Looking back at the Anthony Henry signing (his free agency peers at CB)

[TruBlueCowboy]

Remember the media blitz about this? Some said we got the sleeper free agent, some said we got only the 4th or 5th best corner. Obviously, injuries on the team's secondary, the other cornerback, the defensive line, and other factors come into play, so maybe some of you who have watched these other guys play a lot this year can throw your two cents in. Some of these guys are probably being asked to be the franchise corner too and cover the best receivers but I think we either got the best cornerback in free agency or a guy tied for the best. Perfect compliment for Tnew.

:bow: Parcells :bow:

Anthony Henry
8 games, 41 tackles
3 interceptions for 102 yards and 1 TD
10 pass def
Cowboys 193.5 yards/game passing (12th NFL)
$10 million signing bonus

Fred Smoot
7 games, 24 tackles
1 interception for 0 yards
6 pass def
Vikings 230.7 yards/game passing (23rd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Samari Rolle
6 games, 9 tackles
0 interception
2 pass def
Ravens 152.8 yards/game passing (2nd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Patrick Surtain
7 games, 25 tackles
1 interception for 53 yards
4 pass def
Chiefs 274.7 yards/game passing (31st in NFL)
$6.25 million signing bonus, 2nd round draft pick, swap 5th round picks

Ken Lucas
6 games, 23 tackles
2 interceptions for 59 yards
4 pass def
Carolina 232.6 yards/game passing (26th in NFL)
$13 million signing bonus

Gary Baxter
5 games, 22 tackles
2 interceptions for 10 yards
0 pass def
Cleveland 208.1 yards/game passing (20th in NFL)
$10.5 million signing bonus

[Hiero]

henry was a great signing and is a perfect partner for the fast newman. will be around for al ong time.

[Doomsday101]

No doubt Henry has been a blessing for this team. Since he has been here he has had 1 bad game but showed the ability to bounce right back and to me that is one of the best attributes a CB can have. Every player is going to have bad games but the good ones move on and shake it off.

[Roy Williams]

I agree...Henry has been our defensive MVP for the first half season.
It's a great feeling to see a couple of FA signings really pay off for us :)

[playit12]

I don't think there is a harder position to grade with the available stats than CB.

High tackles might mean teams are targetting him, while Low tackles might mean he doesn't play the run. On the other hand you never know if they are getting protection from the Free Safety.

Also you need to give more than just signing bonuses to decide total compensation. Base salary is important in that regard too.

Finally with regards to defensive rankings... It's impossible to take away pass pressure from the equation.

Anyway... I'm happy with Henry, but you'll have a hard time measuring the stats comparitively.

[TruBlueCowboy]

I don't think there is a harder position to grade with the available stats than CB.

High tackles might mean teams are targetting him, while Low tackles might mean he doesn't play the run. On the other hand you never know if they are getting protection from the Free Safety.

Also you need to give more than just signing bonuses to decide total compensation. Base salary is important in that regard too.

Finally with regards to defensive rankings... It's impossible to take away pass pressure from the equation.

Anyway... I'm happy with Henry, but you'll have a hard time measuring the stats comparitively.

I agree that they're trying to target Henry a lot but I think except for one game, he has been passing the test. I wonder how some of these other corners would do if they had Tnewman on the other side and were target #1? I guess Rolle is about as close as it comes since he has McAllister playing with him.

[JackMagist]

I don't think there is a harder position to grade with the available stats than CB.

High tackles might mean teams are targetting him, while Low tackles might mean he doesn't play the run. On the other hand you never know if they are getting protection from the Free Safety.

Also you need to give more than just signing bonuses to decide total compensation. Base salary is important in that regard too.

Finally with regards to defensive rankings... It's impossible to take away pass pressure from the equation.

Anyway... I'm happy with Henry, but you'll have a hard time measuring the stats comparitively.True that the stats don't prove everything and for a CB are not necessarily a definitive comparison. Henry probably has better stats than Newman but I don't think he has been playing better than Newman. They are going at Henry because Newman is just consistently blanketing his man and not giving them a shot at him.

However, what the stats DO prove is that Henry is being very effective in the situation that he is in. He has been productive and has been one of the best defenders we have. We could arguably have the best CB duo in the league.

[Coakleys Dad]

Henry is a real leader for this team. Hes playin the lights out every game but the 9ers game. Hes really shown even if u pick on him he will represent. We got him for a steal. An Im happy hes here for a long time to come.

[stilltheguru]

ken lucas has played well also.but the others suck

[VACowboy]

High tackles might mean teams are targetting him, while Low tackles might mean he doesn't play the run..



Henry forces the run hard. He's good at it and makes the effort.

[Chocolate Lab]

Lucas and Surtain were the only other ones I would have wanted (though not with giving up a second rounder), and I think we made the right choice for sure.

What I'm wondering is, what are the papers in Minnesota saying about Smoot? They have to be howling at his disaster of a season. Smith absolutely ate him alive yesterday, and it wasn't the first bad day he'd had this year.

[JohnsKey19]

ken lucas has played well also.but the others suck


I agree. Lucas is the only guy I thought was better before the FA signing period. But he's very similar to Newman in size and style of play. Henry appears to be the perfect compliment to TNew.

[JonJon]

With the exception of the last 3 minutes against Washington and the first half against the 49ers, our DBs have collectively played pretty darn good, limiting R. Moss, Burress, and Owens to 0 TDs, all three that have been known to torch us in the past.

[CrazyCowboy]

Remember the media blitz about this? Some said we got the sleeper free agent, some said we got only the 4th or 5th best corner. Obviously, injuries on the team's secondary, the other cornerback, the defensive line, and other factors come into play, so maybe some of you who have watched these other guys play a lot this year can throw your two cents in. Some of these guys are probably being asked to be the franchise corner too and cover the best receivers but I think we either got the best cornerback in free agency or a guy tied for the best. Perfect compliment for Tnew.

:bow: Parcells :bow:

Anthony Henry
8 games, 41 tackles
3 interceptions for 102 yards and 1 TD
10 pass def
Cowboys 193.5 yards/game passing (12th NFL)
$10 million signing bonus

Fred Smoot
7 games, 24 tackles
1 interception for 0 yards
6 pass def
Vikings 230.7 yards/game passing (23rd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Samari Rolle
6 games, 9 tackles
0 interception
2 pass def
Ravens 152.8 yards/game passing (2nd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Patrick Surtain
7 games, 25 tackles
1 interception for 53 yards
4 pass def
Chiefs 274.7 yards/game passing (31st in NFL)
$6.25 million signing bonus, 2nd round draft pick, swap 5th round picks

Ken Lucas
6 games, 23 tackles
2 interceptions for 59 yards
4 pass def
Carolina 232.6 yards/game passing (26th in NFL)
$13 million signing bonus

Gary Baxter
5 games, 22 tackles
2 interceptions for 10 yards
0 pass def
Cleveland 208.1 yards/game passing (20th in NFL)
$10.5 million signing bonus

Great post.....just solidifies, we got the best player available.

[JackMagist]

Lucas and Surtain were the only other ones I would have wanted (though not with giving up a second rounder), and I think we made the right choice for sure.

What I'm wondering is, what are the papers in Minnesota saying about Smoot? They have to be howling at his disaster of a season. Smith absolutely ate him alive yesterday, and it wasn't the first bad day he'd had this year.I saw on the pregame show that Smoot was going to cover Smith all day. I told my buddy that the Viks were in for a long day because Smith was going to eat him alive. I've never been impressed with Smoot and it appears for good reason.

Lucas was my other choice for CB if we didn't get Henry. I think he could be playing well for us had we gone that direction. But I am ecstatic with the play we are getting out of Henry and could not be happier with our signing.

[Gordon]

ken lucas has played well also.but the others suck

The only one out of that group that "sucks" this year is Fred Smoot. Other than that, they've all played alright, and Samari Rolle has been very good. Just because his team is terrible doesn't mean he's doing bad.

[SacredStar]

Isn't Rolle and Baxter out for the year with injuries?

So far, Henry was a very good pick. There were alot of naysayers when he was signed, but he has proven his worth.

[te0002]

Any news on Henry's injury?

[ghst187]

I love our compliment of CBs also...
Tnew sticks to his guy like glue so QBs don't even try to throw over there.
Henry gives his guy a little more space but plays the ball better so QBs throw at him more because of that extra "space" that makes the WR look open.
I don't care if TNew doesn't get another INT all season and Henry gets 10, its their combined play that makes the secondary successful.

[Hiero]

baxter is out for the year, im pretty sure samari rolle is still starting, but the rookie antrel rolle was out for the season with an ankle or leg injury.
Isn't Rolle and Baxter out for the year with injuries?

So far, Henry was a very good pick. There were alot of naysayers when he was signed, but he has proven his worth.

[ConcordCowboy]

I thought it was a Ok signing but not great at the time.

But he's been a Great signing so far!

Hope his groin is ok..those type of injuries can be troublesome.

[jbsg02]

I'm glad we didn't go after Rolle. He is the least physical player in the NFL

[Bob Sacamano]

Remember the media blitz about this? Some said we got the sleeper free agent, some said we got only the 4th or 5th best corner. Obviously, injuries on the team's secondary, the other cornerback, the defensive line, and other factors come into play, so maybe some of you who have watched these other guys play a lot this year can throw your two cents in. Some of these guys are probably being asked to be the franchise corner too and cover the best receivers but I think we either got the best cornerback in free agency or a guy tied for the best. Perfect compliment for Tnew.

:bow: Parcells :bow:

Anthony Henry
8 games, 41 tackles
3 interceptions for 102 yards and 1 TD
10 pass def
Cowboys 193.5 yards/game passing (12th NFL)
$10 million signing bonus

Fred Smoot
7 games, 24 tackles
1 interception for 0 yards
6 pass def
Vikings 230.7 yards/game passing (23rd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Samari Rolle
6 games, 9 tackles
0 interception
2 pass def
Ravens 152.8 yards/game passing (2nd in NFL)
$11 million signing bonus

Patrick Surtain
7 games, 25 tackles
1 interception for 53 yards
4 pass def
Chiefs 274.7 yards/game passing (31st in NFL)
$6.25 million signing bonus, 2nd round draft pick, swap 5th round picks

Ken Lucas
6 games, 23 tackles
2 interceptions for 59 yards
4 pass def
Carolina 232.6 yards/game passing (26th in NFL)
$13 million signing bonus

Gary Baxter
5 games, 22 tackles
2 interceptions for 10 yards
0 pass def
Cleveland 208.1 yards/game passing (20th in NFL)
$10.5 million signing bonus

hmmm, guess Bill knew what he was doing when he targeted Henry 1st and went after him soon as FA started lol

btw, Fred Smoot was one of the key participants in the now infamous "loveboat" scandal

[Alexander]

Gary Baxter
5 games, 22 tackles
2 interceptions for 10 yards
0 pass def
Cleveland 208.1 yards/game passing (20th in NFL)
$10.5 million signing bonus

I remember when we were supposed to be considering Baxter.

We dodged a huge bullet there.

[Derinyar]

Notice though that many of those players are on teams with bad total defenses. Is it them thats playing that bad, or is it the defense as a whole. Remember how many people have wanted to hang Newman out to dry at times?

[Chocolate Lab]

Notice though that many of those players are on teams with bad total defenses. Is it them thats playing that bad, or is it the defense as a whole. Remember how many people have wanted to hang Newman out to dry at times?
Or on the other hand, was Gary Baxter a product of playing on a D with a lot of other great players? I always thought so.

You might even say something similar about Smoot... Although I never thought he was very good.

[Yakuza Rich]

I think you have to commend the job by Todd Bowles. He recommended Henry and he's not only been great, but having his best year of his carer. Newman is having a career year as well. There's not much he had to do with Glenn who's a vet and a Parcells guy, but the safeties coverage has gotten better almost every week.

Rich..........

[Bob Sacamano]

yep, lost in the enthusiasm over our corners, is Todd Bowles, doesn't suprise me though, everywhere he's went, his secondaries have been great, or at least good enough, kudos to him

[LaTunaNostra]

Hey TBC interesting info.

I wonder how Anthony measures up to last year's crop of cb free agents..the 04 offseason when Bailey and Winfield's contracts trickled all the way down to making Mario a multi millionaire.

Not having a reliable corner in 04 really hurt us, but if waiting for our man paid off. AH is not just the ideal partner for Tnew, but Tuna claims he watched tons of game tape of Henry vs big receivers like Burress and that is what decided him in AH's favor.

Tnew and Henry have the potential to become a legendary tag team..a Madison and Surtain level act. They just complement each other so well.

[Chocolate Lab]

Did you hear Parcells' comment today about what would take your team down faster than anything? "Not being able to cover."

I was very surprised to hear that from someone who is traditionally considered a line-first, -second, and -third coach. Obviously, the games are won in the trenches, but you can't let guys run free in the secondary, either.