Cowboys take risk with cornerbacks
BY TODD ARCHER
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
IRVING, Texas — In 2004, the Dallas Cowboys thought they were covered at cornerback.
During the free-agency period, they chose not to dive into the $ 10 million-bonus pool to acquire a player such as Antoine Winfield, who went to Minnesota.
And in the draft, they didn’t take a cornerback until the second day, selecting Bruce Thornton in the fourth round and Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves in the seventh.
Then the season came, and, to use a Bill Parcells term, the Cowboys were held hostage by the cornerback position.
Pete Hunter, Tyrone Williams, Reeves and Lance Frazier started games opposite Terence Newman that year.
The team also looked at Donald Mitchell, Jemeel Powell, Andrew Davison, Lenny Williams and Jeff Sanchez.
A year after finishing with the top-ranked defense, the Cowboys fell to 6-10. They allowed 31 touchdown passes, 18 more than in 2003.
The following off-season, the Cowboys paid a $ 10 million signing bonus for Anthony Henry, who remains the starter opposite Newman.
As the Cowboys enter 2007, they are set with their starters, but the backup plan is another story.
The team’s decision to release Aaron Glenn on Saturday was a surprise, not because he played so well during training camp and as a starter in three of the four preseason games, but because the corners behind Glenn didn’t play much better than the veteran.
With Newman’s status for the season opener against the New York Giants unclear because of a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot, the Cowboys might have to start Reeves and use Jones as the third cornerback.
Where have you gone, Mario Edwards ?
The Cowboys are either taking a big gamble that Newman will be healthy or they believe Wade Phillips’ scheme can shield the secondary.
Before last week’s preseason finale, owner and General Manager Jerry Jones expressed doubt over whether the Cowboys could find a reserve cornerback off waivers and have him contribute immediately.
The team claimed cornerback Evan Oglesby off waivers from Baltimore on Sunday. In 19 games as a reserve, he does not have an interception.
Early in training camp, the Cowboys had brief discussions with Chicago about cornerback Dante Wesley (Watson Chapel, Arkansas-Pine Bluff ), but he was traded to New England and subsequently cut.
He signed with Carolina on Sunday. But vested veterans come with an expensive price tag because their base salaries are guaranteed for the season if they are on the roster in Week 1.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
IRVING, Texas — In 2004, the Dallas Cowboys thought they were covered at cornerback.
During the free-agency period, they chose not to dive into the $ 10 million-bonus pool to acquire a player such as Antoine Winfield, who went to Minnesota.
And in the draft, they didn’t take a cornerback until the second day, selecting Bruce Thornton in the fourth round and Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves in the seventh.
Then the season came, and, to use a Bill Parcells term, the Cowboys were held hostage by the cornerback position.
Pete Hunter, Tyrone Williams, Reeves and Lance Frazier started games opposite Terence Newman that year.
The team also looked at Donald Mitchell, Jemeel Powell, Andrew Davison, Lenny Williams and Jeff Sanchez.
A year after finishing with the top-ranked defense, the Cowboys fell to 6-10. They allowed 31 touchdown passes, 18 more than in 2003.
The following off-season, the Cowboys paid a $ 10 million signing bonus for Anthony Henry, who remains the starter opposite Newman.
As the Cowboys enter 2007, they are set with their starters, but the backup plan is another story.
The team’s decision to release Aaron Glenn on Saturday was a surprise, not because he played so well during training camp and as a starter in three of the four preseason games, but because the corners behind Glenn didn’t play much better than the veteran.
With Newman’s status for the season opener against the New York Giants unclear because of a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot, the Cowboys might have to start Reeves and use Jones as the third cornerback.
Where have you gone, Mario Edwards ?
The Cowboys are either taking a big gamble that Newman will be healthy or they believe Wade Phillips’ scheme can shield the secondary.
Before last week’s preseason finale, owner and General Manager Jerry Jones expressed doubt over whether the Cowboys could find a reserve cornerback off waivers and have him contribute immediately.
The team claimed cornerback Evan Oglesby off waivers from Baltimore on Sunday. In 19 games as a reserve, he does not have an interception.
Early in training camp, the Cowboys had brief discussions with Chicago about cornerback Dante Wesley (Watson Chapel, Arkansas-Pine Bluff ), but he was traded to New England and subsequently cut.
He signed with Carolina on Sunday. But vested veterans come with an expensive price tag because their base salaries are guaranteed for the season if they are on the roster in Week 1.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:25 AM
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