JJT - Patriots may try to swing a trade
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
OXNARD, Calif. – Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of player personnel, watched the Cowboys practice Tuesday afternoon.
Pioli, Bill Parcells' son-in-law, was scouting players for a potential trade. Pioli is familiar with several Cowboys.
Marcus Coleman, Jason Ferguson, Aaron Glenn and Drew Bledsoe were with him either in New England or with the New York Jets. Coleman and receivers coach Todd Haley greeted Pioli warmly before practice.
"It is strange," nose tackle Jason Ferguson said with a chuckle. "I've never seen another team's GM or personnel director come down before."
Jeff Ireland, the Cowboys vice president of college and pro scouting, watched New England practice.
The Cowboys are looking to add a receiver and a right tackle by trading some of their depth at linebacker and defensive line. That's why Dallas started backups Kenyon Coleman at defensive end and Scott Shanle at inside linebacker in a 13-3 win over Seattle on Saturday night.
For the second consecutive day, none of the Cowboys' top three receivers – Terrell Owens (hamstring), Terry Glenn (feet) and Patrick Crayton (ankle) – practiced. Terrance Copper is the only other receiver on the roster to catch a pass in a NFL game.
Their absence has heightened coach Bill Parcells' desire to add a veteran receiver.
"I'd like to add somebody I'd feel good about putting in the game," Parcells said
No big deal: Mike Vanderjagt did not kick in practice for the second consecutive day but said he expects to kick today.
He made a 21-yard field goal against Seattle, his only attempt after struggling during training camp.
"It was a little something that didn't go right in the game," said Vanderjagt, "and we didn't want to irritate something before the season, so we just decided to hold back for a couple of days."
Looking for help in middle: Parcells likes what he sees in Ferguson, who was built to stop the run with his 6-3, 310-pound frame.
Parcells isn't so sure what he has in Thomas Johnson, who's in his second season, or rookie Montavious Stanley. Parcells wants to find out because nose tackle is a physically demanding position. He is usually double-teamed on every play.
"When [Johnson] has the advantage of knowing the down and distance and the probability of the play, he's a good player," Parcells said. "Sometimes, when he has to figure out what's going on, he's just average. He's got to make that transition to be able to be a good player all the time.
"Then I have Stanley. He has a good body type for the position, he's in good condition and he's a pretty tough kid, but it's still a pretty good transition for him right this minute."
If Johnson or Stanley can't handle the job, the Cowboys might consider moving second-year defensive end Jay Ratliff to nose tackle.
OXNARD, Calif. – Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of player personnel, watched the Cowboys practice Tuesday afternoon.
Pioli, Bill Parcells' son-in-law, was scouting players for a potential trade. Pioli is familiar with several Cowboys.
Marcus Coleman, Jason Ferguson, Aaron Glenn and Drew Bledsoe were with him either in New England or with the New York Jets. Coleman and receivers coach Todd Haley greeted Pioli warmly before practice.
"It is strange," nose tackle Jason Ferguson said with a chuckle. "I've never seen another team's GM or personnel director come down before."
Jeff Ireland, the Cowboys vice president of college and pro scouting, watched New England practice.
The Cowboys are looking to add a receiver and a right tackle by trading some of their depth at linebacker and defensive line. That's why Dallas started backups Kenyon Coleman at defensive end and Scott Shanle at inside linebacker in a 13-3 win over Seattle on Saturday night.
For the second consecutive day, none of the Cowboys' top three receivers – Terrell Owens (hamstring), Terry Glenn (feet) and Patrick Crayton (ankle) – practiced. Terrance Copper is the only other receiver on the roster to catch a pass in a NFL game.
Their absence has heightened coach Bill Parcells' desire to add a veteran receiver.
"I'd like to add somebody I'd feel good about putting in the game," Parcells said
No big deal: Mike Vanderjagt did not kick in practice for the second consecutive day but said he expects to kick today.
He made a 21-yard field goal against Seattle, his only attempt after struggling during training camp.
"It was a little something that didn't go right in the game," said Vanderjagt, "and we didn't want to irritate something before the season, so we just decided to hold back for a couple of days."
Looking for help in middle: Parcells likes what he sees in Ferguson, who was built to stop the run with his 6-3, 310-pound frame.
Parcells isn't so sure what he has in Thomas Johnson, who's in his second season, or rookie Montavious Stanley. Parcells wants to find out because nose tackle is a physically demanding position. He is usually double-teamed on every play.
"When [Johnson] has the advantage of knowing the down and distance and the probability of the play, he's a good player," Parcells said. "Sometimes, when he has to figure out what's going on, he's just average. He's got to make that transition to be able to be a good player all the time.
"Then I have Stanley. He has a good body type for the position, he's in good condition and he's a pretty tough kid, but it's still a pretty good transition for him right this minute."
If Johnson or Stanley can't handle the job, the Cowboys might consider moving second-year defensive end Jay Ratliff to nose tackle.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:41 PM
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