ARTICLE: Dallas guard looking up

[SteveOS]

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/sports/14882848.htm

BAY ST. LOUIS - After two years of being plagued by injuries, former LSU and St. Stanislaus football star Stephen Peterman hopes to make an impact with the Dallas Cowboys.

The 2003 LSU All-American came to Bay St. Louis on Thursday to present a check of $5,000 from the Stephen Peterman Foundation to support the work of Hope Haven Children's Shelter.

"Everything is looking up," the 6-foot-4, 318-pound offensive lineman said. "My first two years have been kind of a struggle. I tore my ACL and MCL, and broke one of my fingers. It's been an uphill battle my first two years as a pro.

"I've got a good shot. We got rid of our Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen. The job is open going into camp. But I've got to compete and win that job.

"They are trying me a little bit at center. I started in the off-season. He told me to start snapping and get used to it."

That is the first time in his football career he had played center.

"It's fun jumping back from position to position," he said. "The NFL only takes 53 guys to the game. The more you can do, the better. Starting or backing up, I have to do as much as I can. You play two positions in case someone else gets hurts."

The damage to Bay St. Louis and Waveland still amazes Peterman.

"We were in Dallas and getting to ready to play Jacksonville in the last preseason game," he said. "My parents were up there. Before the game I didn't hear from two of my sisters who stayed here (for Hurricane Katrina). I heard from them right after the game. I couldn't get back down here.

"When I finally came, I saw my home in Waveland was gone. My dad's store was gone. All those childhood memories washed away.

"TV doesn't do it justice. Hope Haven got 20 feet of water. No one knows what people are going through, especially what the kids are going through. Hope Haven takes care of children who are abused. Whenever you see a smile on a kid's face, it touches you the right way. Hopefully, we can put a smile on a kid's face."

Peterman realizes the acquisition of wide receiver Terrell Owens puts a different complexion on the Cowboys' Super Bowl prospects.

"Jerry (Jones) and Bill (Parcells) want to win," Peterman said. "The past couple of seasons, we haven't got it done.

"They made some bold moves, they got Terrell Owens. Before we got Terrell, people were saying the odds for us to win the Super Bowl were 20-1. Now they are saying the odds are 8-1.

"He brings a new aspect to our game. I think this is our year to turn it around."

[MichaelWinicki]

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen-- I would be very encouraged about our O-line. It would leave us with some pretty decent depth from tackle to tackle.

[Charles]

I hope Stephen Peterman wins the LG spot.:starspin

[BrAinPaiNt]

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen-- I would be very encouraged about our O-line. It would leave us with some pretty decent depth from tackle to tackle.

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen, than we overpaid for Kosier.
Well we may have overpaid anyways but I am sure they want Kosier to take over Larry's spot.

[MrPhil]

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/sports/14882848.htm

"They are trying me a little bit at center. I started in the off-season. He told me to start snapping and get used to it."


I found this quote pretty interesting.......

[dfense]

I think that's pretty disrespectful to Allen to refer to the Cowboys as "getting rid of" Larry. It's like he blames his two year wash on depth at the position. Time to show what you got Peterman.

[NorTex]

"It's fun jumping back from position to position," he said. "The NFL only takes 53 guys to the game.

Gee, and I was under the impression that you could only take 45 guys to the game...somebody hurry up and tell Parcells. :)

[Bungarian]

I don't care if we overpaid so long as the line is good this year.

[wileedog]

I think that's pretty disrespectful to Allen to refer to the Cowboys as "getting rid of" Larry. It's like he blames his two year wash on depth at the position. Time to show what you got Peterman.

Well, its better than saying "We got rid of the old, slow, fat guy Larry Allen..." :p:

[silver]

I think that's pretty disrespectful to Allen to refer to the Cowboys as "getting rid of" Larry. It's like he blames his two year wash on depth at the position. Time to show what you got Peterman.
i agree. and he says "we" as if he was part of the decision process. he should've said, we got rid of our only probowler at the OL depite guys like myself sucking for the past 2 years. i doubt he makes the squad. nothing personal, he's just not very good. kosier and gurode start, rivera backs them up and the other backups better play more than one position. no way a one dimensional peterman sticks as a backup.

[Alexander]

no way a one dimensional peterman sticks as a backup.

He isn't one dimensional if he can play center.

The fact that he is being worked there should be a clear signal that he is not viewed as a strong threat to Kosier. Unless Kosier just flops, he wins the job rather easily.

[Chocolate Lab]

I wonder if Parcells wants Peterman to possibly fill Gurode's spot. I know we wanted him back, but he only signed a one-year deal. Maybe Peterman could fill the role as first backup guard and occasional center for taking on especially bulky NTs. (Although I know we supposedly don't play any 34 teams this year.)

I just don't trust Gurode to not make mental errors. At least Peterman is known as a very smart player.

[Fla Cowpoke]

Sad but true Alexander.

They are trying to justify a way to keep him by getting him to play something else besides left guard. They should be trying him at right guard too, because Rivera certainly isn't a lock to be better than last year.

There is going to be some bloodshed on the OL during final cuts. Pettiti, Fabini, Rivera, Johnson, Gurode, Kosier and Adams are probably locks. Fight for probably two remaining positions.

[Waffle]

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen, than we overpaid for Kosier.

On the flipside...if Kosier indeed wins the job, Parcells will be accused of botching another Day 1, O-Line draft pick. :cool:

[Yakuza Rich]

It would be HUGE if Peterman could be a solid right guard along with Kosier and Petitti being solid at their respective positions. That would leave us with a pretty young, solid O-Line and we'd just have to find a replacement for Flozell...which is no easy task. Still, that would help free us up to look at other positions for the future like QB, WR, and CB.


Rich..........

[Yakuza Rich]

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen, than we overpaid for Kosier.
Well we may have overpaid anyways but I am sure they want Kosier to take over Larry's spot.

Kosier has played right guard before, so he could take over Rivera when he retires. Still, Petermann should be able to play both guard spots. If he can only play one, his chances don't look good.

Rich......

[Angus]

i agree. and he says "we" as if he was part of the decision process. he should've said, we got rid of our only probowler at the OL depite guys like myself sucking for the past 2 years. i doubt he makes the squad. nothing personal, he's just not very good. kosier and gurode start, rivera backs them up and the other backups better play more than one position. no way a one dimensional peterman sticks as a backup.

A little over the top, aren't we?

[silver]

A little over the top, aren't we?
peterman gave way to an undrafted rookie in cory procter last year when rivera was hurt. if they can't trust him to even suit up, how are they going to trust him in the starting lineup? fabini, kosier, gurode and pettiti play more than one position. then there's others like columbo, procter and mcquistan fighting for a spot. peterman is barely getting to practice at center. yes it may be a nice story if a former 3rd rounder finnally makes the starting lineup, but that just what it is: a nice story.

[TheSport78]

if peterman wins the LG spot it would actually be the most perfect scenario...kosier is probably one of the most versatile OL in the NFC east and could swing at almost any position if injury occurs...same thing with if petitti beats out fabini...fabini would be the swing man if injury occurs to flo or petitti..knock on wood!!

Flozell, Peterman, Johnson, Rivera, Petitti
with Fabini and Kosier being the very solid depth swingmen

[burmafrd]

It takes more then a year to recover from the kind of damage that Peterman took to his knee. I doubt he was more then 80% last year. Not to mention I doubt he had all his strength back. So I would not count him out. If he really catches fire and wins the guard slot, then I still say Kosier was a good pickup= since he can play every other position on the line except center.

[david_jackson]

If Peterman won the guard spot left vacant by Allen, than we overpaid for Kosier.
Well we may have overpaid anyways but I am sure they want Kosier to take over Larry's spot.

Gotta disagree......If by some miracle Peterman started playing at Alll Pro level this doesn't mean that Kosier isn't playing great too!

[KD]

By DOUG BARBER (The Sun Herald)

ST. LOUIS - After two years of being plagued by injuries, former LSU and St. Stanislaus football star Stephen Peterman hopes to make an impact with the Dallas Cowboys.

The 2003 LSU All-American came to Bay St. Louis on Thursday to present a check of $5,000 from the Stephen Peterman Foundation to support the work of Hope Haven Children's Shelter.

"Everything is looking up," the 6-foot-4, 318-pound offensive lineman said. "My first two years have been kind of a struggle. I tore my ACL and MCL, and broke one of my fingers. It's been an uphill battle my first two years as a pro.

"I've got a good shot. We got rid of our Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen. The job is open going into camp. But I've got to compete and win that job.

"They are trying me a little bit at center. I started in the off-season. He told me to start snapping and get used to it."

That is the first time in his football career he had played center.

"It's fun jumping back from position to position," he said. "The NFL only takes 53 guys to the game. The more you can do, the better. Starting or backing up, I have to do as much as I can. You play two positions in case someone else gets hurts."

The damage to Bay St. Louis and Waveland still amazes Peterman.

"We were in Dallas and getting to ready to play Jacksonville in the last preseason game," he said. "My parents were up there. Before the game I didn't hear from two of my sisters who stayed here (for Hurricane Katrina). I heard from them right after the game. I couldn't get back down here.

"When I finally came, I saw my home in Waveland was gone. My dad's store was gone. All those childhood memories washed away.

"TV doesn't do it justice. Hope Haven got 20 feet of water. No one knows what people are going through, especially what the kids are going through. Hope Haven takes care of children who are abused. Whenever you see a smile on a kid's face, it touches you the right way. Hopefully, we can put a smile on a kid's face."

Peterman realizes the acquisition of wide receiver Terrell Owens puts a different complexion on the Cowboys' Super Bowl prospects.

"Jerry (Jones) and Bill (Parcells) want to win," Peterman said. "The past couple of seasons, we haven't got it done.

"They made some bold moves, they got Terrell Owens. Before we got Terrell, people were saying the odds for us to win the Super Bowl were 20-1. Now they are saying the odds are 8-1.

"He brings a new aspect to our game. I think this is our year to turn it around."

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[big dog cowboy]

http://dallascowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57339