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Official: The #Cowboys signed DT Terrell McClain and DE Jeremy Mincey.
— mike fisher (@fishsports) March 12, 2014
In the same hour that Cowboys fans saw DeMarcus Ware sign a three year $30 Million deal with the Denver Broncos, Miles Austin's release made official, and the first free agent signing made by their team, the second signing followed quickly.
Jeremy Mincey, a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2006, never played a game for the Pats or the 49ers who signed him after being released that year. The Jaguars signed him off the 49ers practice squad the following year and he stayed there through week 14 of the 2013 season (where he was a teammate of Cowboys DE George Selvie).
However, after missing multiple team meetings in 2013 and serving a team rules suspension for the same, he was released by Jacksonville.
Mincie had a team-rules suspension w #jags .. 'No worries' #cowboys source tells me. 'No knucklehead factor there.'
— mike fisher (@fishsports) March 12, 2014
He was signed less than a week later by the Denver Broncos and he appeared in two regular season and three playoff games, including the Super Bowl.
New #Cowboys signing Jeremy Mincey has one thing no other Cowboy has: Super Bowl experience. Played 18 snaps for DEN vs SEA.
— One Cool Customer (@OCC44) March 12, 2014
Mincey has 20 career sacks in 66 games, including a career high of eight in 2011 followed by five in 2012, the two years in which he played all 16 games.
Our fearless leader Dave Halprin, reached out to the guys over at Mile High Report to get some insight into what the Cowboys are bringing on in Mincey.
You guys got him! Damn! Mincey was a late-season addition to the Broncos who only played in a handful of games. My understanding is he was cut from the Jaguars for missing meetings; Jack Del Rio gave him a chance in Denver, and he took advantage. Most Broncos fans wanted him back as he's an impact rotational player. - Kyle Montgomery, MRH
I decided to go back and watch him play a little bit. I watched the Week 14 matchup between the Jaguars and the Houston Texans and came away with the following observations.
Mincey split his snaps between strong-side defensive end and a 3-technique defensive tackle as a rusher in their nickel package. He was most effective from the inside and had a couple of pressures from that spot. He also got a pressure on a very good inside arm-over move. Against the run on the strong side he stood up well and pursued down the line with good effort.
Obviously he is a rotational guy, and the signings today reflect a philosophy of bringing in inexpensive defensive linemen allowing them to have a solid rotation and bring guys in waves after opposing quarterbacks.