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Wild Weekend
Price Agrees To Terms; Cowboys Finalize Practice Squad
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
September 4, 2005 6:12 PM Change Font Size A A A A
Price agreed to a one-year deal worth about $1 million in base salary and a $500,000 signing bonus.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said on Friday the next two days would be the busiest time of the entire season.
And sure enough, it's been anything but quiet out here at Valley Ranch over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Cowboys trimmed their roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players by cutting 15 players, placing two on injured reserve and trading for a linebacker with starting experience.
The Cowboys followed that up Sunday by signing eight players to the practice squad - seven having gone to training camp with the Cowboys.
And if all that were not enough, the Cowboys are expected to have an even bigger announcement Monday, having agreed to terms with free-agent wide receiver Peerless Price on a one-year contract. Price, who was released last week by the Falcons, is scheduled to sign a one-year deal with a signing bonus of $500,000. While Price will receive a little more than $1 million in base salary, he could make nearly $1 million more based on incentives.
But since Price is not officially on the roster, the Cowboys will have to release yet another player to stay at 53 once he signs. With five receivers currently on the roster, it's likely the Cowboys would waive another receiver, and it could be five-year veteran Quincy Morgan, who is currently the team's fourth receiver behind Terry Glenn, Keyshawn Johnson and Patrick Crayton, Also, Morgan does not play special teams, unlike fifth receiver Terrance Copper. On top of that, his $750,000 base salary would be a tad pricey for a fifth receiver.
However, as the Cowboys proved Saturday trades are easier to get done this is the time of the year, and the club likely is shopping Morgan's services. But then again, teams also know he'll be the odd man out with the Cowboys and might just wait for his release if they are confident they can get him signed.
A day after waiving 15 players, the Cowboys re-signed five of them back to the practice squad Sunday. The team signed eight players to the practice squad, including five rookies. Wide receiver Tom Crowder, tight end Sean Ryan and running back Keylon Kincade all return for a second stay on the Cowboys' practice squad.
The other five players on the practice squad for at least the first week of the season will include wide receiver Jamaica Rector, offensive lineman Matt Tarullo, defensive tackle Chris Van Hoy, tight end Tony Curtis and kicker Shaun Suisham, a rookie from Bowling Green who was one of four kickers to work out for the Cowboys on Friday.
As it stands, Jose Cortez remains the only kicker on the roster, and while the Cowboys are keeping their eyes open for available kickers, it's looking more and more as if Cortez will be the season-opening kicker for the Cowboys Sunday in San Diego.
While place kicker has been one of Parcells' top concerns ever since Billy Cundiff suffered a quad injury the very end of training camp and was subsequently waived/injured with an eventual injury settlement, outside linebacker also has been a troublesome position.
And that's why the Cowboys are excited about acquiring fourth-year linebacker Scott Fujita in a trade with the Chiefs on Saturday. The Cowboys were able to acquire Fujita for a 2006 sixth round pick, along with a conditional 2007 draft choice. Fujita has led Kansas City's defense in tackles the past two years. While starting 41 of his 48 career games, Fujita also has registered 9½ sacks during his three seasons and his 151 tackles in 2003 is the fifth-highest single-season total in Chiefs history.
Adding Fujita not only gives the Cowboys added depth and experience at outside linebacker, but offsets the loss of Kalen Thornton, one of two players placed on injured reserve Saturday. The Cowboys must figure Thornton, who has battled a bad right knee all summer, needs a surgical procedure that will sideline him for the entire season.
The same fate faces rookie safety Justin Beriault, who will also spend the season on IR. The sixth-round pick from Ball State turned some heads during the first two weeks of camp with his aggressive nature and keen instincts for getting to the ball. But Beriault likely will have surgery to repair the damaged meniscus in his right knee that has been bothering him most of the summer.
Among the cuts on Saturday, the biggest surprises had to be the release of Jeff Robinson, a 12-year veteran who is considered one of the NFL's better deep snappers. Entering his fourth year with the Cowboys, Robinson was scheduled to count $1.3 million against the cap, and his release saves the team his $1.1 million base salary.
That means the Cowboys are putting their deep-snapping confidence in rookie Jon Condo, one of 10 rookies currently on the 53-man roster. Condo, a free-agent linebacker from Maryland, also can play on other special teams units. He has been rather consistent snapping during training camp and in preseason games.
Other notable cuts include offensive linemen Tyson Walter and Kurt Vollers, who was actually waived/injured because of a wrist injury. Parcells often commented on Vollers' ability to back up at both right and left tackle and that Walter might have been the team's most versatile lineman, having the ability to play guard, center and even left tackle, which he did in this final preseason game. The Cowboys instead have decided to keep guard Ben Noll and tackle Torrin Tucker after they got off to slow starts during training camp.
On the defensive line, the Cowboys surprisingly cut Leo Carson, a sixth-year veteran who started 15 games last season. And with Jason Ferguson banged up all preseason, Carson received extensive minutes, even some on offense as a short-yardage fullback.
But instead of keeping Carson and trying to continue managing his knee condition, the Cowboys kept rookie Thomas "Pepper" Johnson, one of three undrafted rookies to make the team, along with Condo and running back Tyson Thompson. The Cowboys also kept rookie defensive end Jay Ratliff, a seventh-round pick from Auburn. Like Carson, Ratliff also has played some offense this preseason as a third tight end on the goal line, a position Robinson had played the past two years, catching four passes for four touchdowns.
But don't think the Cowboys' roster has been completed. Remember, they will have to release or trade a player by the close of business on Monday if they decide to have Price signed. And chances are they would like to pick up at least another safety before the season opener Sept. 11 against the Chargers.
The Cowboys currently have just two safeties on the 53-man roster, starters Roy Williams and Keith Davis. The Cowboys released three safeties Saturday, including four-year vet Lynn Scott, who started the final nine games last year. The Cowboys also cut Rich Coady, who joined the team two weeks ago, and Woody Dantzler, a college quarterback who never had much of a chance to make the team. He stuck around this long primarily because of NFL Europe roster exemptions.
Here's a closer look at all of the Cowboys' transactions over the weekend:
Agreed To Terms:
WR Peerless Price
Acquired In Trade:
LB Scott Fujita (from Kansas City)
Released From Active Roster:
RB Erik Bickerstaff
DT Leo Carson
SS Rich Coady
WR Tom Crowder
TE Tony Curtis
SS Woody Dantzler
RB Keylon Kincade
PK Nick Novak
LB Keith O'Neil
DS Jeff Robinson
TE Sean Ryan
FS Lynn Scott
OL Matt Tarullo
OT Kurt Vollers
OL Tyson Walter
Place on Injured Reserve:
SS Justin Beriault
LB Kalen Thornton
Signed to the Practice Squad:
WR Tom Crowder
TE Tony Curtis
RB Keylon Kincade
TE Sean Ryan
OL Matt Tarullo
DT Chris Van Hoy
K Shaun Suisham
WR Jamaica Rector
Hits the fan tomorrow......
Price Agrees To Terms; Cowboys Finalize Practice Squad
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
September 4, 2005 6:12 PM Change Font Size A A A A
Price agreed to a one-year deal worth about $1 million in base salary and a $500,000 signing bonus.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said on Friday the next two days would be the busiest time of the entire season.
And sure enough, it's been anything but quiet out here at Valley Ranch over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Cowboys trimmed their roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players by cutting 15 players, placing two on injured reserve and trading for a linebacker with starting experience.
The Cowboys followed that up Sunday by signing eight players to the practice squad - seven having gone to training camp with the Cowboys.
And if all that were not enough, the Cowboys are expected to have an even bigger announcement Monday, having agreed to terms with free-agent wide receiver Peerless Price on a one-year contract. Price, who was released last week by the Falcons, is scheduled to sign a one-year deal with a signing bonus of $500,000. While Price will receive a little more than $1 million in base salary, he could make nearly $1 million more based on incentives.
But since Price is not officially on the roster, the Cowboys will have to release yet another player to stay at 53 once he signs. With five receivers currently on the roster, it's likely the Cowboys would waive another receiver, and it could be five-year veteran Quincy Morgan, who is currently the team's fourth receiver behind Terry Glenn, Keyshawn Johnson and Patrick Crayton, Also, Morgan does not play special teams, unlike fifth receiver Terrance Copper. On top of that, his $750,000 base salary would be a tad pricey for a fifth receiver.
However, as the Cowboys proved Saturday trades are easier to get done this is the time of the year, and the club likely is shopping Morgan's services. But then again, teams also know he'll be the odd man out with the Cowboys and might just wait for his release if they are confident they can get him signed.
A day after waiving 15 players, the Cowboys re-signed five of them back to the practice squad Sunday. The team signed eight players to the practice squad, including five rookies. Wide receiver Tom Crowder, tight end Sean Ryan and running back Keylon Kincade all return for a second stay on the Cowboys' practice squad.
The other five players on the practice squad for at least the first week of the season will include wide receiver Jamaica Rector, offensive lineman Matt Tarullo, defensive tackle Chris Van Hoy, tight end Tony Curtis and kicker Shaun Suisham, a rookie from Bowling Green who was one of four kickers to work out for the Cowboys on Friday.
As it stands, Jose Cortez remains the only kicker on the roster, and while the Cowboys are keeping their eyes open for available kickers, it's looking more and more as if Cortez will be the season-opening kicker for the Cowboys Sunday in San Diego.
While place kicker has been one of Parcells' top concerns ever since Billy Cundiff suffered a quad injury the very end of training camp and was subsequently waived/injured with an eventual injury settlement, outside linebacker also has been a troublesome position.
And that's why the Cowboys are excited about acquiring fourth-year linebacker Scott Fujita in a trade with the Chiefs on Saturday. The Cowboys were able to acquire Fujita for a 2006 sixth round pick, along with a conditional 2007 draft choice. Fujita has led Kansas City's defense in tackles the past two years. While starting 41 of his 48 career games, Fujita also has registered 9½ sacks during his three seasons and his 151 tackles in 2003 is the fifth-highest single-season total in Chiefs history.
Adding Fujita not only gives the Cowboys added depth and experience at outside linebacker, but offsets the loss of Kalen Thornton, one of two players placed on injured reserve Saturday. The Cowboys must figure Thornton, who has battled a bad right knee all summer, needs a surgical procedure that will sideline him for the entire season.
The same fate faces rookie safety Justin Beriault, who will also spend the season on IR. The sixth-round pick from Ball State turned some heads during the first two weeks of camp with his aggressive nature and keen instincts for getting to the ball. But Beriault likely will have surgery to repair the damaged meniscus in his right knee that has been bothering him most of the summer.
Among the cuts on Saturday, the biggest surprises had to be the release of Jeff Robinson, a 12-year veteran who is considered one of the NFL's better deep snappers. Entering his fourth year with the Cowboys, Robinson was scheduled to count $1.3 million against the cap, and his release saves the team his $1.1 million base salary.
That means the Cowboys are putting their deep-snapping confidence in rookie Jon Condo, one of 10 rookies currently on the 53-man roster. Condo, a free-agent linebacker from Maryland, also can play on other special teams units. He has been rather consistent snapping during training camp and in preseason games.
Other notable cuts include offensive linemen Tyson Walter and Kurt Vollers, who was actually waived/injured because of a wrist injury. Parcells often commented on Vollers' ability to back up at both right and left tackle and that Walter might have been the team's most versatile lineman, having the ability to play guard, center and even left tackle, which he did in this final preseason game. The Cowboys instead have decided to keep guard Ben Noll and tackle Torrin Tucker after they got off to slow starts during training camp.
On the defensive line, the Cowboys surprisingly cut Leo Carson, a sixth-year veteran who started 15 games last season. And with Jason Ferguson banged up all preseason, Carson received extensive minutes, even some on offense as a short-yardage fullback.
But instead of keeping Carson and trying to continue managing his knee condition, the Cowboys kept rookie Thomas "Pepper" Johnson, one of three undrafted rookies to make the team, along with Condo and running back Tyson Thompson. The Cowboys also kept rookie defensive end Jay Ratliff, a seventh-round pick from Auburn. Like Carson, Ratliff also has played some offense this preseason as a third tight end on the goal line, a position Robinson had played the past two years, catching four passes for four touchdowns.
But don't think the Cowboys' roster has been completed. Remember, they will have to release or trade a player by the close of business on Monday if they decide to have Price signed. And chances are they would like to pick up at least another safety before the season opener Sept. 11 against the Chargers.
The Cowboys currently have just two safeties on the 53-man roster, starters Roy Williams and Keith Davis. The Cowboys released three safeties Saturday, including four-year vet Lynn Scott, who started the final nine games last year. The Cowboys also cut Rich Coady, who joined the team two weeks ago, and Woody Dantzler, a college quarterback who never had much of a chance to make the team. He stuck around this long primarily because of NFL Europe roster exemptions.
Here's a closer look at all of the Cowboys' transactions over the weekend:
Agreed To Terms:
WR Peerless Price
Acquired In Trade:
LB Scott Fujita (from Kansas City)
Released From Active Roster:
RB Erik Bickerstaff
DT Leo Carson
SS Rich Coady
WR Tom Crowder
TE Tony Curtis
SS Woody Dantzler
RB Keylon Kincade
PK Nick Novak
LB Keith O'Neil
DS Jeff Robinson
TE Sean Ryan
FS Lynn Scott
OL Matt Tarullo
OT Kurt Vollers
OL Tyson Walter
Place on Injured Reserve:
SS Justin Beriault
LB Kalen Thornton
Signed to the Practice Squad:
WR Tom Crowder
TE Tony Curtis
RB Keylon Kincade
TE Sean Ryan
OL Matt Tarullo
DT Chris Van Hoy
K Shaun Suisham
WR Jamaica Rector
Hits the fan tomorrow......
