NFC East: Stephen McGee
So the draft is tomorrow, which I understand some people are excited about. The prospects have arrived in New York City. I dropped by the EA Sports event in Manhattan on Tuesday night and met Robert Griffin III and Fletcher Cox and some other folks. I always enjoy this part of the draft -- the days leading up to the thing itself, when these kids get to feel like kings of the world before the real work starts. Invariably, several of them are making their first-ever trip to New York, and as someone who grew up going to school field trips there, I have always found it to be a lot of fun to meet someone who's experiencing it for the first time.
Anyway, don't panic if things slow down a bit today. I am going up to Bristol for a meeting and then stopping back in Manhattan on the way home for another pre-draft event at which I hope to do some interviews that will assist me in writing intelligent and informative stories and columns on the players your favorite teams draft Thursday night. There will be posts today, but as I said, it could get a little slow. You get me all night Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday, so you'll have plenty of time to get sick of me before this is all said and done. And in the meantime, you know I'd never let you go a day without your links.
Dallas Cowboys
One of the topics Tony Romo addressed during his news conference Tuesday was the amount of time he has left as the starting quarterback of the Cowboys. Romo, who just turned 32, says he hasn't thought about it because, "Unless you start to regress in your abilities, that doesn't enter your thoughts." I think Romo's of a different mind on this issue than a lot of Cowboys fans are, and I think the team is as well. If the Cowboys draft a quarterback in the middle or late rounds this weekend, it will say more about their feelings on Stephen McGee as capable backup than it will about long-term worries about life after Romo.
In non-Romo news, Anthony Spencer showed up and worked out at the team facility on the day after he signed his franchise tender. Spencer's still hoping for a long-term deal, and it still doesn't look as though he's going to get one anytime soon.
New York Giants
Eli Manning joked that, in spite of the Giants' Super Bowl championship, he's still the third-most talked-about quarterback in New York. I think he's right, though I feel fairly certain that young Mark Sanchez would be happy to trade places with him in those rankings.
We have written a lot lately on this blog about the Giants and their approach to the draft. Peter King has a pretty outstanding in-depth look at the way the Giants have been built, and it's worth a read for non-Giants fans as well.
Philadelphia Eagles
If the Eagles want to get a player like Fletcher Cox or Luke Kuechly in the first round Thursday, it looks as though they may have to trade up. They can, since they have enough picks, and they might, if they decide one of those guys is worth it. A trade-up is just one of the scenarios Jonathan Tamari examines for the Eagles.
The Atlanta Falcons are indeed trying to trade for Asante Samuel, who at this point has to be dealt before the end of the draft or the Eagles are going to have a big problem. And again, it's not that Samuel can't play anymore. It's a salary dump for cap room they'll need to sign LeSean McCoy and their draft picks. Don't be surprised if all they get is a sixth-round pick.
Washington Redskins
The answer to the popular question of whether Graham Gano is safe as the Redskins' kicker became a very loud "no" on Tuesday when it was revealed that Neil Rackers has agreed to contract terms with Washington. I guess they'll bring them both to camp and let them fight it out, but Rackers' resume indicates that he's well-equipped to win the fight.
Rich Campbell's already up here, tailing Robert Griffin III around the Big Apple, and Griffin says the meetings he's had over the past several weeks with Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have been useful and productive. You will continue to read more about Griffin on this blog over the next 48 hours.
Anyway, don't panic if things slow down a bit today. I am going up to Bristol for a meeting and then stopping back in Manhattan on the way home for another pre-draft event at which I hope to do some interviews that will assist me in writing intelligent and informative stories and columns on the players your favorite teams draft Thursday night. There will be posts today, but as I said, it could get a little slow. You get me all night Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday, so you'll have plenty of time to get sick of me before this is all said and done. And in the meantime, you know I'd never let you go a day without your links.
Dallas Cowboys
One of the topics Tony Romo addressed during his news conference Tuesday was the amount of time he has left as the starting quarterback of the Cowboys. Romo, who just turned 32, says he hasn't thought about it because, "Unless you start to regress in your abilities, that doesn't enter your thoughts." I think Romo's of a different mind on this issue than a lot of Cowboys fans are, and I think the team is as well. If the Cowboys draft a quarterback in the middle or late rounds this weekend, it will say more about their feelings on Stephen McGee as capable backup than it will about long-term worries about life after Romo.
In non-Romo news, Anthony Spencer showed up and worked out at the team facility on the day after he signed his franchise tender. Spencer's still hoping for a long-term deal, and it still doesn't look as though he's going to get one anytime soon.
New York Giants
Eli Manning joked that, in spite of the Giants' Super Bowl championship, he's still the third-most talked-about quarterback in New York. I think he's right, though I feel fairly certain that young Mark Sanchez would be happy to trade places with him in those rankings.
We have written a lot lately on this blog about the Giants and their approach to the draft. Peter King has a pretty outstanding in-depth look at the way the Giants have been built, and it's worth a read for non-Giants fans as well.
Philadelphia Eagles
If the Eagles want to get a player like Fletcher Cox or Luke Kuechly in the first round Thursday, it looks as though they may have to trade up. They can, since they have enough picks, and they might, if they decide one of those guys is worth it. A trade-up is just one of the scenarios Jonathan Tamari examines for the Eagles.
The Atlanta Falcons are indeed trying to trade for Asante Samuel, who at this point has to be dealt before the end of the draft or the Eagles are going to have a big problem. And again, it's not that Samuel can't play anymore. It's a salary dump for cap room they'll need to sign LeSean McCoy and their draft picks. Don't be surprised if all they get is a sixth-round pick.
Washington Redskins
The answer to the popular question of whether Graham Gano is safe as the Redskins' kicker became a very loud "no" on Tuesday when it was revealed that Neil Rackers has agreed to contract terms with Washington. I guess they'll bring them both to camp and let them fight it out, but Rackers' resume indicates that he's well-equipped to win the fight.
Rich Campbell's already up here, tailing Robert Griffin III around the Big Apple, and Griffin says the meetings he's had over the past several weeks with Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have been useful and productive. You will continue to read more about Griffin on this blog over the next 48 hours.
Dallas Cowboys
Like many members of the Cowboys family, Darren Woodson says he was hit hard by the news of the death of former special-teams coach Joe Avezzano.
The Cowboys have claimed quarterback Rudy Carpenter off waivers from the Buccaneers. This says a lot, I would think, about Stephen McGee and his tenuous hold on the team's No. 3 quarterback spot behind Tony Romo and Kyle Orton.
New York Giants
Former Giant Carl Banks tells the New York Daily News that the Gregg Williams speech that got all of the attention Thursday was more or less standard Saturday-night pregame stuff, though "some of the stuff was over the line." I think that's the point. In the current NFL culture, where player safety is a paramount issue, the revelation that coaches are encouraging players to target specific existing injuries just doesn't fit. This thing that came to light Thursday wasn't about bounties. It was about intent to injure, and the warning that went out league-wide (if people were listening) was that such specifics need to stop being part of pregame speeches. No matter how common a practice it has been up until now.
The staff of Giants.com debates some questions regarding the team's safety position and its outlook for the 2012 season.
Philadelphia Eagles
In this story about Demetress Bell's introductory news conference in Philadelphia, we learn that Eagles offensive line coach Howard Mudd was the one who encouraged the tackle who used to call himself Demetrius Bell to come forward with what turns out to be the correct spelling of his first name.
The Eagles' website takes a big-picture look at the offensive line as a whole with Bell in place as its new left tackle.
Washington Redskins
Former Redskins and current 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers came to the defense of Williams, the embattled former Redskins and Saints defensive coordinator.
The release a few weeks ago of veteran fullback Mike Sellers didn't get a lot of attention, but it had an effect on current fullback Darrel Young, who credits Sellers for help with his development.
Like many members of the Cowboys family, Darren Woodson says he was hit hard by the news of the death of former special-teams coach Joe Avezzano.
The Cowboys have claimed quarterback Rudy Carpenter off waivers from the Buccaneers. This says a lot, I would think, about Stephen McGee and his tenuous hold on the team's No. 3 quarterback spot behind Tony Romo and Kyle Orton.
New York Giants
Former Giant Carl Banks tells the New York Daily News that the Gregg Williams speech that got all of the attention Thursday was more or less standard Saturday-night pregame stuff, though "some of the stuff was over the line." I think that's the point. In the current NFL culture, where player safety is a paramount issue, the revelation that coaches are encouraging players to target specific existing injuries just doesn't fit. This thing that came to light Thursday wasn't about bounties. It was about intent to injure, and the warning that went out league-wide (if people were listening) was that such specifics need to stop being part of pregame speeches. No matter how common a practice it has been up until now.
The staff of Giants.com debates some questions regarding the team's safety position and its outlook for the 2012 season.
Philadelphia Eagles
In this story about Demetress Bell's introductory news conference in Philadelphia, we learn that Eagles offensive line coach Howard Mudd was the one who encouraged the tackle who used to call himself Demetrius Bell to come forward with what turns out to be the correct spelling of his first name.
The Eagles' website takes a big-picture look at the offensive line as a whole with Bell in place as its new left tackle.
Washington Redskins
Former Redskins and current 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers came to the defense of Williams, the embattled former Redskins and Saints defensive coordinator.
The release a few weeks ago of veteran fullback Mike Sellers didn't get a lot of attention, but it had an effect on current fullback Darrel Young, who credits Sellers for help with his development.
Some teams ignore backup quarterback, often to their detriment. (See: 2011 Colts, Bears, et al) Other teams really, really really don't. The Dallas Cowboys fall into the latter group. They do not feel comfortable if they don't have a veteran backup who can step in and start an NFL game if Tony Romo goes down with an injury. That's why they put in a claim for Kyle Orton when he was waived by Denver during the 2011 season and that's why they have agreed to terms with Orton on a new three-year contract.
When Romo got hurt two years ago, the Cowboys were able to plug in Jon Kitna, a former NFL starter who retired this offseason, and operate their offense basically just as well as it operated under Romo. Kitna wasn't as good as Romo is, and neither is Orton, but given the number of weapons the Cowboys have on offense, they want their worst-case scenario to be a quarterback who won't get rattled by NFL pressure and can get the ball to the right people. Orton, who began each of the past two seasons as the Broncos' starting quarterback and lost his job in 2011 to the Tim Tebow phenomenon, fits the description. If he has to start a lot of games for the Cowboys, they're probably in trouble. But if he has to start one or two -- or finish a game in which Romo gets injured -- they won't have to worry whether he can handle the responsibility.
The other quarterback on the Cowboys' roster is Stephen McGee, who was their fourth-round draft pick three years ago and hasn't seen enough action to be counted on in the event that they need a starter.
Orton was also on the radar for the Washington Redskins, who are in the market for a backup to the rookie quarterback they plan to draft with the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft. But the Cowboys got him instead. Now, they need to sign a defensive back. More on that later, I believe, as we continue to track what's going on with Brandon Carr.
The other quarterback on the Cowboys' roster is Stephen McGee, who was their fourth-round draft pick three years ago and hasn't seen enough action to be counted on in the event that they need a starter.
Orton was also on the radar for the Washington Redskins, who are in the market for a backup to the rookie quarterback they plan to draft with the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft. But the Cowboys got him instead. Now, they need to sign a defensive back. More on that later, I believe, as we continue to track what's going on with Brandon Carr.
Calvin Watkins is a guy I used to know back when I used to write about the Dallas Cowboys on this blog. Good guy. Knows his stuff. ESPNDallas.com is lucky to have him. And since you guys all seem to be harping on this whole "Hey, there are still three other teams in this division, you know" thing, I decided to wander over there to see what Calvin had to say about the Cowboys today. I found the second part of their "Fixing the Cowboys" series, in which Calvin ponders several things, including the idea that the Cowboys should think toward the future and maybe pick a quarterback somewhere up high in April's draft:
This is nothing against Tony Romo, but he has two-years left on his contract and Stephen McGee is the backup and doesn't appear ready to become a No. 1 quarterback in this league. The Cowboys' window to win a title with Romo is growing short, so drafting a quarterback in the second round not only raises the competition level at the position, it also sends a message to the rest of the team. Nobody is expendable.
The Cowboys won't have a shot at Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, but Ryan Tannehill, Nick Foles and Brandon Weeden are projected as late first-round to middle second-round selections. The Cowboys do have plenty of holes on the roster, but they've done a poor job in taking care of their depth. Getting a young quarterback with potential adds to the roster.
An interesting idea, to be sure, and Calvin's logic is not unsound. My only rebuttal is that this was No. 4 on Calvin's list, behind the offensive line, the secondary and the Laurent Robinson situation as it pertains to their depth at wide receiver. The Cowboys have a great many concerns to address in this year's draft, and while it might make sense to draft a project quarterback you think can develop into something special and take over for Romo years down the line when he's done, I'm not sold on the wisdom of the Cowboys using a first-round or second-round pick on at quarterback at this particular time.
What does Cowboys' McBriar move mean?
December, 31, 2011
12/31/11
7:22
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By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
Bit of a last-minute roster surprise, as the Dallas Cowboys put their excellent punter, Mat McBriar, on injured reserve Saturday, the day before they will play the New York Giants in a game to decide the NFC East champion. McBriar has been dealing with left foot problems all season, but said this week he felt good enough to punt Sunday. Instead, Chris Jones will handle punting duties for Dallas on Sunday and, if they win, in the playoffs.
In another move, the Cowboys added quarterback Chris Greisen from the practice squad. That means they'll have three quarterbacks available Sunday night, and that's what raises the eyebrow a little bit.
Tony Romo, the Cowboys' starting quarterback, injured his right hand in last weekend's loss to the Eagles. Though he's practiced all week, and I'm 100 percent certain he'll start Sunday's game, you have to wonder if the move with Greisen means the Cowboys are at least a little bit concerned about Romo's ability to make it through the game all the way. Stephen McGee is the backup quarterback and played in Romo's place last weekend, but if Romo were unable to throw, they'd theoretically be left only with McGee, and would need someone to step in if he got hurt.
Of course, Greisen could also have been called up to serve as Dan Bailey's holder on field goals, since Romo did that the last time regular holder McBriar was unable to play. We will see, but the mystery surrounding Romo and his throwing hand appears as though it will linger at least a little bit into the most important game of the Cowboys' season.
In another move, the Cowboys added quarterback Chris Greisen from the practice squad. That means they'll have three quarterbacks available Sunday night, and that's what raises the eyebrow a little bit.
Tony Romo, the Cowboys' starting quarterback, injured his right hand in last weekend's loss to the Eagles. Though he's practiced all week, and I'm 100 percent certain he'll start Sunday's game, you have to wonder if the move with Greisen means the Cowboys are at least a little bit concerned about Romo's ability to make it through the game all the way. Stephen McGee is the backup quarterback and played in Romo's place last weekend, but if Romo were unable to throw, they'd theoretically be left only with McGee, and would need someone to step in if he got hurt.
Of course, Greisen could also have been called up to serve as Dan Bailey's holder on field goals, since Romo did that the last time regular holder McBriar was unable to play. We will see, but the mystery surrounding Romo and his throwing hand appears as though it will linger at least a little bit into the most important game of the Cowboys' season.
Breakfast links: Giants' run game picks up
December, 26, 2011
12/26/11
8:00
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By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
One week to go in the NFC East, one game for all the marbles. You can't start a week like this without your links.
New York Giants (8-7)
The Giants still have the worst rushing offense in the league at 88.1 yards per game, but they've been much better lately, averaging 100.3 rush yards per game over their past three. After totaling 6 rush yards in the first half Saturday against the Jets, they poured on 109 in the second half, and their ability to win the physical battles up front that they weren't winning earlier in the seaosn was a key to their ability to control the game late.
The NFL will not be looking into the postgame exchange between Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and Jets coach Rex Ryan, according to Jenny Vrentas. Dumb situation that arose between two hotheads who should have just ignored each other. The Star-Ledger has reported that Jacobs started it by yelling, "Time to shut up, fat boy!" But like the league, I'm done with this situation. Said what I had to say.
Dallas Cowboys (8-7)
The Cowboys think they may have found a spark in the kick return game with Dwayne Harris, who averaged 42.5 yards on his two kick returns against the Eagles. The return game is an area in which the Giants can be vulnerable, so this is something to watch in Sunday night's game. It's been a problem area for the Cowboys for much of this season.
The Cowboys like to have a veteran backup quarterback behind Tony Romo, but with Jon Kitna injured, Stephen McGee got his first significant first-team action of the season in the hopes of showing the team that he's ready to be Romo's No. 2 next season. He wasn't all that great, but Jerry Jones said it was a tough situation for a young player to find himself in, and that he saw some things from McGee that he liked.
Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)
Once the Giants game went final Saturday and the Eagles were officially out of the playoffs, it was the Cowboys who took their foot off the gas. But Bob Ford wonders why the Eagles didn't do the same, since they were putting Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy and some other key 2012 pieces at risk by leaving them out there against DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas defense.
As Jonathan Tamari writes, Sunday's regular-season finale could be the final home game as an Eagle for wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The situation with Jackson, whose hopes for a contract extension suffered during his disappointing season, is one of several fascinating offseason scenarios about to play out once this Eagles season comes to its actual end.
Washington Redskins (5-10)
Jason Reid tried but struggled to remember all of the good things that have happened for the Redskins this year while he watched one of their most perplexing losses of the season. I can see that. Given the quality of the opposition, I'm not sure the Washington defense has had a worse game this season. Not sure how much that means for the future -- could mean nothing at all. But it sure was weird.
Rich Campbell says that while Rex Grossman has done a capable job as the Redskins' quarterback, his turnover issues are too much to overlook, and that the team once again finds itself at a quarterback crossroads as the season comes to a close. It has to be the Redskins' No. 1 offseason priority to upgrade that position. Even if a rookie's back there next year throwing interceptions, at least it'll ideally be somebody they think has big-time franchise-QB upside. Ideally.
New York Giants (8-7)
The Giants still have the worst rushing offense in the league at 88.1 yards per game, but they've been much better lately, averaging 100.3 rush yards per game over their past three. After totaling 6 rush yards in the first half Saturday against the Jets, they poured on 109 in the second half, and their ability to win the physical battles up front that they weren't winning earlier in the seaosn was a key to their ability to control the game late.
The NFL will not be looking into the postgame exchange between Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and Jets coach Rex Ryan, according to Jenny Vrentas. Dumb situation that arose between two hotheads who should have just ignored each other. The Star-Ledger has reported that Jacobs started it by yelling, "Time to shut up, fat boy!" But like the league, I'm done with this situation. Said what I had to say.
Dallas Cowboys (8-7)
The Cowboys think they may have found a spark in the kick return game with Dwayne Harris, who averaged 42.5 yards on his two kick returns against the Eagles. The return game is an area in which the Giants can be vulnerable, so this is something to watch in Sunday night's game. It's been a problem area for the Cowboys for much of this season.
The Cowboys like to have a veteran backup quarterback behind Tony Romo, but with Jon Kitna injured, Stephen McGee got his first significant first-team action of the season in the hopes of showing the team that he's ready to be Romo's No. 2 next season. He wasn't all that great, but Jerry Jones said it was a tough situation for a young player to find himself in, and that he saw some things from McGee that he liked.
Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)
Once the Giants game went final Saturday and the Eagles were officially out of the playoffs, it was the Cowboys who took their foot off the gas. But Bob Ford wonders why the Eagles didn't do the same, since they were putting Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy and some other key 2012 pieces at risk by leaving them out there against DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas defense.
As Jonathan Tamari writes, Sunday's regular-season finale could be the final home game as an Eagle for wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The situation with Jackson, whose hopes for a contract extension suffered during his disappointing season, is one of several fascinating offseason scenarios about to play out once this Eagles season comes to its actual end.
Washington Redskins (5-10)
Jason Reid tried but struggled to remember all of the good things that have happened for the Redskins this year while he watched one of their most perplexing losses of the season. I can see that. Given the quality of the opposition, I'm not sure the Washington defense has had a worse game this season. Not sure how much that means for the future -- could mean nothing at all. But it sure was weird.
Rich Campbell says that while Rex Grossman has done a capable job as the Redskins' quarterback, his turnover issues are too much to overlook, and that the team once again finds itself at a quarterback crossroads as the season comes to a close. It has to be the Redskins' No. 1 offseason priority to upgrade that position. Even if a rookie's back there next year throwing interceptions, at least it'll ideally be somebody they think has big-time franchise-QB upside. Ideally.
I guess I'm the only one who still doesn't get it. All week, a whole bunch of people kept insisting that, if the New York Giants beat the New York Jets in the early game Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys' late game against the Philadelphia Eagles wouldn't matter. I don't know why it was so important to everyone that this be true. I only know that it wasn't. If the Cowboys had won, and if the Atlanta Falcons had lost their final two games, the Cowboys could still have been a wild-card team even if they'd lost to the Giants next week.
That's their choice, I guess. But if the Falcons lose to the Saints on Monday and get upset by the Buccaneers (yeah, yeah, I know) next week, this is going to come up again. And the Cowboys, if they lose to the Giants, will have to answer for it.
As it stands, the matter is still in their hands. If they beat the Giants, they're in. And they certainly could do that. The game a couple of weeks ago was close until the end, with the Giants winning in a game in which neither defense could stop the opposing offense. The same thing could happen next Sunday. You don't know which Giants team is going to show up from one week to the next. They played defense on Saturday better than they'd played it in two months. I don't know where it came from or if it'll show up again next week. If it doesn't, the Cowboys have a fine chance to win the road game and get into the playoffs. But if it does, it's going to be tough.
The Cowboys' offensive line was completely overmatched by the Eagles' front Saturday. The Giants do a lot of things up front that are similar to what the Eagles do -- hold back on blitzes and work on getting pressure with the defensive line. They had success against the Jets and could have success against the Cowboys. Rookie right tackle Tyron Smith, who's played like a star all year, handled sack artist Jason Babin, but the rest of the Dallas line was manhandled.
Romo, assuming he plays, is better at improvising on the run when the play breaks down than is Stephen McGee. But the Cowboys now find themselves hoping that Romo, who was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league coming into this game, is healthy for Sunday and, if he is, can turn it right back on after shutting it down for a week.
Yeah, the Cowboys have matters in their own hands. But if they decided they could shut down Romo and Felix Jones and anybody else today just because the Giants had won that game, I think they may have made a mistake they could end up regretting.
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That's their choice, I guess. But if the Falcons lose to the Saints on Monday and get upset by the Buccaneers (yeah, yeah, I know) next week, this is going to come up again. And the Cowboys, if they lose to the Giants, will have to answer for it.
As it stands, the matter is still in their hands. If they beat the Giants, they're in. And they certainly could do that. The game a couple of weeks ago was close until the end, with the Giants winning in a game in which neither defense could stop the opposing offense. The same thing could happen next Sunday. You don't know which Giants team is going to show up from one week to the next. They played defense on Saturday better than they'd played it in two months. I don't know where it came from or if it'll show up again next week. If it doesn't, the Cowboys have a fine chance to win the road game and get into the playoffs. But if it does, it's going to be tough.
The Cowboys' offensive line was completely overmatched by the Eagles' front Saturday. The Giants do a lot of things up front that are similar to what the Eagles do -- hold back on blitzes and work on getting pressure with the defensive line. They had success against the Jets and could have success against the Cowboys. Rookie right tackle Tyron Smith, who's played like a star all year, handled sack artist Jason Babin, but the rest of the Dallas line was manhandled.
Romo, assuming he plays, is better at improvising on the run when the play breaks down than is Stephen McGee. But the Cowboys now find themselves hoping that Romo, who was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league coming into this game, is healthy for Sunday and, if he is, can turn it right back on after shutting it down for a week.
Yeah, the Cowboys have matters in their own hands. But if they decided they could shut down Romo and Felix Jones and anybody else today just because the Giants had won that game, I think they may have made a mistake they could end up regretting.
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FALLING
1. Prince Amukamara, Giants cornerback. It may not be nice, or really even fair, to pick on the rookie. But opposing offenses are doing just that, and the New York Giants' first-round cornerback is struggling. Amukamara's problems are emblematic of the overall coverage issues with which the Giants have been struggling throughout the second half of the season. But while those problems were more easily explained when the Saints, Packers and Cowboys were throwing on them at will, the fact the Redskins' offense was able to operate so efficiently and with so much third-down success Sunday was extremely troubling for the Giants.
2. Reasons to criticize Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 5-2 in their past seven games, and during that stretch Romo has 18 touchdown passes and two interceptions -- both of which came in the Thanksgiving game against Miami. The Cowboys' issues in finishing off games against the Cardinals and Giants were on the defense, which continues to struggle on the back end and could cost them again this week against the Eagles. But there's no denying the efficient, responsible and extremely effective way Romo is leading an offense that hasn't missed a beat since its star running back went down with an ankle injury.
3. Tom Coughlin's job security. I've said it before and I believe it: The Giants' head coach is not to blame for what's going on in New York. He was handed an insufficient roster that was ravaged by injuries, and the fact the Giants' 6-2 start was an act of overachievement. I think Giants management would be wise to take a long, serious look at the way its team's roster is constructed, the way certain positions are consistently and stubbornly overlooked and the extent to which needs have not been addressed over the past few offseasons, and Coughlin has nothing to do with that. But all of that said, fair or not, a third straight season without a playoff appearance is the kind of thing that puts coaches (especially New York ones) on the hot seat. And while the Giants' owners are not the type to do anything rash or reactionary, Coughlin has to be uneasy about the way his overall December record looks in the big picture.
RISING
1. Jason Babin, Eagles defensive end. When Babin found himself in Tennessee last year hooked up with defensive line coach Jim Washburn, his career was re-energized. Washburn stripped away everything except the thing Babin does best -- get after quarterbacks -- and told him to focus only on his strength. Babin was wise enough to move to Philadelphia this past offseason, and with six sacks in his past two games he's up to 18 on the season. Babin had 17.5 sacks in the first 66 games of his career. In his past 30, playing for Washburn, he has 30.5. He's currently tied for the league lead and has an outside chance at Michael Strahan's all-time single-season record of 22.5. And he's helping drive an Eagles defense that has turned it on in the past two weeks for the team's longshot playoff push.
2. Dallas Cowboys' playoff chances. Lots of people last week were telling me the game against the Buccaneers didn't mean anything, and with regard to tiebreakers it did not. But with the Redskins beating the Giants, the Cowboys' victory over Tampa Bay may turn out to have been important for keeping them out of any ties. If Dallas beats the Eagles this week and the Giants lose to the Jets, the Cowboys clinch the division and the Week 17 rematch against the Giants will be the Stephen McGee show as Romo and the Cowboys rest and get ready for a home playoff game the following week. Dallas took care of business against a team with a losing record and the Giants did not, and as a result Dallas is the team in the position of strength right now.
3. Rex Grossman, Redskins quarterback. Two early interceptions? Ten games in a row with at least one? Hey, Grossman is who he is. But there's no denying that the Redskins' offense is at its best when Grossman is playing quarterback. He has no tight ends, only two of his five starting offensive linemen, no real No. 1 receiver and a rookie running back. And yet, Washington has averaged 23.5 points over its past five games. That doesn't make them the Packers, but with their defense it makes them a team that's always in the game. The Redskins still need to find a franchise quarterback this offseason if they're to take the next step into a brighter future. But if they bring back Grossman, at the very least they'll know they have a veteran backup capable of putting points on the board if they need to use him.
FALLING
1. Prince Amukamara, Giants cornerback. It may not be nice, or really even fair, to pick on the rookie. But opposing offenses are doing just that, and the New York Giants' first-round cornerback is struggling. Amukamara's problems are emblematic of the overall coverage issues with which the Giants have been struggling throughout the second half of the season. But while those problems were more easily explained when the Saints, Packers and Cowboys were throwing on them at will, the fact the Redskins' offense was able to operate so efficiently and with so much third-down success Sunday was extremely troubling for the Giants.
2. Reasons to criticize Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 5-2 in their past seven games, and during that stretch Romo has 18 touchdown passes and two interceptions -- both of which came in the Thanksgiving game against Miami. The Cowboys' issues in finishing off games against the Cardinals and Giants were on the defense, which continues to struggle on the back end and could cost them again this week against the Eagles. But there's no denying the efficient, responsible and extremely effective way Romo is leading an offense that hasn't missed a beat since its star running back went down with an ankle injury.
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AP Photo/Bill FeigTom Coughlin's seat is a warm one in the month of December as the Giant are 1-2.
AP Photo/Bill FeigTom Coughlin's seat is a warm one in the month of December as the Giant are 1-2.RISING
1. Jason Babin, Eagles defensive end. When Babin found himself in Tennessee last year hooked up with defensive line coach Jim Washburn, his career was re-energized. Washburn stripped away everything except the thing Babin does best -- get after quarterbacks -- and told him to focus only on his strength. Babin was wise enough to move to Philadelphia this past offseason, and with six sacks in his past two games he's up to 18 on the season. Babin had 17.5 sacks in the first 66 games of his career. In his past 30, playing for Washburn, he has 30.5. He's currently tied for the league lead and has an outside chance at Michael Strahan's all-time single-season record of 22.5. And he's helping drive an Eagles defense that has turned it on in the past two weeks for the team's longshot playoff push.
2. Dallas Cowboys' playoff chances. Lots of people last week were telling me the game against the Buccaneers didn't mean anything, and with regard to tiebreakers it did not. But with the Redskins beating the Giants, the Cowboys' victory over Tampa Bay may turn out to have been important for keeping them out of any ties. If Dallas beats the Eagles this week and the Giants lose to the Jets, the Cowboys clinch the division and the Week 17 rematch against the Giants will be the Stephen McGee show as Romo and the Cowboys rest and get ready for a home playoff game the following week. Dallas took care of business against a team with a losing record and the Giants did not, and as a result Dallas is the team in the position of strength right now.
3. Rex Grossman, Redskins quarterback. Two early interceptions? Ten games in a row with at least one? Hey, Grossman is who he is. But there's no denying that the Redskins' offense is at its best when Grossman is playing quarterback. He has no tight ends, only two of his five starting offensive linemen, no real No. 1 receiver and a rookie running back. And yet, Washington has averaged 23.5 points over its past five games. That doesn't make them the Packers, but with their defense it makes them a team that's always in the game. The Redskins still need to find a franchise quarterback this offseason if they're to take the next step into a brighter future. But if they bring back Grossman, at the very least they'll know they have a veteran backup capable of putting points on the board if they need to use him.
Cowboys will pass on Donovan McNabb
December, 2, 2011
12/02/11
3:39
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
Because they claimed Kyle Orton on waivers last week and because Jon Kitna's injury has had them looking for a veteran backup quarterback, there was speculation Thursday that the Dallas Cowboys might claim Donovan McNabb following his release from the Vikings. But according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Friday that would not happen. Garrett also said the Cowboys would not claim recently waived Sage Rosenfels either, and were planning to roll with Stephen McGee as Tony Romo's backup the rest of the way:
"They've both been very good players in this league," Garrett said of McNabb and Rosenfels before Friday's practice at Valley Ranch. "Obviously we've competed against Donovan a lot when he was a quarterback for the Eagles and he's been a great player for a long, long time and the same thing with Sage, in a different role. He's been a veteran player who has played for 10-12 years now and really done a nice job with the role he has been in. But right now, we're going to just stand pat with where we are when we evaluate our quarterback situation."
The Cowboy are right to pass on McNabb, who has shown nothing over the past two seasons to indicate he's happy in a backup role or that he could even help if pressed into duty as a starter. I believe there's a chance he makes it all the way through waivers this afternoon, and I think it's possible that we might already have seen the end of his career.
Observation deck: Cowboys-Dolphins
September, 2, 2011
9/02/11
11:15
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
With the Dallas Cowboys' and New York Giants' games still to go, I picked the Cowboys to watch first because I wanted to see rookie running back DeMarco Murray. So it was nice of the kid to catch a 48-yard screen pass up the left side on the team's first play from scrimmage. We've seen the Cowboys use the screen game a lot this preseason, with Tony Romo throwing to starting running back Felix Jones, and it appears as though the Cowboys would like to use the weapons they have on offense to spread out the defense when possible and trade on their speed.
Murray looks like a guy who can help with that. He looked excellent when they got him on the outside, in space, around the edge, able to pick up big chunks of yardage in those spots. That speaks to his athletic ability, which surely showed up on pre-draft tape, and wasn't really a surprise. What the Cowboys and their fans wanted to see from Murray on Thursday night was how Murray looked running between the tackles. With a little more than a minute to go in the first quarter, after picking up 9 yards on first down on a run to the outside, Murray drove hard through the middle to pick up the first down on second-and-1.
A few plays later, on a first-and-15, he showed good patience and made a critical cut at the line to pick up 3 yards when it looked as if he wouldn't get any. So he showed speed, power and judgment. Maybe a little more of a straight-line guy than you'd like him to be, but he clearly brings a lot to the table and should be a more than adequate replacement for Marion Barber as a changeup guy who can give Jones a breather here and there. I was impressed, and if the Cowboys decide to commit to the run game this year, it looks as though they'll have good options.
Some other stuff I saw in the Cowboys' final preseason game, a meaningless 17-3 loss to the Dolphins in Miami:
1. Speaking of running backs ... Phillip Tanner! This guy has been one of my favorite breakout preseason studs, and it was nice to hear Jerry Jones say on the broadcast that Tanner had made the team. I don't know what it means for Tashard Choice, and it sounds as though the Cowboys have yet to sort all of that out, but Tanner has played well enough to earn his spot. I just really like the way he runs -- strong, determined, feet constantly moving. He already has down some technique aspects of the running back position that coaches have to work to teach more talented guys. Interesting deep bench option for them, and he's good enough to make Choice wonder where he stands in terms of playing time, if not roster spot.
2. Rookie offensive linemen. Right tackle Tyron Smith didn't have his best game, getting beaten around the edge early in the game and picking up a false-start penalty later in the first half. But there are times -- more often than not, actually -- when he looks like an unstoppable mauler on that right side. I believe he'll be fine. Left guard Bill Nagy had a couple of tough moments as well (I believe the sack of Stephen McGee with 5:00 left in the half was on Nagy), but it says a lot to me that he seemed to be the one on the left side making the line calls with the starters (specifically Kyle Kosier) not in the game. The Cowboys consider Nagy a relatively seasoned rookie who knows a lot about how to play the position -- and a lot about the responsibilities of the other linemen as well. It wasn't surprising to see him with extra responsibility in a game full of backups, but I wonder if it affected his own play. Still looks like he could stand to get stronger. And finally, rookie center Kevin Kowalski, who I guess is now Phil Costa's backup at center, lost his helmet on a play early in the second quarter and kept mixing it up. Which isn't super-smart, but if you're looking for tough, crazy offensive linemen it's the kind of thing you like to see.
3. Montrae Holland surprised. He's been reduced to a backup role, but it's going to be an important one given the relative uncertainty with the starters on the offensive line. Holland came to camp overweight and had some injury issues that kept him out of action, so the Cowboys didn't know how much he'd be able to play Thursday night. But he played the whole first half and looked good, and that helps Dallas feel better about the depth it has on the line.
4. Defense? I don't know. Again, backups all over the field. Bryan McCann got beat by Brian Hartline when he tried to jump a route. Guys like Alan Ball and Barry Church missed tackles on Larry Johnson on Johnson's 22-yard touchdown run. Church made a couple of nice plays otherwise. I was a little more locked in on the offense in this one. Not sure there's much about the defense that bears serious analysis.
5. Receivers. Kevin Ogletree made a nifty after-catch move to pick up a first down near the goal line on a third-down play in the first quarter. Dwayne Harris showed some shiftiness on punt returns. And Michael Irvin, who was once a receiver, was pretty impressive in the broadcast booth! I thought he did a nice job of focusing on serious analysis even when the guys in the booth with him (including Jerry Jones) seemed more interested in trying to talk about Irvin and his career. Felt like he was trying to educate, which good color analysts who played the game at a high level should be doing.
Anyway, next game counts. See ya.
Murray looks like a guy who can help with that. He looked excellent when they got him on the outside, in space, around the edge, able to pick up big chunks of yardage in those spots. That speaks to his athletic ability, which surely showed up on pre-draft tape, and wasn't really a surprise. What the Cowboys and their fans wanted to see from Murray on Thursday night was how Murray looked running between the tackles. With a little more than a minute to go in the first quarter, after picking up 9 yards on first down on a run to the outside, Murray drove hard through the middle to pick up the first down on second-and-1.
A few plays later, on a first-and-15, he showed good patience and made a critical cut at the line to pick up 3 yards when it looked as if he wouldn't get any. So he showed speed, power and judgment. Maybe a little more of a straight-line guy than you'd like him to be, but he clearly brings a lot to the table and should be a more than adequate replacement for Marion Barber as a changeup guy who can give Jones a breather here and there. I was impressed, and if the Cowboys decide to commit to the run game this year, it looks as though they'll have good options.
Some other stuff I saw in the Cowboys' final preseason game, a meaningless 17-3 loss to the Dolphins in Miami:
1. Speaking of running backs ... Phillip Tanner! This guy has been one of my favorite breakout preseason studs, and it was nice to hear Jerry Jones say on the broadcast that Tanner had made the team. I don't know what it means for Tashard Choice, and it sounds as though the Cowboys have yet to sort all of that out, but Tanner has played well enough to earn his spot. I just really like the way he runs -- strong, determined, feet constantly moving. He already has down some technique aspects of the running back position that coaches have to work to teach more talented guys. Interesting deep bench option for them, and he's good enough to make Choice wonder where he stands in terms of playing time, if not roster spot.
2. Rookie offensive linemen. Right tackle Tyron Smith didn't have his best game, getting beaten around the edge early in the game and picking up a false-start penalty later in the first half. But there are times -- more often than not, actually -- when he looks like an unstoppable mauler on that right side. I believe he'll be fine. Left guard Bill Nagy had a couple of tough moments as well (I believe the sack of Stephen McGee with 5:00 left in the half was on Nagy), but it says a lot to me that he seemed to be the one on the left side making the line calls with the starters (specifically Kyle Kosier) not in the game. The Cowboys consider Nagy a relatively seasoned rookie who knows a lot about how to play the position -- and a lot about the responsibilities of the other linemen as well. It wasn't surprising to see him with extra responsibility in a game full of backups, but I wonder if it affected his own play. Still looks like he could stand to get stronger. And finally, rookie center Kevin Kowalski, who I guess is now Phil Costa's backup at center, lost his helmet on a play early in the second quarter and kept mixing it up. Which isn't super-smart, but if you're looking for tough, crazy offensive linemen it's the kind of thing you like to see.
3. Montrae Holland surprised. He's been reduced to a backup role, but it's going to be an important one given the relative uncertainty with the starters on the offensive line. Holland came to camp overweight and had some injury issues that kept him out of action, so the Cowboys didn't know how much he'd be able to play Thursday night. But he played the whole first half and looked good, and that helps Dallas feel better about the depth it has on the line.
4. Defense? I don't know. Again, backups all over the field. Bryan McCann got beat by Brian Hartline when he tried to jump a route. Guys like Alan Ball and Barry Church missed tackles on Larry Johnson on Johnson's 22-yard touchdown run. Church made a couple of nice plays otherwise. I was a little more locked in on the offense in this one. Not sure there's much about the defense that bears serious analysis.
5. Receivers. Kevin Ogletree made a nifty after-catch move to pick up a first down near the goal line on a third-down play in the first quarter. Dwayne Harris showed some shiftiness on punt returns. And Michael Irvin, who was once a receiver, was pretty impressive in the broadcast booth! I thought he did a nice job of focusing on serious analysis even when the guys in the booth with him (including Jerry Jones) seemed more interested in trying to talk about Irvin and his career. Felt like he was trying to educate, which good color analysts who played the game at a high level should be doing.
Anyway, next game counts. See ya.
Breakfast links: A grumpy Osi returns
August, 15, 2011
8/15/11
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
We're back, and so is Osi Umenyiora, who told the AP on Sunday night that he would return to New York Giants practice Monday and play under the terms of the contract he hates. This was already in the works at the end of last week, as Umenyiora seemed to be grasping the idea that he couldn't push his protest any further to any real effect, and while it's fun and easy to think that the performance Jason Pierre-Paul put on in Saturday night's preseason opener made Umenyiora wake up and realize the Giants could survive without him, it appears as though he'd already made his decision before that happened. Regardless, the Pierre-Paul thing is one of the reasons the Giants always held all the cards in this situation, and so no, I don't expect them to look to trade Umenyiora because he's unhappy. All along, I expected them to call his bluff, and they did, and now he's back. I imagine he'll be plenty motivated to have a great year and put himself in a stronger position from which to execute this same tactic a year from now.
More Giants
Some things take more time than teams have had, post-lockout, and the Giants believe new center David Baas merely needs more time with his offensive linemates in order to correct some of the mistakes that showed up on film from Saturday's game against the Panthers. This year's preseason games are more important than those of years' past due to the limited amount of practice time some of these groups have had together. In the past, a summer's worth of OTAs and minicamps and training-camp two-a-days might have had the reworked Giants line communicating more smoothly by the first preseason game. The point, of course, is to get there by the Sept. 11 regular-season opener in Washington.
Kicker Lawrence Tynes has a bruised thigh as a result of the blocked kick by the Panthers late in the game. Tom Coughlin seemed to lay the mistake at the feet of rookie offensive lineman James Brewer, but he declined to name Brewer as the responsible party when pushed on it. Good move, since why get on the rookie when the whole team looked bad, but I don't think Coughlin's fooling anyone on this. Seemed pretty clear that Brewer missed his block. No word on whether they'll bring in a kicker while Tynes gets healthy, but Shayne Graham is available.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett has had officials at every Cowboys training camp practice, which is uncommon but is apparently part of Garrett's plan to get his team to cut down on penalties this year. The Cowboys were sixth in the league in penalties in 2010, making that just one of several areas that must improve if what's basically the same roster expects to contend for a playoff spot.
Charean Williams believes Cowboys fans could be seeing a lot more of Stephen McGee in the future, as he is being groomed to take over as Tony Romo's backup. Jon Kitna was outstanding as a fill-in last year when Romo got hurt, but he's about to turn 39 and it's possible that McGee could be the guy to take over if Romo were to get hurt again this year. No word on whether this is a make-or-break year for McGee.
Philadelphia Eagles
Those looking for clarity on how the Eagles plan to use their cornerbacks this year are welcome to read Les Bowen's story on the topic. But (and this is no reflection on Les), you're not going to find the clarity you seek. That's because the answer to the question of how the Eagles plan to use all of their cornerbacks is: A whole bunch of different ways, depending on situations and matchups. Which is actually smart, assuming you have the kind of nimble coaching minds that can handle the play-to-play adjustments. The Eagles obviously believe they do.
Steve Smith and LeSean McCoy have yet to meet to discuss Smith's involvement in this summer's lovingly remembered Twitter feud between McCoy and Umenyiora while Smith was still a Giant. Now that Smith's an Eagle, he said he planned to speak with McCoy about that. McCoy said Sunday that hadn't happened yet.
Washington Redskins
John Beck is back and planning to play Friday night in the Redskins' second preseason game. In the first one, with Beck sidelined by a groin injury, Rex Grossman played very well. If Beck wants to be the starter, he'll have to look as composed as Grossman did when the lights go on. But if he does, then yes, I believe he still retains a very good chance of winning the job. The coaches like him a lot.
Safety O.J. Atogwe is hoping to return soon from the hamstring injury that kept him out Friday night. This is not an unimportant guy. Not only is he a very good player, but he knows things about Jim Haslett's defense, from their time together in St. Louis, that other guys are still learning. Having Atogwe on the field during games, helping with the calls and the checks, would be an asset.
I am home for the first few days of this week and hoping to catch up on some stuff I still have from my first three training camp trips -- John Beck stuff, Eagles offensive line stuff, William Beatty stuff ... lots of stuff that you'll see here in the coming days. I fly to Dallas on Wednesday night and will spend a couple of days at Cowboys camp Thursday and Friday, so there'll be plenty of stuff from there as well. Meantime, I hope you enjoyed this stuff.
More Giants
Some things take more time than teams have had, post-lockout, and the Giants believe new center David Baas merely needs more time with his offensive linemates in order to correct some of the mistakes that showed up on film from Saturday's game against the Panthers. This year's preseason games are more important than those of years' past due to the limited amount of practice time some of these groups have had together. In the past, a summer's worth of OTAs and minicamps and training-camp two-a-days might have had the reworked Giants line communicating more smoothly by the first preseason game. The point, of course, is to get there by the Sept. 11 regular-season opener in Washington.
Kicker Lawrence Tynes has a bruised thigh as a result of the blocked kick by the Panthers late in the game. Tom Coughlin seemed to lay the mistake at the feet of rookie offensive lineman James Brewer, but he declined to name Brewer as the responsible party when pushed on it. Good move, since why get on the rookie when the whole team looked bad, but I don't think Coughlin's fooling anyone on this. Seemed pretty clear that Brewer missed his block. No word on whether they'll bring in a kicker while Tynes gets healthy, but Shayne Graham is available.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett has had officials at every Cowboys training camp practice, which is uncommon but is apparently part of Garrett's plan to get his team to cut down on penalties this year. The Cowboys were sixth in the league in penalties in 2010, making that just one of several areas that must improve if what's basically the same roster expects to contend for a playoff spot.
Charean Williams believes Cowboys fans could be seeing a lot more of Stephen McGee in the future, as he is being groomed to take over as Tony Romo's backup. Jon Kitna was outstanding as a fill-in last year when Romo got hurt, but he's about to turn 39 and it's possible that McGee could be the guy to take over if Romo were to get hurt again this year. No word on whether this is a make-or-break year for McGee.
Philadelphia Eagles
Those looking for clarity on how the Eagles plan to use their cornerbacks this year are welcome to read Les Bowen's story on the topic. But (and this is no reflection on Les), you're not going to find the clarity you seek. That's because the answer to the question of how the Eagles plan to use all of their cornerbacks is: A whole bunch of different ways, depending on situations and matchups. Which is actually smart, assuming you have the kind of nimble coaching minds that can handle the play-to-play adjustments. The Eagles obviously believe they do.
Steve Smith and LeSean McCoy have yet to meet to discuss Smith's involvement in this summer's lovingly remembered Twitter feud between McCoy and Umenyiora while Smith was still a Giant. Now that Smith's an Eagle, he said he planned to speak with McCoy about that. McCoy said Sunday that hadn't happened yet.
Washington Redskins
John Beck is back and planning to play Friday night in the Redskins' second preseason game. In the first one, with Beck sidelined by a groin injury, Rex Grossman played very well. If Beck wants to be the starter, he'll have to look as composed as Grossman did when the lights go on. But if he does, then yes, I believe he still retains a very good chance of winning the job. The coaches like him a lot.
Safety O.J. Atogwe is hoping to return soon from the hamstring injury that kept him out Friday night. This is not an unimportant guy. Not only is he a very good player, but he knows things about Jim Haslett's defense, from their time together in St. Louis, that other guys are still learning. Having Atogwe on the field during games, helping with the calls and the checks, would be an asset.
I am home for the first few days of this week and hoping to catch up on some stuff I still have from my first three training camp trips -- John Beck stuff, Eagles offensive line stuff, William Beatty stuff ... lots of stuff that you'll see here in the coming days. I fly to Dallas on Wednesday night and will spend a couple of days at Cowboys camp Thursday and Friday, so there'll be plenty of stuff from there as well. Meantime, I hope you enjoyed this stuff.
I'm not sure if there are fans out there who care whether or not their teams actually win preseason games. But if you're a Dallas Cowboys fan and you do, then the ending of Thursday night's preseason opener was fun. Stephen McGee's touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris in the final minute, and the two-point conversion play that followed to give the Cowboys a 24-23 exhibition victory over the Denver Broncos, provided decent (if meaningless) theater for fans happy to have football back after so long.
Of course, if you're enough of a fan to care about the final score, you almost certainly care even more about the stuff that was going on hours earlier, when the first-teamers were in the game. Here's what I saw from the Cowboys in their first preseason game:
1. The defense is a work in progress, and appears to know it. They've had just two weeks, since the lockout ended, to learn and adjust to Rob Ryan's new scheme. They are still learning. Especially in the secondary, there were lots of times early on where guys were looking around or at each other after the play as if they were trying to figure out what should have happened. The safeties got caught looking into the backfield at critical times. They did a fine job on the goal line in the first quarter, holding the Broncos to a field goal after Kyle Orton had marched down the field somewhat easily, and they got some nice pressure from defensive ends Marcus Spears and Jason Hatcher. But overall, this looked like a defense that's still learning. And that's fine. No one would have expected them to know Ryan's scheme already. He's keeping things simple, withholding the kinds of complicated blitzes and fake-out looks we'll surely see from him as his players get more comfortable with their assignments. These preseason games will be part of the learning process for a defense that will surely look better one, two and three months hence than it does now, and the Cowboys should not be judged on their inability to stop Orton or Tim Tebow on this particular night.
2. Tyron Smith is talented. The Cowboys' first-round draft pick failed to pick up a safety blitz, and that led to a sack. But overall, he held his own against the Broncos' line. What I liked best may have been the fact that, after almost every play, you could see Smith talking to Kyle Kosier as they walked back to the huddle. Moving the veteran Kosier to the right side to play next to the rookie Smith was a sharp idea, and as Smith also uses these games as learning opportunities, he'll benefit from proximity to the Cowboys' brainy guard.
3. More Victor Butler, please. If they don't think they can snap Anthony Spencer back into his late-2009 form, why not use Butler as a pass-rusher on the side opposite DeMarcus Ware? All reports indicate that he's looked good in practice and has a grasp of the scheme and the playbook. He was everywhere Thursday night when he was in the game. With a new coordinator in town, it makes sense to think guys will have chances to play their way into more playing time and larger roles, and Butler could be such a guy.
4. Felix Jones looks speedy. I mean, real nice bust through the line in his first-quarter action. We didn't see Tashard Choice or DeMarco Murray tonight, and Lonyae Miller failed to impress in what was thought to be his big chance. But Jones looked like a guy who wants to be a full-time starting running back in the league and has the tools to make it happen. Time will tell if this is the year, whether he'll have the opportunity to do so and how much he'll rotate with Choice and Murray. But Jones was fun to watch Thursday.
5. How about Dwayne Harris? There doesn't appear to be an immediate threat on the roster to Kevin Ogletree's hold on the No. 3 receiver spot. But if Ogletree struggles, there are some playmakers further down the depth chart. Harris caught two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and looked tough as he created space and outfought a defender or two for the ball in a couple of spots.
6. Of course David Buehler's field goal was good. Hey, look. As I watched it, I was sure it had missed, too. But the official is standing right there under the upright, and there's pretty much no way to miss that call. It was ugly, but it was good, and it was the only field goal either he or Dan Bailey, his competitor for the kicker job, attempted all night. Buehler made his one extra point attempt and Bailey didn't get a chance at his because of a bungled snap. Bailey handled all the kickoffs, presumably because the Cowboys have no concerns about Buehler's ability to kick the ball through the back of the end zone now that it appears almost everyone can. No blood drawn, it would seem, in the kicker competition Thursday.
7. Stephen McGee. No idea what to make of it, since he was playing with and against backups, but the young man played some very nice football in this game and deserves to be recognized for that. At the very least, he provides potential fodder for the nuts who think Tony Romo should be replaced if the Cowboys don't win the Super Bowl. And that's good. Got to keep the nuts happy.
Of course, if you're enough of a fan to care about the final score, you almost certainly care even more about the stuff that was going on hours earlier, when the first-teamers were in the game. Here's what I saw from the Cowboys in their first preseason game:
1. The defense is a work in progress, and appears to know it. They've had just two weeks, since the lockout ended, to learn and adjust to Rob Ryan's new scheme. They are still learning. Especially in the secondary, there were lots of times early on where guys were looking around or at each other after the play as if they were trying to figure out what should have happened. The safeties got caught looking into the backfield at critical times. They did a fine job on the goal line in the first quarter, holding the Broncos to a field goal after Kyle Orton had marched down the field somewhat easily, and they got some nice pressure from defensive ends Marcus Spears and Jason Hatcher. But overall, this looked like a defense that's still learning. And that's fine. No one would have expected them to know Ryan's scheme already. He's keeping things simple, withholding the kinds of complicated blitzes and fake-out looks we'll surely see from him as his players get more comfortable with their assignments. These preseason games will be part of the learning process for a defense that will surely look better one, two and three months hence than it does now, and the Cowboys should not be judged on their inability to stop Orton or Tim Tebow on this particular night.
2. Tyron Smith is talented. The Cowboys' first-round draft pick failed to pick up a safety blitz, and that led to a sack. But overall, he held his own against the Broncos' line. What I liked best may have been the fact that, after almost every play, you could see Smith talking to Kyle Kosier as they walked back to the huddle. Moving the veteran Kosier to the right side to play next to the rookie Smith was a sharp idea, and as Smith also uses these games as learning opportunities, he'll benefit from proximity to the Cowboys' brainy guard.
3. More Victor Butler, please. If they don't think they can snap Anthony Spencer back into his late-2009 form, why not use Butler as a pass-rusher on the side opposite DeMarcus Ware? All reports indicate that he's looked good in practice and has a grasp of the scheme and the playbook. He was everywhere Thursday night when he was in the game. With a new coordinator in town, it makes sense to think guys will have chances to play their way into more playing time and larger roles, and Butler could be such a guy.
4. Felix Jones looks speedy. I mean, real nice bust through the line in his first-quarter action. We didn't see Tashard Choice or DeMarco Murray tonight, and Lonyae Miller failed to impress in what was thought to be his big chance. But Jones looked like a guy who wants to be a full-time starting running back in the league and has the tools to make it happen. Time will tell if this is the year, whether he'll have the opportunity to do so and how much he'll rotate with Choice and Murray. But Jones was fun to watch Thursday.
5. How about Dwayne Harris? There doesn't appear to be an immediate threat on the roster to Kevin Ogletree's hold on the No. 3 receiver spot. But if Ogletree struggles, there are some playmakers further down the depth chart. Harris caught two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and looked tough as he created space and outfought a defender or two for the ball in a couple of spots.
6. Of course David Buehler's field goal was good. Hey, look. As I watched it, I was sure it had missed, too. But the official is standing right there under the upright, and there's pretty much no way to miss that call. It was ugly, but it was good, and it was the only field goal either he or Dan Bailey, his competitor for the kicker job, attempted all night. Buehler made his one extra point attempt and Bailey didn't get a chance at his because of a bungled snap. Bailey handled all the kickoffs, presumably because the Cowboys have no concerns about Buehler's ability to kick the ball through the back of the end zone now that it appears almost everyone can. No blood drawn, it would seem, in the kicker competition Thursday.
7. Stephen McGee. No idea what to make of it, since he was playing with and against backups, but the young man played some very nice football in this game and deserves to be recognized for that. At the very least, he provides potential fodder for the nuts who think Tony Romo should be replaced if the Cowboys don't win the Super Bowl. And that's good. Got to keep the nuts happy.
As a new week dawns in the NFC East, thoughts turn to the Oneida Correctional Facility, where former Giants WR Plaxico Burress has two weeks left before his release. He'll turn 34 in August, hasn't played in two years and is returning to an NFL that has no idea when, or if, its season will start; to a field of potentially interested teams that have no idea when or if they'll be able to sign him. But speculation is unavoidable, and you're going to hear plenty of Plaxico speculation here in the NFC East.
Gary Myers of the New York Daily News wrote over the weekend that he's heard the Eagles would be first in line to sign Burress upon his release. Myers names the Steelers, Chargers, Falcons and Ravens, too, and he doesn't think the Giants will go for a reunion. But the Eagles idea is interesting. Obviously, the Michael Vick rehabilitation experience indicates the Eagles can handle such a project and that coach Andy Reid doesn't mind the idea of bringing in a talented ex-convict and being patient with him. Burress would give Vick the kind of big downfield target that neither DeSean Jackson nor Jeremy Maclin, for all of their exciting talents, offer. And Philadelphia isn't too far from Burress' New Jersey home, which might make it appealing on his end.
Contrary to what Myers thinks, I wouldn't rule out the Giants. They seem set at receiver, but Burress still has many friends there, and those friends are eager to bring him back. I'm sure they'll at least discuss it. And I'm not counting out the Redskins, either. Leonard Hankerson notwithstanding, they're not exactly loaded at WR. As for the Eagles, they were a stunning destination for Vick, if you'll recall. They came out of nowhere to sign him. If they're to sign Burress, I imagine we won't hear much from them in advance of it. They like to keep things close to the vest there. But Burress to the Eagles makes a decent amount of sense if you're speculating. Which, at this point, we all are.
Meanwhile, as they say in Scotland: To the links!
Dallas Cowboys
Blogging the Boys looks at the Dallas secondary situation, wondering specifically what would become of Terence Newman if Dallas went out and signed a free-agent cornerback. Specifically, some thought here that the Redskins might be interested in Newman if they lose Carlos Rogers and don't sign Nnamdi Asomugha, whose name is required to appear in every edition of the NFC East breakfast links.
Charean Williams talked to backup QB Stephen McGee about what he's learning in the player-only workouts with Tony Romo. She didn't ask him whether he ranked Romo or Eli Manning higher, presumably because she assumed he'd already weighed in here along with the rest of you. (tee-hee)
New York Giants
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, the original coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is back in Jacksonville for his annual Jay Fund charity golf outing, which raises money for children with cancer. Several Giants players are there along with him. The Giants' Twitter page quotes from Coughlin's Sunday night speech: "Thanks for being here tonight and giving me a chance to see my players." What a card, huh?
Ahmad Bradshaw has apparently changed agents, dropping Craig Domann and signing up with Drew Rosenhaus. Now, Bradshaw and Rosenhaus both wait and hope that the 2011 free-agency rules turn out to make him an unrestricted free agent, rather than a restricted one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jon Tamari talked to 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham about the challenges he faces trying to come back from his knee injury during the lockout. The Eagles can make all of the improvements they want on defense this offseason, but few would help as much as the healthy return of last year's 13th overall pick to the pass-rush effort.
Interesting look by Moving the Chains at Trent Cole's rank among defensive linemen in a stat Football Outsiders calls "defeats." A defeat, in this case, is a good thing if you're a defensive player, and Cole is obviously a very good one. (Further down, incidentally, Sheil Kapadia disagrees with me and Gary Myers about the likelihood/sense of the Burress thing.)
Washington Redskins
Mark Rypien told the Washington Post that he thought Donovan McNabb was "the perfect guy for the job" of Redskins quarterback. Rypien shares this opinion with the August 2010 versions of McNabb and Mike Shanahan.
Oh, and Skins GM Bruce Allen did a little backpedaling over the weekend, attempting to clarify Friday's remarks about how "aggressive" the team was planning to be once free agency started. It is important to Allen that people don't expect the Redskins to resume the irresponsible free-agent spending that preceded his tenure under Dan Snyder. Asked specifically about that issue, Allen says, "No, we've dealt with that." Obviously, his comments Friday were interpreted in many places (including here) as an indication that Washington would return to its free-spending ways. Allen seems to be wanting to deliver the message instead that the team is in a good position to spend to address its many needs. It's a subtle but critical distinction for which he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Snyder stayed out of the way last offseason, and there's no reason yet to believe he won't keep that same promise to Allen and Shanahan this year.
Gary Myers of the New York Daily News wrote over the weekend that he's heard the Eagles would be first in line to sign Burress upon his release. Myers names the Steelers, Chargers, Falcons and Ravens, too, and he doesn't think the Giants will go for a reunion. But the Eagles idea is interesting. Obviously, the Michael Vick rehabilitation experience indicates the Eagles can handle such a project and that coach Andy Reid doesn't mind the idea of bringing in a talented ex-convict and being patient with him. Burress would give Vick the kind of big downfield target that neither DeSean Jackson nor Jeremy Maclin, for all of their exciting talents, offer. And Philadelphia isn't too far from Burress' New Jersey home, which might make it appealing on his end.
Contrary to what Myers thinks, I wouldn't rule out the Giants. They seem set at receiver, but Burress still has many friends there, and those friends are eager to bring him back. I'm sure they'll at least discuss it. And I'm not counting out the Redskins, either. Leonard Hankerson notwithstanding, they're not exactly loaded at WR. As for the Eagles, they were a stunning destination for Vick, if you'll recall. They came out of nowhere to sign him. If they're to sign Burress, I imagine we won't hear much from them in advance of it. They like to keep things close to the vest there. But Burress to the Eagles makes a decent amount of sense if you're speculating. Which, at this point, we all are.
Meanwhile, as they say in Scotland: To the links!
Dallas Cowboys
Blogging the Boys looks at the Dallas secondary situation, wondering specifically what would become of Terence Newman if Dallas went out and signed a free-agent cornerback. Specifically, some thought here that the Redskins might be interested in Newman if they lose Carlos Rogers and don't sign Nnamdi Asomugha, whose name is required to appear in every edition of the NFC East breakfast links.
Charean Williams talked to backup QB Stephen McGee about what he's learning in the player-only workouts with Tony Romo. She didn't ask him whether he ranked Romo or Eli Manning higher, presumably because she assumed he'd already weighed in here along with the rest of you. (tee-hee)
New York Giants
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, the original coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is back in Jacksonville for his annual Jay Fund charity golf outing, which raises money for children with cancer. Several Giants players are there along with him. The Giants' Twitter page quotes from Coughlin's Sunday night speech: "Thanks for being here tonight and giving me a chance to see my players." What a card, huh?
Ahmad Bradshaw has apparently changed agents, dropping Craig Domann and signing up with Drew Rosenhaus. Now, Bradshaw and Rosenhaus both wait and hope that the 2011 free-agency rules turn out to make him an unrestricted free agent, rather than a restricted one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jon Tamari talked to 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham about the challenges he faces trying to come back from his knee injury during the lockout. The Eagles can make all of the improvements they want on defense this offseason, but few would help as much as the healthy return of last year's 13th overall pick to the pass-rush effort.
Interesting look by Moving the Chains at Trent Cole's rank among defensive linemen in a stat Football Outsiders calls "defeats." A defeat, in this case, is a good thing if you're a defensive player, and Cole is obviously a very good one. (Further down, incidentally, Sheil Kapadia disagrees with me and Gary Myers about the likelihood/sense of the Burress thing.)
Washington Redskins
Mark Rypien told the Washington Post that he thought Donovan McNabb was "the perfect guy for the job" of Redskins quarterback. Rypien shares this opinion with the August 2010 versions of McNabb and Mike Shanahan.
Oh, and Skins GM Bruce Allen did a little backpedaling over the weekend, attempting to clarify Friday's remarks about how "aggressive" the team was planning to be once free agency started. It is important to Allen that people don't expect the Redskins to resume the irresponsible free-agent spending that preceded his tenure under Dan Snyder. Asked specifically about that issue, Allen says, "No, we've dealt with that." Obviously, his comments Friday were interpreted in many places (including here) as an indication that Washington would return to its free-spending ways. Allen seems to be wanting to deliver the message instead that the team is in a good position to spend to address its many needs. It's a subtle but critical distinction for which he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Snyder stayed out of the way last offseason, and there's no reason yet to believe he won't keep that same promise to Allen and Shanahan this year.
Rapid Reaction: Cowboys 14, Eagles 13
January, 2, 2011
1/02/11
7:59
PM ET
By
Calvin Watkins | ESPN.com
PHILADELPHIA -- A season that started with Super Bowl talk for the Dallas Cowboys came to a thrilling end in wet Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. The Cowboys finished their season on a positive note with a 14-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Instead of thinking about what seed they will get in the postseason, the Cowboys were left to wonder how high their draft pick will be and who the new coach will be. The offseason will begin with a coaching search, the potential purge of several underachieving players and preparations for the draft.
What it means: The Eagles loss didn't mean anything in terms of their playoff seeding. Philadelphia was already locked in at the No. 3 slot. The Cowboys finished the season 6-10. The last time they lost 10 games was in 2004 when they finished in third place.
Jason Garrett is the leader: Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he will start the process to find a new coach quickly, and it could be as soon as Monday. He will interview wide receivers coach Ray Sherman and a few others. Multiple sources said Garrett is the leading candidate to get the job, but Jones said nothing has been decided.
As for the game: Stephen McGee finished the last offensive drive of the season with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 55 seconds to play for the go-ahead score. Unlike last week when David Buehler missed a point after attempt, he made this one to break the tie. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had a strong game with three sacks and a 17-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. McGee got the start over Jon Kitna (hip) and struggled until the last drive. He completed 11 of 27 passes for 127 yards with one touchdown.
What's next: The Eagles go to the playoffs, and the Cowboys get ready for the East-West Shrine games, Senior Bowl, National Scouting Combine and various other events where college players get to show their skills.
Instead of thinking about what seed they will get in the postseason, the Cowboys were left to wonder how high their draft pick will be and who the new coach will be. The offseason will begin with a coaching search, the potential purge of several underachieving players and preparations for the draft.
What it means: The Eagles loss didn't mean anything in terms of their playoff seeding. Philadelphia was already locked in at the No. 3 slot. The Cowboys finished the season 6-10. The last time they lost 10 games was in 2004 when they finished in third place.
Jason Garrett is the leader: Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he will start the process to find a new coach quickly, and it could be as soon as Monday. He will interview wide receivers coach Ray Sherman and a few others. Multiple sources said Garrett is the leading candidate to get the job, but Jones said nothing has been decided.
As for the game: Stephen McGee finished the last offensive drive of the season with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 55 seconds to play for the go-ahead score. Unlike last week when David Buehler missed a point after attempt, he made this one to break the tie. Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had a strong game with three sacks and a 17-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. McGee got the start over Jon Kitna (hip) and struggled until the last drive. He completed 11 of 27 passes for 127 yards with one touchdown.
What's next: The Eagles go to the playoffs, and the Cowboys get ready for the East-West Shrine games, Senior Bowl, National Scouting Combine and various other events where college players get to show their skills.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:
Are the New York Giants playing for Tom Coughlin's job Sunday against the Washington Redskins? If the Giants somehow lose this game at FedEx, there will be immense pressure on co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch to fire Coughlin. And even a win doesn't guarantee Coughlin will return. The Giants dominated the Redskins at the line of scrimmage in their last meeting and Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw both had big days running the ball. The Skins have shown a lot more pride on defense in recent weeks, though, so I don't expect another blowout. Coughlin has asked his players to show more intensity early in this game. He was embarrassed by how his team was physically whipped by Green Bay last Sunday. If that happens against the Redskins, we could be reporting about a coaching search next week.
This is a golden opportunity for Dallas Cowboys third-string quarterback Stephen McGee. If McGee can back up his nice performance against the Arizona Cardinals by leading the Cowboys to a win, he'll have the inside track on being Tony Romo's backup next season. Once McGee got comfortable against the Cardinals, he used his legs to create plays. He even had a Romo-like shovel pass when things broke down in the pocket. If McGee protects the ball, he'll have a great chance to get a win. The Eagles aren't going to do anything that exotic on defense as they prepare for a wild-card playoff game. Interim coach Jason Garrett, on the other hand, will pull out all the Ivy League stops to get a win and impress owner Jerry Jones.
Could this be Kevin Kolb's last start with the Eagles? We all thought Kolb was the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb, but that was before Michael Vick began his MVP campaign. Kolb will have an opportunity to put some more work on film for the teams that are desperate for quarterback help. I think Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will keep things pretty vanilla with this game plan against the Cowboys, but Kolb will still take a couple of shots downfield against Dallas' cornerbacks. If the Eagles can get a first-round pick for Kolb, they'd have to think about moving him. And if you're the Cardinals or the Vikings, I think Kolb might be a better option than some of the rookies in this draft. And it's not like he'd break the bank since he's already earned the bulk of his money from the Eagles.
I'll be watching the interior of the Cowboys' offensive line Sunday. There are several players -- Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo -- who could be replaced up front this offseason. If the Eagles let defensive tackle Antonio Dixon play for at least the first half, he'll pose a great test for Kosier and center Andre Gurode. Dixon took over as the starter in Week 5 and Brodrick Bunkley's not been able to regain his spot. The Cowboys' interior linemen have had trouble moving their feet and creating any push in the running game this season. Dixon's tough to move and I could see him being a difficult matchup for Kosier.
This is an important game for Mike Shanahan because of the evaluation process. Shanahan loves the fact that New York is still fighting for a playoff spot. He wanted the chance to have one last true evaluation of quarterback Rex Grossman heading into the offseason. Giants coordinator Perry Fewell will bring pressure from a lot of different areas, so Shanahan will see how Grossman responds. It's hard to imagine the Skins heading into 2011 with Grossman as the starter, but for now, that's still a possibility. I also think this game will give the Redskins a chance to see how young players such as outside linebacker Rob Jackson and safety Kevin Barnes build on last week's game against the Jaguars. Starting outside linebacker Brian Orakpo will likely return to the lineup, but Jackson will receive plenty of reps. Barnes made a big play against the Jaguars in overtime, but Shanahan wants to see him improve in other areas. He has to do a better job of tackling in the open field.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:
Are the New York Giants playing for Tom Coughlin's job Sunday against the Washington Redskins? If the Giants somehow lose this game at FedEx, there will be immense pressure on co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch to fire Coughlin. And even a win doesn't guarantee Coughlin will return. The Giants dominated the Redskins at the line of scrimmage in their last meeting and Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw both had big days running the ball. The Skins have shown a lot more pride on defense in recent weeks, though, so I don't expect another blowout. Coughlin has asked his players to show more intensity early in this game. He was embarrassed by how his team was physically whipped by Green Bay last Sunday. If that happens against the Redskins, we could be reporting about a coaching search next week.
[+] Enlarge
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWith another strong performance, Stephen McGee could be Tony Romo's backup next season.
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWith another strong performance, Stephen McGee could be Tony Romo's backup next season.Could this be Kevin Kolb's last start with the Eagles? We all thought Kolb was the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb, but that was before Michael Vick began his MVP campaign. Kolb will have an opportunity to put some more work on film for the teams that are desperate for quarterback help. I think Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will keep things pretty vanilla with this game plan against the Cowboys, but Kolb will still take a couple of shots downfield against Dallas' cornerbacks. If the Eagles can get a first-round pick for Kolb, they'd have to think about moving him. And if you're the Cardinals or the Vikings, I think Kolb might be a better option than some of the rookies in this draft. And it's not like he'd break the bank since he's already earned the bulk of his money from the Eagles.
I'll be watching the interior of the Cowboys' offensive line Sunday. There are several players -- Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo -- who could be replaced up front this offseason. If the Eagles let defensive tackle Antonio Dixon play for at least the first half, he'll pose a great test for Kosier and center Andre Gurode. Dixon took over as the starter in Week 5 and Brodrick Bunkley's not been able to regain his spot. The Cowboys' interior linemen have had trouble moving their feet and creating any push in the running game this season. Dixon's tough to move and I could see him being a difficult matchup for Kosier.
This is an important game for Mike Shanahan because of the evaluation process. Shanahan loves the fact that New York is still fighting for a playoff spot. He wanted the chance to have one last true evaluation of quarterback Rex Grossman heading into the offseason. Giants coordinator Perry Fewell will bring pressure from a lot of different areas, so Shanahan will see how Grossman responds. It's hard to imagine the Skins heading into 2011 with Grossman as the starter, but for now, that's still a possibility. I also think this game will give the Redskins a chance to see how young players such as outside linebacker Rob Jackson and safety Kevin Barnes build on last week's game against the Jaguars. Starting outside linebacker Brian Orakpo will likely return to the lineup, but Jackson will receive plenty of reps. Barnes made a big play against the Jaguars in overtime, but Shanahan wants to see him improve in other areas. He has to do a better job of tackling in the open field.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
