Dallas Cowboys Tidbits: Links For Lunch

by KD Drummond on Feb 15, 2011 10:43 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

When Deion Sanders was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame the Saturday before the Super Bowl, BTB had a great discussion in the comments section on whether or not Deion's signing was the beginning of the end of our dynasty. Posters felt that Jerry fell in love with all the media firestorm over his pursuit and transitioned further into the line of thought that star power was as important as team chemistry. Well, it appears that more than a few of Deion's teammates felt that way about him back then. The Ft. Worth Star Telegram rehashes a story that claims returning strength coach Mike Woicik originally left the team via a him-or-me standoff with Prime Time himself over his conditioning. Current head coach Jason Garrett was on the team for that, so I think it's safe to make the leap that Woicik's hiring further demonstrates Garrett's philosophy of player personnel management. More good feelings as we move forward, I like our direction.

The Super Bowl seating fiasco continues to play out. The Ft. Worth Star Telegram put together this interesting read, a timeline of the seating fiasco, going back to December 22nd. As the lawsuit was formulated, the NFL was expanding the reach of their compensation package, to include over 2,000 fans that were displaced as well - just not to the extent of the Famous 400. Now, from the world of who saw this coming, the lawyer for the disgruntled fans says he is working on an out of court settlement. Surprise! You gotta love America.

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Sometimes, I wonder about the guys that get paid tons of money to talk football. I'm sure they are great guys, and it's probably impossible to keep track of all 32 team needs, but this one is just crazy talk in my opinion. In an online chat, Pat Kirwin of NFL.com says that the Cowboys should consider a QB with the #9 pick. Ummmm, what? OK, you may not have a lot of faith in Tony Romo, we can disagree there. However, you cannot say that with all the other priorities the Cowboys have, that getting a quarterback in a QB-unfriendly draft is the best medicine for what ails the Cowboys. Yes, I am considering any season that doesn't project a top 10 QB until after all the games have been played a QB-weak draft. Heck, the Cowboys showed that they could be a very competitive team without ever throwing downfield with Kitna! What improvement does this draft pick bring to Dallas in the next two-three years?

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The Cowboys have added another linebacker to the fold, signing former University of Oklahoma player Mike Balogun. Balogun was just released from the Buffalo Bills last week. Balogun missed his entire senior year in 2009 because of participation in a semi-professional league. From newsok.com:

Balogun entered the 2009 season as one of OU’s top linebackers. But two weeks before the season opener, the NCAA decertified him and launched an investigation to determine if he had played semi-pro football after turning 21.

The NCAA, whose rules mandate that for every season an athlete plays semi-pro football past the age of 21 he loses a season of eligibility, eventually ruled that Balogun had.

Nfldraftscout.com had him ranked as the 42nd ILB prospect heading into the 2010 draft, here's their bio for Balogun. He's spent time on San Francisco's, Tampa Bay's and Washington's practice squads, and was active for two games with the Bills last season.

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On Friday, I posted this piece outlining the use of the Franchise tag and the NFL / NFLPA's disagreement over whether it can be used or not. The owners have moved forward, and have started to franchise players. Here's a look at who has been given the tag so far.

--- Jets ILB David Harris

--- Eagles QB Michael Vick, K David Akers (transition tag)

--- Patriots OG Logan Mankins

--- Chargers WR Vincent Jackson

You can expect more names to be added to this list, as teams are preparing for next season if there is one. The franchise tag is not guaranteed to be part of the new CBA, but if it is, these teams are prepared for it.

Quick Links:

--- The mothership with a profile of Josh Brent

--- WR Roy Williams was a panelist at the UTPB Black Leadership Conference.

--- Rainer Sabin of DMN reports the Cowboys players could be learning their plays from iPad apps.

--- Nate Davis of USAToday compiled an All-Cowboys, All-SuperBowl team.

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Comments

Beginning of the end of our dynasty was the firing of JJ

Everything after that was just the trickle down effect.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 15, 2011 10:55 AM CST reply actions

I agree that was the start of it

though I can’t call everything else trickle-down… things sure would have been different.

Sometimes, the only thing missing from a problem's solution is the right perspective.

The Poster formerly known as KDP

by KD Drummond on Feb 15, 2011 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

Great stuff KD, thanks

Just want to mention – no Ngata franchise tag yet…hope still lives

Jets tag David Harris (would have been nice FA signing) but that means Shaun Ellis will be on the market. I know he is 33, but I think he can still dominate his position for another year or two.

Interesting story about Primetime and Coach Woicik. I totally agree with you:

Current head coach Jason Garrett was on the team for that, so I think it’s safe to make the leap that Woicik’s hiring further demonstrates Garrett’s philosophy of player personnel management. More good feelings as we move forward, I like our direction.

PS – excited about seeing more of what Brent can do next year as he continues to develop. It is impressive how with little time in TC he held up as a rookie at NT (arguably the most difficult position to be succesful in while playing a 3-4) where strength and technique are required when facing double teams, etc.

"I am a true believer. Anthony Spencer will have 7 or more sacks in 2011 and Stephen Bowen can ball!" - Kegbearer
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
- Tom Landry

by Kegbearer on Feb 15, 2011 11:00 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

haha

you are on a wing and a prayer for Ngata- B’More is an intelligent franchise. They’ll get something done with the big guy.

Brent is definitely a player to watch. Started out better than he finished though.

Sometimes, the only thing missing from a problem's solution is the right perspective.

The Poster formerly known as KDP

by KD Drummond on Feb 15, 2011 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

From Baltimore Beat Down (SBNation)

According to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora, the average for the top five players at defensive tackle shot through the roof this past year, thanks to the incredible signing bonus that Washington Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth received for that mammoth contract the team gave him. While the Franchise Tag in 2010 for defensive tackles was around $7 million, in 2011 that number explodes up the charts to over $12 million, only trailing quarterbacks, cornerbacks and just slightly behind defensive ends.

I am still hoping that the Ravens make their first terrible GM move in a while and get scared away by the money required to franchise a DT this year (Thank you Dan Snyder and Fat Albert). In fact, since they played Ngata as DE all year, maybe his agent asks to have the DE franchise tag price which is slightly higher than current DT price. I know, I am dreaming, but is that such a bad thing?

I don’t dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living. – Steven Spielberg

The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true. – Edgar Allan Poe

by Kegbearer on Feb 15, 2011 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry, Kegbearer.

Ngata got the tag.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass....... and I am all out of bubblegum" - George Nada

by fan since '65 on Feb 15, 2011 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

is there still hope? HAHA, this is how you cross the line from dreamer to delusional

The franchise tag is in dispute this year because the NFLPA considers it “meaningless” if the league’s CBA expires after March 3.

If no CBA is reached by March 4, all contracts would be frozen.

Ngata was the sixth player tagged in the past two days, joining New England G Logan Mankins, Philadelphia QB Michael Vick, Jets LB David Harris, San Diego WR Vincent Jackson and Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning.

by Kegbearer on Feb 16, 2011 8:08 AM CST up reply actions

I pray we do end up with Ngata,

Or Phil Taylor and have Brent rotate in. Dream come true if we somehow get a monster in the middle. Rat would wreck havoc along side Ware or Spencer…

God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!

by CodeNamedG on Feb 15, 2011 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

+1

I actually just wrote this similar response elsewhere…I think Rob Ryan covets big 2 gap NTs (one reason he moved S. Rogers outside because he actually couldn’t do it as well as Rubin).

Ngata is a dream signing. In my book, one of the rarest athletes in the league as very few people can have his agility, balance, and burst in such a strong and large (350 lb) frame. Like you said, he would upgrade two positions, freeing up Rat to be disruptive DE and Ngata to hold the middle strong against the run while still providing pass rush. I love Ratliff, but Ngata is better against the run. In this scenario, we suddenly have 2 pro bowlers and a player reaching his prime and improving every year (Bowen) on our DLine.

Phil Taylor reminds me of Ngata (I know, big jump) in that he has incredible burst/first step and good agility for a 340lb big man. I (and I think Rob Ryan) will be praying Taylor drops to #40 as QBs rise up the boards.

by Kegbearer on Feb 15, 2011 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

Any sense

the Cowboys would put a Franchise Tag on Doug Free? Would they need to being that he’s an RFA?(vs. an unrestricted FA). I think if they tender him as they did Austin, some other team would absolutely grab him for a #1 and #3.

We live life forwards and understand it backwards

by tdships on Feb 15, 2011 11:12 AM CST reply actions

I agree

a 26 year old soon-to-be pro bowl tackle gets consideration for a 1st and a 3rd, especially for teams drafting late in the rounds.

I’m inclined to say the Cowboys do franchise him in the midst of working on a long term deal, but there has been nothing but media scuttlebutt and conjecture to this point. I haven’t seen anything from a team source stating this was in the works.

Sometimes, the only thing missing from a problem's solution is the right perspective.

The Poster formerly known as KDP

by KD Drummond on Feb 15, 2011 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

Even if a team is to offer a 1st and 3rd....

The Cowboys are going to be able to match whatever offer is presented since he’s restricted. I don’t see it being a problem where they feel they would need to franchise him.

by osa1011 on Feb 15, 2011 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

Deion was on Ben and Skin this morning and said the story is BS.

He said Woicik and he had a disagreement about time in the weight room. Deion said he did his weight training at home and wouldn’t train at Valley Ranch, probably didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his teammates. He said after all he was all pro before he came to the Cowboys, doing it his way. Deion went on to say he took him fishing and they patched it up. Deion stated he thinks Woicik and Ryan were good hires. With Deion, you never know what’s true and what’s not.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Feb 15, 2011 11:38 AM CST reply actions