Hitting the speed dial: Who’ll replace Glenn?
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
chill@star-telegram.com
OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys closed the door on wide receiver Terry Glenn coming to training camp by placing him on waivers Friday.
But team owner Jerry Jones left open the possibility of the veteran returning to the team before the start of the season or during the season if the Cowboys need help at receiver.
"We will see what’s down the road when we have a chance to go through the whole preseason," Jones said. "If things go like we hope for Terry and like we hope for us, then you’ve got another decision to look at."
The question is whether a frustrated and disappointed Glenn be amenable to such an arrangement — and that’s if he is available.
Glenn, who is free to sign with another team, has made it clear that he wants to continue to play football.
Most frustrating to him is that he wanted to continue his career with the Cowboys in hopes of securing another Super Bowl ring.
After battling for the past few months over a $500,000 injury settlement in case Glenn reinjured a right knee that kept him out of 15 games last season, the two sides had come to a meeting of the minds in an attempt to get him on the field.
The Cowboys had barred Glenn from practicing during minicamps and on-field team activities and workouts because he had not signed the waiver. They had even threatened to cut him if he did not sign.
However, now Glenn is ready to do what it took to play, the Cowboys decided it was time for them to "move on," a source said.
When reached for comment Friday about the Cowboys’ plans to release him, Glenn responded with "I guess!" via text message.
By releasing Glenn, the Cowboys save $1.74 million against the 2008 salary cap. However, he will count $2.8 million against the 2009 cap.
According to a source, the Cowboys were concerned about Glenn’s conditioning and hope he will use this time to get in better shape.
The Cowboys also worried about having to manage Glenn’s surgically repaired right knee on a weekly basis.
Although Glenn’s doctors have cleared him to play football, the Cowboys’ doctors feel he needs microfracture surgery to fully repair the knee. Without it, they believe his knee could give out at any time, leaving it to chance whether he could play one game or he could play all 16.
Jones also said he wanted to clear the way so Glenn’s presence didn’t stunt the growth of the team’s young receivers, such as Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd.
"I knew it was going to be two sides to that thing," Crayton said. "I know Mr. Jones’ stance and Terry’s thing, and both of them have their own right. It doesn’t really feel any different. He hasn’t been here in a long time. I’m just kind of disappointed my boy won’t be here."
The Cowboys have no immediate plans to sign a receiver to the roster for training camp. But the decision to release Glenn certainly puts more pressure on the young receivers to become legitimate playmakers opposite Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens.
Coach Wade Phillips doesn’t look at Glenn’s departure as a setback because he said the Cowboys didn’t go into the season counting on him. He said they looked at his presence as a bonus. But based on the production the Cowboys had without Glenn last season, Phillips said he is confident his young receiver corps will be up to the task — especially Crayton. Crayton caught 50 passes and had seven touchdowns last season as the replacement for Glenn opposite Owens.
"I think either one can make plays and come through and be a top receiver," Phillips said.
Still, the Cowboys tried throughout the off-season to find a proven playmaker at receiver, and Glenn’s departure makes the situation even more acute if Owens, who turns 35 in December, is forced to miss games because of injury. He has missed time in five of the past six seasons, and the Cowboys’ offense is not as explosive when he’s out of the lineup.
Owens said he understands how important it is for him to remain healthy.
"It’s not a burden," Owens said. "It’s an opportunity."
A No. 1 pick of the New England Patriots in 1996, Glenn has played the past five seasons with the Cowboys. His best years in Dallas were in 2005 and 2006, when he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He has had four career 1,000-yard seasons and totaled 593 catches for 8,823 yards and 44 touchdowns.
chill@star-telegram.com
OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys closed the door on wide receiver Terry Glenn coming to training camp by placing him on waivers Friday.
But team owner Jerry Jones left open the possibility of the veteran returning to the team before the start of the season or during the season if the Cowboys need help at receiver.
"We will see what’s down the road when we have a chance to go through the whole preseason," Jones said. "If things go like we hope for Terry and like we hope for us, then you’ve got another decision to look at."
The question is whether a frustrated and disappointed Glenn be amenable to such an arrangement — and that’s if he is available.
Glenn, who is free to sign with another team, has made it clear that he wants to continue to play football.
Most frustrating to him is that he wanted to continue his career with the Cowboys in hopes of securing another Super Bowl ring.
After battling for the past few months over a $500,000 injury settlement in case Glenn reinjured a right knee that kept him out of 15 games last season, the two sides had come to a meeting of the minds in an attempt to get him on the field.
The Cowboys had barred Glenn from practicing during minicamps and on-field team activities and workouts because he had not signed the waiver. They had even threatened to cut him if he did not sign.
However, now Glenn is ready to do what it took to play, the Cowboys decided it was time for them to "move on," a source said.
When reached for comment Friday about the Cowboys’ plans to release him, Glenn responded with "I guess!" via text message.
By releasing Glenn, the Cowboys save $1.74 million against the 2008 salary cap. However, he will count $2.8 million against the 2009 cap.
According to a source, the Cowboys were concerned about Glenn’s conditioning and hope he will use this time to get in better shape.
The Cowboys also worried about having to manage Glenn’s surgically repaired right knee on a weekly basis.
Although Glenn’s doctors have cleared him to play football, the Cowboys’ doctors feel he needs microfracture surgery to fully repair the knee. Without it, they believe his knee could give out at any time, leaving it to chance whether he could play one game or he could play all 16.
Jones also said he wanted to clear the way so Glenn’s presence didn’t stunt the growth of the team’s young receivers, such as Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd.
"I knew it was going to be two sides to that thing," Crayton said. "I know Mr. Jones’ stance and Terry’s thing, and both of them have their own right. It doesn’t really feel any different. He hasn’t been here in a long time. I’m just kind of disappointed my boy won’t be here."
The Cowboys have no immediate plans to sign a receiver to the roster for training camp. But the decision to release Glenn certainly puts more pressure on the young receivers to become legitimate playmakers opposite Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens.
Coach Wade Phillips doesn’t look at Glenn’s departure as a setback because he said the Cowboys didn’t go into the season counting on him. He said they looked at his presence as a bonus. But based on the production the Cowboys had without Glenn last season, Phillips said he is confident his young receiver corps will be up to the task — especially Crayton. Crayton caught 50 passes and had seven touchdowns last season as the replacement for Glenn opposite Owens.
"I think either one can make plays and come through and be a top receiver," Phillips said.
Still, the Cowboys tried throughout the off-season to find a proven playmaker at receiver, and Glenn’s departure makes the situation even more acute if Owens, who turns 35 in December, is forced to miss games because of injury. He has missed time in five of the past six seasons, and the Cowboys’ offense is not as explosive when he’s out of the lineup.
Owens said he understands how important it is for him to remain healthy.
"It’s not a burden," Owens said. "It’s an opportunity."
A No. 1 pick of the New England Patriots in 1996, Glenn has played the past five seasons with the Cowboys. His best years in Dallas were in 2005 and 2006, when he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He has had four career 1,000-yard seasons and totaled 593 catches for 8,823 yards and 44 touchdowns.
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