DMN Blog: One reason you might care about last week's roster moves

[WoodysGirl]

10:52 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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It's understandable if a yawn was your reaction to the releases of TE Jamar Hunt and C Matt Spanos last week.

Neither guy was ever considered a realistic candidate to play for the Cowboys. But the release of Spanos could have an indirect effect on the 53-man roster.

(Continue reading only if you really care about bottom-of-the-roster churning. Oh, wait, you wouldn't have read this far if you didn't.)

Spanos got the third-team center reps during OTAs and minicamp. Those should go to Ryan Gibbons and/or Montrae Holland during training camp. Both of those guys worked on snapping before practices this spring, and Gibbons focused on center during the rookie minicamp.

If one or both of those guys proves capable of being a backup center, Cory Procter's roster spot could be in jeopardy.

Stephen Jones made it clear during draft week that the Cowboys would look to cut costs by replacing well-paid veterans with younger players. Procter is due $1.54 million this season after the Cowboys put the second-round tender on him. The 6-4, 318-pound Gibbons, who has experience at guard and tackle and spent last season on the practice squad, would play for the NFL minimum salary. In other words, the Cowboys could save/create cap room of over $1 million by replacing Procter with Gibbons. Or they could keep one less offensive lineman if Holland, who has played only guard his NFL career, is able to fill the backup center role.

I don't believe that Gibbons or Holland has any experience as a drummer.


Comments (2) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[big dog cowboy]

If one or both of those guys proves capable of being a backup center, Cory Procter's roster spot could be in jeopardy.

I would suggest that Proctor's roster spot would be in jeopardy regardless of the financial situation.

 

[Alexander]

It is going to cause some heartburn, but if there is one reserve who has almost ironclad job security, it is unfortunately Proctor. I just cannot see us going into the season with our backup having never played the position before on any level. When we failed to draft a center, Proctor became a lock.

 

[kmp77]

Proctor leaving means we have no shot at the Super Bowl

 

[AbeBeta]

it continues to puzzle me why, going in to the draft with so many picks, why we didn't we didn't move up a little to get Unger (our 2nd round target).

 

[Stash]

it continues to puzzle me why, going in to the draft with so many picks, why we didn't we didn't move up a little to get Unger (our 2nd round target).

I'd say it was simply a matter of the team getting greedy, thinking Unger would fall into their laps, and guessing wrong.

 

[RS12]

I would suggest that Proctor's roster spot would be in jeopardy regardless of the financial situation.

Nope, just too easy.:laugh2:

 

[Stash]

It is going to cause some heartburn, but if there is one reserve who has almost ironclad job security, it is unfortunately Proctor. I just cannot see us going into the season with our backup having never played the position before on any level. When we failed to draft a center, Proctor became a lock.

Worse than heartburn.

uke:

I'd rather go with an unkown than a known bum.

Several times, Procter's complete breakdowns almost cost the team Romo for the season.

We were simply lucky that he wasn't seriously injured during Procter's ole' that allowed Shaun Rogers to bodyslam Romo into the ground.

Or his "I didn't false start" freeze against the Giants which allowed a jailbreak to the quarterback for a safety.

The team was fortunate that his numerous gaffes didn't cost the team its' franchise quarterback last year.

I wouldn't suggesting pressing our luck.

 

[TonyS]

If one or both of those guys proves capable of being a backup center, Cory Procter's roster spot could be in jeopardy.

ray: Please be good enough. Please be good enough. Dear God, please let one of them be good enough! ray:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

it sucks when your line is so dumb that you have to keep Proctor around

I don't regret, not-drafting Unger as much as Stash does, but if we were able to get him, plug him at C, and move Gurode to LG, I would feel much better about the line

 

[Alexander]

Worse than heartburn.

uke:

I'd rather go with an unkown than a known bum.

Several times, Procter's complete breakdowns almost cost the team Romo for the season.

We were simply lucky that he wasn't seriously injured during Procter's ole' that allowed Shaun Rogers to bodyslam Romo into the ground.

Or his "I didn't false start" freeze against the Giants which allowed a jailbreak to the quarterback for a safety.

The team was fortunate that his numerous gaffes didn't cost the team its' franchise quarterback last year.

I wouldn't suggesting pressing our luck.

If we keep Proctor away from Guard, I think he might be okay.

Obviously not optimal, but since it was just so difficult to find it on our power to draft one measly center in twelve choices, we have to live with it.

I blame Free Reign.

 

[Stash]

If we keep Proctor away from Guard, I think he might be okay.

Obviously not optimal, but since it was just so difficult to find it on our power to draft one measly center in twelve choices, we have to live with it.

I blame Free Reign.

I blame Sacamano for going to all of their concerts.



I think the Procter effect is just one symptom of a much bigger problem with the offensive line.

The whole thing looks like a 'house of cards' to me.

 

[Alexander]

I blame Sacamano for going to all of their concerts.

I was not aware of this. It is all coming into clear focus now.

Free Reign must not be encouraged.

I think the Procter effect is just one symptom of a much bigger problem with the offensive line.

The whole thing looks like a 'house of cards' to me.

I think losing one starter like Kosier shouldn't have had the significant and obvious effect it did. Proctor is horrible at times, but the miscommunication issues point just as much to coaching concerns as it does about the talent aspect. Houck needs to live up to his reputation this year.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I was not aware of this. It is all coming into clear focus now.

Free Reign must not be encouraged.



I think losing one starter like Kosier shouldn't have had the significant and obvious effect it did. Proctor is horrible at times, but the miscommunication issues point just as much to coaching concerns as it does about the talent aspect. Houck needs to live up to his reputation this year.

it goes deeper than losing Kosier

this line is just not very smart, Gurode is our C, and he is not what you would call smart

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I would be thrilled if one, or both, showed more than enough promise to be able to play the center position to where we could cut ties with Proctor. He has to be the worst Offensive Lineman I've seen in Dallas in a long, long, long time.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I would be thrilled if one, or both, showed more than enough promise to be able to play the center position to where we could cut ties with Proctor. He has to be the worst Offensive Lineman I've seen in Dallas in a long, long, long time.

worse than Rob Pettiti, or even Torrin Tucker?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Maybe Houck liked Bright or Isdaner enough to have something to do with this, too. I remember Wade said during the very first rookie OTA that some of these undrafted guys can play, too. Maybe he meant Ogletree, but these two guys were two of the more highly-regarded prospects in the league that didn't get drafted.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Question. Since Proctor signed the second round tender with the Cowboys, isn't the team obligated to pay him the $1.54 million even if they cut him? I know the NFL doens't have guaranteed contracts (well, except for the guaranteed $ promised in a contract), but aren't we on the hook for the $ since we made the offer, or is it only guaranteed if he is still on the roster after a certain date????

 

[BAT]

I was steamed at missing on Unger too, but that boat has sailed. If anything, I would rather have Kosier taking the snaps at backup C than Holland. Not sure if I would trust Holland calling the protections.

 

[PullMyFinger]

worse than Rob Pettiti, or even Torrin Tucker?

Beat me too it. I was gonna say "Worse than Pettiti?"