Roster is filled with players who have something to prove – and that's a good thing
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Players with something to prove are the best kind of players, and the Cowboys will sport several of them in 2007.
Right guard Leonard Davis tops the list after receiving a $16 million signing bonus. Presumably tired of being called an underachiever, the former Texas standout has reportedly been one of the most dedicated members of the team’s offseason program.
It’s a sign he’s out to prove he’s worth every penny of that franchise-record bonus.
Davis isn’t the only offensive lineman who will be under intense scrutiny.
Center Andre Gurode and right tackle Marc Colombo must prove their stellar 2006 seasons weren’t aberrations.
Then there’s safety Ken Hamlin and receiver Patrick Crayton, both of whom recently signed one-year contracts. Lucrative long-term deals await them – either with the Cowboys or another team – should they prove to be indispensable in 2007.
Third-year defensive end Marcus Spears must prove he’s not a bust. Defensive end Greg Ellis must prove he’s still got it after suffering a devastating injury last October.
Terrell Owens must prove he can hang onto the ball and produce in clutch situations.
Tony Romo must prove his embarrassing Seattle slip is behind him and that he truly is the next great Cowboys quarterback.
Davis seems determined to answer his detractors with a Pro Bowl-worthy season. If the others show the same kind of pride, the Cowboys should arrive in San Antonio for training camp July 24 with one of the hungriest teams in the league.
And hungry teams are the best kind of teams.
Now on to this week’s mail:
You said 305-pound Jay Ratliff isn’t stout enough to be 310-pound Jason Ferguson’s backup at nose tackle, but there’s only a difference of 5 pounds between them. Then you say that in Wade Phillips’ version of the 3-4 defense, the nose tackle will not be asked to take on as many double-teams because he will slant more with a one-gap responsibility to rush the passer. Wouldn’t that play right into Ratliff’s strengths? He is a nice pass rusher at 305 pounds and could spell Ferguson. Put 5 pounds on Ratliff with his quickness and a year of weight lifting under his belt, and he could be a nice nose tackle.
– Matt, Bossier City, La.
I like your thinking, but the bottom line is that Ratliff, at 6-4, is never really going to be stout enough to be a true NFL nose tackle. A nose tackle in the 3-4 needs to be built like a fireplug (think Ferguson or Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton, who carries 325 pounds on a 6-1 frame).
Even though Phillips’ defensive lineman will be asked to rush the passer more than they did under Bill Parcells, the nose tackle must still command double-teams and be able to clog the middle. Ratliff’s height is a plus at end but would be a detriment at nose tackle.
How many of Parcells’ "guys" can I expect to be on the move and when will we get rid of that cancer known as T.O.?
– Mike, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Here’s the poop on the Parcells’ guys: Jerry Jones chose not to re-sign Drew Bledsoe and Jason Fabini, but Terry Glenn, Jason Ferguson and Aaron Glenn aren’t going anywhere.
Regarding T.O., he’s staying. Yes, he’s a pain at times, is getting old and led the league in drops last season, but it would be really tough for the Cowboys to find another wideout at this point capable of catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns as Owens did last season. Plus, Jones loves the publicity T.O. brings the club.
Why did the Cowboys bring Miami’s Brandon Meriweather in for an interview when he has so many character questions?
– Ryan Becker, Boise, Idaho
Take away his character issues, and Meriweather is a slam-dunk first-round choice. With that in mind, the Cowboys would be stupid not to talk to him, especially with their need to find a long-term solution at free safety.
But it’s far from certain they would take him even if he is still on the board when it’s their turn to pick. My guess is that the character question will push Meriweather to the second round. With the NFL set to crack down on its bad apples, why take a chance on a guy who has such a violent past?
Express-News Staff Writer
Players with something to prove are the best kind of players, and the Cowboys will sport several of them in 2007.
Right guard Leonard Davis tops the list after receiving a $16 million signing bonus. Presumably tired of being called an underachiever, the former Texas standout has reportedly been one of the most dedicated members of the team’s offseason program.
It’s a sign he’s out to prove he’s worth every penny of that franchise-record bonus.
Davis isn’t the only offensive lineman who will be under intense scrutiny.
Center Andre Gurode and right tackle Marc Colombo must prove their stellar 2006 seasons weren’t aberrations.
Then there’s safety Ken Hamlin and receiver Patrick Crayton, both of whom recently signed one-year contracts. Lucrative long-term deals await them – either with the Cowboys or another team – should they prove to be indispensable in 2007.
Third-year defensive end Marcus Spears must prove he’s not a bust. Defensive end Greg Ellis must prove he’s still got it after suffering a devastating injury last October.
Terrell Owens must prove he can hang onto the ball and produce in clutch situations.
Tony Romo must prove his embarrassing Seattle slip is behind him and that he truly is the next great Cowboys quarterback.
Davis seems determined to answer his detractors with a Pro Bowl-worthy season. If the others show the same kind of pride, the Cowboys should arrive in San Antonio for training camp July 24 with one of the hungriest teams in the league.
And hungry teams are the best kind of teams.
Now on to this week’s mail:
You said 305-pound Jay Ratliff isn’t stout enough to be 310-pound Jason Ferguson’s backup at nose tackle, but there’s only a difference of 5 pounds between them. Then you say that in Wade Phillips’ version of the 3-4 defense, the nose tackle will not be asked to take on as many double-teams because he will slant more with a one-gap responsibility to rush the passer. Wouldn’t that play right into Ratliff’s strengths? He is a nice pass rusher at 305 pounds and could spell Ferguson. Put 5 pounds on Ratliff with his quickness and a year of weight lifting under his belt, and he could be a nice nose tackle.
– Matt, Bossier City, La.
I like your thinking, but the bottom line is that Ratliff, at 6-4, is never really going to be stout enough to be a true NFL nose tackle. A nose tackle in the 3-4 needs to be built like a fireplug (think Ferguson or Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton, who carries 325 pounds on a 6-1 frame).
Even though Phillips’ defensive lineman will be asked to rush the passer more than they did under Bill Parcells, the nose tackle must still command double-teams and be able to clog the middle. Ratliff’s height is a plus at end but would be a detriment at nose tackle.
How many of Parcells’ "guys" can I expect to be on the move and when will we get rid of that cancer known as T.O.?
– Mike, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Here’s the poop on the Parcells’ guys: Jerry Jones chose not to re-sign Drew Bledsoe and Jason Fabini, but Terry Glenn, Jason Ferguson and Aaron Glenn aren’t going anywhere.
Regarding T.O., he’s staying. Yes, he’s a pain at times, is getting old and led the league in drops last season, but it would be really tough for the Cowboys to find another wideout at this point capable of catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns as Owens did last season. Plus, Jones loves the publicity T.O. brings the club.
Why did the Cowboys bring Miami’s Brandon Meriweather in for an interview when he has so many character questions?
– Ryan Becker, Boise, Idaho
Take away his character issues, and Meriweather is a slam-dunk first-round choice. With that in mind, the Cowboys would be stupid not to talk to him, especially with their need to find a long-term solution at free safety.
But it’s far from certain they would take him even if he is still on the board when it’s their turn to pick. My guess is that the character question will push Meriweather to the second round. With the NFL set to crack down on its bad apples, why take a chance on a guy who has such a violent past?
posted by The Gryphon at 8:05 PM
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