Chief
"Friggin Joke Monkey"
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- 8,543
- Reaction score
- 4
Tim MacMahon
(3:01 PM)
Thanks for joining me for some post-draft Cowboys chatting. Let's get right to it.
Fred (New Jersey)
Tim , love the insight....Do u think the Cowboys would be interested in signing A. Faneca, who was cut by the Jets and be able to sign for the veterans minumum since he's due about 5 Mill. from the Jets???
Tim MacMahon
(3:03 PM)
If Faneca still believes he's a starter -- and I'm sure he does -- it isn't a fit. Jerry Jones made it clear that he thinks the starting five is set. He's looking for quality depth for the offensive line, preferably a versatile veteran or two.
Brad (Raleigh, NC)
Any idea of who we may look to add in free agency? Any chance we re-sign Flozell Adams?
Tim MacMahon
(3:05 PM)
I'll start with Flozell Adams. The chances of him returning this season are slim, although both sides have left that door cracked. The Cowboys could bring him back as the swing tackle, but he'll probably find a team (Chicago?) that would sign him as a starter. As far as free agency goes, keep an eye on veteran OL and FS that get cut in the coming weeks. Rams FS O.J. Atogwe is another possibility once he becomes an unrestricted free agent in June.
Steven Tomblin (Huntington, West Virginia)
Is there any chance that Dallas will pursue Jared Gaither now that the draft is over?
Tim MacMahon
(3:06 PM)
No. The Cowboys are confident in Doug Free at LT. If they wanted Gaither, they would have had to give up at least a second-round pick in this year's draft.
Garrett Hidey (Cumberland, MD)
Hey Tim, love your coverage of the Boys! What do you think are the chances that Akwasi Owusu-Ansah can work his way into the a starting safety position this year? He's extremely athletic and also has the smarts to be great at the position. You think he might be the Ansah?
Tim MacMahon
(3:09 PM)
He mentioned that he didn't have a nickname during his conference call with Valley Ranch media. "The Ansah" ain't bad. I'll have to run that by him this weekend. Him starting as a rookie? Not gonna happen. The Cowboys drafted him as a developmental project, knowing it'd take him some time to make the mental leap from Division II to the NFL. They think he has the smarts to make that transition fairly smoothly, but he won't be ready to play every down as a rookie, especially since he can't practice until training camp due to shoulder surgery. But he has the potential to be a playmaking free safety within two or three years and could be a significant special teams contributor immediately.
JAY (Kalamazoo MI)
Is there any chance the Jerry will go out and sign a high profile veteran safety this summer? I would love to see Darren Sharper in Big D!!
Tim MacMahon
(3:11 PM)
We poked around a little about Darren Sharper over the weekend and got pretty strong hints that the Cowboys wouldn't pursue him. For a defense that desperately needs turnovers, you'd think adding the active interceptions leader would make sense, especially with Sharper coming off nine picks last season. But the Cowboys are probably scared off by Sharper's age (35 next season) and the fact he's coming off knee surgery.
Chris (Syracuse)
Hey Tim I believe Felix Jones is still the most Explosive player on the offense even with dez.What can Felix do to be more durable.Is it a work out thing?
Tim MacMahon
(3:14 PM)
RB coach Skip Peete says Felix has had to learn how to take/avoid hits in the NFL. But he's also just had some bad luck -- the hamstring and toe injuries that killed his rookie season were both non-contact. He handled a bigger workload down the stretch last season, giving the Cowboys confidence they can increase his role. But he'll never be a workhorse who gets 20-25 carries. The hope is that he can stay healthy while getting about 15 touches per game.
John (New Jersey)
Tim,Did the Cowboys really need to give up a 4th rounder to move up 4 spots to get Sean Lee? Although he may turn out to be a decent player, there was value in the 4th round to have 2 picks - seems like they may have hit the panic button a little.
Tim MacMahon
(3:15 PM)
They obviously thought one of the teams between 56 and 58 wanted Lee and thought a fourth-round pick was worth the price to get a player they ranked among the top 15 in the draft. If they're right, so is the price.
Paul (PA)
Given the injuries last year to Miles Austin and Roy Williams, wouldn't the Cowboys want to keep Patrick Crayton along with Kevin Olgetree?
Tim MacMahon
(3:16 PM)
Crayton doesn't want to be the fourth or fifth receiver. He'd rather go somewhere he would have a definite role. If one of the starters goes down, Dez Bryant would fill that role, not Crayton.
Jason (Dallas)
Who is the new starting safety going into the season?
Tim MacMahon
(3:18 PM)
Alan Ball, who played well when Ken Hamlin missed four games last season, is the frontrunner. He's good in coverage, but he weighs only 188 pounds, which is a problem in run support. Mike Hamlin will compete for the job. He's significantly bigger and has great ball skills (14 college picks) but basically zero NFL experience. Jerry and Co. will explore adding a veteran in free agency to compete for the job.
jason (charlotte)
interesting to think about possible starting line up for both sides of ball with receiver, safety, and tackle changes. give me your starting lineup and whether or not you think a player will be traded for like LT before start of season
Tim MacMahon
(3:20 PM)
There won't be a trade for a starting left tackle. The only new offensive starter will likely be LT Doug Free. There will be a new free safety and DE Marcus Spears' job is in jeopardy with Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher in the mix.
Jason (Dallas)
Will Barber go back to his more successful role as a 4th qtr back?
Tim MacMahon
(3:22 PM)
Nothing has been declared about the RB rotation, but I'd be surprised if Felix Jones isn't the starter. Marion Barber would return to the role he excelled in as a backup/short-yardage back/closer after two mediocre seasons as the starter.
Nick B. (Grapevine, TX)
Does Dez Bryant start this year opposite Miles Austin at some point? How bad would it be to have Roy uno uno as our third receiver when he makes so much money?
Tim MacMahon
(3:23 PM)
Not sure that Bryant will ever officially be the starter as a rookie, but I'd bet he'll see more and more playing time in two-receiver sets as the season progresses. There were times late last season when undrafted rookie Kevin Ogletree was on the field instead of Williams. Why wouldn't that be the case with a first-round pick?
scott wilson (elbridge, ny)
nice stats on fa qb from e wash any chance he is the next small school gem like romo?
Tim MacMahon
(3:25 PM)
You can always hope. The kid will have to be outstanding to make the 53-man roster, because the Cowboys won't want to keep four quarterbacks. If he is impressive, they'd probably try to keep him on the practice squad.
Charles (Fayetteville, NC)
How about the kicking situation? The field position battle is very important.
Tim MacMahon
(3:27 PM)
The Cowboys hope David Buehler, who was outstanding as a kickoff specialist as a rookie, will be ready to handle the field goal gig. They hired Chris Boniol as a consultant to help make that happen. Conor Hughes, who worked out for the Cowboys after they cut Nick Folk, is the fallback option. In case of emergency, they could always bring in another kicker, but that probably wouldn't happen until after final cuts.
John (Tulsa)
Do you think the Cowboys passing up Randy Moss in '98 influenced Jerry Jones to draft Dez Bryant? ( meaning he didn't want to make the same mistake twice.)
Tim MacMahon
(3:28 PM)
Yes, I do, despite Jerry's denials that the Moss mistake influenced his thinking.
Samuel (Seattle)
Having looked at the tape the tackle from Notre Dame seems like a horrible pick what are your thoughts and why didn't the cowboys sign Tony Washington who has a better upside???
Tim MacMahon
(3:30 PM)
Tony Washington has a ton of off-field baggage. The Notre Dame tackle doesn't seem to have much upside, but he's a brawler who started 50 consecutive games in an NFL-style offense.
JoaquinFenix (Dallas)
Jerry said he expects his 1st-round picks to start as rookies. Dez clearly looks good enough to start as a rookie. Question is, where will Dez play - slot or on the outside?
Tim MacMahon
(3:32 PM)
Dez won't start as a rookie, but Jerry expects him to make a major impact. Same with Sean Lee. The key for Dez will be to learn the offense well enough that he can be comfortable in the slot or outside, allowing Jason Garrett to move him around and create mismatches.
Prime Time (Prosper)
I can't wait to get in Dez's ear. Priorities: 1) contract holdout; 2) lessons in diva-ness; and 3) convince Dez that his QB, TE, and OC are conspiring against him. All eyes on me!
Tim MacMahon
(3:34 PM)
No. 3 would be my biggest concern, especially considering Deion's frequent criticism of Jason Garrett. I'll elaborate on the blog soon. I wouldn't worry too much about a contract holdout. Dez has made it very clear he doesn't want to miss any more time after being suspended most of last season. The Cowboys have a good relationship with his agent, Eugene Parker, who represented Emmitt Smith, Deion and others. Parker represented Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, and they were both in training camp during the first week.
Sean Lee (Pennsylvania)
Stop comparing me to Bobby Carpenter! What else do we have in common besides being white linebackers?
Tim MacMahon
(3:35 PM)
You both played in the Big Ten. Similar size and speed.
Aaron (Rhode ISLAND)
Tim, Do you think bringing in Dez Bryant and the contract he eventually signs could make things a bit more rocky in signing Miles Austin to a long-term deal? I would be a whole lot more excited about the pick if we had already had Miles locked up.
Tim MacMahon
(3:36 PM)
Bryant's situation shouldn't complicate matters in the Austin contract negotiations. The kind of money paid to the 24th overall pick pales in comparison to what Austin should end up getting.
Emanuel (Fremont, CA)
I'm seeing players being released or clubs willing to make deals for veteran players now that the draft is completed. Do you think this is why Jerry made no moves in FA and chose a different draft strategy? If so do you think people will give Jerry credit for his prudent moves the last two offseasons?
Tim MacMahon
(3:40 PM)
Jerry said a couple of times Sunday evening that the Cowboys will pursue veteran OL and FS in free agency, but he plans to "let it come to us." He definitely wants to see what other options arise with veterans being released. The Cowboys made a few smart moves (Brooking, Olshansky, Sensabaugh) in free agency last year. We'll see what happens this year.
Dick (Denver)
The verdict on the Cowboys 2009 draft is still in the hands of the jury. In your expert opinion and resident NFL expert, which one or two of these players are likely to eventually become starters for the Cowboys?
Tim MacMahon
(3:41 PM)
Michael Hamlin might start this season. Robert Brewster and Jason Williams have shots down the line. The Cowboys are high on Brandon Williams, but there obviously won't be any starting jobs vacant at OLB any time soon barring injury.
trueblue82 (dallas texas)
i think the media's making the off the field issuses about Dez Bryant bigger then they seam hes never been arrested remember randy moss had more off the field issuses then him when he was drafted as a rookie in 1998 and look were hes at in his carrer
Tim MacMahon
(3:45 PM)
Oklahoma State WR coach Gunter Brewer told me that Bryant is a good kid whose heart in the right place, but he needs to be treated like a person, not a piece of meat. Cowboys WR coach Ray Sherman is great at building relationships with his players, so Bryant landed in a good spot. Brewer said Bryant doesn't have character issues. He has "life skills issue," the result of a difficult childhood. He has to grow up. Showing up late to meetings won't work in the NFL.
carlos borja (new york)
Should the cowboys be interested in newly released DT john henderson.?
Tim MacMahon
(3:46 PM)
Henderson will surely find somewhere that will pay him good money to be a starter. That won't happen here.
Conrad (Carlsbad, CA)
Hi Tim,Given expectations for the team, the Cowboys seem alarmingly thin on the offensive line. How comfortable is the team with the G/C depth let alone tackle?
Tim MacMahon
(3:47 PM)
Not comfortable at all, which is why the Cowboys will look for help there in free agency.
David (Texas)
Is there any trade value for Bobby Carpenter?
Tim MacMahon
(3:48 PM)
If there was, he wouldn't still have a locker at Valley Ranch. He was available during the draft.
Eric Ray (806)
How does Brandon Williams look? Has he recovered from the ankle injury and does he have the ability to see the field this season?
Tim MacMahon
(3:50 PM)
Brandon Williams tore the ACL in the preseason finale and had knee surgery. He's supposedly doing well in the Cowboys' strength and conditioning program and is expected to be ready for rookie minicamp.
Jeff Cook (Jeah?)
I had a similar surgery to Sharper, and it's VERY minor, and Dallas shouldn't be concerned about that...He will be ready to go
Tim MacMahon
(3:51 PM)
You weren't asked to keep up with NFL tight ends and receivers, right? Sharper might have a great season again, but I'm just trying to explain why the Cowboys probably won't make a strong effort to sign him.
Ryan Kluthe (Albuquerque, NM)
Does Ogletree get any more playing time this year because he sure looked good when he played. What happens to Hurd and Crayton, because one probably has to move on?
Tim MacMahon
(3:54 PM)
Hurd and Crayton have both made it clear they want out, and the Cowboys tried to accomodate them on draft weekend with no success. One or both might end up getting released. If I'm the Cowboys, I'd hang on to Hurd, because he's arguably their best special teams player. Crayton isn't going to cover punts and kickoffs. Ogletree could be the No. 4 WR, but don't expect him to get a lot of balls thrown his way.
Anthony (Toronto)
Tim, I watched some highlights of Dez over the weekend. Am I the only one who sees a resemblance to TO the way he plays the game? Who is his game comparable to?
Tim MacMahon
(3:55 PM)
T.O. is the guy that I've compared Bryant to, because they're both big, tall receivers who do serious damage after the catch. T.O. has better speed. Bryant is better at fighting for the ball in traffic.
Jeff (College Station)
Romo says that him and Roy have been building chemistry faster than they did last year. However, last year they kept assuring us that they were building chemistry then and that Roy should have a great year. We all know how that turned out. How much of what is coming from Romo and Roy is false? Are they really gaining chemistry or is it all just a smoke screen to try and get fans to stop complaining?
Tim MacMahon
(3:58 PM)
We heard similar comments last year. I'll believe it when I see it on a Sunday.
Daniel (Beaumont,Texas)
Other than drafting Dez Bryant and having him contribute as a returner, how has this team improved to get them further in the playoffs?
Tim MacMahon
(4:00 PM)
I'll give you the Valley Ranch spin: They have several "redshirt" rookies who will make contributions. Budding young stars such as Miles Austin, Felix Jones and Anthony Spencer will continue to get better. Sean Lee is an upgrade at nickel LB.
Don (Plano)
If Barber struggles again this year will the Cowboys look to move or cut him next offseason? It sure seems like a lot of money to throw at a guy whose production is easily replaced by T. Choice
Tim MacMahon
(4:01 PM)
I've made that point many times. If Barber doesn't give the Cowboys better bang for buck than he did the last two seasons, I'd be surprised if they keep him.
John Hollingsworth (California)
Why do you think the boys were scarred to pull the trigger on Taylor Mays? Do you think he'll end up being good?
Tim MacMahon
(4:02 PM)
Remember Roy Williams? Mays is a bigger, faster version. In other words, he's a big hitter who can be exposed in coverage. He wasn't a playmaker in college, so I wouldn't expect him to be one in the NFL.
duncan (texas )
What are you thoughts on the cowboys giving dez the big 88 are the expectations too high already?
Tim MacMahon
(4:04 PM)
In Jerry Jones' mind, No. 88 represents a strong work ethic. It's a constant reminder to Dez about the standard he'll be held to. It's a constant challenge. I like the idea. (Plus, ol' Jerry knows a marketing opportunity when he sees one.)
Tim MacMahon
(4:05 PM)
All right, I'm gonna wrap it up now. Make sure to check out the ESPNDallas.com coverage of rookie minicamp this weekend. We'll be blogging and tweeting (@espn_macmahon) all three days.
(3:01 PM)
Thanks for joining me for some post-draft Cowboys chatting. Let's get right to it.
Fred (New Jersey)
Tim , love the insight....Do u think the Cowboys would be interested in signing A. Faneca, who was cut by the Jets and be able to sign for the veterans minumum since he's due about 5 Mill. from the Jets???
Tim MacMahon
(3:03 PM)
If Faneca still believes he's a starter -- and I'm sure he does -- it isn't a fit. Jerry Jones made it clear that he thinks the starting five is set. He's looking for quality depth for the offensive line, preferably a versatile veteran or two.
Brad (Raleigh, NC)
Any idea of who we may look to add in free agency? Any chance we re-sign Flozell Adams?
Tim MacMahon
(3:05 PM)
I'll start with Flozell Adams. The chances of him returning this season are slim, although both sides have left that door cracked. The Cowboys could bring him back as the swing tackle, but he'll probably find a team (Chicago?) that would sign him as a starter. As far as free agency goes, keep an eye on veteran OL and FS that get cut in the coming weeks. Rams FS O.J. Atogwe is another possibility once he becomes an unrestricted free agent in June.
Steven Tomblin (Huntington, West Virginia)
Is there any chance that Dallas will pursue Jared Gaither now that the draft is over?
Tim MacMahon
(3:06 PM)
No. The Cowboys are confident in Doug Free at LT. If they wanted Gaither, they would have had to give up at least a second-round pick in this year's draft.
Garrett Hidey (Cumberland, MD)
Hey Tim, love your coverage of the Boys! What do you think are the chances that Akwasi Owusu-Ansah can work his way into the a starting safety position this year? He's extremely athletic and also has the smarts to be great at the position. You think he might be the Ansah?
Tim MacMahon
(3:09 PM)
He mentioned that he didn't have a nickname during his conference call with Valley Ranch media. "The Ansah" ain't bad. I'll have to run that by him this weekend. Him starting as a rookie? Not gonna happen. The Cowboys drafted him as a developmental project, knowing it'd take him some time to make the mental leap from Division II to the NFL. They think he has the smarts to make that transition fairly smoothly, but he won't be ready to play every down as a rookie, especially since he can't practice until training camp due to shoulder surgery. But he has the potential to be a playmaking free safety within two or three years and could be a significant special teams contributor immediately.
JAY (Kalamazoo MI)
Is there any chance the Jerry will go out and sign a high profile veteran safety this summer? I would love to see Darren Sharper in Big D!!
Tim MacMahon
(3:11 PM)
We poked around a little about Darren Sharper over the weekend and got pretty strong hints that the Cowboys wouldn't pursue him. For a defense that desperately needs turnovers, you'd think adding the active interceptions leader would make sense, especially with Sharper coming off nine picks last season. But the Cowboys are probably scared off by Sharper's age (35 next season) and the fact he's coming off knee surgery.
Chris (Syracuse)
Hey Tim I believe Felix Jones is still the most Explosive player on the offense even with dez.What can Felix do to be more durable.Is it a work out thing?
Tim MacMahon
(3:14 PM)
RB coach Skip Peete says Felix has had to learn how to take/avoid hits in the NFL. But he's also just had some bad luck -- the hamstring and toe injuries that killed his rookie season were both non-contact. He handled a bigger workload down the stretch last season, giving the Cowboys confidence they can increase his role. But he'll never be a workhorse who gets 20-25 carries. The hope is that he can stay healthy while getting about 15 touches per game.
John (New Jersey)
Tim,Did the Cowboys really need to give up a 4th rounder to move up 4 spots to get Sean Lee? Although he may turn out to be a decent player, there was value in the 4th round to have 2 picks - seems like they may have hit the panic button a little.
Tim MacMahon
(3:15 PM)
They obviously thought one of the teams between 56 and 58 wanted Lee and thought a fourth-round pick was worth the price to get a player they ranked among the top 15 in the draft. If they're right, so is the price.
Paul (PA)
Given the injuries last year to Miles Austin and Roy Williams, wouldn't the Cowboys want to keep Patrick Crayton along with Kevin Olgetree?
Tim MacMahon
(3:16 PM)
Crayton doesn't want to be the fourth or fifth receiver. He'd rather go somewhere he would have a definite role. If one of the starters goes down, Dez Bryant would fill that role, not Crayton.
Jason (Dallas)
Who is the new starting safety going into the season?
Tim MacMahon
(3:18 PM)
Alan Ball, who played well when Ken Hamlin missed four games last season, is the frontrunner. He's good in coverage, but he weighs only 188 pounds, which is a problem in run support. Mike Hamlin will compete for the job. He's significantly bigger and has great ball skills (14 college picks) but basically zero NFL experience. Jerry and Co. will explore adding a veteran in free agency to compete for the job.
jason (charlotte)
interesting to think about possible starting line up for both sides of ball with receiver, safety, and tackle changes. give me your starting lineup and whether or not you think a player will be traded for like LT before start of season
Tim MacMahon
(3:20 PM)
There won't be a trade for a starting left tackle. The only new offensive starter will likely be LT Doug Free. There will be a new free safety and DE Marcus Spears' job is in jeopardy with Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher in the mix.
Jason (Dallas)
Will Barber go back to his more successful role as a 4th qtr back?
Tim MacMahon
(3:22 PM)
Nothing has been declared about the RB rotation, but I'd be surprised if Felix Jones isn't the starter. Marion Barber would return to the role he excelled in as a backup/short-yardage back/closer after two mediocre seasons as the starter.
Nick B. (Grapevine, TX)
Does Dez Bryant start this year opposite Miles Austin at some point? How bad would it be to have Roy uno uno as our third receiver when he makes so much money?
Tim MacMahon
(3:23 PM)
Not sure that Bryant will ever officially be the starter as a rookie, but I'd bet he'll see more and more playing time in two-receiver sets as the season progresses. There were times late last season when undrafted rookie Kevin Ogletree was on the field instead of Williams. Why wouldn't that be the case with a first-round pick?
scott wilson (elbridge, ny)
nice stats on fa qb from e wash any chance he is the next small school gem like romo?
Tim MacMahon
(3:25 PM)
You can always hope. The kid will have to be outstanding to make the 53-man roster, because the Cowboys won't want to keep four quarterbacks. If he is impressive, they'd probably try to keep him on the practice squad.
Charles (Fayetteville, NC)
How about the kicking situation? The field position battle is very important.
Tim MacMahon
(3:27 PM)
The Cowboys hope David Buehler, who was outstanding as a kickoff specialist as a rookie, will be ready to handle the field goal gig. They hired Chris Boniol as a consultant to help make that happen. Conor Hughes, who worked out for the Cowboys after they cut Nick Folk, is the fallback option. In case of emergency, they could always bring in another kicker, but that probably wouldn't happen until after final cuts.
John (Tulsa)
Do you think the Cowboys passing up Randy Moss in '98 influenced Jerry Jones to draft Dez Bryant? ( meaning he didn't want to make the same mistake twice.)
Tim MacMahon
(3:28 PM)
Yes, I do, despite Jerry's denials that the Moss mistake influenced his thinking.
Samuel (Seattle)
Having looked at the tape the tackle from Notre Dame seems like a horrible pick what are your thoughts and why didn't the cowboys sign Tony Washington who has a better upside???
Tim MacMahon
(3:30 PM)
Tony Washington has a ton of off-field baggage. The Notre Dame tackle doesn't seem to have much upside, but he's a brawler who started 50 consecutive games in an NFL-style offense.
JoaquinFenix (Dallas)
Jerry said he expects his 1st-round picks to start as rookies. Dez clearly looks good enough to start as a rookie. Question is, where will Dez play - slot or on the outside?
Tim MacMahon
(3:32 PM)
Dez won't start as a rookie, but Jerry expects him to make a major impact. Same with Sean Lee. The key for Dez will be to learn the offense well enough that he can be comfortable in the slot or outside, allowing Jason Garrett to move him around and create mismatches.
Prime Time (Prosper)
I can't wait to get in Dez's ear. Priorities: 1) contract holdout; 2) lessons in diva-ness; and 3) convince Dez that his QB, TE, and OC are conspiring against him. All eyes on me!
Tim MacMahon
(3:34 PM)
No. 3 would be my biggest concern, especially considering Deion's frequent criticism of Jason Garrett. I'll elaborate on the blog soon. I wouldn't worry too much about a contract holdout. Dez has made it very clear he doesn't want to miss any more time after being suspended most of last season. The Cowboys have a good relationship with his agent, Eugene Parker, who represented Emmitt Smith, Deion and others. Parker represented Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, and they were both in training camp during the first week.
Sean Lee (Pennsylvania)
Stop comparing me to Bobby Carpenter! What else do we have in common besides being white linebackers?
Tim MacMahon
(3:35 PM)
You both played in the Big Ten. Similar size and speed.
Aaron (Rhode ISLAND)
Tim, Do you think bringing in Dez Bryant and the contract he eventually signs could make things a bit more rocky in signing Miles Austin to a long-term deal? I would be a whole lot more excited about the pick if we had already had Miles locked up.
Tim MacMahon
(3:36 PM)
Bryant's situation shouldn't complicate matters in the Austin contract negotiations. The kind of money paid to the 24th overall pick pales in comparison to what Austin should end up getting.
Emanuel (Fremont, CA)
I'm seeing players being released or clubs willing to make deals for veteran players now that the draft is completed. Do you think this is why Jerry made no moves in FA and chose a different draft strategy? If so do you think people will give Jerry credit for his prudent moves the last two offseasons?
Tim MacMahon
(3:40 PM)
Jerry said a couple of times Sunday evening that the Cowboys will pursue veteran OL and FS in free agency, but he plans to "let it come to us." He definitely wants to see what other options arise with veterans being released. The Cowboys made a few smart moves (Brooking, Olshansky, Sensabaugh) in free agency last year. We'll see what happens this year.
Dick (Denver)
The verdict on the Cowboys 2009 draft is still in the hands of the jury. In your expert opinion and resident NFL expert, which one or two of these players are likely to eventually become starters for the Cowboys?
Tim MacMahon
(3:41 PM)
Michael Hamlin might start this season. Robert Brewster and Jason Williams have shots down the line. The Cowboys are high on Brandon Williams, but there obviously won't be any starting jobs vacant at OLB any time soon barring injury.
trueblue82 (dallas texas)
i think the media's making the off the field issuses about Dez Bryant bigger then they seam hes never been arrested remember randy moss had more off the field issuses then him when he was drafted as a rookie in 1998 and look were hes at in his carrer
Tim MacMahon
(3:45 PM)
Oklahoma State WR coach Gunter Brewer told me that Bryant is a good kid whose heart in the right place, but he needs to be treated like a person, not a piece of meat. Cowboys WR coach Ray Sherman is great at building relationships with his players, so Bryant landed in a good spot. Brewer said Bryant doesn't have character issues. He has "life skills issue," the result of a difficult childhood. He has to grow up. Showing up late to meetings won't work in the NFL.
carlos borja (new york)
Should the cowboys be interested in newly released DT john henderson.?
Tim MacMahon
(3:46 PM)
Henderson will surely find somewhere that will pay him good money to be a starter. That won't happen here.
Conrad (Carlsbad, CA)
Hi Tim,Given expectations for the team, the Cowboys seem alarmingly thin on the offensive line. How comfortable is the team with the G/C depth let alone tackle?
Tim MacMahon
(3:47 PM)
Not comfortable at all, which is why the Cowboys will look for help there in free agency.
David (Texas)
Is there any trade value for Bobby Carpenter?
Tim MacMahon
(3:48 PM)
If there was, he wouldn't still have a locker at Valley Ranch. He was available during the draft.
Eric Ray (806)
How does Brandon Williams look? Has he recovered from the ankle injury and does he have the ability to see the field this season?
Tim MacMahon
(3:50 PM)
Brandon Williams tore the ACL in the preseason finale and had knee surgery. He's supposedly doing well in the Cowboys' strength and conditioning program and is expected to be ready for rookie minicamp.
Jeff Cook (Jeah?)
I had a similar surgery to Sharper, and it's VERY minor, and Dallas shouldn't be concerned about that...He will be ready to go
Tim MacMahon
(3:51 PM)
You weren't asked to keep up with NFL tight ends and receivers, right? Sharper might have a great season again, but I'm just trying to explain why the Cowboys probably won't make a strong effort to sign him.
Ryan Kluthe (Albuquerque, NM)
Does Ogletree get any more playing time this year because he sure looked good when he played. What happens to Hurd and Crayton, because one probably has to move on?
Tim MacMahon
(3:54 PM)
Hurd and Crayton have both made it clear they want out, and the Cowboys tried to accomodate them on draft weekend with no success. One or both might end up getting released. If I'm the Cowboys, I'd hang on to Hurd, because he's arguably their best special teams player. Crayton isn't going to cover punts and kickoffs. Ogletree could be the No. 4 WR, but don't expect him to get a lot of balls thrown his way.
Anthony (Toronto)
Tim, I watched some highlights of Dez over the weekend. Am I the only one who sees a resemblance to TO the way he plays the game? Who is his game comparable to?
Tim MacMahon
(3:55 PM)
T.O. is the guy that I've compared Bryant to, because they're both big, tall receivers who do serious damage after the catch. T.O. has better speed. Bryant is better at fighting for the ball in traffic.
Jeff (College Station)
Romo says that him and Roy have been building chemistry faster than they did last year. However, last year they kept assuring us that they were building chemistry then and that Roy should have a great year. We all know how that turned out. How much of what is coming from Romo and Roy is false? Are they really gaining chemistry or is it all just a smoke screen to try and get fans to stop complaining?
Tim MacMahon
(3:58 PM)
We heard similar comments last year. I'll believe it when I see it on a Sunday.
Daniel (Beaumont,Texas)
Other than drafting Dez Bryant and having him contribute as a returner, how has this team improved to get them further in the playoffs?
Tim MacMahon
(4:00 PM)
I'll give you the Valley Ranch spin: They have several "redshirt" rookies who will make contributions. Budding young stars such as Miles Austin, Felix Jones and Anthony Spencer will continue to get better. Sean Lee is an upgrade at nickel LB.
Don (Plano)
If Barber struggles again this year will the Cowboys look to move or cut him next offseason? It sure seems like a lot of money to throw at a guy whose production is easily replaced by T. Choice
Tim MacMahon
(4:01 PM)
I've made that point many times. If Barber doesn't give the Cowboys better bang for buck than he did the last two seasons, I'd be surprised if they keep him.
John Hollingsworth (California)
Why do you think the boys were scarred to pull the trigger on Taylor Mays? Do you think he'll end up being good?
Tim MacMahon
(4:02 PM)
Remember Roy Williams? Mays is a bigger, faster version. In other words, he's a big hitter who can be exposed in coverage. He wasn't a playmaker in college, so I wouldn't expect him to be one in the NFL.
duncan (texas )
What are you thoughts on the cowboys giving dez the big 88 are the expectations too high already?
Tim MacMahon
(4:04 PM)
In Jerry Jones' mind, No. 88 represents a strong work ethic. It's a constant reminder to Dez about the standard he'll be held to. It's a constant challenge. I like the idea. (Plus, ol' Jerry knows a marketing opportunity when he sees one.)
Tim MacMahon
(4:05 PM)
All right, I'm gonna wrap it up now. Make sure to check out the ESPNDallas.com coverage of rookie minicamp this weekend. We'll be blogging and tweeting (@espn_macmahon) all three days.
