DC.COM Blog: What Cowboys Told Us On Saturday

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by mickshot at 3/1/2009 11:24 AM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Here is what we should have learned on Saturday when the Cowboys traded starting right cornerback Anthony Henry to Detroit for veteran quarterback Jon Kitna and then signed Atlanta’s free-agent linebacker Keith Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler, to a three-year deal at age 33:

1. The Cowboys must be convinced either Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick are ready to take over the starting right cornerback duties, and talking with the coaches, they were very encouraged by the way Jenkins came back to play after missing those two late games with a hamstring injury.

2. The thought of moving Henry to safety fulltime was more media driven than realistic. For those who listened, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Henry would have to be a free safety, so he was no replacement for Roy Williams, who is a strong safety. And for those who were paying further attention, if Henry became a free safety, then Ken Hamlin would have to move to strong, and judging by the way he tackles, he’s no strong safety. There really was no easy fit.

3. The Cowboys have dumped another $2 million of dead money into their 2009 salary cap, that the final prorated installment on Henry’s $10 million signing bonus he collected with his five-year contract. Add to that Brad Johnson’s dead money, that’s now $2.833,334 million. And if the Cowboys should trade or release Williams, then the dead money count jumps to $7.2 million with his $4.4 million addition.

4. The Cowboys are in the market for a safety, either in free agency or the draft, regardless if they keep Williams or not.

5. By signing Brooking, those thoughts of Ray Lewis coming to the Cowboys were more media driven than realistic. Imagine that.

6. By signing Brooking, the Cowboys still aren’t convinced Bobby Carpenter can be a starter in this league, and it’s apparent Zach Thomas for sure isn’t returning.

7. Kitna must have been ecstatic to get out of Detroit, evidenced by agreeing first to restructure his contract which was calling for a $1.9 million base in 2009 and a $1 million roster bonus due on Tuesday and later telling [FONT=verdana,geneva]The Detroit News[/FONT], "It's exciting for me to know where I'm going to be. To be going down there, that's exciting. It'll be in a different role than I'm used to the last three years."

8. Finally, obviously the Cowboys don’t agree with all that media and fan perception Tony Romo needs someone to push him. Kitna has been signed as a backup, a microwave of a quarterback who can heat up in an instant without much practice.

Mickey Spagnola

Comments (95) | Permanent Link

 

[Rack]

and judging by the way he tackles, he’s no strong safety. There really was no easy fit.

Free Safeties need to be just as good of tacklers as Strong Safeties (probably even better) cuz they are the LAST line of defense. When he is the last guy left who can bring down the RB or give up a TD, you want the Free Safety to be a strong tackler. He doesn't have to be a "Hitter", but he dang sure better be able to tackle.


Hamlin sucks.

 

[JonJon]

I thought someone posted that the Cowboys would save about $2 million by cutting Williams?

 

[TheCount]

Where did this idea come from that older quarterbacks don't have to do as much work when they get to a new team? Maybe if Brad had done more work, we would have realized how awful he was sooner. Put Kitna through all the darn drills please

 

[mwj473]

I thought someone posted that the Cowboys would save about $2 million by cutting Williams?

That is correct, notice how he worded what he said. He said the teams "dead money" would go up. He is just referencing the amount toward the cap that would be taken up by players that are no longer on the team.

The overall cap would be saved $2 million as you said since his salary would come off the books.

If it happens.

 

[links18]

[/QUOTE]
6. By signing Brooking, the Cowboys still aren’t convinced Bobby Carpenter can be a starter in this league, and it’s apparent Zach Thomas for sure isn’t returning.[/QUOTE]

Well is it apparent or is it for sure?

 

[Alexander]

Where did this idea come from that older quarterbacks don't have to do as much work when they get to a new team? Maybe if Brad had done more work, we would have realized how awful he was sooner. Put Kitna through all the darn drills please

I am more disturbed by this idea that we have to have a 37 year old backup so they can get ready in a hurry or whatever. Someone needs to tell the teams with younger backups that they must be doing it wrong.

That's got to be one of the worst excuses I can think of for anyone to justify signing an older backup.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

well the positive of signing an older vet to backup your QB, is always that he should be ready to play in a pinch, because he doesn't have to learn how to play QB, that should come natural due to his experience doing it in the NFL

now he's not going to step onto the field, and win games for us tomorrow, obviously he has to learn the O, but learning curve is very small for him to do that, and it shouldn't take him that long, since he's not doing 2 things at once, trying to learn how to play QB, as well as trying to learn the new O

 

[Alexander]

well the positive of signing an older vet to backup your QB, is always that he should be ready to play in a pinch, because he doesn't have to learn how to play QB, that should come natural due to his experience doing it in the NFL

now he's not going to step onto the field, and win games for us tomorrow, obviously he has to learn the O, but learning curve is very small for him to do that, and it shouldn't take him that long, since he's not doing 2 things at once, trying to learn how to play QB, as well as trying to learn the new O

Any veteran with starting experience should be able to fit the bill. Not just the thirty-somethings. This is just Spagnola putting his rosy spin on what is a rather dull addition. This is just what Jones prefers. He had that with Wade Wilson for years as the backup. It continues now.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Free Safeties need to be just as good of tacklers as Strong Safeties (probably even better) cuz they are the LAST line of defense. When he is the last guy left who can bring down the RB or give up a TD, you want the Free Safety to be a strong tackler. He doesn't have to be a "Hitter", but he dang sure better be able to tackle.


Hamlin sucks.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Any veteran with starting experience should be able to fit the bill. Not just the thirty-somethings. This is just Spagnola putting his rosy spin on what is a rather dull addition. This is just what Jones prefers. He had that with Wade Wilson for years as the backup. It continues now.

that's true, they're just more comfortable w/ the older guys

nothing wrong w/ that

unless the guy can't play ala Brad Johnson

 

[Quarterback Coach]

Where did this idea come from that older quarterbacks don't have to do as much work when they get to a new team? Maybe if Brad had done more work, we would have realized how awful he was sooner. Put Kitna through all the darn drills please

No idea...the dc.com writers spend too much time trying not to upset Jerry when they write instead of putting thought in to their articles.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Any veteran with starting experience should be able to fit the bill. Not just the thirty-somethings. This is just Spagnola putting his rosy spin on what is a rather dull addition. This is just what Jones prefers. He had that with Wade Wilson for years as the backup. It continues now.

Nice perspective. Teams with guys like Redman, McCown, Grossman, Hackney, Stanton, Flynn, Sorgi, Lemon, Thigpen, Carr, Ratliff, Walter, or Green are in much worse shape than us. Kitna is not a very good starter but as a backup with the amount of experience he brings to the table he is certainly in the top third of backups.

 

[Alexander]

No idea...the dc.com writers spend too much time trying not to upset Jerry when they write instead of putting thought in to their articles.

Spagnola wrote that. You expected "thought"?

 

[Alexander]

Nice perspective. Teams with guys like Redman, McCown, Grossman, Hackney, Stanton, Flynn, Sorgi, Lemon, Thigpen, Carr, Ratliff, Walter, or Green are in much worse shape than us. Kitna is not a very good starter but as a backup with the amount of experience he brings to the table he is certainly in the top third of backups.

As usual, you missed the point.

And what I am saying is that this "microwave" concept is idiotic. Any veteran with starting experience and half of a work ethic should be able to jump up and be ready.

That was Spagnola's rationalization. We just had to get some older grizzled veteran so they can just step right in if needed. What he is implying is that we got the best one that was out there and that younger players like Grossman, Losman or Boller couldn't "heat up in an instant".

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

As usual, you missed the point.

And what I am saying is that this "microwave" concept is idiotic. Any veteran with starting experience and half of a work ethic should be able to jump up and be ready.

That was Spagnola's rationalization. We just had to get some older grizzled veteran so they can just step right in if needed. What he is implying is that we got the best one that was out there and that younger players like Grossman, Losman or Boller couldn't "heat up in an instant".

No the only idiotic thing is thinking that having 10 years of experience means that you need as many reps during the week to prepare over a guy two or so years in the league.

You missed my point. I was addressing was your statement about Wade Wilson and how it shows that you lack perspective. We went from having one of the bottom three backups to one of the better backups. I would go so far as to say top 10. The days of being able to pay Kosar top dollar so he will come play for us are over. Welcome to the salary cap era.

 

[AKATheRake]

Where did this idea come from that older quarterbacks don't have to do as much work when they get to a new team? Maybe if Brad had done more work, we would have realized how awful he was sooner. Put Kitna through all the darn drills please

Kitna's a good backup, one of the better back ups in the league who can win you a game if need be. He also played in a similar offense in Detroit and of course has a history with RW11 which adds value. This is a good move and the guy can play. They will have to put him through all the drill though, just as you request.

 

[RoboQB]

Free Safeties need to be just as good of tacklers as Strong Safeties (probably even better) cuz they are the LAST line of defense. When he is the last guy left who can bring down the RB or give up a TD, you want the Free Safety to be a strong tackler. He doesn't have to be a "Hitter", but he dang sure better be able to tackle.


Hamlin sucks.

Just to make a point here:

The SS is usually the eighth man in the box for run support. The FS is supposed to help out in coverage. Judging by Hamlin's whiff on McClain in the B-More game, he would be a terrible SS. As it turns out, he's not much of a FS either.

I agree with you in regards to tackling. It seems as though these guys forget everything they were taught since day one of little league. Less and less tacklers. Everybody dropping their head and lunging with a shoulder. Geez.

 

[jrumann59]

I am indifferent to the Kitna signing I was actually hoping for Boller, but even though Kitna is 37, it isn't like he has been a 15 year starter he has only been a starter for about half his time in the NFL so the wear and tear on him shouldn't be too bad. Also at least he still has his arm and isn't a statue.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Nice perspective. Teams with guys like Redman, McCown, Grossman, Hackney, Stanton, Flynn, Sorgi, Lemon, Thigpen, Carr, Ratliff, Walter, or Green are in much worse shape than us. Kitna is not a very good starter but as a backup with the amount of experience he brings to the table he is certainly in the top third of backups.

Try trading Kitna for Carr, Ratliff, Thigpen, or even McCown.

The ideal scenario is an experienced vet(A 32 year old Garcia would be perfect) and a promising young QB, that you can maybe trade down the line