达拉斯牛仔休赛期新闻及英文资料汇总贴（30L－大快人心，Roy主力不保！）

直布罗陀岩石

考虑到我们即将迎来一个漫长却不乏新闻的长草期，而队中又随时有可能传出一些诸如“哎哟喂，肉末又换新女友啦”或者“大事不好，Roy还是没被裁掉”之类的新闻，再加上NFL养活了一群吃白食的纱布砖家脑残记者喜欢把一些事情翻来覆去地炒啊磨啊泡啊的，所以这里把一些英文资料或者流言新闻集中汇集着这楼里，除非是比较重大的新闻，否则就不开新帖了。

由于本人精力有限，除牛仔外，不会贴太多与牛仔无关的文章，顶多包括NFC East其他球队其他球员的专栏文章评论分析之类，反正只要顺便看到比较有意思的文章或数据资料之类就贴上来了，做一汇总，以后就不必再google了。

文章来源主要集中于ESPN，SI、YAHOO、官网（官网经常莫名其妙被和谐，所以不一定）也会看，这也是本人主要的NFL信息渠道。基本上都是英文资料，就不翻译了。也欢迎大家看到一些有意思的文章或者图片贴在这里。

导航：
1L－Austin:合同什么的，我从不担心！
2L－5L 牛仔位置观察系列：QB,RB,WR,TE
11L 牛仔位置观察系列：OT
12L 强大的牛仔ST？
13L 牛仔位置观察系列：C/G
14L－老板：我要奥神
15L－Ware还是做手术了……
16L－国东FA排排坐……
17L－没工资帽？那也不乱花钱！
18L－21L牛仔位置观察系列：Safties，Cornerbacks，Outside linebacers，Inside linebackers
22L－K是悲剧？选一个呗
23L－国东选秀观察
24L－肉末2010年不举？！
26L－牛仔位置观察系列：Defensive line
27L－牛仔的意中人
28L－牛仔位置观察系列：Specialists
29L－着眼3月4日
30L－大快人心，Roy主力不保！

直布罗陀岩石

1L－Austin：合同什么的，我从不担心！

Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin said Saturday night he's not worried about his contract status with the team.

Austin, coming off his first Pro Bowl season, is a restricted free agent and the Cowboys have the option of using the franchise designation on him, placing a tender or working out a long-term deal.

"No, not worried at all," Austin said after watching the Sprite Slam Dunk contest at the American Airlines Center. "I have all the confidence in the world in the organization and I'm sure everything will be worked out right."
Thursday was the first day the NFL could place franchise tags on players before the Feb. 25 deadline. The Cowboys haven't placed a franchise tag on Austin, which could net him $9.5 million.
A cheaper way to settle Austin's contract issue is to give him a tender contract offer. The Cowboys could place a first- and third-round tender on Austin, which could cost the team $3.168 million. If a team wants to match the offer, it would have to surrender a first- and third-round pick to the Cowboys.
But the ultimate deal would be a long-term contract.

The Cowboys are playing fellow starting wide receiver Roy Williams an average of $9 million a season.

Austin could command about $6 million on average if he gets a long-term deal.
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said he would like to lock Austin up.
"I don't talk to them," said a smiling Austin when asked about a long-term contract.

Austin's agent David Dunn has worked with the organization in the past and hopes to work out a deal.

When the postseason ended, Austin flew down to South Florida for the Pro Bowl where he caught six passes for 49 yards with no touchdowns.
He enjoyed the Pro Bowl with his family and now that he's back home, he's soaking in the All-Star weekend.
Austin said he's attended only one party, and was headed home on Saturday night. He did say he plans on attending Sunday's All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium.
"I think it's awesome," Austin said of the game being at Cowboys Stadium. "It gets everyone amped up and ready for the Super Bowl [in 2011] and hopefully it gets everything setup so everyone is used [to the stadium] a little bit."
Calvin Watkins covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.

个人点评：

今年的水货PB，如果算上最后关头莫名其妙挤进去的肉末，牛仔有两个undrafted全明星。肉末反正也摸爬滚打这许多年还混过PB了，那Austin就纯粹是在这一年从0到有，崛起速度快的有些吓人，不知道他从哪里冒出来的，也不知道他之前都躲到哪里去了。好了，人怕出名猪怕壮，Austin该要钱了，本来的，现在不要还等何时？
Austin合同restricted，球队选项，要么长期要么接着短一年，Austin一边看着扣篮大赛一边笑呵呵的说不担心，确实，没必要担心。且不说Jerry Jones那鼓囊囊的腰包，就说Austin那6M的合同要价也实在是让人不得不惊呼，我艹，这便宜不占不是纱布吗？何以得出这个结论？看看Roy，他一年挣9M！！
反正牛仔有undrafted传统，QB，WR1都是undrafted，这才好看。个人估计，可以坐等Austin签下长约的消息公布了，而且签了的话，很可能超过6M哦……

直布罗陀岩石

2L－牛仔位置观察系列：QB



The first in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: Tony Romo (signed through 2013), Jon Kitna (signed through 2013), Stephen McGee (signed through 2012)

What went right: Romo, who played every offensive down this season, proved that making plays and placing an emphasis on protecting the ball don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Romo drastically reduced his turnovers in what was arguably his best season. He threw only nine interceptions en route to breaking his own team record with 4,483 yards, the third-most in the NFL. He also ranked among the league’s top 10 in touchdown passes (26th), yards per attempt (8.15) and passer rating (97.6).

This was also the season in which Romo established himself as a leader. He was more vocal with his teammates, saying that he felt he had to earn that right over the years. He set the tone for accountability in the spring by vowing to fix what had been his biggest flaw (turnovers) and following through with it.

What went wrong: Romo wasn’t perfect. He played poorly in the loss to the Giants that spoiled the grand opening of Cowboys Stadium. He struggled in the playoff loss to the Vikings, taking a beating from the Minnesota front four. He never established a rapport with Roy Williams, although a lot of the blame for that goes on the receiver.

Kitna got paid good money to hold a clipboard. His inability to hold for kicks forced Romo into that role when it became an issue late in the season.

The Cowboys need to see much more out of McGee, drafted in the fourth round to be a developmental project. He struggled during training camp and the preseason. It’s too early to declare whether McGee can become an NFL-caliber quarterback, but he needs to show signs next summer.

What’s next: The Cowboys are set at this position. They’ll bring another quarterback to training camp, but that player is probably competing for a spot on the practice squad.

There is still room for Romo to grow, but this is the best the Cowboys have been at quarterback since Troy Aikman’s prime.

个人点评：

不管肉末是不是软蛋之类，实事求是的说这是肉末最好的一个赛季，高传球码数，高成功率，低失误。这也是肉末第一次当leader的赛季，TO走了，牛仔马戏团还是被压在了肉末身上，管他是不是软蛋呢。
Kitna以前什么来头我搞不大清楚，这赛季他光拿钱就是个扶球的，结果最后连扶球都要让肉末上阵。。麦基其实很帅，但是也只是帅而已。
QB就这样了，只要肉末不出事剩下两个就可以开心拿钱不干活了，不管肉末是不是软蛋，反正他也是Troy Aikman之后最好的一个了，这是毋庸置疑的，他不就是软点吗，OL纱布就纱布吗，其他都很好的啊……
我好像说软蛋说太多遍了，没办法，控制不住……

直布罗陀岩石

3L－牛仔位置观察系列：RB



The second in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: Marion Barber (signed through 2014), Felix Jones (signed through 2012), Tashard Choice (signed through 2011), Deon Anderson (signed through 2010)

What went right: The Cowboys accomplished their goal of becoming a top-10 rushing team, ranking seventh in the NFL with 131.4 yards per game. Their average of 4.8 yards per carry was tied for second behind the Tennessee Titans.

Felix Jones missed a couple of games with a sprained knee, but he showed at the end of the season that he’s capable of carrying a heavier workload than he had. Jones had double-digit carries in the final six games, including the playoffs. His 16-carry, 148-yard, one-TD performance in the playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles provided a glimpse of a back with star potential.

Tashard Choice also excelled when given opportunities. His average of 5.5 yards per carry was only slightly lower than Jones, and Choice proved that he can be a dependable third-down back.

What went wrong: Marion Barber had significant health concerns and fading down the stretch for the second consecutive season. He hasn’t provided much bang for the buck after signing a seven-year, $45 million contract.

Barber’s struggles in short-yardage situations are a serious concern. If he doesn’t get stuffed on three consecutive goal-line plays against the Chargers, the Cowboys might have won that game and earned a bye in the playoffs, meaning they wouldn’t have had to travel to Minnesota.

Choice has been a team player, but he’s frustrated that he doesn’t have a larger role. He had only 64 carries in the regular season – and no more than four in any of the last 11 games.

What’s next: The Cowboys have interesting decisions to make this offseason.

The easy decision is to make Jones the lead horse. With the Cowboys’ depth at tailback, he doesn’t need to be a workhorse, but Dallas has to get its most dynamic player about 15 touches per game. He’s a major part of this franchise’s future.

Does Barber come back? He’s due a guaranteed $3.8 million bonus, but the Cowboys might be better off with Jones and Choice sharing carries. Barber is only 26, but the bruising runner appears to already be wearing down.

If the Cowboys keep Barber, Choice could be trade bait. It’d be tough to turn down an offer of a second- or high third-round pick for a No. 3 back.

If either Barber or Choice is gone, the Cowboys will likely draft a tailback in the middle rounds. Considering their recent track record – Barber and Choice were fourth-round picks – that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

Anderson’s job is in serious jeopardy after his recent arrest at an Addison bar and restaurant, resulting in a misdemeanor deadly conduct charge. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones said last week that he had not talked to Anderson yet and didn’t see it as a priority. Tight end John Phillips proved he could play fullback last season, and the Cowboys can find a traditional fullback in the late rounds if they wish.


个人点评：

本来RB倒不算什么大问题，但是最后几场一看，问题来了，Felix把长辫子巴伯踢到板凳上去了！
这个事儿很悬乎，两个RB都有过受伤，本来巴伯挂了Felix要high，结果没两场，Felix自己挂了，巴伯复出，RB1照样做，跑的有模有样，虽然我一直觉得他复出之后跑步姿势就跟瘸子没两样。一切很符合规律，但是Felix像Austin一样莫名其妙的在最后几场大发飙，巴伯在场边看着就是跑不了。
我个人邪恶的理解为，Felix急了，看看二年级的同级生，已经有个2K帝了，其他诸多RB1啊，新生代啊，Felix再不爆发就被同年级甩开了。现在好了，RB1看来是坐上了。巴伯RB2，没啥不好，联盟有几个RB2背着7年45M的巨额合同？我牛真是垃圾合同的乐园……
至于Choice，野猫的隐藏big play帝而已。牛仔RB，Felix领跑，巴伯能复出吗？观望……

直布罗陀岩石

4L－牛仔位置观察系列：WR
The third in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: Miles Austin (restricted free agent), Roy Williams (signed through 2013), Patrick Crayton (signed through 2011), Sam Hurd (restricted free agent), Kevin Ogletree (signed through 2011)

What went right: Miles Austin saved the season by morphing into a Pro Bowler.

Austin didn’t make his starting debut until the fifth game, seizing the opportunity with a franchise-record 250 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished as the NFC’s leader in receiving yards (1,320) and 20-plus-yard catches (21) and ranked second in touchdowns (11).

All Austin did was produce like Terrell Owens in his prime without any of the drama. Austin’s emergence gave Tony Romo a much-needed big-play threat, which opened up the middle of the field for tight end Jason Witten to work.

Patrick Crayton wasn’t pleased to be demoted, but he produced well as a No. 3 receiver. He actually had more yards than Roy Williams, which we’ll discuss more in a moment.

The Cowboys believe they’ve landed another undrafted gem in Kevin Ogletree, who beat out Isaiah Stanback for a roster spot and earned playing time as a rookie. Ogletree showed speed, quickness and solid hands in his limited opportunities.

What went wrong: The Roy Williams trade appears to be one of the worst in recent NFL history.

Williams’ biggest contribution was bruising his ribs against the Denver Broncos, opening up a spot for Austin the next week. The $45 million man was an epic failure during his abbreviated stint as the No. 1 receiver.

Williams ranked among league leaders in drops and has yet to develop a rapport with Romo. Williams believes that Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have lost confidence in him. Although Romo and Garrett deny that, they’d have good reason. Williams (38 catches, 596 yards, seven TDs) was substandard as a starter.

What’s next: Jerry Jones want to lock up Austin to a long-term extension. It won’t come cheap, especially with a receiver who has a $9 million-per-season deal already on the roster.

The Cowboys do have some leverage since Austin is a restricted free agent. They could give him the first- and third-round tender ($3.17 million) and try to work out a deal during the season. That assumes some risk, though, if a team decides the picks are worth the price and constructs an offer that would be difficult for the Cowboys to match.

Letting Austin leave is simply not an option. The Cowboys are incredibly fortunate to have a Pro Bowl receiver just entering his prime.

Williams won’t be going anywhere this offseason, no matter how much Cowboys fans would like to see him go. He’s owed too much money, and releasing him would force Jones to admit a massive mistake.
The question is whether Williams will have to earn his starting job instead of just being penciled in because of his salary.

With a good offseason, Ogletree ought to be ready to challenge Williams. Ogletree is the Cowboys’ fastest and most elusive receiver. Garrett will find ways to get him more involved.

Hurd is down the depth chart, but there’s no reason the Cowboys shouldn’t have him return. He’s arguably the best specials teams player.

Jones has said he doesn’t believe the Cowboys need to draft a receiver, mentioning that he’s intrigued by practice squad players Jesse Holley and Manuel Johnson. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cowboys did select a receiver in the draft, especially with the uncertainty about Williams’ future.


个人点评：

WR的话题一直没断过，或者换句话说，TX Roy的路途永无止境，我才知道Roy也是联盟第一，麻痹，别看不起drop第一。Jason Garrett和肉末都说我们怎么会对Roy失去信心呢，但是费城人不还说我们喜欢多诺万吗？
Austin不谈，等着签约首发发大财。Crayton算是无名英雄之一，接球不多但基本都能接住，他的码数比Roy多，所以也许Crayton下一季是WR2？Olgetree，undrafted rookie，机会更是少之又少，但是看起来他是球队器重的那一个，那么刨去基本没用的Hurd，看来Roy保住WR4希望很大，注意这是一个每年9M，合同总额45M的合同，底特律，你们到底会不会签人？！

直布罗陀岩石

5L－牛仔位置观察系列：TE



The fourth in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: Jason Witten (signed through 2012), Martellus Bennett (signed through 2011), John Phillips (signed through 2012)

What went right: As usual, Witten went to the Pro Bowl. He’s arguably the best all-around tight end in the league.

Witten caught 94 passes for 1,030 yards and played a key role in a running game that ranked seventh in the NFL. He had trouble making plays down the field early in the season, but that changed when Miles Austin forced defenses to use more man coverage on Witten.

John Phillips performed above expectations as a rookie, allowing the Cowboys to use some three tight-end packages, occasionally with him lining up as a fullback. He proved to be a solid blocker, and he responded when Martellus Bennett’s concussion opened up a larger role, catching three passes for 40 yards in the win over the New Orleans Saints.

What went wrong: Bennett’s poor production was one of the offense’s biggest disappointments.

The second-year tight end, who has phenomenal physical tools, appeared to be a budding star during training camp. But Bennett’s numbers (15 catches, 159 yards, no touchdowns) represented a significant drop from his rookie season despite a significantly increased role.

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones made it clear at the end of the season that Bennett needs to be more focused. Bennett has star potential, but he won’t be a reliable target until he stops dropping passes and starts running precise routes.

What’s next: With Witten in his prime and two young backups, the Cowboys are set at this position.

The hope is that Bennett will mature enough to blossom and Phillips will continue to improve. If that’s the case, the Cowboys will have the league’s best tight end trio.

个人点评：

有人跟我说，牛仔其实也就肉末一个软蛋，以Witten为首的还都是硬汉的，什么头盔掉了接着跑，流血不管，受伤照打之类，都是Witten干出来的事儿。这也是牛仔首发里面最不让人担心的位置，你知道球扔给他他一定接得住，当然脚掉下来砸到脚后跟这种百年一遇的就自动屏蔽吧。
backup，一个二年级一个rookie，对Bennett很大期望的，但是他受伤了，他有身材有技术有潜质，但是不可信任。John Philips，没人认识他，但是对老鹰的13年季后赛首胜他拿到一个TD，此人还可以去FB位置抢枪Anderson的饭碗。
这个位置风平浪静，Witten足够低调的强大的掉渣，剩下两个，也够用了……

imny

反正roy11那笔绝对是垃圾签约。。。

rosicky7sky

明年如果发哥走了我也转来做牛仔的球迷

厄尼

牛仔下赛季也是热门了吧？

直布罗陀岩石

牛仔下赛季是热门酱油队，赛程NFC最艰难……

直布罗陀岩石

11L－牛仔位置观察系列：OT

The fifth in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: Flozell Adams (signed through 2013), Marc Colombo (signed through 2012), Doug Free (signed through 2010), Robert Brewster (signed through 2012), Pat McQuistan (restricted free agent)

What went right: Free’s development was extremely encouraging for a franchise that had endured a horrible stretch of offensive line draft busts.

Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, was impressive enough filling in at right tackle for Marc Colombo (broken fibula/torn ankle ligaments) in the final seven games that there was some debate about whether the veteran should have reclaimed the starting job for the playoffs.

Free isn’t as physical as Colombo, who is considered the line’s leader, but the younger tackle has good athleticism and never gives up on plays. His downfield block on Felix Jones’ long touchdown run in the regular-season finale – Free sprinted diagonally across the field and shielded a defensive back to escort Jones into the end zone – was one of the rare times a tackle gets featured on the highlights.
Adams has his flaws, but he’s still an outstanding run blocker who would start at left tackle for most teams in the league. The Cowboys averaged 6.3 yards per run behind left tackle, which ranked third in the league.

What went wrong: Let’s start with the end. The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive ends made the Cowboys look awful in Dallas’ lopsided playoff loss. Colombo, who rushed back from injury for the playoffs, clearly wasn’t 100 percent as he got dominated by Ray Edwards.

Adams, 34, is showing signs of age. He’s always had a lot of false starts (six this season), but he was penalized several other times because he had to make up for being beaten by quicker foes. He allowed eight sacks, which was tied for the 14th most in the league. Colombo, 31, also wasn’t as effective as he was the previous season before he was injured.

Third-round pick Robert Brewster, who could end up moving inside to guard, basically lost a year of development. He has yet to put on shoulder pads as a pro after missing the entire season due to a torn pectoral suffered while lifting weights during the summer.

What’s next: Free’s development prevented tackle from being a desperate draft need, but it’s still a top priority. The Cowboys must prepare for a future without Adams and Colombo.

It will be interesting to see if Free is given a legitimate chance to earn a starting job, either at left or right tackle. His performance as Colombo’s replacement merited that kind of opportunity.

Adams is likely to return despite his big contract and declining talent. He is still valued around Valley Ranch, although this could be the longtime left tackle’s final season with the Cowboys.

个人点评：

先说RT，Doug Free又是个新发现，因为Colombo挂了好久，我原来以为免费哥是凑数的，后来也没什么特别感觉，因为太球盲看不太懂OL的好坏，但是媒体对免费哥评价还不错。对维京人，OL彻底被冲垮搞得肉末被碾成肉末了，Colombo复出但状态一般，免费哥有望竞争主力了。
LT这边，Adams是我牛挤进水货PB的一位，还不是顶替的，但是他是犯规帝，犯规好像都到了上瘾的地步，而且他34了，Colombo31了，左右两个OT，年岁都不小了，还能打但能打多久都不好说，免费好歹能顶一顶RT，那LT这边呢，另外那俩听都没听过……
下赛季的情况就是这么凑凑合合接着过，估计肉末又要有好几场日子过不好了……

直布罗陀岩石

12L－强大的牛仔ST？


On the Sunday following the Super Bowl, special-teams coaches around the league are always on pins and needles. That is because they're waiting for Dallas Morning News NFL columnist Rick "Goose" Gosselin to release his annual special-teams rankings.

Gosselin, my old officemate at the DMN, has developed an intricate system for ranking the special-teams units from all 32 teams. In fact, teams such as the Eagles will often cite Gosselin's report when announcing a new special-teams coach. Surprisingly, the hapless Cleveland Browns were ranked No. 1 this season and the Super Bowl-winning Saints checked in at No. 29.

The Cowboys hired former Jaguars special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis before the '09 season and moved up 23 spots to No. 4 in the overall rankings. The Eagles were 17th, Giants 20th and Redskins 27th. The good news for Eagles fans, though, is that new special-teams coach Bobby April led the third-ranked special-teams unit in Buffalo. OK, here are some other NFC East-related tidbits from the Gosselin rankings:

The Eagles led the league in punt returns with a 13.5-yard average thanks to DeSean Jackson.

• Pete Carroll made a major mistake running off former Cowboys special-teams coach Bruce DeHaven from Seattle. The Seahawks finished 11th in the rankings despite having a bad overall team.
  
  Cowboys opponents had an average starting point at the 22.8-yard line (second in league), something that could be attributed to leading the league in touchbacks. David Buehler deserves major props for his work in that department.
  
  The Cowboys were fourth in the league with 38 punts downed inside the 20. That's one of the main reasons Mat McBriar belonged in the Pro Bowl.
  
• The Eagles and Chargers tied for first in field goals made with 32.
  
•   
  
• The Redskins led the league in giveaways on special teams with five.
  
• I realize the Packers don't play in the Beast, but can you believe they had 28 penalties on special teams? The Falcons had a league-best six.

个人点评：

说实话我一直对美国媒体对数据和排名的痴迷感到十分敬佩，ST居然也有个power ranking，而且牛仔还从27爬到第4，再看一下这个榜单布朗第一，圣徒倒二，不知道所谓的科学system到底是怎么运作的，大概布朗第一是因为某return帝的存在，那么recover SB下半场开场至关重要onside的圣徒ST，就看不懂了……
牛仔ST还是可以的，McBriar的punt还是踢的不错的，这个还是看得懂的，而且我观察了一下大概只有牛仔有两个K，一个专踢FG一个专门kickoff，比起惨不忍睹的FG K，Buehler还是做得很不赖的……
看这则新闻突然注意一句话The Cowboys ranked 30th in field goal percentage with 64.5.有人会忘记牛仔曾经的PB K Folk的陨落吗，然后找来一个更烂的苏一三撑场子吗，就凭这一句就知道，这排名一文不值了……

直布罗陀岩石

13L－牛仔位置观察系列：C/G


The sixth in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: C Andre Gurode (signed through 2012), RG Leonard Davis (signed through 2013), LG Kyle Kosier (signed through 2010), C/G Cory Procter (restricted free agent), G Montrae Holland (unrestricted free agent), C/G Duke Preston (restricted free agent)
What went right: Gurode and Davis were Pro Bowl selections again, although neither had their best seasons.

Kosier actually performed the best of the team’s offensive linemen, according to ex-Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus of ESPN 103.3. After missing most of the 2009 season with a broken foot, Kosier stayed healthy and was a stabilizing force for the offensive line. His ability to get out in space helped spring several big plays.

The Cowboys ranked second in the NFL in yards per carry directly up the middle, averaging 5.24 yards on 144 carries, many of which were lead draws. That fueled a dramatically improved running game.

What went wrong: This group gets some of the blame for the Cowboys’ short-yardage problems.

The Cowboys struggled running the ball behind both guards. They ranked 24th in the NFL behind right guard (3.32 yards per carry) and 19th behind left guard (3.76).

The interior line’s depth wasn’t tested this season, which was a good thing. But Montrae Holland, who was inactive every game and played sparingly the previous season, cost the Cowboys their 2010 fifth-round pick in a trade with the Denver Broncos.

What’s next: Interior offensive line is near the top of the list of Cowboys draft needs.

They need to find a replacement for Kosier, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. That might end up being Robert Brewster, the third-round pick who worked at right tackle last offseason but missed his rookie season with a torn pectoral.

But it’d be surprising if the Cowboys don’t address the guard position early in the draft. Idaho’s Mike Iupati would be a great fit, but he’s expected to be off the board by the time the Cowboys come on the clock at No. 27.

The Cowboys could also draft a center to compete with Procter, who made $1.54 million last season, as Gurode’s backup. This would be a good time to begin grooming an eventual replacement for Gurode, who turns 31 in March.

个人点评：

还是一样，我不是很懂linemen的好坏，但我起码知道Gurode和Davis是PB，所以我觉得他们还行。Kosier被看做是OL里最好的一个，Gurode和Davis中规中矩，LT和RT一个年事已高一个状态存疑，OL里有竞争力的替补除了免费哥一个没有，C/G有三个自由球员，全队唯一的完全自由也在这里，so，看来选秀不选OL是不行了……
牛仔第一轮应该已经锁定Mike Lupati了，据说Senior Bowl已经24/7的全陪了，但问题是，NO.27，谁知道还轮不轮得到，就算轮到一时半会就能顶上主力吗，很难说，况且offseason就有得忙了……
OL看过，Gurode31，Adams34，Colombo31，加上发挥不错的Kosier和Davis，这五个人虽然都属于年老色衰不够看但下个赛季估计还是要拼命顶一顶，起码Gurode，Kosier，Adams的位置还是稳的，唯一能冲击一下的也就免费哥和也许能选到的Lupati了，但个人倾向于下赛季还是这5个……

直布罗陀岩石

14L－老板：我要奥神

The Cowboys have 13 restricted free agents and one unrestricted free agent to deal with this offseason.

But the one player that dominates the discussion on this list is restricted free agent wide receiver Miles Austin.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 103.3 today that Austin isn’t going anywhere.

“We just are not going to have Miles Austin anyplace but with the Dallas Cowboys, we need him,” Jones said. “We got a now time here.”

When the NFL owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement everything went crazy. Players such as Austin who would have been unrestricted free agent, instead, become restricted free agent. The 2010 season becomes an uncapped year giving some teams greater financial freedom to spend, depending on the free agent and the terms that apply to certain teams under the terms of the uncapped year.

As for Austin, the Cowboys could place a franchise tag on him, costing them $9.5 million or a first-and-third round tender offer. If that happens, Austin would get paid $3.168 million and a team who matches the deal would have to give the Cowboys a first-and-third round draft picks as compensation.

But Jones wants a long-term deal for Austin.

How much to pay him in that contract is the issue.

“He will be with the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones said. “When you talk long term and those kinds of areas, that gets into the interesting dynamic that we have.”

个人点评：

意料之中的，Jerry Jones还是出来表态了，奥神是死活要留的，何况2010将是uncapped year，对于JJ这种烧钱帝来说，更加无所顾忌了，钱是要烧的，至于有没有用就顾不得了……
之前预测给奥神一个特权标签，谁想要奥神，开一个9.5M合同加上1，3轮选秀拿来，但是这应该是不会发生了，JJ会大大方方给个长期合同然后皆大欢喜，奥神成为又一个变成镀金凤凰的小麻雀，最后的问题只是合同价码会是多少，那就等着好了……

直布罗陀岩石

15L－Ware还是做手术了……

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday to shave down a bone spur on his left foot.
Ware wanted to wait until after the Pro Bowl, which he played in earlier this month, before having the procedure.
Ware, who led the Cowboys with 11 sacks and led the NFL in quarterback pressures, battled through injuries for most of the year. He sustained a severely sprained neck against San Diego on Dec. 13 and was carted off the field on a gurney. Despite the belief that he would miss two games, returned to play the following week vs. New Orleans.
Ware also suffered from back stiffness, a chipped bone in his left wrist and a stress fracture in his left foot. However, he didn't miss any games and finished the season with 57 tackles and five forced fumbles.
Calvin Watkins covers the Cowboys for ESPN Dallas. You can follow him on Twitter or leave a question for his weekly mailbag.

个人点评：

Ware还是做手术了，那个从场上抬下去然后伸出一根手指指向观众好像我放心的离去你们好好过了一般悲壮，然后下一场又爬起来作战的硬汉Ware终于要做手术了，本来嘛，7个月休赛期，你不用来做手术都对不起自己，但是，为了水货PB而推迟手术，至于吗，本来这种不允许blitz的比赛就根本不应该设置OLB的位置，你居然……敬业不是这么敬的……

直布罗陀岩石

16L－国东FA排排坐……


An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC East.

Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.

Dallas Cowboys

Unrestricted free agents: G Montrae Holland

Key figures: The Cowboys don't have a huge interest in retaining Holland, a man who's never really challenged for playing time. But Dallas has a long list of restricted free agents because of the likely scenario of an uncapped 2010 season. Wide receiver Miles Austin is obviously the biggest name on the list. The Cowboys would like to get a long-term contract done, but Austin's going to be asking for big money after his breakout season. For now, the Cowboys will likely sign Austin to the highest tender, which would pay him roughly $3 million in 2010. There's also a chance Dallas will try to work something out with restricted free agent Marcus Spears. Owner Jerry Jones has been very complimentary of Spears' work in '09, so we'll see if he receives an extension. It will also be interesting to see whether the Cowboys reward safety Gerald Sensabaugh for a fine '09 season. He's seeking a multiyear extension. But with the potential of a lockout in 2011, negotiations are up in the air.

New York Giants

Unrestricted free agents: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, P Jeff Feagles, DT Fred Robbins
Key figures: The Giants would like an upgrade at the backup quarterback position, but it's not like there are a bunch of reliable candidates floating around. It will be interesting to see how much progress Rhett Bomar makes this offseason. Coach Tom Coughlin loves what Clark brings to the locker room, but the player looked slow in coverage and he's a progress stopper at this point in his career. It's time to let him move on. Feagles can punt until he's 50 -- and he might give it a try. Robbins was benched late in the season, so the writing's on the wall with him. His production has tailed off the past two seasons because he's been asked to stay on the field too much.

Philadelphia Eagles

Unrestricted free agents: DE Jason Babin, S Sean Jones

Key figures: The man who's missing a major payday (for a fullback) is Leonard Weaver. He was an All-Pro for the Eagles and he would be an unrestricted free agent if not for the uncapped season in 2010. The Eagles now hold the hammer in negotiations -- and they've been known to use it at times. Babin is a decent pass-rush specialist, but he sort of faded down the stretch. Jones is a capable backup, but he should not be in the starting mix. Philadelphia would be wise to work something out with restricted free-agent guard/center Nick Cole. He's a versatile player who bailed out Andy Reid when the Stacy Andrews experiment didn't pan out in '09. And no matter his status as a restricted free agent, it's time to get something done with Jason Avant. He's quietly carved out a very important niche in this offense.

Washington Redskins

Unrestricted free agents: LS Ethan Albright, OT Levi Jones, DE Phillip Daniels, C Casey Rabach, P Hunter Smith, G Mike Williams, DE Renaldo Wynn, P Todd Yoder

Key figures: Cornerback Carlos Rogers is a restricted free agent, but he's looking for a new destination. It will be interesting to see what Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett choose to do with Rogers. Will they try to get him back on the right path or see if they can deal him for a mid-round draft pick? This unrestricted list doesn't have a lot of juice. Rabach could certainly help a team at center, but he didn't set the league on fire in '09. It's probably time to move on without aging players such as Wynn and Daniels. I enjoyed the Williams weight loss story, but it's hard to imagine him being part of the rebuilding process at Redskins Park.

This we'll be the dullest free-agency period in years, but we'll be here to cover all the non-action.

个人点评：

先看牛仔，完全自由就一个不想要的废渣，受限的一堆，13个，重要的就是奥神，Spears和森萨爆，奥神没的说，长约续上。Spears JJ喜欢，森萨爆的表现其实中规中矩，今年二线的亮点在CB不在S何况他还受伤，但这三人我都看好能留下，剩下的……剩下的我都不知道还有谁……
巨人的完全自由也没什么亮点，续约一个P可能问题不大，Carr估计兴趣不大反正只是Eli的备胎，Clark也不想要，另一个压根不认识……
老鹰这边似乎跟牛仔差不多，受限的是重点，包括全明星FB Weaver，C/G Cole还有Avant，老鹰情况不熟，但觉得这三人应该能留下……
红皮更不熟，尤其换了香辣汗就更难说了，受限里有个Rogers，看起来要走但也许有留下的余地，剩下的完全自由里据本文介绍就基本没什么货了……
写完才发现这篇文章还是很水的，没货，凑合看吧……

直布罗陀岩石

17L－没工资帽？那也不乱花钱！

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones says the team doesn't plan to spend wildly on free agents if the NFL has no salary cap in 2010.
Jones said Wednesday that the Cowboys agreed to expensive, long-term deals with the likes of Tony Romo and linebacker DeMarcus Ware to keep them off the market in a year when teams might have no limit on spending.
Because of the money tied up in those deals, Jones says the Cowboys aren't interested in a spending spree. He also says they don't see a need for major changes after their first playoff win in 13 years.
The NFL will play without a salary cap next season unless a new labor deal is reached. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2011.

个人点评：

下赛季就要没有工资帽了，按说这该是牛仔的春天了啊，Jerry Jones大把钞票正是打造又一个邪恶帝国之时，还在纳闷为什么毫无动作，结果可好表态来了，冤大头可以有，坚决不做邪恶帝国！看来重金砸出一个SB的梦想是要破灭了……史上第一个在主场参加SB的光荣也没戏了……

直布罗陀岩石

18L－牛仔位置观察系列：Safties



The seventh in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys’ position groups:

Players: FS Ken Hamlin (signed through 2013), SS Gerald Sensabaugh (restricted free agent), FS Alan Ball (exclusive rights free agent), SS Pat Watkins (restricted free agent), SS Michael Hamlin (signed through 2012)

What went right: The addition of Sensabaugh solidified the secondary. His coverage skills were a major upgrade over Roy Williams and the rest of the strong safeties the Cowboys used in 2008.
Sensabaugh’s playmaking ability was limited because he played most of the season with a cast protecting his broken right thumb, which caused him to miss only one game. He had only one interception but deflected 10 passes. The coaches felt comfortable putting Sensabaugh in man coverage against most tight ends and some receivers, allowing Wade Phillips freedom with his defensive play-calling.

Ball, a converted cornerback, proved that he can be a reliable free safety during his four-game stint as the starter when Ken Hamlin was injured. Ball is good in coverage, and he wasn’t a liability against the run despite weighing only 188 pounds.

What went wrong: The Cowboys simply need their safeties to make more plays.

That was Jerry Jones’ top concern at midseason. Nothing happened down the stretch to change that.

Sensabaugh was the only safety with an interception. Ken Hamlin, two seasons into a six-year, $39 million deal, didn’t create any turnovers and deflected only four passes.

A lack of turnovers is the only thing keeping the Dallas defense from being dominant. The safeties must be more opportunistic.





That was a major reason why the Cowboys drafted Michael Hamlin, who holds Clemson’s career interception record with 14, in the fifth round. But he broke his wrist in the final preseason game and spent most of the season on the inactive list.

What’s next: The Cowboys have a decision to make with Ken Hamlin. Less than a fifth of his $5.6 million salary is guaranteed, so there is a strong possibility that he could be released.

The odds increase if a free safety the Cowboys like is available in the first or second round. Their emphasis at the position is on coverage, so USC’s Taylor Mays might not be a good fit even if he slides to the 27th overall pick. Texas’ Earl Thomas would be a great fit if other teams shy away from him in the first round due to concern about his size (5-10, 197).

Ball will be back and has earned the right to compete for a starting job, whether Hamlin is on the roster or not. There are some at Valley Ranch who thought Ball performed better than Hamlin last season, but Phillips values Hamlin’s communication ability.

Watkins, a restricted free agent, has value because of his work on special teams. He’s had trouble staying healthy, but he consistently ranks among the team’s top tacklers on punt and kickoff coverage.

个人点评：

牛仔的防守端，front 7还不错，但是secondary就是一坨，而二线里面最烂就是两个S，也是完全拿不出手的。两个主力赛季中都频繁受伤，替补也都是不太入流的选手，Safties整季一共一个INT，真不知道拿钱都干了什么，这个位置和OL一样是牛仔的主要issue，在选秀中选到Earl Thomas这样的好手会很棒，同时希望Michael Hamlin能够打出来，有点期待……

直布罗陀岩石

19L－牛仔位置观察系列：Cornerbacks



The eighth in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys' position groups:

Players: Mike Jenkins (signed through 2012), Terence Newman (signed through 2014), Orlando Scandrick (signed through 2011), Cletis Gordon (restricted free agent)

What went right: The Cowboys had two cornerbacks go to the Pro Bowl.
Jenkins emerged as a star in his second season after winning a competition opposite Newman. Jenkins consistently excelled in press-man coverage, usually with little help from the safeties, and gave the secondary a much-needed playmaking dimension. His five interceptions tied for the eighth most in the NFC.

Newman stayed healthy for the entire season for the first time in two years, earning his second Pro Bowl appearance. He had three forced fumbles and three interceptions. His most impressive performance came in the Week 3 win over the Carolina Panthers, when he held Steve Smith to four catches for 38 yards and returned an interception for a touchdown to seal the win.

What went wrong: Scandrick took a step back after an outstanding rookie season.

The New York Giants picked on Scandrick in his only start, and it took him about half the season to regain his swagger and focus. He dealt with the disappointment of losing the starting job to Jenkins professionally, but it affected his performance.

Scandrick, the slot corner in the nickel and dime packages, performed up to expectations in the second half of the season.

The Cowboys got away with having very little depth at cornerback. Alan Ball, whose primary focus was free safety, was the fourth corner.

What’s next: The Cowboys will have one of the top trios in the NFC again next season.

Cornerback is a draft need, but the Cowboys don’t need to use a premium pick at the position. Newman has at least two or three good years left in him. Jenkins and Scandrick could form an outstanding starting tandem for years to come.

个人点评：

虽然二线是悲剧，但是CB还是让人欣慰的，两个CB都替补入选PB，Jenkins表现大亮，5int，纽曼也中规中矩，3int。后面的Scandrick也是不错的新秀，三个人的职业生涯还都在好光景，只是虽然表现都不错但距离顶级CB还都差得相当远，只有希望不断不断的进步了……

直布罗陀岩石

20L－牛仔位置观察系列：Outside linebackers



The ninth in a series looking at each of the Dallas Cowboys' position groups:

Players: DeMarcus Ware (signed through 2015), Anthony Spencer (signed through 2011), Victor Butler (signed through 2012), Brandon Williams (signed through 2012), Steve Octavien (exclusive rights free agent), Curtis Johnson (signed through 2010)
What went right: Spencer justified the decision to release veteran Greg Ellis by emerging as an impact player.

Spencer was sackless through 10 games, but he was a consistent force against the run (team-high nine tackles for losses) and arguably the Cowboys’ most dominant defensive player down the stretch. He had eight sacks in the final eight games, including the playoffs, serving notice that blocking schemes better also account for the guy on the opposite side of Ware.

Ware was an All-Pro again despite battling through an assortment of injuries that included a stress fracture in his foot, a chip fracture in his wrist, a strained neck and a sore back. He still didn’t miss a game, racking up 11 sacks, 45 quarterback pressures and five forced fumbles.

Ware’s performance in the win over the previously undefeated New Orleans Saints ranks among the most inspirational in franchise history. Six days after being carted off the Cowboys Stadium turf into an ambulance with a neck injury, Ware had two sack-strips, including one that sealed the win.

What went wrong: The Cowboys were counting on one of their fourth-round picks to be a reliable pass-rushing specialist who could spell the starters. That didn’t happen.

Williams, out of Texas Tech, suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. His power and quickness had given him a slight edge over Butler coming out of training camp.

Butler had three sacks in limited playing time, but he failed to earn the coaches’ trust. Wade Phillips, who usually goes out of his way to emphasize the positives about his players, did not hesitate to say he didn’t believe Butler was ready for a significant role.

What’s next: The Cowboys locked up Ware with a six-year, $78 million contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed. While Spencer won’t get that kind of money, he also has a prominent place in the Cowboys’ long-term plans.

The starting outside linebackers are set for years.

The Cowboys are counting on the development of Williams and Butler, so they don’t believe that they need to draft an outside linebacker. However, the presence of last season’s two fourth-rounders won’t prevent the Cowboys from selecting another player at their position if they think it’s a good value pick.

个人点评：

OLB应该算是牛仔队中最不担忧的位置，Ware不谈，铁汉PB，牛仔防守组的领袖。Spencer本季成长迅猛，后半程突然发力令人刮目相看。Ware长约已经拿下，Spencer同样锁定，这一位置在今后数年都已锁定，算是令人放心了。