How Many New Faces Will There Be On The 2011 Cowboys?

by One.Cool.Customer on May 6, 2011 6:30 AM CDT in Dallas Cowboys General

Making the Cowboys final roster this year may prove a little more difficult than it has been in the last few years. Part of it has to do with Garrett aiming to have players compete for their jobs:

"What we’re trying to do on our offensive line and throughout our team is to create competition," Garrett said in the post draft press conference. "We want to bring good football players in and we want guys to earn their job."

The other part is a simple numbers game. The Cowboys currently have not released anyone from the 53-man roster, have nine players on their future/reserve squad, another nine players on injured reserve and just drafted eight more players.

Last year, the Cowboys brought in 18 undrafted free agents. If they were to go for the same number this year, the total number of players competing for the 2011 53-man roster could be 97, and with a couple of free agent acquisitions and perhaps trades, there could be more than 100 players on the Cowboys' offseason roster.

The NFL roster limit for each team is 80 players under contract. In a normal offseason, the Cowboys would reach that limit at the beginning of training camp, when traditionally most or all of that year's rookies sign their contracts. In the third week of the preseason, NFL roster rules require teams to cut down the roster to 75 players, and prior to the start of the NFL regular season, teams must cut further players to reach the roster limit of 53 players.

CBA or no CBA, whenever the league opens for business again, teams will be gunning to restock their rosters via free agency. Also, don't discount trades. With teams less willing to trade their draft picks, we could see a rise in the number of trades this year. But regardless of how teams go about it, the roster rules will kick in again at some point. And if you buy into the theory that competition is good because it brings out the best in a player, and that intensified competition draws out the best talent, then a large roster offseason roster size could result in many new faces on the 2011 Cowboys roster.

In March last year, Jerry Jones said that he expected "ten to eleven new Cowboys" on the 2010 roster, and he was spot on. Eleven new faces graced the opening day roster: six of the seven draft picks made the roster (CB Jamar Wall did not), four UDFAs made the final 53 (Gronkowski, Costa, McCray, Church) as well as one former first round pick who played in his first and only game on opening day, Alex Barron.

How many new faces will be on the Cowboys roster this year?

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I'll go with eleven

. . . about 25% of the 45 man roster. And that’s by the season opener. I also believe JG is going to be one to “churn” the bottom of the roster throughout the season.

"We'll see." --Bill Parcells

by Uncle Angus on May 6, 2011 6:47 AM CDT reply actions

Definately

Garrett learned from Jimmy. Just bring in street FA and have them workout in front of players. Send the message, we are always looking to replace you if you don’t perform at the level we think you should be performing at.

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." ~ Roger Staubach

by TK19 on May 6, 2011 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions

There's usually about 25-30% turnover of the roster each year

So I’ll go with about 13-14 new players.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 6, 2011 7:25 AM CDT reply actions

i think your on to something

Jason will want to put his stamp on this team and he will be bring in free agents to do that as Jimmy Johnson did.

he will make the current player play for there spots….

super stars like Romo, Witten, Dez, Miles and Ware are safe but pretty much everyone else will have to work there asses off in front of the boss!!!! I LOVE IT

by Nink on May 6, 2011 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd say 12-13.

If all the draft picks make it, plus 2-3 free agents. And you know we ALWAYS find a UDFA who makes the team so something like that.

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by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on May 6, 2011 7:33 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Opening Day - 15 new players

By the end of last year, due to injuries, the Cowboys had 21 people on the roster that weren’t with the team at the end of 2009. 21.

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by KD Drummond on May 6, 2011 7:50 AM CDT reply actions

I think you have a pretty good number with 15

as long as we are counting the turnover in the practice squad as well…..if we dont include the practice squad, and it is only the 53 man roster, i would go with 10-11 like others have suggested

He who laughs last, thinks slowest
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by BigBad Joe on May 6, 2011 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions

it will more than that

At least 7 draftees will make the team, we’ll sign at least 2-3 FAs and there are always at least 2-3 UDFAs who make the team as well.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 6, 2011 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

7+2+2 = 11

so based on your numbers it could be 11, right ? feel free to check the math :-)

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Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"

by BigBad Joe on May 6, 2011 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

That sounds about right

the PS will also have new guys every week

by Antonio S on May 6, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

I think thats on the absolute low end

I’d be really shocked if we only signed 2 FAs

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 6, 2011 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

15

Sounds about right, I wouldn’t put it past Coach Ryan to bring in a couple guys of his own

by bEWARE OF dWARE on May 6, 2011 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

Didn't Jerry say he thinks "5 or 6 veterns" are in danger of being cut?

Back in March of this year?

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by AustonianAggie on May 6, 2011 9:39 AM CDT reply actions

After he fired Wade

he said there will be a lot more changes. I don’t think he meant just the coaching staff, but if FA doesn’t get started it will be hard to make a lot of changes. I think 10 -12 is about right, but if he really goes after a lot of FA, I could see more.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on May 6, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Just fill the holes with the best 53 players

If they have to turn over half the roster that’s fine, as long as they fix as many problems as posible. I’d rather they keep a young player with promise rather than an aging Vet, who might be a little better in the short run. We can’t expect to win the SB this year, although it would be nice, so let’s be assured that we build for the furture

by pfloyd1 on May 6, 2011 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

Typically the only thing that requires 53 players to "fill the holes" is a strike, plague, or act of god.

by Omar Little on May 6, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

does everyone remember Colombo saying he was going to work on his core strength?

from that pic, it’s obvious that he needs to. It must be pretty weak. He can’t even hold a side plank.

by Fan in Thick and Thin on May 6, 2011 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

haha nice catch

Yeah seriously, and people want him on the team..

Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player

by thebigham on May 6, 2011 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Well lets start with who will be gone

Alex Barron, Keith Brooking, Marion Barber, Mark Colombo, and Alan Ball. I’m pretty confident all those guys will be gone. Three draftees will be their replacement. I’m confident Akrin, Thomas, Harris, and Chapas will make the team too. So there’s nine right there, since two unknowns need to replace Ball and Barron. Look at the other holes, look at the back ups, and you’ll probably have your answer. I’m interested to see how free agency goes, but I’m confident at least nine new players will be there.

by Omar Little on May 6, 2011 12:32 PM CDT reply actions

Good idea

But I disagree on certain players. I think Ball stays as the 5th CB and I also believe Jerry when he says Brooking will be back (essentially the only roster decision he’s given a straight answer to). I think that there will be a bigger premium on coverage this year which will require more CBs. Keeping 3 on the original roster last year was ridiculous, and I think 5 is much more reasonable (T-New, Jenkins, Scandrick, Thomas, and Ball).

That said, I think Sam Hurd is gone and I think Spears is gone too. Gronkowski is on the way out as well; no way we keep Chapas AND Gronk, and Chapas was drafted for a reason.

by Key19 on May 6, 2011 1:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Brooking will play 1 more year.

Hopefully his role will be reduced.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on May 6, 2011 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Well.....my days of not taking you seriously have certainly come to a middle
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name"

by BigBad Joe on May 6, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

didnt jerry say brooking will be on the team next year? although i thought he said something similar about TO and then cut him a week later….either way i hope Lee gets alot more playing time

by DavidLaFleur on May 6, 2011 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Simple Answer

The more the better.

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

- John Wooden (God rest his soul)

by 5Blings on May 6, 2011 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

More. More. More...

Better. Better. Better.
Ya sound like one of them impatient, never-satisfied (unsatisfied?) Cowboys fans.
Insatiable. That’s it. Insatiable.
Cowboys fans = Insatiable.
Gotta love ‘em. Makes for competition. They ain’t so dumb as they look.

by tanstaafl on May 7, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions

there will be plenty a lot of holes on this roster

secondary is depleted
lb core is not deep
de’s seem to do enough to get by
o-line needs depth
rb’s is a huge question mark
backup wr special team specialists are getting by

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by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on May 6, 2011 4:41 PM CDT reply actions

Just bring me a FA safety, Santa Jerry

And maybe a nice interior OLineman, and I’ll be happy.

Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009

by Realist Larry on May 6, 2011 8:20 PM CDT reply actions

+1

by RE1D on May 7, 2011 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Christmas's Past

Another season with neither. Oh well, nothing new. Maybe next year.

by tanstaafl on May 7, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Competition. Sounds good. Top to Bottom. No exceptions. None.

Let the ~~chips~~chaff fall where they may. Number’s irrelevant.

by tanstaafl on May 7, 2011 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

LOTS of new players!

Defensive back is going to be a bloodbath in training camp. We’ll have new starting FS and SS this year. The team will keep 4-5 corners (starters + mcCann + 5th round draft pick) which means 2 fewer safeties can be carried this year in total. So it’s going to be a killing field both at the top and bottom of the safety roster.

O-line is due for a big shake-up. Colombo and Alex Barron are gone, Kosier may be replaced by a cheaper free agent, and Costa and Montre Holland will be fending off roster spot challenges from Arkin and Nagy. We could see 5 new faces on the O-line.

Old starting vets will get their walking papers: Barber, Roy Williams, Sam Hurd? Who will take their place?

Lots of training camp battles, lots of new faces.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.

by Blue Eyed Devil on May 8, 2011 1:41 PM CDT reply actions