Cowboys have had conversations with Matt Slauson

[NJ22]

Didn't cutting Spears free up 2m?

The Cowboys are only $177,005 under the salary cap and have had conversations with second-tier free agents such as linebacker Chase Blackburn, guard Matt Slauson and defensive end Amobi Okoye so far.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...owboys-anthony-spencer-to-talk-deal-this-week

 

[speedkilz88]

Didn't cutting Spears free up 2m?

He was a June 1 designation so it won't count until then(1.7 I believe), but does help with draft picks.(if that was what you were alluding to)

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Fear rules. People here fear Dallas won't draft an OL in the first round if it signs a FA. Of course, they ignore the possibility that Dallas won't draft an OL in the first round no matter what it does or that an OL worth drafting might not be there when Dallas drafts.

I'm all for improving the team/depth as much as possible before the draft, then trying to upgrade the roster through the draft with the best players available. If that happens to be an OL in the first round, I'm certainly all for it and would prefer one over a player of equal value at any other position.

You can only go by what has happened in the recent past, and last year, when faced with same situation, they signed a guard from a team who made no effort to re-sign him and a career back up on a bad rushing team. The front office did not even consider drafting an OL in the draft.

Can you re-call a situation where they signed an OL in free agency and then went out there and upgraded the OL through the draft?

 

[Disturbed]

Jerrah just can't leave well enough alone. He just has to sign him some scrubs, spend some money, get some old guys that will not contribute or marginal guys that he will try to sell "the potential" to everyone. Scrubs are Scrubs...stop spending money on backups, we have enough average players on this team already.

Focus on the draft! Draft linemen to help this team. The scouting and personnel departments are not very good -- Cowboys are one of worst in league in draft. So they need to seriously focus on the draft. Stop wasting time chasing backups.

 

[silver]

I like it. We need upgrades over the likes of Kowalski, Leary and Cook. Not that the rest of them are world beaters but anything we do to improve the overall roster I'm all for. Not sure we have cap room for anything else anyway. I can see us drafting a T in the first or second round. If ever there was a draft with quality O-linemen this is it. Reminds me of the 1998 draft where we were able to get a 10 year starter in the second round in Flozzell Adams.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Yeah, let's go into the draft with the mindset that we have to draft one need position in the first round no matter what at the expense of whatever else might be on the board. That worked out great with Shante Carver and David LeFleur.

This. I don't care how they fix the guard positions, as long as they fix it.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Jerrah just can't leave well enough alone. He just has to sign him some scrubs, spend some money, get some old guys that will not contribute or marginal guys that he will try to sell "the potential" to everyone. Scrubs are Scrubs...stop spending money on backups, we have enough average players on this team already.

Focus on the draft! Draft linemen to help this team. The scouting and personnel departments are not very good -- Cowboys are one of worst in league in draft. So they need to seriously focus on the draft. Stop wasting time chasing backups.

We could let someone go that he is better than. Think.

 

[AmishCowboy]

This is getting ridiculous. The team is looking into signing a veteran G with starting experience, with experience in our OL coach's system, who can provide solid depth and start in a pinch (unless you really think Ron Leary is someone to rely on). If all of you people are so gung-ho about fixing the OL, then why the hell wouldn't you want to get people to fix the OL?

Just because we might sign Slauson doesn't preclude us from drafting this years DeCastro Iupati God Guard who will catapult us into the playoffs.

It might mean guard becomes a lower priority, which means we would have flexibility on draft day. Nobody can convince me flexibility on draft day is a bad thing.

Everyone around here gets all caught up in this 'we need a first round lineman' groupthink. There's plenty of good lineman in this draft and can be had past the first round as well. And the difference between a Sheldon Richardson and Akeem Spence is probably a lot more severe than the difference between Warmack and Dallas Thomas.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[InmanRoshi]

Slouson is known for his versatility and his ability to play several positions. For all we know he would be seen as a super-sub and a guy who can back up Parnell in case we release Free.

It's just hilarious to me the difference in reaction between the rejoicing that we signed a cheap vet linebacker in Simms and the hand wringing that we might look into a cheap vet offensive linemen. Just further proof that CowboysZone is the only congregation of NFL fans who believe offensive guard is just one step below quarterback in importance (if not more important, for some). If CowboysZone posters were running NFL front offices, offensive guards would go with the Top 5 picks of every draft.

 

[Dhragon]

This is getting ridiculous. The team is looking into signing a veteran G with starting experience, with experience in our OL coach's system, who can provide solid depth and start in a pinch (unless you really think Ron Leary is someone to rely on). If all of you people are so gung-ho about fixing the OL, then why the hell wouldn't you want to get people to fix the OL?

Just because we might sign Slauson doesn't preclude us from drafting this years DeCastro Iupati God Guard who will catapult us into the playoffs.

It might mean guard becomes a lower priority, which means we would have flexibility on draft day. Nobody can convince me flexibility on draft day is a bad thing.

Everyone around here gets all caught up in this 'we need a first round lineman' groupthink. There's plenty of good lineman in this draft and can be had past the first round as well. And the difference between a Sheldon Richardson and Akeem Spence is probably a lot more severe than the difference between Warmack and Dallas Thomas.

We've tried the JAG free agent route before (last year). It didn't work. Now some of us are afraid Jerry might again try and go cheap so he can ignore TRULY upgrading the line once again. And as for Slausen providing depth? That's what we'd have with Livings/Bernadeaux if they were replaced with REAL talent. THEY would be our depth - which is what their talent level screams for them to be, just depth.

There are about 5, maybe 6 O-linemen who would not be anywhere near a "reach" for us at 18. So this big stink about some of us drafting for need at 18 if we go O-line is silly. In fact it's entirely possible we could get a top 10 talent (Warmack or Cooper) at our position because teams often don't go for guards early.

Flexibility is fine but signing JAGS doesn't provide real flexibility. It's a trap, one we've fallen into way too often in regards to O-line. We (and by we mean Jerry) need to avoid it this year.

We've proven over the last decade or two, we can't uncover O-line talent in the later rounds. Our scouts/coaches/GM just can't seem to do it. We HAVE to get the prime rib of the draft. As can't miss prospects as we can choose or we will undoubtfully find and pick the wrong ones yet again.

 

[9darter]

We've tried the JAG free agent route before (last year). It didn't work. Now some of us are afraid Jerry might again try and go cheap so he can ignore TRULY upgrading the line once again. And as for Slausen providing depth? That's what we'd have with Livings/Bernadeaux if they were replaced with REAL talent. THEY would be our depth - which is what their talent level screams for them to be, just depth.

There are about 5, maybe 6 O-linemen who would not be anywhere near a "reach" for us at 18. So this big stink about some of us drafting for need at 18 if we go O-line is silly. In fact it's entirely possible we could get a top 10 talent (Warmack or Cooper) at our position because teams often don't go for guards early.

Flexibility is fine but signing JAGS doesn't provide real flexibility. It's a trap, one we've fallen into way too often in regards to O-line. We (and by we mean Jerry) need to avoid it this year.

We've proven over the last decade or two, we can't uncover O-line talent in the later rounds. Our scouts/coaches/GM just can't seem to do it. We HAVE to get the prime rib of the draft. As can't miss prospects as we can choose or we will undoubtfully find and pick the wrong ones yet again.

Bingo.

 

[Dhragon]

Slouson is known for his versatility and his ability to play several positions. For all we know he would be seen as a super-sub and a guy who can back up Parnell in case we release Free.

It's just hilarious to me the difference in reaction between the rejoicing that we signed a cheap vet linebacker in Simms and the hand wringing that we might look into a cheap vet offensive linemen. Just further proof that CowboysZone is the only congregation of NFL fans who believe offensive guard is just one step below quarterback in importance (if not more important, for some). If CowboysZone posters were running NFL front offices, offensive guards would go with the Top 5 picks of every draft.

It's just hilarious to me when people put blinders on and expect things to change when everything stays the same. O-line terrible with some of the worst interior players on the O-line in the game? No big deal. Just sign a scrub or get one in the later rounds. That's worked out great for us in the past, right?

But O-line doesn't seem to be a big importance to some. They don't mean anything in regards to helping the run game or providing enough time for the QB to not make as many mistakes as he can. It's all the QBs fault that he is not clutch or the RBs fault he always gets hurt. The O-line is fine. We can make due. Wahtever!

Guard is NOT one step below QB, but it IS important, believe it or not. Starting only JAGS/scrubs in your interior DOES effect your most important position - QB. We need some more talent on our O-line. We've proven we can't do it by going cheap. We've got to spend some quality resources here for once.

 

[visionary]

It's just hilarious to me when people put blinders on and expect things to change when everything stays the same. O-line terrible with some of the worst interior players on the O-line in the game? No big deal. Just sign a scrub or get one in the later rounds. That's worked out great for us in the past, right?

But O-line doesn't seem to be a big importance to some. They don't mean anything in regards to helping the run game or providing enough time for the QB to not make as many mistakes as he can. It's all the QBs fault that he is not clutch or the RBs fault he always gets hurt. The O-line is fine. We can make due. Wahtever!

Guard is NOT one step below QB, but it IS important, believe it or not. Starting only JAGS/scrubs in your interior DOES effect your most important position - QB. We need some more talent on our O-line. We've proven we can't do it by going cheap. We've got to spend some quality resources here for once.

Great posts in this thread dhragon
The same people who always argue against upgrading the trenches on both sides will keep doing it

 

[InmanRoshi]

It's just hilarious to me when people put blinders on and expect things to change when everything stays the same. O-line terrible with some of the worst interior players on the O-line in the game? No big deal. Just sign a scrub or get one in the later rounds. That's worked out great for us in the past, right?

But O-line doesn't seem to be a big importance to some. They don't mean anything in regards to helping the run game or providing enough time for the QB to not make as many mistakes as he can. It's all the QBs fault that he is not clutch or the RBs fault he always gets hurt. The O-line is fine. We can make due. Wahtever!

Guard is NOT one step below QB, but it IS important, believe it or not. Starting only JAGS/scrubs in your interior DOES effect your most important position - QB. We need some more talent on our O-line. We've proven we can't do it by going cheap. We've got to spend some quality resources here for once.

Actually, what we've mainly proven in the past is that signing a bunch of big name veterans to big contracts is not the way to go. It's only in the last couple of years that we've broken from that philosophy, but I don't know why you want the Cowboys to go back to the days of signing big names like Marco Rivera and Leonard Davis to huge contracts .


We're going to "go cheap" at a variety of positions next year, not excluding strong side LB, both starting sfeties and likely all three RB spots on the roster. Every team has to 'go cheap' somewhere on their roster, generally including several places on the OL. Only one position will cause a mass freakout on CZ, and that will be guard, because CZ is the only board in the realm of professional football fandom I've ever seen that believes you have to have 5 Pro Bowlers to field an effective offensive line.

And it's all because of some stale old cliched tropes about "winning in the trenches" that casual fans can mentally grasp onto, which no NFL front office actually believes in practice. If they did believe it, offensive guards would be as valued as centers in basketball or top of the rotation starting pitchers in baseball, and they would be selected with the Top 3 picks of the draft every year. Instead, only 1 offensive guard has been selected with a Top 15 pick since 1997. Actions speak louder than cliches.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Actually, what we've mainly proven in the past is that signing a bunch of big name veterans to big contracts is not the way to go. It's only in the last couple of years that we've broken from that philosophy, but I don't know why you want the Cowboys to go back to the days of signing big names like Marco Rivera and Leonard Davis to huge contracts.

This. Finding and signing solid players to below market contracts is not a bad thing. Dallas needs more depth; signing proven players without breaking the bank is a good thing. The key is not to overpay which, we have learned, does not work.

 

[jjktkk]

Besides bringing in a vet. Olinman, and/or drafting a Olineman, Is Jerry and co. thinking the overall improved health from Costa, Bernadeau, and Livings, will also improve the Oline? I can see the Cowboys's braintrust thinking along these lines.

 

[cowboysooner]

The jets oline including slauson block their rear ends off. The can't run the ball because the face eight man minimum fronts because they had one terry Glenn type wr who got hurt a seam tight end who got hurt a big fast strong wide rookie with no hands who played in a wishbone offense that got hurt and a bunch of street free agents. Also their running back ran like fat Felix with a piano on his back.

 

[Dhragon]

Marco Rivera injury was just bad luck. Big Davis was overpaid because they saw him as a tackle at first unless I'm mistaken, although he wasn't very good at that in Arizona. Bigg did do very well at guard for the first 2 or so years though before he began declining. More than what we are getting from the JAGS Jerry is finding.

With that said, I'm not yelling for FA O-line. We don't have the money anyway. I would much rather go big through the draft for O-line. For less than the price of one of Jerry's JAGS, we could pay an "almost" sure-fire top guard from the draft with our first round pick (first round picks, especially at 18 slot not so expensive anymore) or maybe even a right tackle if we got lucky.

We don't need 5 probowlers on the O-line, but we definitely need more than one good, improving (maybe a probowler in the future but not there yet) guy on the line with 4 bottom tier guys filling out the rest. You can get by with one or two average/below average guys on the line but not 4 of them. Let's finally find #2 and #3 quality O-linemen this year and we can live with a Livings and a Costa. Just can't live with a Costa, Free, Livings, and a Berny. Or at least Romo can't (literally).

 

[Dhragon]

The jets oline including slauson block their rear ends off. The can't run the ball because the face eight man minimum fronts because they had one terry Glenn type wr who got hurt a seam tight end who got hurt a big fast strong wide rookie with no hands who played in a wishbone offense that got hurt and a bunch of street free agents. Also their running back ran like fat Felix with a piano on his back.

You might be right on Slausen. I don't really know him. If he's markedly better than Livings or Bernadeaux then that's a good thing. Just not good enough if in Jerry's mind he would be here instead of a top draft prospect IMO. And with Jerry, I wouldn't doubt this at all.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Marco Rivera injury was just bad luck. Big Davis was overpaid because they saw him as a tackle at first unless I'm mistaken, although he wasn't very good at that in Arizona. Bigg did do very well at guard for the first 2 or so years though before he began declining. More than what we are getting from the JAGS Jerry is finding.

With that said, I'm not yelling for FA O-line. We don't have the money anyway. I would much rather go big through the draft for O-line. For less than the price of one of Jerry's JAGS, we could pay an "almost" sure-fire top guard from the draft with our first round pick (first round picks, especially at 18 slot not so expensive anymore) or maybe even a right tackle if we got lucky.

We don't need 5 probowlers on the O-line, but we definitely need more than one good, improving (maybe a probowler in the future but not there yet) guy on the line with 4 bottom tier guys filling out the rest. You can get by with one or two average/below average guys on the line but not 4 of them. Let's finally find #2 and #3 quality O-linemen this year and we can live with a Livings and a Costa. Just can't live with a Costa, Free, Livings, and a Berny. Or at least Romo can't (literally).

Fair enough. I just think we need more professional quality offensive linemen in general, so Derrick Dockery never steps foot on the field again wearing silver and blue when some players get injured. I think Slouson meets that category, particularly since our OL coach has extensive experience working with him and knows precisely what he is and isn't.