Mailbag: Pursuing Receivers Before Trade Deadline?
DallasCowboys.com Report
October 8, 2008 1:24 PM Change Font Size A A A A
ALBERT MORENO, EL PASO , TX: With Patrick Crayton not being much of a threat or at least relieving some of that double coverage on T.O I just read that the Lions are now interested in trading Roy Williams or at least willing to hear on offer for him. What are your thoughts if Jerry Jones should possibly pursue this option or at least make an offer before the trade deadline on Oct. 14.
Mickey: Depends what the Lions are asking for in return for Roy Williams. If it's reasonable, I would assume Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would pursue the matter. But again, when it comes to possibly re-signing one of the team's current players to a contract extension, which guy would you be willing to give up on so the club could afford to sign Williams? Now on Tuesday when asked if he was trying to bolster his receiving corps before the trade deadline or if he was satisfied where the team was at wide receiver, Jones said succinctly, "Satisfied where we are," and left it at that. Who knows, he could have been posturing, not wanting the Lions to even remotely know he's interested.
Nick: I think the Cowboys should consider a trade. Next year, they will need to address the wide receiver position anyway. You're not going to get the value of a wide receiver where the Cowboys are picking, so I would consider it. Terrell Owens is getting up there in age and even if they play together for a few years, you've got yourself another young, talented wide receiver. If I'm the Cowboys, I get myself in the mix.
Josh: I think the Cowboys should be willing to give up as much as a first-round pick for Williams, but Jones doesn't think so. He's answered this question countless times in the last few months, and within the last few days his responses have suggested he's beginning to be annoyed by it. Williams would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Crayton, but it would take some time to get him involved, and it's not a leap of faith to suggest a trade risks stepping on the toes of the Cowboys real offensive playmaker, Terrell Owens, who might feel slighted.
Rob: Depends on the cost. The Cowboys need to get Owens more touches, but I don't know the answer is trading a top pick for Williams. They're still getting 30 points a game with Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd alongside him. Given Owens' age, though, at some point they need to find another big-time receiving threat.
JAMIE PEYTON, PALMYRA, VA: What are your thoughts with someone else taking the return punts besides Pacman? I think he just tries to do too much and runs east and west more than he does north and south. Would you guys agree?
Mickey: Yep, he needs to start running up the field and accepting what he can get, even if it's just four or five yards. He's giving far too much ground to go forward. Not sure it's time to make a change, but remember, Patrick Crayton, the guy no one was happy with previously, would average at least seven yards a return, and actually 9.1 last year on 22 returns. Pacman right now is averaging 4.7 on 13 returns.
Nick: I would consider someone else, especially now if Newman is banged up and Pacman is the main starter. However, you don't have many other explosive options. You can find people to go out and catch the ball, like Crayton, but they don't have many experienced guys who can do it. I'm not sure Miles Austin couldn't do it though. I wouldn't mind seeing him get a few tries at it.
Josh: I always thought Terence Newman was great on punt returns, but the team hasn't wanted to use him, and now his injury prevents it. Who else would you throw out there? Patrick Crayton will catch the ball and get you a steady eight yards, but that's about as far as he can go. Pacman has the ability to break a long one, but I think patience is the key. For the time being he needs to focus on making whatever gain is available, and eventually a hole he can run 60 yards through will break open.
Rob: Jones does appear to be trying to do too much, which is why he ranks 27th in the league with just a 4.7-yard average. But the dynamic dimension is still there. If he trusts one strong blocking lane, there's a good chance he'll get a TD.
October 8, 2008 1:24 PM Change Font Size A A A A
ALBERT MORENO, EL PASO , TX: With Patrick Crayton not being much of a threat or at least relieving some of that double coverage on T.O I just read that the Lions are now interested in trading Roy Williams or at least willing to hear on offer for him. What are your thoughts if Jerry Jones should possibly pursue this option or at least make an offer before the trade deadline on Oct. 14.
Mickey: Depends what the Lions are asking for in return for Roy Williams. If it's reasonable, I would assume Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would pursue the matter. But again, when it comes to possibly re-signing one of the team's current players to a contract extension, which guy would you be willing to give up on so the club could afford to sign Williams? Now on Tuesday when asked if he was trying to bolster his receiving corps before the trade deadline or if he was satisfied where the team was at wide receiver, Jones said succinctly, "Satisfied where we are," and left it at that. Who knows, he could have been posturing, not wanting the Lions to even remotely know he's interested.
Nick: I think the Cowboys should consider a trade. Next year, they will need to address the wide receiver position anyway. You're not going to get the value of a wide receiver where the Cowboys are picking, so I would consider it. Terrell Owens is getting up there in age and even if they play together for a few years, you've got yourself another young, talented wide receiver. If I'm the Cowboys, I get myself in the mix.
Josh: I think the Cowboys should be willing to give up as much as a first-round pick for Williams, but Jones doesn't think so. He's answered this question countless times in the last few months, and within the last few days his responses have suggested he's beginning to be annoyed by it. Williams would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Crayton, but it would take some time to get him involved, and it's not a leap of faith to suggest a trade risks stepping on the toes of the Cowboys real offensive playmaker, Terrell Owens, who might feel slighted.
Rob: Depends on the cost. The Cowboys need to get Owens more touches, but I don't know the answer is trading a top pick for Williams. They're still getting 30 points a game with Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd alongside him. Given Owens' age, though, at some point they need to find another big-time receiving threat.
JAMIE PEYTON, PALMYRA, VA: What are your thoughts with someone else taking the return punts besides Pacman? I think he just tries to do too much and runs east and west more than he does north and south. Would you guys agree?
Mickey: Yep, he needs to start running up the field and accepting what he can get, even if it's just four or five yards. He's giving far too much ground to go forward. Not sure it's time to make a change, but remember, Patrick Crayton, the guy no one was happy with previously, would average at least seven yards a return, and actually 9.1 last year on 22 returns. Pacman right now is averaging 4.7 on 13 returns.
Nick: I would consider someone else, especially now if Newman is banged up and Pacman is the main starter. However, you don't have many other explosive options. You can find people to go out and catch the ball, like Crayton, but they don't have many experienced guys who can do it. I'm not sure Miles Austin couldn't do it though. I wouldn't mind seeing him get a few tries at it.
Josh: I always thought Terence Newman was great on punt returns, but the team hasn't wanted to use him, and now his injury prevents it. Who else would you throw out there? Patrick Crayton will catch the ball and get you a steady eight yards, but that's about as far as he can go. Pacman has the ability to break a long one, but I think patience is the key. For the time being he needs to focus on making whatever gain is available, and eventually a hole he can run 60 yards through will break open.
Rob: Jones does appear to be trying to do too much, which is why he ranks 27th in the league with just a 4.7-yard average. But the dynamic dimension is still there. If he trusts one strong blocking lane, there's a good chance he'll get a TD.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:16 PM
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