Confusion on Efe Obada

[Toruk_Makto]

I seem to recall reading that the 3 year deal with Efe as an International protected him from being taken by another squad. I cannot find the article but did find this which seems to confirm my thinking.

Anyone know more?

From the CBA...

"The League may elect to allow some or all Clubs to add to their Practice Squads one additional player, who shall not count against the limit above, whose citizen-ship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and its Territories (“International Player”). The League’s election in any one season shall not determine or affect its election in any subsequent season. Such International Players shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of employment that apply to other Practice Squad players except that they (1) may not, during the term of their Practice Squad Contract, negotiate or sign an NFL Player Contract with any Club; and (2) may not practice with any Club following the last Conference Championship Game unless both Conference Champion-ship teams have such a player. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 below, such International Player shall be eligible to serve on a Practice Squad for three additional seasons after the completion of the player’s year(s) as an International Player. As set forth in Section 3 below, the weekly salary for such International Players shall not be included in the employing Club’s Team Salary and shall instead be deducted from the calculation of the Salary Cap in the same manner as any Player Benefit Cost."

 

[fffiasco]

It's a rule the NFL doesn't allow. Lol

 

[speedkilz88]

This is from 2013 but explains it. It's still idiotic by the nfl. If they want more interest from other countries they need to do everything they can.

Back in the days of NFL Europe, teams were allowed to keep nine guys on their practice squad if one of the spots went to an international player. That exemption hasn't been utilized in years considering NFL Europe shut down back in 2007, but the rule technically still exists.

It turns out that the Detroit Lions actually tried to make use of the rule this year with kicker Havard Rugland, who was released by the team in August. As discovered by SideLion Report, a story from Norway mentioned that the Lions applied to get Rugland on their practice squad as an international player, but the NFL apparently shut them down. Why? Based on the translation of the article, it's suggested that the rule "was made in terms of NFL Europe." Even though it still exists, the NFL apparently doesn't believe it should be utilized in Rugland's case.

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/9/11/4720198/havard-rugland-lions-practice-squad

 

[EPL0c0]

It's a rule the NFL doesn't allow. Lol

like the un-written rule that apparently Jerry and Snyder broke a couple of years ago?

 

[conner01]

I think they will keep him on the ps with or without exemption
No reason to think anyone is going to sign him as raw as he is but he is sure worth developing for another year and see where he is

 

[Alexander]

Does anyone think Obada gets taken by someone for their active roster? Or PS for that matter? He was practically a practice squad player for Dallas as soon as he was signed.

 

[dogunwo]

Does anyone think Obada gets taken by someone for their active roster? Or PS for that matter? He was practically a practice squad player for Dallas as soon as he was signed.

I think people were just intrigued by the "extra practice squad spot", which seems to not be true anyway.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Does anyone think Obada gets taken by someone for their active roster? Or PS for that matter? He was practically a practice squad player for Dallas as soon as he was signed.

hell no!

 

[Plankton]

Read the first line of what you posted - the league may elect......

Which means that they do it at their whim. Kind of like discipline from the commissioner's office.

I don't think that the Cowboys will have any issue with getting Obada to the practice squad.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I hope they can keep him. I get with the DL depth and him playing football for all of 9 months that he has no place on and 53 man roster.

OTOH I was very encouraged by his development. You can go back to the first Training Camp Lives at SC.com and watch the DL drill. In the beginning Obada was awkward as a child and fell down twice in the bag drill. Second week, they start doing drills to turn your body sideways as you run and push off to present a smaller target and protect your outside shoulder then complete the rip move. He struggled to turn his body and run at the same time and was robotic. They didn't play him in the 1st preseason game but he got his first tackle in the second. 4th week and watch him do the bag drill and its night and day. His steps are decisive and quick, he is stepping off into his slaps with power and looked fluid throughout.

Now he is raw as any player I have ever seen with the Cowboys. Misdirection turns him around and he needs to work on his upper body strength to get off blocks when they get their hands inside. That being said he can lean fully over and maintain his stride meaning he has elite athletic talent. It certainly doesn't hurt that he is decisive and makes his mistakes at full speed.

 

[fffiasco]

like the un-written rule that apparently Jerry and Snyder broke a couple of years ago?

Yea or like the NFL's definition of a catch and even when you follow all the guidelines they still say no...

Then rewrite the rule after to make it even more unclear.

 

[Knotamus]

The FO didn't bring him all the way to Dallas to send him back across the Atlantic. He's an easy PS candidate. The next 11 months will be crucial for his development as the rope will be short for this project. I'm a big Supporter bc I like underdogs, love his back story, and am hoping Dallas will capture lightening in a bottle with this guy. Almost a full year in the weight room, Marinelli's tudorledge, and Obada acclamation to NFL/football in general will do him wonders. Best case scenario, he's lands a back-up spot next year. It would just be a good story all away around. #GoCowboys #GoWillMcClay #GoRedJesus #GoSJones

 

[chris1995]

Does anyone think Obada gets taken by someone for their active roster? Or PS for that matter? He was practically a practice squad player for Dallas as soon as he was signed.

True

 

[conner01]

He has skills you can't teach
But he is as raw as you can get
I expect a huge jump from him with a year on the ps
If he really works hard physically and mentally he has a chance of pushing for a roster spot next year
If he has the right mindset and devotes everything to learning the game he could be a real steal
But it's going to be a long road and the ball is in his court
It's gonna take some serious devotion on his part
Don't see anyone putting him on active roster as raw as he is
And I suspect he'd rather stay where he is than go to another teams ps

 

[chris1995]

The FO didn't bring him all the way to Dallas to send him back across the Atlantic. He's an easy PS candidate. The next 11 months will be crucial for his development as the rope will be short for this project. I'm a big Supporter bc I like underdogs, love his back story, and am hoping Dallas will capture lightening in a bottle with this guy. Almost a full year in the weight room, Marinelli's tudorledge, and Obada acclamation to NFL/football in general will do him wonders. Best case scenario, he's lands a back-up spot next year. It would just be a good story all away around. #GoCowboys #GoWillMcClay #GoRedJesus #GoSJones

A good prospect !!!

 

[NeonDeion21]

Does anyone think Obada gets taken by someone for their active roster? Or PS for that matter? He was practically a practice squad player for Dallas as soon as he was signed.

I don't know. He's a uber-athletic DE who had the most pressures in the preseason, according to PFF (I know, I know). I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities that he gets claimed.

 

[AbeBeta]

I expect we do get an exemption. He's from the U.K. and the league is popular there. Any chance to develop guys from there is something the league will invest in. The guy mentioned earlier was Norwegian. Screw those a-ha producing people.

 

[mickswag]

Some cowboys fans on Twitter were saying that this guy shouldn't be cut because he had JPP potential and was dominating people and didn't even know it.

It was @cowboyszone and Dan turner on Twitter. Pretty funny if you want to go look it up.

 

[AzorAhai]

I hope they can keep him. I get with the DL depth and him playing football for all of 9 months that he has no place on and 53 man roster.

OTOH I was very encouraged by his development. You can go back to the first Training Camp Lives at SC.com and watch the DL drill. In the beginning Obada was awkward as a child and fell down twice in the bag drill. Second week, they start doing drills to turn your body sideways as you run and push off to present a smaller target and protect your outside shoulder then complete the rip move. He struggled to turn his body and run at the same time and was robotic. They didn't play him in the 1st preseason game but he got his first tackle in the second. 4th week and watch him do the bag drill and its night and day. His steps are decisive and quick, he is stepping off into his slaps with power and looked fluid throughout.

Now he is raw as any player I have ever seen with the Cowboys. Misdirection turns him around and he needs to work on his upper body strength to get off blocks when they get their hands inside. That being said he can lean fully over and maintain his stride meaning he has elite athletic talent. It certainly doesn't hurt that he is decisive and makes his mistakes at full speed.

I saw a stat that showed he had the most QB hurries of any DE during the preseason. Something like 8 on 17 pass rushes. Yes it's preseason, but he was doing it with very little technique. He just went out and did it. He's intriguing if nothing else.

 

[Bullflop]

It's been widely reported that Obada is making considerable progress since his arrival at Valley Ranch. He may not be claimed this year but next year might very well be a different story if he's again exposed to being claimed by another team at that time. As raw as he's been, it's quite conceivable he won't be claimed just yet. I wouldn't be too confident that same scenario is very likely to be repeated in 2016 and beyond. Good to see he's coming along, though. Maybe we'll strongly consider retaining him next year. Such a scenario surely wouldn't surprise me at all.