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Group Check: Running backs
8:00 AM Wed, Feb 06, 2008 | Permalink
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
The second in an 11-part series assessing each position on the Cowboys roster (Be sure to follow the jump for analysis) ...
PLAYERS SIGNED THROUGH 2008: FB Oliver Hoyte, FB Deon "Cricket" Anderson
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Julius Jones
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, RB Tyson Thompson
TOP NAMES ON FREE AGENT MARKET: Michael Turner (Chargers), Jamal Lewis (Browns), Justin Fargas (Raiders), Derrick Ward (Giants), Chris Brown (Titans), T.J. Duckett (Lions)
TOP DRAFT NAMES: Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), Felix Jones (Arkansas), Kevin Smith (Central Florida), Chris Johnson (East Carolina), Jamaal Charles (Texas), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Ray Rice (Rutgers), Mike Hart (Michigan)
HEALTH OF THE POSITION: Barber proved this season that he can be the lead horse in a tailback tandem. He had career highs in carries (204) and yards (975) and was selected to the Pro Bowl despite not starting until the playoffs.
Jerry Jones shot down rumors that Barber could be traded as part of a package to move up and draft McFadden. The Cowboys see Barber as their starting tailback for the next several years and will try to sign him to a long-term deal. They will not let him leave for another team, matching any offer he might get as a restricted free agent.
But Barber’s physical running style could make him prone to wear down with a heavy workload. The Cowboys don’t want Barber to have many 27-carry games, as he did against the Giants in the playoffs. The Cowboys made their opinion of Julius Jones clear by giving him a grand total of three carries in that game. He's gone.
That makes acquiring a change-of-pace back one of the top off-season priorities.
Michael Turner, the most attractive free agent, will be able to get more money and more carries with another team. This is a need the Cowboys should address in the draft, probably in the first two rounds.
You can never rule out the possibility of Jerry, armed with two first-round picks, trading up to draft fellow Hog McFadden. But this draft class is considered deep at running back, so the Cowboys don’t have to make a deal to land a back capable of complementing Barber.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: QB
http://cowboys.beloblog.com/
8:00 AM Wed, Feb 06, 2008 | Permalink
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
The second in an 11-part series assessing each position on the Cowboys roster (Be sure to follow the jump for analysis) ...
PLAYERS SIGNED THROUGH 2008: FB Oliver Hoyte, FB Deon "Cricket" Anderson
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Julius Jones
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, RB Tyson Thompson
TOP NAMES ON FREE AGENT MARKET: Michael Turner (Chargers), Jamal Lewis (Browns), Justin Fargas (Raiders), Derrick Ward (Giants), Chris Brown (Titans), T.J. Duckett (Lions)
TOP DRAFT NAMES: Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), Felix Jones (Arkansas), Kevin Smith (Central Florida), Chris Johnson (East Carolina), Jamaal Charles (Texas), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Ray Rice (Rutgers), Mike Hart (Michigan)
HEALTH OF THE POSITION: Barber proved this season that he can be the lead horse in a tailback tandem. He had career highs in carries (204) and yards (975) and was selected to the Pro Bowl despite not starting until the playoffs.
Jerry Jones shot down rumors that Barber could be traded as part of a package to move up and draft McFadden. The Cowboys see Barber as their starting tailback for the next several years and will try to sign him to a long-term deal. They will not let him leave for another team, matching any offer he might get as a restricted free agent.
But Barber’s physical running style could make him prone to wear down with a heavy workload. The Cowboys don’t want Barber to have many 27-carry games, as he did against the Giants in the playoffs. The Cowboys made their opinion of Julius Jones clear by giving him a grand total of three carries in that game. He's gone.
That makes acquiring a change-of-pace back one of the top off-season priorities.
Michael Turner, the most attractive free agent, will be able to get more money and more carries with another team. This is a need the Cowboys should address in the draft, probably in the first two rounds.
You can never rule out the possibility of Jerry, armed with two first-round picks, trading up to draft fellow Hog McFadden. But this draft class is considered deep at running back, so the Cowboys don’t have to make a deal to land a back capable of complementing Barber.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: QB
http://cowboys.beloblog.com/