Praise for The Rat

by Dave Halprin on Jan 22, 2008 12:03 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Over at the DMN blog, they’ve named Jay Ratliff as the Most Improved Cowboy.

Ratliff earned a five-year, $20.5 million extension by filling the void at nose tackle left when veteran Jason Ferguson suffered a season-ending bicep injury in the opener. Ratliff had proven that he could be an effective interior pass rusher, and he enhanced that reputation with three sacks and 15 QB pressures (second on team behind DeMarcus Ware's 27). He also answered questions about whether his 6-4, 298-pound frame could take the pounding. The Cowboys ranked sixth in the league against the run (94.6 ypg) and allowed a 100-yard rusher only once -- the only game Ratliff missed.

It’s hard to argue with this selection. Ratliff was thrust into a position as a starter than no one was really sure if he was equipped to handle, but he shined as the starting NT. It will be interesting to see what direction the Cowboys go in the offseason involving the NT position. Will they keep Jason Ferguson? Will they rotate Fergie and Tank at NT and move Ratliff back to DE, hopefully in a starter’s role? Or will they keep Rat in the middle?

Whatever they do, they now know that Rat is a player that can’t be kept off the field. He’s become a starter and should remain that way.

Here’s something I didn’t know. Add it to a long list of things I don’t know. It has to do with guaranteeing Jason Garrett that he would be the next head coach in Dallas.

According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the league would have no problem with a guarantee as long as it was written into Garrett's contract. It's not known if it is.
"The rule specifically allows for a team to have a contractual arrangement with an assistant coach to be its next head coach," Aiello said. "It has to be in the coach's contract. If so, there is no interviewing requirement. That is part of the rule."

That’s news to me. But it probably doesn’t matter now because Garrett said there was no guarantee from Jerry that he would be the next head coach.

We’re just waiting for our three defensive assistants to leave for Miami.

Cowboys assistants Todd Bowles (secondary), Paul Pasqualoni (linebackers) and Kacy Rodgers (defensive line) didn't sign contract extensions, so they become free agents today. They didn't make the trip to the Senior Bowl workouts with the Cowboys' staff and owner Jerry Jones.
According to a source, the Dolphins have offered positions to Bowles as assistant head coach, Pasqualoni as defensive coordinator and Rodgers as defensive line coach.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips will begin looking for replacements while in Mobile. Phillips said the remainder of the staff will return next season, including special-teams coach Bruce Read, whose coverage units struggled.

Wade should be able to find some good assistants considering his long tenure in the league on the defensive side of the ball. But Bruce Read as the special teams coach is still questionable to me. I thought his unit really let us down in the playoff game.

Update [2008-1-22 13:39:41 by Dave Halprin (Grizz)]: It's official for Todd Bowles, he's leaving to join all the ex-Cowboys over in Miami.

As expected, secondary coach Todd Bowles, whose contract expired on Tuesday, is off to Miami where he is expected to be named the Dolphins' defensive coordinator.

Hat tip to kingbillito for the link.

I’m making progress on adding a couple of bloggers to the front page. I’m cutting off applications today at 11:59 PM EST. If you haven’t emailed me or signed up on this thread, then you’ll have to wait for the next round.

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Rooney Rule

I read C.Hill's article and also found it interesting. Not only can you have this "HC of the future" agreement in writing, including this in the contract precludes the Rooney Rule requirement. But since it is not in Garrett's original contract from last year, the Cowboys would now be violating rules, or at least the spirit of the Rooney Rule, if they verbally (and discretely) promised Garrett he'd be HC once Wade is gone, because they would just be interviewing a minority candidate for the sake of the rule, even though they know they are hiring Garrett.

And that's what strikes me as funny because this comes up alot. And I don't see how this goes against the spirit of the Rooney Rule. Actually isn't this exactly why it was created? From what I remember, wasn't this requirement established to provide a minority candidate at least a chance to interview and show their wares, and potentially show something new, or change the mind of a team that was already made up or not looking in that direction?

I do not mean to stir up a political discussion - I myself am an ethnic minority, so I obviously understand where this Rule is coming from. I just don't think it's fair to punish a team for knowing what they want and pursuing it. They should play by the rules and interview a minority candidate with an open mind, but if they still want Garrett, they should be allowed to hire him without any negative backlash.

OK, my two cents.... Getting off soap box now....

by Cousin Rick on Jan 22, 2008 1:02 PM CST reply actions

I see your point.

They should play by the rules and interview a minority candidate with an open mind, but if they still want Garrett, they should be allowed to hire him without any negative backlash.

I don't think it goes against the spirit of the Rooney Rule at all. As long as at least one minority is interviewed, the greater the odds of them getting a job. Even if a GM/Owner already had another person in mind and doesn't expect much from the Rooney Rule candidate, but ends up getting wowed during the interview and changes his/her mind. And it has to be an in-person interview now (no more phone interviews after Dennis Green), which is also a plus.

6 minority coaches out of 32 teams may not seem like a lot, but it's better than how it is in the NCAA Division 1.

There are two Adrian Petersons, but there is only one Marion Barber.

by Nelson @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 22, 2008 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

By the way

Not totally relevant to anything posted here, but this is probably the best place to put it without starting an entirely new diary. The Ticket is reporting that the Boys are shopping Carpenter and Spears to the team representatives gathered about at the senior bowl.
Carpenter sort of surprises me; although Spears' value is obviously low, Carpenter's is infinitesimal. Shopping a first rounder who's barely played ten snaps throughout two years on the squad is definitely not selling high.

by Or Moyal on Jan 22, 2008 1:24 PM CST reply actions