Schefter: We Just Signed Allen Rossum! Released Cletis

[cowboyjoe]

Allen Rossum-DB- Cowboys Oct. 13 - 4:05 pm et


Cowboys agreed to terms with CB/KR Allen Rossum, formerly of the 49ers.
It took the 34-year-old one day to find work after being cut by the Niners. Rossum isn't an option at corner anymore, but should adequately replace Patrick Crayton on punt returns. Crayton is swiftly falling out of favor.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Related: Patrick Crayton, 49ers

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Somewhere, Mickey Spagnola is disappointed in you all.

LMAO...

the best jokes have implied punch lines,,,

 

[Arch Stanton]

Local Product, KR Specialist Rossum Expected To Sign
Josh Ellis - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 13, 2009 4:14 PM


IRVING, Texas - It's been a long NFL journey for kick return specialist Allen Rossum, but now it appears he's heading back to where he started.

Rossum is expected to sign a one-year, veteran-minimum contract with the Cowboys on Wednesday morning. A Dallas native who played at Skyline High School, Rossum left for Notre Dame before joining the Philadelphia Eagles as a third-round cornerback in 1998.

Philadelphia quickly learned that Rossum's greatest talents were as a kickoff and punt returner, a role he's filled for five franchises over the last 11 seasons. After two years with the Eagles he was traded to Green Bay, where he spent two seasons. He signed an unrestricted free-agent contract with Atlanta in 2002 and went on to play five years there before being traded to Pittsburgh for the 2007 season.

After a year in the Steel City he joined the 49ers, playing in San Francisco for all of last season and the first four games of 2009 before he was waived Monday to make room for first-round pick Michael Crabtree, who ended his holdout last week.

In 156 career games Rossum has 307 punt returns, averaging 10 yards per return with three touchdowns. He has returned 513 kickoffs at an average of 23.3 yards, with five scores.

Rossum would replace Patrick Crayton as the Cowboys' primary punt returner. Felix Jones, Miles Austin and Kevin Ogletree have served as kickoff returners so far this season. Crayton has averaged 8.0 yards on 10 punt returns this season, but mishandled one kick Sunday, leading to a Kansas City touchdown, and then appeared hesitant to field a couple of more punts later in the game.

Rossum, who has 10 career starts at cornerback as well, will replace Cletis Gordon, who was released Tuesday after signing on in an emergency cornerback role last week.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=4FC19F26-C864-07E4-0347A86FF9F8F9F4

 

[InmanRoshi]

Seems like an over-reaction to one bad outing to me. Crayton has been solid as a punt returner except for one game.

That was the beauty of the niche Crayton carved out for himself here.... Merely providing absolutely nothing in the return game, leaving the Cowboys in horrible field position and posing absolutely no possibility of a dynamic play was "solid". His punt returning set the bar so low that only something as obvious as muffing punts drew attention as a "bad game".

 

[jacks1]

Crayton doesn’t have a history of fumbles...so a strange move imo.

In a league in need of explosive return people, why is he on the market?

Blah, why take up the roster space?

I'm wondering that also. With Sensbaugh and Felix coming back, who's roster spot is Rossum going to take? And don't say Ogletree because he wasn't going to be active after the bye week regardless.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I'm wondering that also. With Sensbaugh and Felix coming back, who's roster spot is Rossum going to take? And don't say Ogletree because he wasn't going to be active after the bye week regardless.

CB Cletis Gordon.

 

[tunahelper]

I like the move, we need a return man!!!!!!

I like the move as well. We need to control field position and maybe Wade is sending a message to PC.

 

[Hoofbite]

Seems like an over-reaction to one bad outing to me. Crayton has been solid as a punt returner except for one game.

Preston was my hope for getting rid of Procter as well, so if we cut him, that'll just make me sad.

Rossum is also 33 years old, but he was a pro bowl alternate last year so I guess he's got some juice left. Does he have ANY ability to play corner still?

Did he ever?

And I was going to say the same thing. Seems pretty knee-jerk.

 

[tunahelper]

Adam_Schefter Filed to ESPN: The Cowboys will sign veteran returner Allen Rossum, whom the 49ers released last week to make room for Michael Crabtree.

For those wondering if Rossum had anything left? The 49ers forum sure think he does!

http://forums.49ers.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=82253

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Did he ever?

And I was going to say the same thing. Seems pretty knee-jerk.

Did you potential in Crayton or something?

 

[KingintheNorth]

For those wondering if Rossum had anything left? The 49ers forum sure think he does!

http://forums.49ers.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=82253

so the 49er fans all know what they are talking about but everyone in this forum is a know-nothing fan? Thanks alot Benedict Arnold!

 

[cowboyjoe]

Allen Rossum agrees to deal
3:49 PM Tue, Oct 13, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

The Cowboys will sign return specialist Allen Rossum tomorrow, bringing the Skyline High grad home, and have cleared a roster spot for him by releasing cornerback Cletis Gordon.

Rossum was cut Monday by San Francisco when the Ninersd activated Dallas native Michael Crabtree.

Rossum played in the first three games of the year but had been inactive for the last two. He averaged 7 yards per punt return and 21.7 yards on kickoffs before being released. Last year Rossum averaged 26.8 yards per kick return and 14.9 yards per punt return, which was second-best in the NFL.

On Sunday at Kansas City, Patrick Crayton fumbled a punt and Terence Newman let one bounce to the Dallas 3. With Felix Jones slowed by a knee injury and Miles Austin's role at wide receiver set to expand, Rossum will also handle kickoffs.

He has eight returns for touchdowns in his career. He spent five years in Atlanta with Joe DeCamillis as his special teams coach.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the deal via Twitter.

 

[Woods]

I like the move as well. We need to control field position and maybe Wade is sending a message to PC.

Rossum should be better than Crayton as a PR at the very least.

IMO, the main deficiency on our STs was at PR. If we're lucky, maybe that can now turn into a strength.

Looking at our STs, our holders are fine, McBriar and Buheler are getting the job done. Folk is solid. Our coverage groups appear much improved as well, and they could get a boost with M Hamlin returning to STs and as J Williams gets more experience as well.

It would be great to be able to consistently win the STs battle. Maybe this is the final step?

 

[Hoofbite]

Did you potential in Crayton or something?

What?

 

[SLATEmosphere]

What?

I don't see how it's knee jerk. We had nothing in that phase of the game and Crayton has been Fumblitis this year. Even in Preseason. Something needed to be done.

 

[tunahelper]

so the 49er fans all know what they are talking about but everyone in this forum is a know-nothing fan? Thanks alot Benedict Arnold!

Sir Benedict Arnold when addressing me. Thank you!

 

[InmanRoshi]

It wasn't just the muff that got Crayton in the doghouse. He also called fair catch on a punt where there no one was within 15 yards of him (which he does a lot). I think he was benched when Newman took his place. Newman typically doesn't return kicks unless the opponents are pinned deep in their endzone. Newman looked clueless enough that they put Crayton back out there. The Cowboys starting field position has been horrendous all year. I dont think this is a reaction to just one bad game, this has been a long time coming.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It wasn't just the muff that got Crayton in the doghouse. He also called fair catch on a punt where there no one was within 15 yards of him (which he does a lot). I think he was benched when Newman took his place.

Crayton should be wearing a dress instead of a football uniform on Sundays.

 

[Hoofbite]

I don't see how it's knee jerk. We had nothing in that phase of the game and Crayton has been Fumblitis this year. Even in Preseason. Something needed to be done.

Not having something and not using your best player are totally different.

Newman is more than capable at returning punts and Felix should be returning kicks.

Its knee jerk because its uncharacteristic of Crayton to drop the punts which means he's probably not going to do it as often as replacing him would suggest.

I just think its a cruddy move. I don't think Rossum will do any better than Newman or Felix would. Of course, now that I say that the guy will probably score ever week on returns.

 

[Stash]

Not having something and not using your best player are totally different.

Newman is more than capable at returning punts and Felix should be returning kicks.

He sure hasn't looked it this year. He's had numerous gaffes in the few times he's been out there as a returner. And he has enough trouble staying healthy just playing corner. And 10 touches is about Felix' limit at this point too.

It's knee jerk because its uncharacteristic of Crayton to drop the punts which means he's probably not going to do it as often as replacing him would suggest.

Sunday wasn't his first this year. And more importantly, he brings nothing in terms of speed or athleticism to the position.

think its a cruddy move. I don't think Rossum will do any better than Newman or Felix would. Of course, now that I say that the guy will probably score ever week on returns.

Even if he doesn't do any better (which we'll never prove one way or another), at least it doesn't expose two key players who have enough injury issues to risk of further injury.