We don't need government intervention after all!
After hearing my suggestion they bring in the Occupational Safety And Health Administration to help with the situation, the Cowboys finally have two starting safeties. Abe Elam is joining the fold, after agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million deal (per DMN) with the Cowboys late Wednesday night. Elam had played for new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in Cleveland, and the flirtation has been the worst kept Cowboys secret since drafting Tyron Smith back in April. The marriage has been rumored here on BTB since, oh about January, and tonight finally came to fruition.
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Elam returns to Dallas after spending one season in town under the Bill Parcells regime, 2006. He then spent two years in New York with the Jets, followed by the last two seasons in Cleveland. With the Browns, Elam started 31 of 32 games. In 2010, he accrued two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one he returned for six.
A one-year deal works for both sides, in that Elam obviously wasn't getting the interest he thought he would on the open market. If he shines under his one year deal, he could cash in similar to how Ken Hamlin did when he arrived in Big D.
A one-year is the same length deal fellow starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh just signed. The team is clearly hoping this will be a much better combination than Sensabaugh was with Alan Ball. The move lends direct credence to the philosophy of Rob Ryan, that pressure could come from any position on the field. While both Elam and Sensi played strong safety last season, but both are also capable of moving over to free safety.
While we're still waiting for the CBA to be finalized, it looks like Elam will have to wait an extra couple hours before suiting up with his new teammates. Tomorrow's practice has been pushed back from 2:30 to 6:30 pm, in anticipation of the league year starting at 3p. This would allow all uninjured Dallas Cowboys, all 90 or so, on the field together for the first time.