee came to terms with Pittsburgh free safety Chris Hope. The Cowboys claim to be in the free safety market, hoping to upgrade the spot with more of a cover safety to play next to Roy Williams. Terms for those deals had not been released.
The Cowboys did thrust themselves into the wide receiver market by releasing Johnson on Tuesday, and one of the better ones just disappeared, Tennessee signing former New England receiver David Givens to a five-year, $24 million deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus. The 25-year-old receiver from Humble, Texas, caught 59 passes for 738 yards and two touchdowns last year for the Patriots.
That signing certainly puts the New England Patriots in the receiver market, since Deion Branch and Bethel Johnson are their only two experienced receivers under contract. And certainly there is a chance of interest in Keyshawn Johnson, since the 34-year receiver does have a history with New England head coach Bill Belichick, an assistant to Bill Parcells when all were with the New York Jets. Johnson, with the $1 million roster bonus that was due today, was scheduled to make $2.5 million with the Cowboys this year. Johnson is gambling a bigger payday awaits him in free agency.
The Cowboys have not definitively said they were in the center market, but if they are, Parcells' former starting center with the Jets, Kevin Mawae, just signed a four-year, $13 million deal with Tennessee that includes a $3 million signing bonus. Mawae, though, is 35, and was bothered last year by a severe triceps injury he claims to be 100 percent recovered from at this time. The Cowboys can't continue to add Thirtysomething offensive linemen.
There are also a couple of visits planned which just might catch the Cowboys' eye. Place-kicker Adam Vinatieri is heading to Green Bay on Friday and Seattle tight end Ryan Hannam, a potential candidate to replace blocking tight end Dan Campbell, will visit Miami on Thursday. Vinatieri and Mike Vanderjagt, who took it upon himself to make an informal visit to the Dolphins the other day, would be considered the best two free-agent kickers available.
That list of available free-agent kickers even dwindled a little more on Wednesday when Jose Cortez re-signed with the Colts. Cortez, who made 12 of 16 field goals for the Cowboys before getting released, landed in Indianapolis as the kick-off specialist since that is a weak part of Vanderjagt's game.
And in a potential NFC East move that could have an effect on the Cowboys, free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia is visiting the Philadelphia Eagles and appears poised to become the backup to Donovan McNabb.
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
March 15, 2006 6:10 PM
IRVING, Texas - The NFL free-agency carousel continued to spin Wednesday afternoon, but after signing three guys in the first three days, the Cowboys haven't bought another ticket yet to extend their ride.
Though the Cowboys did jump into action on Tuesday, it was to release a player, Keyshawn Johnson, and they have not signed anyone since Monday after inking Jacksonville linebacker Akin Ayodele to a five-year deal.
Interestingly, though, there were several signings over the past 24 hours that might have affected the Cowboys, or at least signings involving players at positions projected to be areas of need for Dallas.
Possibly the highest-profile player to exit free agency on Wednesday was linebacker Willie McGinest, who agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal with Cleveland, where his former New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel now is the head coach. It's not known if the Cowboys were interested in the 34-year-old McGinest, who was released by the Patriots to avoid a $10.5 million payout in 2006, but they sure could use that type of player to man the left outside linebacker position in their 3-4 alignment.
At the moment, with eight-game starter Scott Fujita signing with New Orleans, the Cowboys have veteran Al Singleton and possibly last year's second-round pick Kevin Burnett for left-side duty. There also is a possibility of Scott Shanle, who replaced an injured Dat Nguyen in the middle alongside Bradie James last season, being moved to outside linebacker following the Ayodele signing.
One guy thought to be a possibility for that outside linebacker spot, Julian Peterson, has scheduled a visit with Seattle. Peterson, franchised by San Francisco last year coming off a torn Achilles injury, would seem ideal for that outside spot if healthy.
Also, two free-agent safeties were swept off the market Wednesday. The New York Giants signed Baltimore strong safety Will Demps, and Tennessee came to terms with Pittsburgh free safety Chris Hope. The Cowboys claim to be in the free safety market, hoping to upgrade the spot with more of a cover safety to play next to Roy Williams. Terms for those deals had not been released.
The Cowboys did thrust themselves into the wide receiver market by releasing Johnson on Tuesday, and one of the better ones just disappeared, Tennessee signing former New England receiver David Givens to a five-year, $24 million deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus. The 25-year-old receiver from Humble, Texas, caught 59 passes for 738 yards and two touchdowns last year for the Patriots.
That signing certainly puts the New England Patriots in the receiver market, since Deion Branch and Bethel Johnson are their only two experienced receivers under contract. And certainly there is a chance of interest in Keyshawn Johnson, since the 34-year receiver does have a history with New England head coach Bill Belichick, an assistant to Bill Parcells when all were with the New York Jets. Johnson, with the $1 million roster bonus that was due today, was scheduled to make $2.5 million with the Cowboys this year. Johnson is gambling a bigger payday awaits him in free agency.
The Cowboys have not definitively said they were in the center market, but if they are, Parcells' former starting center with the Jets, Kevin Mawae, just signed a four-year, $13 million deal with Tennessee that includes a $3 million signing bonus. Mawae, though, is 35, and was bothered last year by a severe triceps injury he claims to be 100 percent recovered from at this time. The Cowboys can't continue to add Thirtysomething offensive linemen.
There are also a couple of visits planned which just might catch the Cowboys' eye. Place-kicker Adam Vinatieri is heading to Green Bay on Friday and Seattle tight end Ryan Hannam, a potential candidate to replace blocking tight end Dan Campbell, will visit Miami on Thursday. Vinatieri and Mike Vanderjagt, who took it upon himself to make an informal visit to the Dolphins the other day, would be considered the best two free-agent kickers available.
That list of available free-agent kickers even dwindled a little more on Wednesday when Jose Cortez re-signed with the Colts. Cortez, who made 12 of 16 field goals for the Cowboys before getting released, landed in Indianapolis as the kick-off specialist since that is a weak part of Vanderjagt's game.
And in a potential NFC East move that could have an effect on the Cowboys, free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia is visiting the Philadelphia Eagles and appears poised to become the backup to Donovan McNabb.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:33 PM
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