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A look at the Cowboys free agent signings in the Jason Garrett era prior to 2015
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...gs-in-the-jason-garrett-era-prior-to-2015.ece
Jason Garrett is entering his fifth off-season of free agency as the Cowboys head coach. The club has signed 12 players during this period under Garrett’s tenure.
David Moore takes a look at those players and what they did for the Cowboys.
Kenyon Coleman (2011): Coleman played for Rob Ryan in Cleveland and was brought in by the Cowboys new defensive coordinator because he had a feel for his scheme and was regarded as a strong run stopper. The Cowboys also wanted another veteran presence up front to replace Stephen Bowen, who left for Washington in free agency. Coleman started 23 games in his two seasons with the club. He didn’t come up with a lot of big plays -- one sack and one forced fumble -- but he did a solid job against the run, which is why he was signed. A torn triceps in the defensive end’s left arm ended Coleman’s second season with the club after seven games. He followed Ryan to New Orleans in 2013 but tore a pectoral muscle and never played. He retired last February.
Mackenzy Bernadeau (2012): Bernadeau has been a key figure in the Cowboys transition from an aging offensive line to one of the best, young units in the league today. Bernadeau has started 28 games in his time with the club, 16 of those coming in his first season. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound right guard has seen his role decrease dramatically -- he started only one game in 2014 -- as the line has been rebuilt. Still, Bernadeau is a dependable backup who has started at all three spots on the interior of the line. He plays with a bit more of a physical edge than he did when he first arrived and the club is confident in his ability to step in and perform in a pinch.
Brandon Carr (2012): Carr entered the league in 2008 and has not missed a game. He has started all 48 games he’s played in a Cowboys uniform. The cornerback is the last free agent to get big money from the club, signing a five-year, $50 million deal back in March of 2012. One month later, the Cowboys moved up in the first round to select Morris Claiborne as their extreme makeover of the secondary continued. Carr has six interceptions in his time with the Cowboys and returned two for touchdowns. He has broken up 40 passes and recovered a fumble. But for the first time in his career, Carr is coming off a season in which he didn’t intercept a pass. He went six consecutive games at one stage last season without breaking up a pass. The game against the New York Giants, where rookie Odell Beckham caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, was his worst. While Carr isn’t as bad as critics make him out to be, he struggled more than he or the Cowboys wanted last season.
Dan Conner (2012): Connor was signed to provide insurance at inside linebacker in case Sean Lee was hurt. He was pressed into service quickly, starting eight games in 2012 after Lee went out with a toe injury. Connor played 14 games that season before a stinger knocked him out of action. He was released and played one game for the New York Giants before a neck injury put him on the injured list.
Nate Livings (2012): Livings (71), like Bernadeau, was signed to help bridge the gap as the Cowboys underwent a reclamation project in the offensive line. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound veteran stepped in and started 16 games at left guard in his first season with the club. He hasn’t played in the NFL since. Livings was slowed by a balky right knee in training camp the next season and was placed on injured reserve. He was released by the club in September of 2013.
Kyle Orton (2012): Orton said he had no interest in starting. He was comfortable being Tony Romo’s backup and nothing more. It made sense for him and the Cowboys, until it resulted in a bizarre divorce on the eve of training camp last summer. The quarterback appeared in only four games during his two seasons with Dallas. His one start came in the 2013 regular season finale against Philadelphia with the division title and playoff spot on the line. Orton threw for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Rather than fulfill the final year of his contract, Orton indicated he didn’t want to play anymore and skipped the team’s off-season program. He was released on the eve of training camp, meaning he got to keep the part of his signing bonus he stood to lose if he didn’t report. He signed a contract with Buffalo one month later and wound up starting the team’s final 12 games.
Brodney Pool (2012): Pool is another player who played under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan at an earlier stop and was brought in because of his familiarity with the system. It didn’t help. Pool was unable to complete a conditioning test to begin training camp. He eventually passed, but was cut one week into training camp. He never played for the club. He recently accepted the position of quality control coach under Art Briles at Baylor.
Lawrence Vickers (2012): Vickers filled the fullback position for a team that didn’t do a good job of running the ball. The veteran played in all 16 games in his only season with the club and picked up six starts. He carried the ball three times for 11 yards and caught 13 passes for 104 yards. He was cut the next offseason, giving the Cowboys $1.2 million in cap space.
Will Allen (2013): Another veteran safety signed to a one-year deal because the Cowboys had so many young, unproven players at the position. Allen opened the season as the starter. He had 17 tackles, an interception and broke up two passes in the first two games before he was replaced by rookie J.J. Wilcox in the starting lineup. The Cowboys released Allen in October.
Justin Durant (2013): Durant has performed at a high level for the Cowboys in his two seasons -- when he’s been healthy. That’s been the issue. The linebacker has only been available to play in 16 of 32 regular season games due to injury. A serious elbow injury cut the 2014 season short. Durant was the team’s best defender at the time of the injury. The proof: even though he played in only six games, he finished the season sixth on the team in tackles with 59. Durant had an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered one. He also had four tackles for a loss and knocked down four passes. Durant started 12 games in his two seasons with the club. He’s a free agent.
Henry Melton (2014): Melton had a good stretch early in the season but faded before ending season on the injured list. The former Pro Bowl defensive tackle finished second on the team with five sacks. He tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries and tied for fourth in quarterback pressures with 17. But Melton failed to reach the quarterback in the final seven games of the regular season. He started only three games as Tyrone Crawford earned the starting job as the three-technique tackle in Rod Marinelli’s scheme. Even though he was a key part of the defensive line rotation, he had only 10 tackles for the season. Seven defensive linemen had more, including rookie DeMarcus Lawrence who spent the first two months of the season on injured reserve. The Cowboys didn’t pick up Melton’s option, and he joined the Buccaneers.
Jeremy Mincey (2014): A player who was cut by Jacksonville on his birthday in 2013 led the Cowboys in sacks (six) and quarterback pressures (39) last season. Mincey’s desire to play was questioned with the Jaguars but he put aside his outside interests and showed his commitment to football. He started all 16 games and proved to be a hard worker. He was arguably the most productive member of the defensive line rotation.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...gs-in-the-jason-garrett-era-prior-to-2015.ece
Jason Garrett is entering his fifth off-season of free agency as the Cowboys head coach. The club has signed 12 players during this period under Garrett’s tenure.
David Moore takes a look at those players and what they did for the Cowboys.
Kenyon Coleman (2011): Coleman played for Rob Ryan in Cleveland and was brought in by the Cowboys new defensive coordinator because he had a feel for his scheme and was regarded as a strong run stopper. The Cowboys also wanted another veteran presence up front to replace Stephen Bowen, who left for Washington in free agency. Coleman started 23 games in his two seasons with the club. He didn’t come up with a lot of big plays -- one sack and one forced fumble -- but he did a solid job against the run, which is why he was signed. A torn triceps in the defensive end’s left arm ended Coleman’s second season with the club after seven games. He followed Ryan to New Orleans in 2013 but tore a pectoral muscle and never played. He retired last February.
Mackenzy Bernadeau (2012): Bernadeau has been a key figure in the Cowboys transition from an aging offensive line to one of the best, young units in the league today. Bernadeau has started 28 games in his time with the club, 16 of those coming in his first season. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound right guard has seen his role decrease dramatically -- he started only one game in 2014 -- as the line has been rebuilt. Still, Bernadeau is a dependable backup who has started at all three spots on the interior of the line. He plays with a bit more of a physical edge than he did when he first arrived and the club is confident in his ability to step in and perform in a pinch.
Brandon Carr (2012): Carr entered the league in 2008 and has not missed a game. He has started all 48 games he’s played in a Cowboys uniform. The cornerback is the last free agent to get big money from the club, signing a five-year, $50 million deal back in March of 2012. One month later, the Cowboys moved up in the first round to select Morris Claiborne as their extreme makeover of the secondary continued. Carr has six interceptions in his time with the Cowboys and returned two for touchdowns. He has broken up 40 passes and recovered a fumble. But for the first time in his career, Carr is coming off a season in which he didn’t intercept a pass. He went six consecutive games at one stage last season without breaking up a pass. The game against the New York Giants, where rookie Odell Beckham caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, was his worst. While Carr isn’t as bad as critics make him out to be, he struggled more than he or the Cowboys wanted last season.
Dan Conner (2012): Connor was signed to provide insurance at inside linebacker in case Sean Lee was hurt. He was pressed into service quickly, starting eight games in 2012 after Lee went out with a toe injury. Connor played 14 games that season before a stinger knocked him out of action. He was released and played one game for the New York Giants before a neck injury put him on the injured list.
Nate Livings (2012): Livings (71), like Bernadeau, was signed to help bridge the gap as the Cowboys underwent a reclamation project in the offensive line. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound veteran stepped in and started 16 games at left guard in his first season with the club. He hasn’t played in the NFL since. Livings was slowed by a balky right knee in training camp the next season and was placed on injured reserve. He was released by the club in September of 2013.
Kyle Orton (2012): Orton said he had no interest in starting. He was comfortable being Tony Romo’s backup and nothing more. It made sense for him and the Cowboys, until it resulted in a bizarre divorce on the eve of training camp last summer. The quarterback appeared in only four games during his two seasons with Dallas. His one start came in the 2013 regular season finale against Philadelphia with the division title and playoff spot on the line. Orton threw for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Rather than fulfill the final year of his contract, Orton indicated he didn’t want to play anymore and skipped the team’s off-season program. He was released on the eve of training camp, meaning he got to keep the part of his signing bonus he stood to lose if he didn’t report. He signed a contract with Buffalo one month later and wound up starting the team’s final 12 games.
Brodney Pool (2012): Pool is another player who played under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan at an earlier stop and was brought in because of his familiarity with the system. It didn’t help. Pool was unable to complete a conditioning test to begin training camp. He eventually passed, but was cut one week into training camp. He never played for the club. He recently accepted the position of quality control coach under Art Briles at Baylor.
Lawrence Vickers (2012): Vickers filled the fullback position for a team that didn’t do a good job of running the ball. The veteran played in all 16 games in his only season with the club and picked up six starts. He carried the ball three times for 11 yards and caught 13 passes for 104 yards. He was cut the next offseason, giving the Cowboys $1.2 million in cap space.
Will Allen (2013): Another veteran safety signed to a one-year deal because the Cowboys had so many young, unproven players at the position. Allen opened the season as the starter. He had 17 tackles, an interception and broke up two passes in the first two games before he was replaced by rookie J.J. Wilcox in the starting lineup. The Cowboys released Allen in October.
Justin Durant (2013): Durant has performed at a high level for the Cowboys in his two seasons -- when he’s been healthy. That’s been the issue. The linebacker has only been available to play in 16 of 32 regular season games due to injury. A serious elbow injury cut the 2014 season short. Durant was the team’s best defender at the time of the injury. The proof: even though he played in only six games, he finished the season sixth on the team in tackles with 59. Durant had an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered one. He also had four tackles for a loss and knocked down four passes. Durant started 12 games in his two seasons with the club. He’s a free agent.
Henry Melton (2014): Melton had a good stretch early in the season but faded before ending season on the injured list. The former Pro Bowl defensive tackle finished second on the team with five sacks. He tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries and tied for fourth in quarterback pressures with 17. But Melton failed to reach the quarterback in the final seven games of the regular season. He started only three games as Tyrone Crawford earned the starting job as the three-technique tackle in Rod Marinelli’s scheme. Even though he was a key part of the defensive line rotation, he had only 10 tackles for the season. Seven defensive linemen had more, including rookie DeMarcus Lawrence who spent the first two months of the season on injured reserve. The Cowboys didn’t pick up Melton’s option, and he joined the Buccaneers.
Jeremy Mincey (2014): A player who was cut by Jacksonville on his birthday in 2013 led the Cowboys in sacks (six) and quarterback pressures (39) last season. Mincey’s desire to play was questioned with the Jaguars but he put aside his outside interests and showed his commitment to football. He started all 16 games and proved to be a hard worker. He was arguably the most productive member of the defensive line rotation.
