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NFL INSIDER
Some pieces are new, but don't expect improved Cowboys offense
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram staff writer
KANSAS CITY STAR/DAVID EULITT VIA MCT
How good was the Cowboys' offense last season?
They had a 1,000-yard rusher, two 1,000-yard receivers and their quarterbacks combined for a 4,000-yard passing season. In addition, their backup running back led the NFC with 14 rushing touchdowns, and their starting tight end caught 64 passes for 764 yards.
Still, Julius Jones wasn't happy; Terry Glenn wasn't happy; Terrell Owens wasn't happy. Everyone wanted the ball more.
That's how good the Cowboys were.
Their 5,772 yards and 52 touchdowns, including five return touchdowns, bettered the Cowboys' 1992 and '93 teams. (The 1995 Super Bowl Cowboys gained 5,824 yards and scored 51 touchdowns.)
Even with 10 starters back, a more-experienced quarterback and a bigger playbook under a more-aggressive play-caller, the Cowboys might have a hard time matching last year's offensive numbers.
"You say, 'Gosh, can they be better than last year?'" Fox analyst Troy Aikman said in a telephone interview. "I think it's going to be a tall order statistically. But as a team, the reality is that they were 9-7, and they didn't win a playoff game. If nothing else, I would have to believe all those offensive players would look at last season and say, 'Wow, maybe as good as things were for a lot of us, nobody really cares.' The reason anybody talks about the offenses that we had in '92, '93 and '95 were because we won the Super Bowl. If you don't win the Super Bowl, it's sort of like Minnesota going 15-1 [in 1998] and setting all their offensive records, nobody cares. Nobody puts that team among some of the all-time greats.
"At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you can achieve. So far, this team hasn't achieved anything. Now, hopefully, this year they will."
Kolb ready to deliver
For the first time in Donovan McNabb's career, he will be looking over his shoulder. The Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb in the second round to groom him for McNabb's job.
The fact that they gave Kolb $2.62 million in guarantees, an 11.5 percent increase over what Chad Jackson got from the Patriots in the same slot (36th overall) last year, is further indication that the Eagles believe Kolb eventually will replace McNabb.
"I know I have to be patient and wait my turn," Kolb said in a press conference with Philadelphia reporters. "At the same time, I feel like we have mutual feelings about my place here and what I can bring."
McNabb worked out at his off-season home in Arizona with several Eagles receivers. He tested his repaired right anterior cruciate ligament, which he injured in a Nov. 19 game against the Titans, during the team's minicamp in late June and is expected to be ready to practice.
Kolb will compete with veterans A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb for the backup job.
"The biggest thing for me is just sitting back and watching [McNabb]," Kolb said. "He's definitely a good one to learn from, and he's very open with everything that he does."
Quinn wants to get paid
Brady Quinn is holding out of Browns camp. He wants to be paid like a top-10 pick. The Browns want to pay him like the 22nd pick that he was.
He isn't making friends with Browns fans, either.
Quinn drew long lines at an autograph signing at a suburban Cleveland mall last week, but few in line realized he was charging a minimum of $75 per autograph. Fans also complained he declined to take photos and limited his chatting to a few words with each customer.
Line dance
The Texans have been jinxed at left tackle since their ill-fated decision to draft Tony Boselli in the expansion draft. Boselli never played a down for the Texans. Charles Spencer earned the starting job as a rookie last season, but he broke his leg in the second game.
Spencer is on the physically unable to perform list. Ephraim Salaam took his place last season, and the Texans went 6-8 with Salaam at left tackle. They signed Jordan Black, a 16-game starter for the Chiefs last season, in the off-season, and Black and Salaam will compete for the job.
Houston has allowed a league-high 272 sacks since 2002. But the Texans reduced their sacks by 25 from 2005. Of Houston's 41 sacks allowed, quarterback David Carr, the tight ends and the running backs were responsible for 12. The line was responsible for 29.
Boldin is armed
Anquan Boldin is going to wear many helmets for the this season. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt expects to use Boldin as more than a receiver.
"There is a very good chance you're going to see Anquan throw the
this year, and you'll also see Anquan run the football from the backfield," Whisenhunt told TheArizona Republic.
Boldin, a part-time quarterback at Florida State, has thrown only two passes in four years in the , and one was intercepted.
MY FIVE CENTS
1 Kansas City general manager Carl Peterson denies Priest Holmes' return is intended to squeeze Larry Johnson into accepting a contract offer sooner rather than later. But it might accomplish just that. If it doesn't, and Holmes, right, has anything left, trade talks involving Johnson might intensify.
2 Derek Anderson, who was 0-3 as a starter after injured his wrist last season, is the front-runner to be the Browns' starting quarterback. He moved ahead of Frye -- 6-12 as a starter -- in the off-season.
3 The NFL would like to move a team to London, Canada or Mexico City in 10 years. The Jags would have to be a leading candidate for any relocation.
4 The Texans released Eric Moulds after only one season, costing them more than $300,000 against the cap. Houston thought he hit the wall at mid-season and couldn't get open anymore. Moulds blamed David Carr. But Moulds is a hard worker and a good influence on young receivers, which is why Tennessee signed him last week.
5 Jets guard Pete Kendall wants a $1 million raise to $2.7 million. After reworking his contract last year at the Jets' request, Kendall, who played well in 14 starts in 2006, expected the team to return the favor. The Jets didn't, and now Kendall is demanding to be traded or released.
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
Some pieces are new, but don't expect improved Cowboys offense
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram staff writer
KANSAS CITY STAR/DAVID EULITT VIA MCT
How good was the Cowboys' offense last season?
They had a 1,000-yard rusher, two 1,000-yard receivers and their quarterbacks combined for a 4,000-yard passing season. In addition, their backup running back led the NFC with 14 rushing touchdowns, and their starting tight end caught 64 passes for 764 yards.
Still, Julius Jones wasn't happy; Terry Glenn wasn't happy; Terrell Owens wasn't happy. Everyone wanted the ball more.
That's how good the Cowboys were.
Their 5,772 yards and 52 touchdowns, including five return touchdowns, bettered the Cowboys' 1992 and '93 teams. (The 1995 Super Bowl Cowboys gained 5,824 yards and scored 51 touchdowns.)
Even with 10 starters back, a more-experienced quarterback and a bigger playbook under a more-aggressive play-caller, the Cowboys might have a hard time matching last year's offensive numbers.
"You say, 'Gosh, can they be better than last year?'" Fox analyst Troy Aikman said in a telephone interview. "I think it's going to be a tall order statistically. But as a team, the reality is that they were 9-7, and they didn't win a playoff game. If nothing else, I would have to believe all those offensive players would look at last season and say, 'Wow, maybe as good as things were for a lot of us, nobody really cares.' The reason anybody talks about the offenses that we had in '92, '93 and '95 were because we won the Super Bowl. If you don't win the Super Bowl, it's sort of like Minnesota going 15-1 [in 1998] and setting all their offensive records, nobody cares. Nobody puts that team among some of the all-time greats.
"At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you can achieve. So far, this team hasn't achieved anything. Now, hopefully, this year they will."
Kolb ready to deliver
For the first time in Donovan McNabb's career, he will be looking over his shoulder. The Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb in the second round to groom him for McNabb's job.
The fact that they gave Kolb $2.62 million in guarantees, an 11.5 percent increase over what Chad Jackson got from the Patriots in the same slot (36th overall) last year, is further indication that the Eagles believe Kolb eventually will replace McNabb.
"I know I have to be patient and wait my turn," Kolb said in a press conference with Philadelphia reporters. "At the same time, I feel like we have mutual feelings about my place here and what I can bring."
McNabb worked out at his off-season home in Arizona with several Eagles receivers. He tested his repaired right anterior cruciate ligament, which he injured in a Nov. 19 game against the Titans, during the team's minicamp in late June and is expected to be ready to practice.
Kolb will compete with veterans A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb for the backup job.
"The biggest thing for me is just sitting back and watching [McNabb]," Kolb said. "He's definitely a good one to learn from, and he's very open with everything that he does."
Quinn wants to get paid
Brady Quinn is holding out of Browns camp. He wants to be paid like a top-10 pick. The Browns want to pay him like the 22nd pick that he was.
He isn't making friends with Browns fans, either.
Quinn drew long lines at an autograph signing at a suburban Cleveland mall last week, but few in line realized he was charging a minimum of $75 per autograph. Fans also complained he declined to take photos and limited his chatting to a few words with each customer.
Line dance
The Texans have been jinxed at left tackle since their ill-fated decision to draft Tony Boselli in the expansion draft. Boselli never played a down for the Texans. Charles Spencer earned the starting job as a rookie last season, but he broke his leg in the second game.
Spencer is on the physically unable to perform list. Ephraim Salaam took his place last season, and the Texans went 6-8 with Salaam at left tackle. They signed Jordan Black, a 16-game starter for the Chiefs last season, in the off-season, and Black and Salaam will compete for the job.
Houston has allowed a league-high 272 sacks since 2002. But the Texans reduced their sacks by 25 from 2005. Of Houston's 41 sacks allowed, quarterback David Carr, the tight ends and the running backs were responsible for 12. The line was responsible for 29.
Boldin is armed
Anquan Boldin is going to wear many helmets for the this season. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt expects to use Boldin as more than a receiver.
"There is a very good chance you're going to see Anquan throw the
this year, and you'll also see Anquan run the football from the backfield," Whisenhunt told TheArizona Republic.
Boldin, a part-time quarterback at Florida State, has thrown only two passes in four years in the , and one was intercepted.
MY FIVE CENTS
1 Kansas City general manager Carl Peterson denies Priest Holmes' return is intended to squeeze Larry Johnson into accepting a contract offer sooner rather than later. But it might accomplish just that. If it doesn't, and Holmes, right, has anything left, trade talks involving Johnson might intensify.
2 Derek Anderson, who was 0-3 as a starter after injured his wrist last season, is the front-runner to be the Browns' starting quarterback. He moved ahead of Frye -- 6-12 as a starter -- in the off-season.
3 The NFL would like to move a team to London, Canada or Mexico City in 10 years. The Jags would have to be a leading candidate for any relocation.
4 The Texans released Eric Moulds after only one season, costing them more than $300,000 against the cap. Houston thought he hit the wall at mid-season and couldn't get open anymore. Moulds blamed David Carr. But Moulds is a hard worker and a good influence on young receivers, which is why Tennessee signed him last week.
5 Jets guard Pete Kendall wants a $1 million raise to $2.7 million. After reworking his contract last year at the Jets' request, Kendall, who played well in 14 starts in 2006, expected the team to return the favor. The Jets didn't, and now Kendall is demanding to be traded or released.
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
