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Posted by jellis at 2/10/2010 5:16 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com
I got to thinking about something after reading Nick Eatman's response to Tuesday's mailbag, on a question about which restricted free agents could be gone.
Nick mentioned he thought only two of the RFAs at defensive end would return, either Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher or Stephen Bowen. I can't disagree with Nick's point, because I still find this year's free agency dealings to be a bit unpredictable given the uncapped season.
So if it works out like Nick and some others think it might, which two defensive ends would you prefer to keep of the three? The economics of it all could easily come into play, but performance is most important.
I'm thinking Spears, a starter since his rookie year, would be a given. But what about the other two guys? The Cowboys liked the work they did when sliding inside to rush the passer on third downs. Both players just completed their fourth season. Hatcher was a third-round pick out of Grambling, while Bowen was undrafted from Hofstra.
Coaches credited Bowen with 32 tackles last season, along with three sacks and 35 pressures, third-most on the team. He also deflected three passes and forced a fumble. Hatcher, who took a while to return to form after two off-season surgeries, had 29 tackles, one sack, 27 pressures, on pass deflection and a fumble recovered.
The Cowboys could easily bring them both back for training camp, and both could make the team. Eventually, though, the club might have to draw some distinction between the two in the form of a contract extension.
So who do you keep/pay? The Cowboys could be trying to decide that as we speak.
I got to thinking about something after reading Nick Eatman's response to Tuesday's mailbag, on a question about which restricted free agents could be gone.
Nick mentioned he thought only two of the RFAs at defensive end would return, either Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher or Stephen Bowen. I can't disagree with Nick's point, because I still find this year's free agency dealings to be a bit unpredictable given the uncapped season.
So if it works out like Nick and some others think it might, which two defensive ends would you prefer to keep of the three? The economics of it all could easily come into play, but performance is most important.
I'm thinking Spears, a starter since his rookie year, would be a given. But what about the other two guys? The Cowboys liked the work they did when sliding inside to rush the passer on third downs. Both players just completed their fourth season. Hatcher was a third-round pick out of Grambling, while Bowen was undrafted from Hofstra.
Coaches credited Bowen with 32 tackles last season, along with three sacks and 35 pressures, third-most on the team. He also deflected three passes and forced a fumble. Hatcher, who took a while to return to form after two off-season surgeries, had 29 tackles, one sack, 27 pressures, on pass deflection and a fumble recovered.
The Cowboys could easily bring them both back for training camp, and both could make the team. Eventually, though, the club might have to draw some distinction between the two in the form of a contract extension.
So who do you keep/pay? The Cowboys could be trying to decide that as we speak.
