Is Akin done as a Cowboy? Is ILB now a priority in the draft?

[noletime95]

My gut says yes. He's getting paid starters $$$$ and will likely be a backup. He'd be nice to have around just in case something to Thomas given his age, however, he's too expensive for an insurance policy.

He could be cut after 6/1 with positve cap implications. I believe Dallas would lose around $500k in cap room cutting/trading him now, which probably wouldn't be the end of the world and would certainly help with the 09 cap whe Akin is scheduled to count over $3.7 Mil against the cap.

If Thomas can stay healthy, Dalls almost certainly upgraded the position-no question. However, I don't think there is a long term solution on the roster at this point opposite B. James and if Zack goes down or misses time I'm not sold Burnett could hold up at the position-he's more suited for his current role. So this begs the question, does Dallas need to take a day 1 ILB to shore up the position for depth in addition to the future?

This is all, of course, assuming I'm right and Akin is a gonner.

 

[theogt]

Is Akin done as a Cowboy? I doubt he his this year.

Is ILB now a priority in the draft? Absolutely not. We'll still have Burnett, Carpenter, and Ayodele on the team.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

People seem to think that once you upgrade a position, the former starter has to be cut. But there's no reason he can't just be good depth and even play on special teams. IMO we need more talent on special teams coverage, and Akin would be a good guy for that.

 

[noletime95]

People seem to think that once you upgrade a position, the former starter has to be cut. But there's no reason he can't just be good depth and even play on special teams. IMO we need more talent on special teams coverage, and Akin would be a good guy for that.

Akin could still be a valuable guy the team, don't disagree.....but usually backups don't get paid 2.5 Mil in salary...

 

[theogt]

Akin could still be a valuable guy the team, don't disagree.....but usually backups don't get paid 2.5 Mil in salary...

We paid Al Singleton that much a couple years ago.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

But the way the cap's gone up, that's not even that much anymore. I'm pretty sure Al Singleton got more than that to backup in '06.

Now if Parcells wants him, I doubt it would take much for us to move him.

(Edit, I see Theo beat me to it on Al.)

 

[wileedog]

I'm not an Akin fan, but I wouldn't toss him out just yet. Zach had concussion problems last year, and as we well know once those start they come in bunches.

It would probably be a wise move for us to 'overpay' our backup in this case.

 

[Woods]

I'm not an Akin fan, but I wouldn't toss him out just yet. Zach had concussion problems last year, and as we well know once those start they come in bunches.

It would probably be a wise move for us to 'overpay' our backup in this case.

Yes, agree with you.

Now, if Akin is part of a trade package for someone else, we've got to consider it. But otherwise, I think we should probably keep Akin given Zach's concussion problems last season.

 

[Redball Express]

..on Akin. Maybe on Carp and probably not on Burnett.

Now if either of these 4 get injured in TC..Thomas, Akin, Carp, Burnett or Brady, you bet we'll be happy to have them all this season.

I think the signing HEAVILY influences what 2009 brings with several of these guys. And yes, at that point, another LBer(s) could be brought in.

But the mere signing of Zach Thomas to me has less to do with other LBers on the current team.

The fact that that many dollars, while not huge, does directly impact the resigning of guys like Flo and MBIII and a couple of others like Davis as FA's.

Dallas has only so many cap dollars to work with right now. It explains why Dallas chose to let Flo test the market and probably end up leaving if he does.

Dallas has identified opportunities in players like Zach Thomas and probably a couple of others that have to seriously be signed or considered to be signed, like a DeAngelo Hall and maybe a vet WR they might like to look at DTR.

As opposed to re-signing Flo to any cap killing contract.

I mean, just how many $10 mil/yr contracts do want to have on your team each year and over how many years..? I'm not sure you want another one with Flo, with big deals coming over the next few years with other players we have to re-sign, too.

And it's a peek into what the Cowboys are leaning to about playing Doug Free or one of the other young OL we have on the roster already as opposed to bringing Flo and his big cap contract back.

We could sign several quality FA's to help the team as opposed to re-doing Flo's deal.

The same thing happened when we let Larry Allen go and his deal.

We immediately brought in 2-3 guys to fill other positions of need and we replaced LA with Kosier at half the cost.

Welcome, Zach Thomas.

Don't put your home on the market yet, Akin.

And let's start flipping coins over who is going to be playing LT instead of Flo..IMO.

Hello.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS:starspin

 

[big dog cowboy]

Between Carpenter and Ayodele someone should be on the trading block.

 

[Woods]

I think Flo is coming back.

At least that seems to be the noise coming from the Combine.

 

[theogt]

I think Flo is coming back.

At least that seems to be the noise coming from the Combine.

Where may I read about this noise?

 

[sago1]

Actually I believe that Burnett would probably have beaten out Ayodele this season anyway and that it would be Ayodele's last year with the Cowboys. I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas beat out both with his wealth of experience, smarts & intensity.

I believed all along that the Cowboys needed to upgrade the ILB position and would draft a lb (Meyo, Lofton, etc.) somewhere between the 2nd-4th rounds if a good player was available. Since Thomas is only a short-term solution, I still wouldn't be surprised if we draft an ILB to replace Thomas in another year. Doubt we cut Ayodele this year cause he provides depth just in case of injuries.

 

[Teague31]

the bigger question is what number will thomas wear??? i mean 54 is already taken by FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK BOBBY CARPENTER!

 

[NextGenBoys]

..on Akin. Maybe on Carp and probably not on Burnett.

Now if either of these 4 get injured in TC..Thomas, Akin, Carp, Burnett or Brady, you bet we'll be happy to have them all this season.

I think the signing HEAVILY influences what 2009 brings with several of these guys. And yes, at that point, another LBer(s) could be brought in.

But the mere signing of Zach Thomas to me has less to do with other LBers on the current team.

The fact that that many dollars, while not huge, does directly impact the resigning of guys like Flo and MBIII and a couple of others like Davis as FA's.

Dallas has only so many cap dollars to work with right now. It explains why Dallas chose to let Flo test the market and probably end up leaving if he does.

Dallas has identified opportunities in players like Zach Thomas and probably a couple of others that have to seriously be signed or considered to be signed, like a DeAngelo Hall and maybe a vet WR they might like to look at DTR.

As opposed to re-signing Flo to any cap killing contract.

I mean, just how many $10 mil/yr contracts do want to have on your team each year and over how many years..? I'm not sure you want another one with Flo, with big deals coming over the next few years with other players we have to re-sign, too.

And it's a peek into what the Cowboys are leaning to about playing Doug Free or one of the other young OL we have on the roster already as opposed to bringing Flo and his big cap contract back.

We could sign several quality FA's to help the team as opposed to re-doing Flo's deal.

The same thing happened when we let Larry Allen go and his deal.

We immediately brought in 2-3 guys to fill other positions of need and we replaced LA with Kosier at half the cost.

Welcome, Zach Thomas.

Don't put your home on the market yet, Akin.

And let's start flipping coins over who is going to be playing LT instead of Flo..IMO.

Hello.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS:starspin

Flo wants to stay in Dallas, and he is looking for a ring. The Cowboys give him the best of chances as anyone else in the league. In my opinion, he stays.

 

[noletime95]

We paid Al Singleton that much a couple years ago.

I thought about Al also, but back then Dallas was paying peanuts for a QB and didn't have that many big contracts on the books. This team needs to conserve cap dollars wherever it can both now and in the future with FA's comming up such as Barber, Canty, Newman, Columbo, TO and Ware.

 

[wileedog]

Flo wants to stay in Dallas, and he is looking for a ring. The Cowboys give him the best of chances as anyone else in the league. In my opinion, he stays.

I think to keep him they will need to do it before he hits FA.

If he does hit the market, someone is going to throw an enormous contract at him. Maybe Parcells. And I don't think we will match it.

 

[AdamJT13]

Where may I read about this noise?

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113204

He's probably referring to the articles that say Adams and the Cowboys are "in the same neighborhood" in negotiations for a multi-year contract.

 

[ChrisCanty99]

I love the Thomas signing.

He's going to be a great inside blitzer.

Now we'd have three quality OLB's - Ware, Ellis, and Spencer, three quality ILB's, James, Thomas, and Ayodele, and Burnett, who can play either, as well as nickel MLB. Add in the special teams LB (can't remember his name at the moment) and that's 8 quality players.

No room at the inn for Carp. He's history, and probably better in a 4-3 anyway.

 

[theogt]

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113204

He's probably referring to the articles that say Adams and the Cowboys are "in the same neighborhood" in negotiations for a multi-year contract.

Thanks Adam.