Cowboys fighting for NFC East scraps?
by RICK GOSSELIN, rgosselin@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
The Arizona Cardinals are the defending NFC champions.
But don't be fooled. The two best teams in the NFC are the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles as the 80-player rosters gather for minicamps and the off-season programs in May.
Only three teams finished in the NFL's top 10 in both offense and defense last season - the New England Patriots, Giants and Eagles. All have improved this off-season. So pencil in the Patriots with a healthy Tom Brady as the favorite in the AFC and the Giants and Eagles as the teams to beat in the NFC.
Rest of the NFC East
So where do the Cowboys and Redskins fit in?
Both Dallas and Washington fielded top-10 defenses in 2008. But Washington's will be markedly better in 2009 with $100 million free-agent tackle Albert Haynesworth clogging the middle and first-round draft pick Orakpo bringing his speed off the edge in the pass rush.
The Cowboys have a better offense than Washington, but how much better without lead receiver Terrell Owens and his 10 touchdowns? With the Cowboys moving into a billion-dollar palace in 2009, I thought Jerry Jones would make a dramatic move to excite ticket buyers.
But the only drama thus far has been the signing of a run-playing defensive end (Igor Olshansky) and the decision by Jones to sit out the first day of the draft.
The Arizona Cardinals are the defending NFC champions.
But don't be fooled. The two best teams in the NFC are the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles as the 80-player rosters gather for minicamps and the off-season programs in May.
Only three teams finished in the NFL's top 10 in both offense and defense last season - the New England Patriots, Giants and Eagles. All have improved this off-season. So pencil in the Patriots with a healthy Tom Brady as the favorite in the AFC and the Giants and Eagles as the teams to beat in the NFC.
Rest of the NFC East
So where do the Cowboys and Redskins fit in?
Both Dallas and Washington fielded top-10 defenses in 2008. But Washington's will be markedly better in 2009 with $100 million free-agent tackle Albert Haynesworth clogging the middle and first-round draft pick Orakpo bringing his speed off the edge in the pass rush.
The Cowboys have a better offense than Washington, but how much better without lead receiver Terrell Owens and his 10 touchdowns? With the Cowboys moving into a billion-dollar palace in 2009, I thought Jerry Jones would make a dramatic move to excite ticket buyers.
But the only drama thus far has been the signing of a run-playing defensive end (Igor Olshansky) and the decision by Jones to sit out the first day of the draft.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:41 PM
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