***Gurode released*** MERGED

[TheCount]

Saints may need a C as well, wouldn't be surprised if he ends up there.

 

[JonJon]

You knew it was coming...

 

[Champsheart]

That's just a ridiculous way of thinking. We know Elam and Sensy aren't the long term answer at safety, and that Newman, James and Kosier's time is limited, so should we just cut everybody that is aging and become the Cleveland Browns for a few years?

Of course not - we have made some big strides now, but there is no sense in committing suicide. Rebuilding is a process and does not have to be all or nothing.

Rebuilding? Everyone keeps using that word. I dont think we are rebuilding.

I think Garrett is putting his best 5 out there, I really do. They have been talking up Costa for a while now, They love what they see in Nagy, and T Smith is an upgrade.

Garrett has been saying all Training camp and Pre-Season they are finding the best 5 guys. I think that is exactly what this is. Would have been great to keep Gurode as depth, but not at that contract #.

Garrett has his guys, what he believes are the right guys, and I am happy to see this. I think if we are REBUILDING, you are going to like what you see. This O-line will not be perfect, but much better than last year.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

This move surprises me a little bit. I like the way JC has taken control of this team and is making moves. I don't view this has a rebuilding year at all. I think we will complete for a divison title and make the playoffs. I have not seen anything this pre season from any of the young guys that gives me reason to doubt them. And from this move, we can take it that JC feels the same way.

Go Cowboys!

 

[juck]

I seem to remember him be less outspoken and more pro Cowboys a couple of years ago.

We just let our starting C go and keep Brooking and u guys think nothing is wrong here?

 

[gimmesix]

I am on the fence,who will backup costa as our center now?

Probably Nagy, but possibly Kowalski.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Jimmy Johnson. 1989.

Do you remember the bevy of draft picks the Cowboys received in trade from Minnesota?

Newsflash: Many of those draft picks were not initially draft picks. The Cowboys received a number of veteran players for Herschel Walker -- veteran players that became draft picks because they played only a limited number of snaps.

Jimmy has admitted the 1989 team would've been better if he had played some of those players, but he didn't because he wanted the draft picks and knew the team would be better off in the long run. In essence, Jimmy sacrificed a season for the future good of the team.

I'm not stating with any level of certainty that Garrett is adopting Jimmy's strategy here. I'm merely conceding the possibility.

My Gawd, I hope not. That team was a total wreck, one of the least talented NFL teams I've ever seen. The core of this team is coming off multuple NFC East titles and was expected to go to the Superbowl last year.

 

[Doomsday]

This has to be a stupid move Costa's not rated as high in Madden as Gurode.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

If these young guys gel, we could be set at O-line for years to come. It's risky, but sometimes you have to take risks. As for Gurode, I appreciate all that he did. He wasn't perfect (bad snaps), but I have no reason to put him down. I wish him well.

 

[TheCount]

Probably Nagy, but possibly Kowalski.

"Sounds like" Nagy at guard, not center, so Costa or Kowalski would get the start at center.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

You knew it was coming...

It never gets old...

 

[YosemiteSam]

This has to be a stupid move Costa's not rated as high in Madden as Gurode.

:laugh2:

 

[cowboys2233]

Jimmy Johnson. 1989.

Do you remember the bevy of draft picks the Cowboys received in trade from Minnesota?

To equate these two situations is equally mind boggling. This team is now set at virtually every offensive position, with the exception of FB. That team had virtually zero talent on offense, with the exception of Aikman, who was a rookie, and Walker, who the Vikings were willing to give us the world for. We were going nowhere without a serious injection of youth and talent back in 1989. This offense is young and talented and championship caliber.

Mark my words, this offensive line is going to be viewed as one of the very best in the league by mid-season. We are in a much worse way on the defensive side of the ball but I think we've upgraded the secondary and have great OLBs (Ware, Spencer, Butler). It's the interior d-line and MLBs, we are incredibly soft up the middle and it is showing up big time in our run defense. I guarantee this is where we spent almost all of our energy attempting to upgrade. If we are moderately successful doing that this season, we have a good chance to be a very good team this year. If not, you'll see a 2012 draft dedicated solely to these positions...and probably still will anyways.

 

[bigE79]

And what do you base this on? He is a pro bowler and played great for us just last year? You people drink the kool-aid that having the star on your helmet automatically makes you great. AG is proven! Not to mention when Philly gets him it helps the them improve the worst part of their stacked team! This team is rebuilding and not a contender for anything other than getting Andrew Luck!!!! Wake the *** up people!!!! The talent on this team certainly has not improved.

You need to wake the *** up if you think we dont know you are an egirl troll

 

[TheSport78]

This has to be a stupid move Costa's not rated as high in Madden as Gurode.

Speaking of which, the Dallas OL is gonna suck big time in Madden 12

 

[GIFTS]

what i want to know is there someone to replace him that is as good or better than him? please explain this to me. now i am getting worried about this season. we pretty much have a whole new O-LINE

 

[DIAF]

I am A-OK with this move. I hope the youth movement continues over the next few seasons.

 

[gimmesix]

If our season hinged on Gurode we were screwed anyway.

You could say our season hinges on keeping Romo upright. Now, we're depending on a young center, who didn't handle backup NTs very well against San Diego, a young right tackle, who's going to have some growing pains, and possibly a young guard to do it.

It might turn out to be a good thing because this line, sans Holland, is much quicker, which is a direction Dallas needed to go, but it seems awful risky to me.

Like I've said elsewhere, what Garrett has done with this line is likely to define him as a head coach, whichever way it turns out.

 

[TNCowboy]

If so, that is crazy. Romo isn't on his last legs yet, but he's not a spring chicken anymore either, and there's no way we should be sacrificing any of his prime years for some future hopes.

If this was about some long-range plan, why not draft a center high and let Gurode go next year?

Is Gurode past his prime? Yes. Did he deserve every one of those Pro Bowls? Probably not. But he was also a certified bad-a in college, an all-America four year starter for very good teams in one of the top conferences in the country. He was also one of the best centers in the NFL for years. People acting like an undrafted second year guy is necessarily going to be better than him is wishful thinking at best.

He isn't a very good player anymore. See last season. See Galloway's whispers from the Chargers game the other day. The Cowboys didn't just turn an elite player out to pasture: they got rid of deadwood who was probably no better than an average OL now, at best.

You don't enact a long-term plan by continually waiting. At some point, you give up on chasing the dream of catching fire for an Arizona 2009 type run, and try to build a long term winner. I firmly believe that can still be done, in spite of the worst-to-first runs we see repeatedly. One part of that is not overpaying for middle aged to old free agents. Another is not resigning or cutting older players in decline already on your roster.

The Cowboys took one stab (that we know of) at adding an elite player this offseason, but mostly sat on their hands otherwise. Perhaps Garrett has come to the conclusion that he does not have enough rounds in the chamber to make real noise this year, so why not clean house concerning guys who aren't getting you to a championship?

If so, I applaud him.

 

[DIAF]

You could say our season hinges on keeping Romo upright. Now, we're depending on a young center, who didn't handle backup NTs very well against San Diego, a young right tackle, who's going to have some growing pains, and possibly a young guard to do it.

It might turn out to be a good thing because this line, sans Holland, is much quicker, which is a direction Dallas needed to go, but it seems awful risky to me.

Like I've said elsewhere, what Garrett has done with this line is likely to define him as a head coach, whichever way it turns out.

The OL as constructed last year with all that aging talent is what got Romo knocked out in the first place. Can't get any worse than that.