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Group check: Wide receivers
12:54 PM Wed, Feb 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
This is the third of a 10-part series assessing each position on the Cowboys as well as free agent and draft possibilities.
PLAYERS SIGNED THROUGH 2009: Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Miles Austin, Sam Hurd
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None
TOP NAMES ON FREE AGENT MARKET: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals; Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers; *Lance Moore, Saints; Devery Henderson, Saints; Amani Toomer, Giants
*restricted
TOP NAMES IN DRAFT: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech; Jeremy Maclin, Missouri; Percy Harvin, Florida; Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina; Darrius Hayward-Bey, Maryland
HEALTH OF THE POSITION: You'd have to be a psychiatrist with a crystal ball to determine the health of this position.
The big question, of course: Will the Cowboys cut ties with T.O.? But there are other important questions: Can the receivers (with or without T.O.) work with Jason Garrett? Can Roy Williams get on the same page as Tony Romo? Can Miles Austin stay healthy and develop into a consistent threat?
We won't bog this down with a T.O. debate. Jerry Jones must decide whether having T.O. is worth the drama and distractions that he creates. While 35-year-old T.O. is coming off his worst full season since 1999 (1,052 yards, 10 TDs), he still has gamebreaking ability.
Williams didn't do anything after arriving in a blockbuster trade deadline deal to give the Cowboys confidence that he's ready to step into the No. 1 receiver role. He had 19 catches for 198 yards and one TD in 10 games and grew increasingly frustrated with Jason Garrett's system and Tony Romo's pass distribution.
Williams subtly questioned those issues publicly during the season and was vocal during a Super Bowl radio row tour. He shot down talk from coaches that his plantar fasciitis prevented him from getting more involved. He shrugs off criticism of his route running, saying Garrett only had him run two routes all season.
Williams prides himself as being a big, physical receiver who makes tough catches. He wants to be the guy who moves the chains by going over the middle. We'll see whether that happens after he has a full off-season to work with Romo and Garrett.
Crayton (39 catches, 550 yards, 4 TDs) is a solid slot receiver with the swagger of a perennial Pro Bowler. He's firmly in T.O.'s camp when it comes to criticism of Garrett. However, if T.O. returns, Crayton will have to compete to continue playing a significant role.
Miles Austin, who will be back next season and could sign an extension during the off-season, is the most intriguing young receiver on the roster. He was on the field instead of Crayton in three-receiver looks for much of the win over the Commanders, but he injured his knee after making a catch for a key first down and was a nonfactor the rest of the season.
Austin, a 24-year-old, 6-3, 215-pound guy with good speed, averaged 23.2 yards and scored three touchdowns on his 13 catches. If he can stay healthy and continue developing, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Austin could start opposite Williams next season. His big-play ability is especially important if T.O. isn't around.
Hurd and Stanback, who are both coming off injuries, will probably compete with a mid- to late-round draft pick and rookie free agents for one or two roster spots.
Getcha popcorn ready. Regardless of the Cowboys receiving corps' production, this group will be awfully interesting to watch over the next year.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: QB, RB
12:54 PM Wed, Feb 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
This is the third of a 10-part series assessing each position on the Cowboys as well as free agent and draft possibilities.
PLAYERS SIGNED THROUGH 2009: Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Miles Austin, Sam Hurd
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None
TOP NAMES ON FREE AGENT MARKET: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals; Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers; *Lance Moore, Saints; Devery Henderson, Saints; Amani Toomer, Giants
*restricted
TOP NAMES IN DRAFT: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech; Jeremy Maclin, Missouri; Percy Harvin, Florida; Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina; Darrius Hayward-Bey, Maryland
HEALTH OF THE POSITION: You'd have to be a psychiatrist with a crystal ball to determine the health of this position.
The big question, of course: Will the Cowboys cut ties with T.O.? But there are other important questions: Can the receivers (with or without T.O.) work with Jason Garrett? Can Roy Williams get on the same page as Tony Romo? Can Miles Austin stay healthy and develop into a consistent threat?
We won't bog this down with a T.O. debate. Jerry Jones must decide whether having T.O. is worth the drama and distractions that he creates. While 35-year-old T.O. is coming off his worst full season since 1999 (1,052 yards, 10 TDs), he still has gamebreaking ability.
Williams didn't do anything after arriving in a blockbuster trade deadline deal to give the Cowboys confidence that he's ready to step into the No. 1 receiver role. He had 19 catches for 198 yards and one TD in 10 games and grew increasingly frustrated with Jason Garrett's system and Tony Romo's pass distribution.
Williams subtly questioned those issues publicly during the season and was vocal during a Super Bowl radio row tour. He shot down talk from coaches that his plantar fasciitis prevented him from getting more involved. He shrugs off criticism of his route running, saying Garrett only had him run two routes all season.
Williams prides himself as being a big, physical receiver who makes tough catches. He wants to be the guy who moves the chains by going over the middle. We'll see whether that happens after he has a full off-season to work with Romo and Garrett.
Crayton (39 catches, 550 yards, 4 TDs) is a solid slot receiver with the swagger of a perennial Pro Bowler. He's firmly in T.O.'s camp when it comes to criticism of Garrett. However, if T.O. returns, Crayton will have to compete to continue playing a significant role.
Miles Austin, who will be back next season and could sign an extension during the off-season, is the most intriguing young receiver on the roster. He was on the field instead of Crayton in three-receiver looks for much of the win over the Commanders, but he injured his knee after making a catch for a key first down and was a nonfactor the rest of the season.
Austin, a 24-year-old, 6-3, 215-pound guy with good speed, averaged 23.2 yards and scored three touchdowns on his 13 catches. If he can stay healthy and continue developing, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Austin could start opposite Williams next season. His big-play ability is especially important if T.O. isn't around.
Hurd and Stanback, who are both coming off injuries, will probably compete with a mid- to late-round draft pick and rookie free agents for one or two roster spots.
Getcha popcorn ready. Regardless of the Cowboys receiving corps' production, this group will be awfully interesting to watch over the next year.
PREVIOUS POSITIONS: QB, RB