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[Nirvana]

I disagree. I think Gurode was our starting center from day 1 until the staff began to see how well Costa was playing.

Costa played in 4 games last year and even started one. Wade Phillips was singing praises for Costa last year before he was fired. Rumors were swirling then he could replace Gurode.

Now enters Phil Costa, who allowed one sack on Monday, but other than that, earned the praise of coach Wade Phillips.

"Smart guy. Very physical," Phillips said of Costa, an undrafted guard/center from Maryland. "The kind of guy you want on your team. That's why we kept him."

There was a possibility center Andre Gurode could move to left guard and Costa, who gets snap at center, switches spots.

Phillips said that's not happening because the team wants Gurode to remain where he is.

"We changed that," Phillips said. "We didn't want to change Andre's position. Therefore, we started working Costa more to be the backup guard in case anybody went out. I guess we didn't inform everybody."

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4673716/phil-costa-might-start-at-left-guard

 

[CoCo]

I thought I heard recently that Gurode has at least on degenerative knee. Rehabbing plus overweight plus degenrative knee plus $6MM salary not necessarily the ideal combo.

I don't think any team is going to pay him 6MM on the open market either.

 

[honyock]

Worthy of quote. It was on BTB.com I believe where they were speculating that Jerry had a trade partner lined up if they could restructure Andre's contract beforehand.

That would make some sense, if they could pull off a restructure/sign/trade with someone who'd bite on a Gurode trade at a lower salary.

The problem is, if Gurode knows he's going to have to take less $$ this year, either from the Cowboys or someone else, he might prefer to be cut outright and have more choice on where he eventually signs, and maybe get more on the open market than he would in a sign/trade.

That's a lot of moving parts...find a trade partner, get something back that works for the team, get Gurode and his agent to agree to less money and agree to going to the trade partner (and have him pass the physical with the new team on his knee). Much as I'd love to see them get something back for him if he is going to be cut, a trade does sound like a longshot.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I disagree. I think Gurode was our starting center from day 1 until the staff began to see how well Costa was playing.

:signmast:

There you go.

 

[pancakeman]

That would make some sense, if they could pull off a restructure/sign/trade with someone who'd bite on a Gurode trade at a lower salary.

The problem is, if Gurode knows he's going to have to take less $$ this year, either from the Cowboys or someone else, he might prefer to be cut outright and have more choice on where he eventually signs, and maybe get more on the open market than he would in a sign/trade.

That's a lot of moving parts...find a trade partner, get something back that works for the team, get Gurode and his agent to agree to less money and agree to going to the trade partner (and have him pass the physical with the new team on his knee). Much as I'd love to see them get something back for him if he is going to be cut, a trade does sound like a longshot.

Good post!

 

[casmith07]

Bottom line is the young guy is outplaying him, and he's on the wrong side of 30 with a bad knee and he's out of shape. There are a few positions in the NFL where you can play deep into your 30s: Defensive Back, Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Kicker, Long Snapper, Punter.

The rest of the positions - Linebacker, Defensive Line, Offensive Line, Running Back...you've got to be really special and really take care of yourself to last a while. Gurode's reached his expiration date, unfortunately. It all came down at once.

Had he been able to start camp healthy, he would likely be staying, even with $5.5M due to him this season. But on a bum knee with a 2nd year UDFA playing better than you've shown, why keep a progress stopper on the roster like Wade Phillips would? Get him out of here and hand over the mantle to the new guy. Costa is hungry and willing to prove that he can play and get paid for it.

You guys think Barber would've still been here after 2008 if Jason Garrett were steering the ship back then? This isn't me sitting here saying "a benching will scare them straight" or "they need to fear for their jobs" but when you know that you have to bring your A game every single week and every off-season at camp or you'll be out looking for work somewhere else, or watching from the sideline on Sundays, it's a motivator. Only the chosen few - guys like DeMarcus Ware, Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Bradie James, Terence Newman - don't need any motivation. Every off-season, these guys prove why they're the starters and it isn't close. At no point in any of their careers has anyone's criticism been "man, DeMarcus Ware showed up fat" or "if only that Newman would not slack off so much". They're far and away the best guys at their position. Other guys get comfortable. Well, there's a new Sheriff in town, and his name is Jason Calvin Garrett.

As for Phil Costa, we might've found our Jeff Saturday.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I gotta be honest here and say I'm a little gunshy to the idea of cutting or moving Andre. We've been very thin on the line for a while now and with all the work they did to shore that up this offseason, with the draft and resigning Free, I'm reluctant to now cut out a part of that depth. It worries me I guess.

 

[pancakeman]

There are a few positions in the NFL where you can play deep into your 30s: Defensive Back, Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Kicker, Long Snapper, Punter.

The rest of the positions - Linebacker, Defensive Line, Offensive Line, Running Back...you've got to be really special and really take care of yourself to last a while.

Hmm, I was always under the impression that OL tended to be among the longer careers in the NFL.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I gotta be honest here and say I'm a little gunshy to the idea of cutting or moving Andre. We've been very thin on the line for a while now and with all the work they did to shore that up this offseason, with the draft and resigning Free, I'm reluctant to now cut out a part of that depth. It worries me I guess.

Me too.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Is there a possibility this move to release Gurode - once they found Costa can play- facilitates a free agent move in the event of injury?

I feel Gurode would have been an experienced back-up. We have money to pay him so saving the money has to have a reason.

Maybe they're trying to find another WR.

This is where my concern lies. Cornerback as well since I don't believe in Newman and have doubts about Jenkins.

Austin's hammy could cause a problem all year. Otree has made his mileage on second stringers thus far this year.

If you recall in the opening pre-season game, Otree was the critical block on a WR screen for Dez and did the old Ole` block on a linebacker who made the tackle.

Perhaps the Gurode money is for players cut after this weekend.

 

[casmith07]

Perhaps the Gurode money is for players cut after this weekend.

It is.