[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by CCBoy

Valid points, burm.

And it is also worth noting that most Dallas discards that caught on strongly with another team, also had fairly high entrance rounds into the draft with the Cowboys as well.

Burm, I still guard a player's heart with mine. Now I'm not conflicting with your view. Only presenting my sight on aspects of players here.

Let's take a quick look at one and gain an additional view only to expand thoughts....let's start with who is being thrown against the proverbial wall now on site: Phil Costa

Maybe take in a personal side to a professional player...

*What I am relaying is taken from an Article by John Tranchina in Dallas Cowboy Star Magazine.

Although he took over for a five-time Pro Bowler, Phil Costa was a solid center in his first season starting for the Cowboys.

[View Full Quote]Now, not many on site have a really functional knowledge of the exact personalities and characteristics for many of the non-twitter players on the Dallas Roster.

So let's start with the picture of what other players refer to Costa....and that being the nick-name of Bulldog.

That's a great name for an offensive lineman. It implies an aggressive nature, with consistant fight in the package. It implies the nature to never back down.

This is what Jay Ratliff said in describing Costa: 'Phil Costa, he's the man. He's good. He's going to be playing for a long time. He's certainly got my respect just for the fact that he doesn't give up and he wants to get better.'

Kyle Kosier commented, 'The bulldog, Phil Costa is a great player. He fights, he never gives up. He's always willing to learn and he'll come ask me a question and I'll give it to him and and he'll listen to me, like Tyron does. These guys are going to have a long career here. (Tyron Smith and Costa are on both sides of Kosier in the lockerroom.)

A humble Costa downplays any success that he may have experienced this season, and responds in this manner, he echoes the voice of Head Coach Jason Garrett and the focus of treating each day as a focus and not looking ahead or looking behind. That's how you get ahead, 'win the day.'

Costa came up with Maryland, starting two seasons primarily as a guard.

His rookie year with Dallas, he saw active duty and play for two games. Here, he played at guard as an injury replacement. Although that experience was limited, he considers the 2010 season as critical to his development. Particularly because of the guidance that Andre Gurode provided him. 'You try and determine at a young age what it takes to play in this league, and the dedication, the extra time that you put in.'

Jeremy Parnell stated: 'We had great players here last season, that taught Phil how to do what he is doing now. Parnell has been a game day inactive for two seasons with Dallas. He was previously on the New Orleans Practice Squad.

And now that Costa is the starter, he hasn't hesitated to tutor his backup, Kevin Kowalski. Kowalski is another undrafted free agent that made the team out of Training Camp.

Kowalski states, 'He has been great. He has made himself available to me. Any questions that I have for him, he helps me out.'

Tryon Smith states, 'It's been a great experience with Phil. We learn together.'

As the season progressed and he became more accustomed to the NFL game, Costa felt his biggest improvement came in his communication with the rest of the offensive line.

Overall, Costa has earned the confidence of his teammates and coaching staff, not just because of his poise and performance, but also from the dogged way he approaches his job.

sorry but an article claiming Costa was solid in his first year makes me ignore the rest of it. He was not solid. No way.