News: BTB: Early Reactions To Cowboys Signing Henry Melton: "Best Bargain Of The Offseason"

[NewsBot]

We take a quick look at the national reaction to last night's signing.

Here's a sampling of early reactions to the Cowboys getting Henry Melton signed.

Cowboys add Henry Melton, unlikely to sign Jared Allen - NFL.com
"Best bargain of the offseason"? You've got to like how that sounds.

This could be one of the best bargains of the offseason, and a move that the Cowboys desperately needed. Their already depressing defense lost DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher over the last week. In Melton, they have a younger player with more long-term upside. (They also take some risk because Melton is coming off an injury and isn't a great run-stopper.)
​

St. Louis Rams free agent tracker: Henry Melton signs with Dallas - Turf Show Times
The Rams' SB Nation blog wonders whether Melton ever made it to St. Louis in the end and calls the signing "a steal.

It looked like the St. Louis Rams might have had their hands on a steal of a deal. Former Bears defensive tackle was on his way to town -- I'm not entirely sure he actually made it -- for a free agent visit with the Rams, fresh off a visit with the Dallas Cowboys. Melton was reportedly keeping the lines open with Dallas. We should have known what that meant.

We'll have to see what the final numbers are, but Melton got a one-year deal with Dallas that converts to a four-year deal if he's on the roster on the first day of the league year in 2015. That's potentially a steal, a real steal.
​

NFL Free Agency: Henry Melton signs with Dallas Cowboys - Windy City Gridiron
The SB Nation Bears site is of course fluent on the Rod Marinelli defensive terminology.

The Cowboys, who changed from a 3-4 defense to a Cover-2 system last season under Monte Kiffin, badly needed an under tackle in the system's signature position and owner Jerry Jones was willing to make the necessary salary cap moves to ensure he didn't get away.
​

Seahawk target Melton signs with Cowboys | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
This Seahawks blog is looking for the positives in the Seahawks not landing Melton.

If Melton really did take something a little less from the Cowboys then [sic] might have been expected, it could be another sign of Seattle’s fiscal restraint in this free agent period, as the Seahawks appear to really be holding the purse strings, knowing there are big moves ahead in future years.
​

Henry Melton Signs With Dallas Cowboys - Daily Norseman
The Vikings were also interested in Melton but can turn their attention elsewhere now.

Meltonwatch 2014 has officially come to an end, as former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton agreed on Tuesday to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Minnesota Vikings had expressed an interest in Melton, meeting with him before he departed for meetings with the Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks. He was a dominant pass-rushing force for the Bears in 2012, but tore an ACL early in the 2013 season and spent most of the year on injured reserve.
​

DT Melton picks a team, and it's Dallas, not Vikings | Access Vikings | StarTribune.com
This Vikings site optimistically argues that Sharrif Floyd was a key reason for Melton not signing in Minnesota.

The Vikings, one of multiple teams the Melton visited, wanted the 2012 Pro Bowler to add depth and a pass rushing presence at the three-technique tackle spot. Sharrif Floyd, by virtue of being the 23rd overall pick a year ago, is the presumed starter, which most likely played a role in Melton's decision to move on from his visit to Winter Park late last week.
​

Henry Melton signs with Dallas Cowboys - Cincy Jungle
This Bengals site focuses on Melton's injury history.

Melton was arguably the best free agent still available, but also one of the riskier players still on the market. Melton’s season was cut short last year when he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and had to have surgery. However, Melton’s left knee checked out fine with Cowboys doctors, and the team wasted little time in getting him signed during his visit with the team on Monday.

A big reason the Boys were able to land Melton was new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. He previously coached Melton with the Chicago Bears, and helped him go to his first Pro Bowl in 2012.
​

Continue reading...