T.O. could spell uh-oh
Jean-Jacques Taylor: T.O. could spell uh-oh
Terrell Owens probably wouldn't enjoy sharing the spotlight with other Cowboys receivers.
So Bill Parcells had lunch with agent Drew Rosenhaus last week at the NFL scouting combine.
Now, we don’t know exactly what they talked about, but let’s at least assume Terrell Owens’ name popped up in the conversation. That means the $64,000 question is whether T.O. is coming to Dallas.
I still can’t see it happening.
He’s a self-centered player with outstanding skills and an ability to destroy a locker room. He’s done it in San Francisco and Philadelphia, so there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t do it with his next team. I also believe that he’ll be on his best behavior for at least one season since he’ll be happy with his signing bonus and first-year salary.
If you believe Parcells is leaving after the 2006 season, despite signing a two-year contract last month, then maybe he doesn’t care because he won’t be here to clean up the mess Owens will inevitably leave.
Owens has played for two West Coast offenses. Denver makes sense because it runs the same offense, so his learning curve won’t be that significant. The Cowboys run a multi-faceted offense that doesn’t feature any one receiver. The Cowboys were the only team to have three receivers catch more than 60 balls last season.
Will T.O. be happy catching 65 balls for 1,000 yards, while Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten also get the ball in their hands? More important, will Johnson or Glenn be happy with Owens making $3 million to $5 million more than they are earning?
Owner Jerry Jones is the X factor. He has always coveted stars, especially on offense. The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game in nine seasons, the longest drought in franchise history. He is desperate to win before Parcells leaves because there’s no guarantee he will get a better coach when Parcells retires.
And if you consider the coaches who filled NFL vacancies this year, there’s no reason to think Dallas is going to hire a better coach than Parcells.
No one knows if T.O. is coming to Dallas, but I do know that if Jones decides he can’t live without him, then T.O. will be wearing a star on the side of his helmet next year. After all, Jones is the man who signed Deion Sanders in his prime.
This much is sure: Jones and Parcells are intrigued. Stay tuned.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Do you think coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will use more blitz packages this year now that Chris Canty, Marcus Spears and DeMarcus Ware have a year under their belt? Or will the lack of talent or experience at free safety limit them from being more aggressive in calling blitzes?
Michael Mallia, Little Neck, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I would expect them to be more aggressive on defense, if for no other reason than Mike Zimmer has coached it one full year and has a better idea of which blitz combinations work best. He also has a much better idea of what players like Canty, Spears and Ware can and can’t do, which will allow him to take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Zimmer’s unit has finished in the top 10 three times in his six years as a defensive coordinator, and this is the most talent he’s ever had to work with. He’s a good coach who preaches fundamentals, which is important for a group with a lot of young players. They have a chance to be nasty next year no matter how much they blitz.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys appear to have a real problem in the offensive line. The older veterans on the roster have large cap numbers, yet are declining in production. The organization has done a poor job in drafting offensive lineman the last five years. How do you see the Cowboys addressing their offensive line needs?
Timothy Stearns
TAYLOR: That’s a good question, and I’m not sure how much of an answer I have for you because I don’t think the Cowboys are going to make a move for a veteran offensive linemen at center or tackle unless it makes solid financial sense. In other words, I don’t see the Cowboys spending a bunch of money on an offensive lineman in his 30s, and the best young offensive linemen will be retained by their current teams. That means Dallas is going to have to improve its offensive line through the draft. As of now, I’d say look for the Cowboys to draft at least two linemen because they need depth and players ready to perform in the next two to three years as Larry Allen and Marco Rivera leave.
• • •
Q: If Dallas signed Jason Fabini, Adam Vinatieri, Chris Hope and Julian Peterson, how much closer would Dallas be to making a run in the playoffs?
TAYLOR: They’d be a lot closer, and I’m not even a fan of Fabini. The problem is I don’t see Dallas signing signing Vinatieri or Peterson, and I have my doubts about Hope. Peterson is an intriguing player, but he’s going to want a bunch of money, and I don’t know if Dallas wants to spend it, especially since he missed all of 2004 with a ruptured Achilles' tendon. He also hasn’t had a lot of sacks, and that’s something Dallas would want from a high-priced outside linebacker. That said, if the Cowboys signed all four guys, they would definitely be in the hunt for the NFC title, but it would be difficult to get all of those deals done.
• • •
Q: Free safeties have the deep outside help. Please review every big play the defense gave up last year. I know what you are trying to say when you say free safety isn’t as important, but sometimes you focus on the cliché and miss the obvious. Your thoughts?
Lawrence Latham
TAYLOR: I know exactly what I’m saying: There’s a reason safety is one of the lowest-paid positions in the NFL. It’s not that they’re not important, but on the priority scale they rank below almost every other position. That’s why they’re generally not drafted in the top 10 and why only the best in the league command the most money.
• • •
Q: Would we actually not sign a solid kicker, even if we had to pay more?
Brian Ginyard, Silver Spring, Md.
TAYLOR: I think they’ll get a veteran, but they’re not going to spend big money – $2 million or more – on a kicker like Adam Vinatieri. They’ll sign a lower-priced kicker, maybe a guy like Ryan Longwell or Matt Bryant, who was in training camp last year. Then again, maybe they’ll bring Billy Cundiff back at some point if he flames out with Tampa Bay.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys need to make a trade with the Texans for David Carr, which would allow Houston to take Vince Young. Your thoughts?
Joseph Greenberg
TAYLOR: I don’t really see that happening because the Texans just gave David Carr an $8 million signing bonus to extend his contract three years. Secondly, I believe the Texans when they say they like Carr. I’m not sure he’s the problem as much as that porous offensive line. Consider that in the last two years, Carr has completed 60 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and 25 interceptions while being chased for his life. If you give him time, I think he’d be pretty good.
• • •
Q: With all of their high-profile coaching additions, do you think the Redskins will be that much better next year? Or will it be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen for them to succeed?
Don Aguirre, Roca, Neb.
TAYLOR: I think the Redskins have done a great job of putting a coaching staff together, and it will serve them well. They’re going to be good next year because they should have a lot of confidence after how they played at the end of last season. I don’t know what their record will be, but I do know the NFC East will be the toughest division in football because there’s not a bad team in it. It will be fantastic competition.
• • •
Q: How do the Cowboys’ brain trust view USC offensive tackle Winston Justice? What about Miami tackle Eric Winston?
Thomas Tuckwell, Miami
TAYLOR: I think you can also throw Texas’ Jonathan Scott into the mix as well. It’s still too early for me to discern whether they prefer one player to another. Now that the combine is over, the Cowboys will start their intense study of game film and start to put their draft board together. Give me a few weeks and we’ll revisit this topic with a lot more information.
• • •
Q: Based on the overall performance we saw in Super Bowl XL, do you think the Cowboys have a legitimate shot to contend next season if they can get a few key upgrades to the overall team?
L.T. Moss, Progreso Lakes, Texas
TAYLOR: There’s no doubt they can compete with another strong off-season and a season free of significant injuries. That’s because there’s no dominant team in the NFC, and I expect the Cowboys’ defense to be one of the elite units in the NFL next season because I think they’re going to spend some money and draft picks upgrading it in the off-season.
Terrell Owens probably wouldn't enjoy sharing the spotlight with other Cowboys receivers.
So Bill Parcells had lunch with agent Drew Rosenhaus last week at the NFL scouting combine.
Now, we don’t know exactly what they talked about, but let’s at least assume Terrell Owens’ name popped up in the conversation. That means the $64,000 question is whether T.O. is coming to Dallas.
I still can’t see it happening.
He’s a self-centered player with outstanding skills and an ability to destroy a locker room. He’s done it in San Francisco and Philadelphia, so there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t do it with his next team. I also believe that he’ll be on his best behavior for at least one season since he’ll be happy with his signing bonus and first-year salary.
If you believe Parcells is leaving after the 2006 season, despite signing a two-year contract last month, then maybe he doesn’t care because he won’t be here to clean up the mess Owens will inevitably leave.
Owens has played for two West Coast offenses. Denver makes sense because it runs the same offense, so his learning curve won’t be that significant. The Cowboys run a multi-faceted offense that doesn’t feature any one receiver. The Cowboys were the only team to have three receivers catch more than 60 balls last season.
Will T.O. be happy catching 65 balls for 1,000 yards, while Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten also get the ball in their hands? More important, will Johnson or Glenn be happy with Owens making $3 million to $5 million more than they are earning?
Owner Jerry Jones is the X factor. He has always coveted stars, especially on offense. The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game in nine seasons, the longest drought in franchise history. He is desperate to win before Parcells leaves because there’s no guarantee he will get a better coach when Parcells retires.
And if you consider the coaches who filled NFL vacancies this year, there’s no reason to think Dallas is going to hire a better coach than Parcells.
No one knows if T.O. is coming to Dallas, but I do know that if Jones decides he can’t live without him, then T.O. will be wearing a star on the side of his helmet next year. After all, Jones is the man who signed Deion Sanders in his prime.
This much is sure: Jones and Parcells are intrigued. Stay tuned.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Do you think coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will use more blitz packages this year now that Chris Canty, Marcus Spears and DeMarcus Ware have a year under their belt? Or will the lack of talent or experience at free safety limit them from being more aggressive in calling blitzes?
Michael Mallia, Little Neck, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I would expect them to be more aggressive on defense, if for no other reason than Mike Zimmer has coached it one full year and has a better idea of which blitz combinations work best. He also has a much better idea of what players like Canty, Spears and Ware can and can’t do, which will allow him to take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Zimmer’s unit has finished in the top 10 three times in his six years as a defensive coordinator, and this is the most talent he’s ever had to work with. He’s a good coach who preaches fundamentals, which is important for a group with a lot of young players. They have a chance to be nasty next year no matter how much they blitz.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys appear to have a real problem in the offensive line. The older veterans on the roster have large cap numbers, yet are declining in production. The organization has done a poor job in drafting offensive lineman the last five years. How do you see the Cowboys addressing their offensive line needs?
Timothy Stearns
TAYLOR: That’s a good question, and I’m not sure how much of an answer I have for you because I don’t think the Cowboys are going to make a move for a veteran offensive linemen at center or tackle unless it makes solid financial sense. In other words, I don’t see the Cowboys spending a bunch of money on an offensive lineman in his 30s, and the best young offensive linemen will be retained by their current teams. That means Dallas is going to have to improve its offensive line through the draft. As of now, I’d say look for the Cowboys to draft at least two linemen because they need depth and players ready to perform in the next two to three years as Larry Allen and Marco Rivera leave.
• • •
Q: If Dallas signed Jason Fabini, Adam Vinatieri, Chris Hope and Julian Peterson, how much closer would Dallas be to making a run in the playoffs?
TAYLOR: They’d be a lot closer, and I’m not even a fan of Fabini. The problem is I don’t see Dallas signing signing Vinatieri or Peterson, and I have my doubts about Hope. Peterson is an intriguing player, but he’s going to want a bunch of money, and I don’t know if Dallas wants to spend it, especially since he missed all of 2004 with a ruptured Achilles' tendon. He also hasn’t had a lot of sacks, and that’s something Dallas would want from a high-priced outside linebacker. That said, if the Cowboys signed all four guys, they would definitely be in the hunt for the NFC title, but it would be difficult to get all of those deals done.
• • •
Q: Free safeties have the deep outside help. Please review every big play the defense gave up last year. I know what you are trying to say when you say free safety isn’t as important, but sometimes you focus on the cliché and miss the obvious. Your thoughts?
Lawrence Latham
TAYLOR: I know exactly what I’m saying: There’s a reason safety is one of the lowest-paid positions in the NFL. It’s not that they’re not important, but on the priority scale they rank below almost every other position. That’s why they’re generally not drafted in the top 10 and why only the best in the league command the most money.
• • •
Q: Would we actually not sign a solid kicker, even if we had to pay more?
Brian Ginyard, Silver Spring, Md.
TAYLOR: I think they’ll get a veteran, but they’re not going to spend big money – $2 million or more – on a kicker like Adam Vinatieri. They’ll sign a lower-priced kicker, maybe a guy like Ryan Longwell or Matt Bryant, who was in training camp last year. Then again, maybe they’ll bring Billy Cundiff back at some point if he flames out with Tampa Bay.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys need to make a trade with the Texans for David Carr, which would allow Houston to take Vince Young. Your thoughts?
Joseph Greenberg
TAYLOR: I don’t really see that happening because the Texans just gave David Carr an $8 million signing bonus to extend his contract three years. Secondly, I believe the Texans when they say they like Carr. I’m not sure he’s the problem as much as that porous offensive line. Consider that in the last two years, Carr has completed 60 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and 25 interceptions while being chased for his life. If you give him time, I think he’d be pretty good.
• • •
Q: With all of their high-profile coaching additions, do you think the Redskins will be that much better next year? Or will it be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen for them to succeed?
Don Aguirre, Roca, Neb.
TAYLOR: I think the Redskins have done a great job of putting a coaching staff together, and it will serve them well. They’re going to be good next year because they should have a lot of confidence after how they played at the end of last season. I don’t know what their record will be, but I do know the NFC East will be the toughest division in football because there’s not a bad team in it. It will be fantastic competition.
• • •
Q: How do the Cowboys’ brain trust view USC offensive tackle Winston Justice? What about Miami tackle Eric Winston?
Thomas Tuckwell, Miami
TAYLOR: I think you can also throw Texas’ Jonathan Scott into the mix as well. It’s still too early for me to discern whether they prefer one player to another. Now that the combine is over, the Cowboys will start their intense study of game film and start to put their draft board together. Give me a few weeks and we’ll revisit this topic with a lot more information.
• • •
Q: Based on the overall performance we saw in Super Bowl XL, do you think the Cowboys have a legitimate shot to contend next season if they can get a few key upgrades to the overall team?
L.T. Moss, Progreso Lakes, Texas
TAYLOR: There’s no doubt they can compete with another strong off-season and a season free of significant injuries. That’s because there’s no dominant team in the NFC, and I expect the Cowboys’ defense to be one of the elite units in the NFL next season because I think they’re going to spend some money and draft picks upgrading it in the off-season.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:08 PM
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