Schefter: We Just Signed Allen Rossum! Released Cletis

[silverbear]

But it's Cletis man, Cletis!!!11!!!

Have you no shame????

You talk about him as if he was Buehler, or something...

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Pac-Man Jones can catch five footballs at the same time.

 

[ladiewolve]

To me Crayton lost the job when he let a kicker run him out of bounds without even initiating contact. That's a guy who knows he has a job no matter what.

If nothing else Rossum is going to come in with something to prove.

You might be right about that. I like the idea Of someone with something to prove..LOL.

 

[Alexander]

I have to laugh at all the people lamenting this pickup. Rossum provides a big play threat everytime he returns a punt or kickoff. It has been a LOOOOOOONG time since the Cowboys have had a playmaker at PR. Rossum displaces Cletis "Who?" Gordon, how is this bad?????

This has Coach D's fingerprints all over it. Trust in Coach D, he's got the biggest nads on the Cowboys' sidelines.

I think there is no reason to doubt the move, especially off of Rossum's lack of dazzling numbers this season.

As recently as last season, he was a difference maker or at the very least someone who gave the opposing ST coach some pause.

I am disappointed in Crayton and also mildly shocked we made the move this quickly. There might be some other moving parts (Austin being pulled from kickoffs, Felix Jones being pulled as well) where we needed a kickoff player as well. Ogletree didn't inspire any confidence and Crayton was sloppy. Fact is, as Brooking said, we cannot leave any margin for error the way we are playing right now.

 

[Stash]

I think there is no reason to doubt the move, especially off of Rossum's lack of dazzling numbers this season.

As recently as last season, he was a difference maker or at the very least someone who gave the opposing ST coach some pause.

I am disappointed in Crayton and also mildly shocked we made the move this quickly. There might be some other moving parts (Austin being pulled from kickoffs, Felix Jones being pulled as well) where we needed a kickoff player as well. Ogletree didn't inspire any confidence and Crayton was sloppy. Fact is, as Brooking said, we cannot leave any margin for error the way we are playing right now.

I can recall the team having several players who offered almost nothing outside of special teams - Bill Bates - Kenny Gant - Keith Davis. Anyone remember Elvis "Toast" Patterson? Not downplaying their contributions - especially Bates who is an all-time favorite.

And they were merely coverage guys. But they were players that you certainly didn't feel good about if they had to play their "listed" position.

I see Rossum the same way. And in my opinion, as a returner, he can make a much bigger impact.

And again, it's not like he's relacing some great player on the roster, but more of the Marvin White, Chauncey Washington, Cletus Gordon types.

Anyone remember a big contribution from any of them this year?

 

[big dog cowboy]

I can recall the team having several players who offered almost nothing outside of special teams - Bill Bates - Kenny Gant - Keith Davis. Anyone remember Elvis "Toast" Patterson? Not downplaying their contributions - especially Bates who is an all-time favorite.

And they were merely coverage guys. But they were players that you certainly didn't feel good about if they had to play their "listed" position.

You are way off base putting Bill Bates on that list.

He played a lot on defense (yes his listed position of safety) as well as special teams.

 

[Stash]

You are way off base putting Bill Bates on that list.

He played a lot on defense (yes his listed position of safety) as well as special teams.

I disagree.

For the most part, when Bates did play, it was out of necessity, not by design.

Special teams kept him around, not his play at safety.

And again to clarify, that's not a slight against him or meant to diminish his place in Cowboys lore in any way.

 

[Alexander]

I can recall the team having several players who offered almost nothing outside of special teams - Bill Bates - Kenny Gant - Keith Davis. Anyone remember Elvis "Toast" Patterson? Not downplaying their contributions - especially Bates who is an all-time favorite.

And they were merely coverage guys. But they were players that you certainly didn't feel good about if they had to play their "listed" position.

I see Rossum the same way. And in my opinion, as a returner, he can make a much bigger impact.

And again, it's not like he's relacing some great player on the roster, but more of the Marvin White, Chauncey Washington, Cletus Gordon types.

Anyone remember a big contribution from any of them this year?

Gant played quite a bit as a nickel corner/slot coverage.

You will always have players like this (Matt Vanderbeek, Jim Schwantz, Joe Fishback, Dale Hellestrae are others from that era).

Ideally though, you would prefer a punt returner who can contribute as a wide receiver, running back or defensive back. But yes, that's not always possible.

The problem, and it is a legitimate concern, is that we are carrying two kickers and three quarterbacks along with a long snapper and obviously those places on the roster are cemented. If we have injuries (as we did with Jones and Barber) we may end up having to sacrifice some of these specialists if the roster crunch becomes severe.

We will just have to see how it works out. But if the worst happens, then Rossum would be one of the first to go after we've whittled away at the extra OL spot (Preston) we seem to have reserved for churning purposes.

 

[Barbarian]

I love the Allen Rossum signing. Crayton couldn't make a move on punt returns and Austin will be a starting WR from now on so I wouldn't want him on kick returns. Rossum is a proven vet and I expect him to help us on both return units and give the team better field position.

 

[lockster]

Who is, or has gotten the ax for Rossum?

 

[Doomsday101]

Who is, or has gotten the ax for Rossum?

Cletis Gordon

 

[big dog cowboy]

I love the Allen Rossum signing. Crayton couldn't make a move on punt returns and Austin will be a starting WR from now on so I wouldn't want him on kick returns. Rossum is a proven vet and I expect him to help us on both return units and give the team better field position.

to the CowboysZone!!!!!!!

 

[JonJon]

How can anyone not like this move? We've been practically begging for a punt returner for years and we have one that doesn't come with off the field drama. He is a team player, family-oriented, and dedicated to winning.
Patrick Crayton was a receiver playing punt returner; Rossum is a return specialist! This is his specialty. So what if he is 33 years old? Patrick Crayton is 30....Terence Newman is 31....

 

[windward]

Wouldn't it be cool if Rossum scores a Td vs the Falcons?

 

[Hostile]

I just watched his first interview withe the Dallas media and he came across as a very well spoken, intelligent, player who is excited to be here. Had great things to say about Coach D.

I remain skeptical, but as I said before, here's hoping my skepticism is wrong.

 

[bbgun]

I just watched his first interview withe the Dallas media and he came across as a very well spoken, intelligent, player who is excited to be here.

racist

 

[Alweezy]

this was a good move. In our position in the standings you take on another specialist if it will turn those close losses we have had into wins.

 

[JonJon]

Somewhere, Mickey Spagnola is disappointed in you all.

:laugh2:

I just watched his first interview withe the Dallas media and he came across as a very well spoken, intelligent, player who is excited to be here. Had great things to say about Coach D.

I remain skeptical, but as I said before, here's hoping my skepticism is wrong.

He is a standout citizen that does a lot for the community, plus he is a Dallas native, so I imagine him having some sort of partiality for playing with the Cowboys. I mean, the Cowboys really could do a lot worse.

 

[silverbear]

I think there is no reason to doubt the move, especially off of Rossum's lack of dazzling numbers this season.

Blame that on the Niners-- he had 40 and 75 yard returns called back by penalties...

Of course, that may well mean that he was only sprung because of those penalties, but at the same time, it shows that if you give him a crease, he can still take advantage of it...

 

[silverbear]

I disagree.

For the most part, when Bates did play, it was out of necessity, not by design.

Special teams kept him around, not his play at safety.

And again to clarify, that's not a slight against him or meant to diminish his place in Cowboys lore in any way.

A lot of seasons, he had roles in the nickel and dime packages (as a "linebacker") throughout the season...