Using smart business to shore up the line
By Todd Archer
DMN
It'll take time, but Jones hopes to build offensive line with draft
01:46 AM CDT on Monday, April 30, 2007
IRVING – Jerry Jones is not afraid to spend big money in free agency, especially along the offensive line.
In 2003, he kept Flozell Adams as his left tackle with a $10 million signing bonus. In 2005, he brought in Marco Rivera with an $8.1 million signing bonus. In 2006, he gave Kyle Kosier a $5 million signing bonus.
This off-season, Jones doled out signing bonuses of $10 million to center Andre Gurode, $4 million to right tackle Marc Colombo and a team-record $16 million to Leonard Davis to be the Cowboys' right guard this year.
But in the future, Jones says he would rather not have to dip into his pockets to bring in high-priced offensive linemen.
That's why the Cowboys drafted Boston College tackle James Marten in the third round and Northern Illinois tackle Doug Free in the fourth. Add those rookies to Pat McQuistan, Cory Procter and Joe Berger, and Jones believes he has the makings of the team's future offensive line.
"We think to make the commitments that we've made in the offensive line is smart business."
When Wade Phillips was named coach on Feb. 8, the only offensive linemen the Cowboys knew they would have in 2007, and who remain today, were Adams, Kosier, McQuistan, Berger, Procter and Rivera. Rivera's status is unclear because of back surgery but could be cleared up this week when he meets with Jones.
Jones said that earlier in the off-season, the team felt McQuistan, a seventh-round selection last year, would have to be ready to start now.
Since then, the Cowboys have re-signed Gurode and Colombo, added Davis and drafted Marten and Free. McQuistan might be moved to guard.
"When we were through and looking ahead after our last ballgame, I really thought we had a major challenge ahead of us," Jones said.
In some ways, the Cowboys' approach to the offensive line mirrored their approach to this year's draft. Jones believes his team's bases are covered, so the Cowboys took chances by drafting quarterback-turned-receiver Isaiah Stanback in the fourth round, as well as a kicker and a fullback in the sixth and two cornerbacks in the seventh.
The last time the Cowboys made this type of commitment to the offensive line in the draft, Jacob Rogers and Stephen Peterman had to develop into starters almost immediately. Rogers never played, and Peterman barely played.
Missing on those players forced the Cowboys' hand in free agency. With Adams entering the final year of his contract, Colombo signed through 2008 and Kosier signed through 2010, the Cowboys do not need Marten or Free or McQuistan or Procter or Berger to start right now. But they will need them at some point or Jones' pockets will have to be picked again in free agency.
Phillips said the draft can help the offensive line's depth, but he also hopes the picks will develop into starters down the road.
DMN
It'll take time, but Jones hopes to build offensive line with draft
01:46 AM CDT on Monday, April 30, 2007
IRVING – Jerry Jones is not afraid to spend big money in free agency, especially along the offensive line.
In 2003, he kept Flozell Adams as his left tackle with a $10 million signing bonus. In 2005, he brought in Marco Rivera with an $8.1 million signing bonus. In 2006, he gave Kyle Kosier a $5 million signing bonus.
This off-season, Jones doled out signing bonuses of $10 million to center Andre Gurode, $4 million to right tackle Marc Colombo and a team-record $16 million to Leonard Davis to be the Cowboys' right guard this year.
But in the future, Jones says he would rather not have to dip into his pockets to bring in high-priced offensive linemen.
That's why the Cowboys drafted Boston College tackle James Marten in the third round and Northern Illinois tackle Doug Free in the fourth. Add those rookies to Pat McQuistan, Cory Procter and Joe Berger, and Jones believes he has the makings of the team's future offensive line.
"We think to make the commitments that we've made in the offensive line is smart business."
When Wade Phillips was named coach on Feb. 8, the only offensive linemen the Cowboys knew they would have in 2007, and who remain today, were Adams, Kosier, McQuistan, Berger, Procter and Rivera. Rivera's status is unclear because of back surgery but could be cleared up this week when he meets with Jones.
Jones said that earlier in the off-season, the team felt McQuistan, a seventh-round selection last year, would have to be ready to start now.
Since then, the Cowboys have re-signed Gurode and Colombo, added Davis and drafted Marten and Free. McQuistan might be moved to guard.
"When we were through and looking ahead after our last ballgame, I really thought we had a major challenge ahead of us," Jones said.
In some ways, the Cowboys' approach to the offensive line mirrored their approach to this year's draft. Jones believes his team's bases are covered, so the Cowboys took chances by drafting quarterback-turned-receiver Isaiah Stanback in the fourth round, as well as a kicker and a fullback in the sixth and two cornerbacks in the seventh.
The last time the Cowboys made this type of commitment to the offensive line in the draft, Jacob Rogers and Stephen Peterman had to develop into starters almost immediately. Rogers never played, and Peterman barely played.
Missing on those players forced the Cowboys' hand in free agency. With Adams entering the final year of his contract, Colombo signed through 2008 and Kosier signed through 2010, the Cowboys do not need Marten or Free or McQuistan or Procter or Berger to start right now. But they will need them at some point or Jones' pockets will have to be picked again in free agency.
Phillips said the draft can help the offensive line's depth, but he also hopes the picks will develop into starters down the road.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:47 AM
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