NFL Nation: Mackenzy Bernadeau
Thanks for the feedback on the last post. I have been reading through the comments there, and I appreciate the suggestions. Most of them, anyway.
Meantime, Football Outsides has been doing a division-by-division look at the remaining needs for each team, and today they take on the NFC East. It's Insider content (which always makes me chuckle, that the Outsiders are Insider), so you need to pay to read it, but here's a little taste.
Dallas Cowboys: "Interior offensive line." Basically, the FO guys aren't excited about the Cowboys' talent level at guard and center, and seem unimpressed by Jason Garrett's plan to let Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Bill Nagy and Phil Costa compete for the three starting spots in the interior of the line. No mention of David Arkin, oddly, who would seem to be in the mix. And I do have a nitpick with their claim that Nagy was "banished to the bench" for ineffectiveness last season, when it was actually a broken ankle that ended his season. But in general, the idea that the Cowboys need more strength and power at the interior line positions than they probably have on the roster is probably accurate.
New York Giants: "Osi Umenyiora's replacement." This seems to posit that the Giants would trade Umenyiora or that he'd hold out and they wouldn't have any pass-rushers at defensive end behind their two excellent starters. I don't think they're going to trade him, and I don't think he's going to hold out of any regular-season games once push comes to shove. But this does point up the idea that the Giants need to be thinking about who replaces Umenyiora next season, assuming he leaves via free agency.
Philadelphia Eagles: "Secondary depth." The metrics all rate Asante Samuel very highly as a cornerback, so it's little surprise that FO treats his departure as one that creates a hole. I think they're right on this score, but the metrics don't take into account Samuel's salary, or the fact that his playing style doesn't fit what they want to do with the cornerbacks this year, so it's hard to get on them for that dump-trade they made with him. Assuming full health and a big steps forward for Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett, the Eagles should have a good starting secondary. But I would agree that there is little behind the starters if someone gets hurt. Interested to see whether Brandon Boykin can make an impression early and challenge for that nickel corner spot, and I can't rule out the possibility that they add a veteran to the safety mix. There are still quite a few out there.
Washington Redskins: "Cornerbacks." Yeah, DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson project as the starters, but they're not exactly Deion Sanders and Night Train Lane back there, and as FO points out, the Redskins' efforts to upgrade their secondary don't rank among their greatest successes of this offseason. Washington's defense is emerging as a good one, but the weak spot is still in the back, and they would do well to keep on the lookout for ways to make it better. That's part of why they're bringing so many safeties to camp, but they'll need better performance from Hall and Wilson in 2012 if the defense is to take the next step.
Meantime, Football Outsides has been doing a division-by-division look at the remaining needs for each team, and today they take on the NFC East. It's Insider content (which always makes me chuckle, that the Outsiders are Insider), so you need to pay to read it, but here's a little taste.
Dallas Cowboys: "Interior offensive line." Basically, the FO guys aren't excited about the Cowboys' talent level at guard and center, and seem unimpressed by Jason Garrett's plan to let Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Bill Nagy and Phil Costa compete for the three starting spots in the interior of the line. No mention of David Arkin, oddly, who would seem to be in the mix. And I do have a nitpick with their claim that Nagy was "banished to the bench" for ineffectiveness last season, when it was actually a broken ankle that ended his season. But in general, the idea that the Cowboys need more strength and power at the interior line positions than they probably have on the roster is probably accurate.
New York Giants: "Osi Umenyiora's replacement." This seems to posit that the Giants would trade Umenyiora or that he'd hold out and they wouldn't have any pass-rushers at defensive end behind their two excellent starters. I don't think they're going to trade him, and I don't think he's going to hold out of any regular-season games once push comes to shove. But this does point up the idea that the Giants need to be thinking about who replaces Umenyiora next season, assuming he leaves via free agency.
Philadelphia Eagles: "Secondary depth." The metrics all rate Asante Samuel very highly as a cornerback, so it's little surprise that FO treats his departure as one that creates a hole. I think they're right on this score, but the metrics don't take into account Samuel's salary, or the fact that his playing style doesn't fit what they want to do with the cornerbacks this year, so it's hard to get on them for that dump-trade they made with him. Assuming full health and a big steps forward for Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett, the Eagles should have a good starting secondary. But I would agree that there is little behind the starters if someone gets hurt. Interested to see whether Brandon Boykin can make an impression early and challenge for that nickel corner spot, and I can't rule out the possibility that they add a veteran to the safety mix. There are still quite a few out there.
Washington Redskins: "Cornerbacks." Yeah, DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson project as the starters, but they're not exactly Deion Sanders and Night Train Lane back there, and as FO points out, the Redskins' efforts to upgrade their secondary don't rank among their greatest successes of this offseason. Washington's defense is emerging as a good one, but the weak spot is still in the back, and they would do well to keep on the lookout for ways to make it better. That's part of why they're bringing so many safeties to camp, but they'll need better performance from Hall and Wilson in 2012 if the defense is to take the next step.Cowboys' offensive line a work in progress
March, 28, 2012
Mar 28
11:38
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is aware that his team didn't sign the biggest-name, highest-pedigreed offensive linemen available on this year's free-agent market. That wasn't the goal.
"None of these guys were brought in and told, 'You are the anointed starter,'" Garrett said Wednesday morning at the NFL owners meetings. "They're here to create competition on our team, and we feel like they're the right kinds of guys, individually as people but also with their talent. They can come in and compete for those spots and make us a better football team."
The newcomers are guards. The Cowboys like both of their starting tackles, though they are switching their roles, with Tyron Smith slated to move to left tackle and Doug Free back to right tackle in 2012. But where they really struggled last year was on the interior of the line. So they signed Mackenzy Bernadeau from Carolina and Nate Livings from Cincinnati, and they're throwing them into the mix with the two guards -- David Arkin and Bill Nagy -- they drafted last year along with centers Phil Costa and Kevin Kowalski, and they're going to see what happens.
On Bernadeau, Garrett had this to say:
And on Livings, this:
Neither of the new guys is looked at as a potential solution at center, so that position is likely to come down to Costa and Kowalski and possibly Nagy if they don't add anyone else. But Garrett's point is that the Cowboys have enough bodies at those interior positions that it's fair to expect a strong offensive line to emerge. The players are young enough that, assuming they do find the right five-man mix, the line can grow together over the coming season and seasons and become a strength of the team. There are no guarantees, of course, but that's the hope and the plan, and the Cowboy have hand-picked some guys they believe can help produce those kinds of results.
Garrett also echoed the sentiment that owner Jerry Jones articulated the day before in a session with Dallas-area reporters here -- namely, that the work they've done on the offensive line through last year's draft and this year's free agency makes it more likely that they'd take a defensive player in next month's first round than an offensive lineman such as Stanford guard David DeCastro.
"We'd have to take into consideration that we've done pretty well in free agency relative to our offensive line," Garrett said. "We'd have to take that into consideration if we had the alternative of taking defense. So you're not off-base if you ask whether it's likely that we would take a defensive player."
"None of these guys were brought in and told, 'You are the anointed starter,'" Garrett said Wednesday morning at the NFL owners meetings. "They're here to create competition on our team, and we feel like they're the right kinds of guys, individually as people but also with their talent. They can come in and compete for those spots and make us a better football team."
The newcomers are guards. The Cowboys like both of their starting tackles, though they are switching their roles, with Tyron Smith slated to move to left tackle and Doug Free back to right tackle in 2012. But where they really struggled last year was on the interior of the line. So they signed Mackenzy Bernadeau from Carolina and Nate Livings from Cincinnati, and they're throwing them into the mix with the two guards -- David Arkin and Bill Nagy -- they drafted last year along with centers Phil Costa and Kevin Kowalski, and they're going to see what happens.
On Bernadeau, Garrett had this to say:
"He's a guy that we liked coming out. He's a young guy from a small school who we feel has the physical traits to be a really good player in this league. He has not been a consistent starter for [Carolina]. He has been a starter, but he's had some injuries and some different things that he's dealt with. We're just excited about the kind of kid he is and the upside that he has. So we feel like putting him into the mix will help our team."
And on Livings, this:
"Nate had been a started the last couple of years in Cincinnati. He's a big guy. He played at LSU. And he's one of those guys who was a college free agent and who had to really earn his way in the NFL. When we put the tape on, we just liked how he played. And we feel like, if you bring a guy like that in as well, he can get infused into our roster and hopefully create some competition up there."
Neither of the new guys is looked at as a potential solution at center, so that position is likely to come down to Costa and Kowalski and possibly Nagy if they don't add anyone else. But Garrett's point is that the Cowboys have enough bodies at those interior positions that it's fair to expect a strong offensive line to emerge. The players are young enough that, assuming they do find the right five-man mix, the line can grow together over the coming season and seasons and become a strength of the team. There are no guarantees, of course, but that's the hope and the plan, and the Cowboy have hand-picked some guys they believe can help produce those kinds of results.
Garrett also echoed the sentiment that owner Jerry Jones articulated the day before in a session with Dallas-area reporters here -- namely, that the work they've done on the offensive line through last year's draft and this year's free agency makes it more likely that they'd take a defensive player in next month's first round than an offensive lineman such as Stanford guard David DeCastro.
"We'd have to take into consideration that we've done pretty well in free agency relative to our offensive line," Garrett said. "We'd have to take that into consideration if we had the alternative of taking defense. So you're not off-base if you ask whether it's likely that we would take a defensive player."
Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (who's been an absolute animal this week, by the way) is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys plan to cut ties with veteran guard Kyle Kosier:
I'm surprised. I know he's 33 years old and had some injury issues in 2011. And I know they drafted two guards last year and signed two guards this week. And yeah, I know the NFL is a tough, cold business. But whenever I was around the Cowboys the last couple of years, I heard someone tell me how important Kosier was as a leader among the offensive linemen. He got a lot of credit for Free's big year at left tackle when he played next to him at left guard in 2010, and he got a lot of credit for Tyron Smith's very quick transition to the pros at right tackle when he played right guard next to him in 2011.
So while they have a new offensive line coach in Dallas, and they have every right to believe they can find two starting interior linemen from the group that now includes Costa, Bill Nagy, David Arkin, Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Kevin Kowalski, this can't have been an easy decision for the Cowboys. Whoever else was on the line as they slid guys in and out over the past two seasons benefited from the fact that Kosier was there. And while the move seems to make sense from a business and numbers standpoint, Kosier brought something to the table that they can't be sure anyone in the remaining group does. It's something they could, theoretically, end up missing at some point this season.
The move has not been made officially yet. Kosier had started 80 straight games in which he was active since joining the Cowboys as a free agent in 2006. He signed a three-year deal last summer after the lockout ended and started every game.
The move would save the Cowboys $1.55 million in salary cap space and continue the overhaul of the offensive line. Right tackle Doug Free is now the longest-tenured offensive linemen having joined the team in 2007. The second-longest tenured is center Phil Costa, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
Kosier earned a $1 million escalator that would have jumped his base salary in 2012 to $2.25 million.
I'm surprised. I know he's 33 years old and had some injury issues in 2011. And I know they drafted two guards last year and signed two guards this week. And yeah, I know the NFL is a tough, cold business. But whenever I was around the Cowboys the last couple of years, I heard someone tell me how important Kosier was as a leader among the offensive linemen. He got a lot of credit for Free's big year at left tackle when he played next to him at left guard in 2010, and he got a lot of credit for Tyron Smith's very quick transition to the pros at right tackle when he played right guard next to him in 2011.
So while they have a new offensive line coach in Dallas, and they have every right to believe they can find two starting interior linemen from the group that now includes Costa, Bill Nagy, David Arkin, Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Kevin Kowalski, this can't have been an easy decision for the Cowboys. Whoever else was on the line as they slid guys in and out over the past two seasons benefited from the fact that Kosier was there. And while the move seems to make sense from a business and numbers standpoint, Kosier brought something to the table that they can't be sure anyone in the remaining group does. It's something they could, theoretically, end up missing at some point this season.
Compared to Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday has been a pretty quiet day in the NFC South at least so far. I’m not saying that to make you think there’s something brewing tonight, but you never know.
If there is, we’ll let you know. But, in the meantime, let’s take a look at some news and notes from around the division.
The Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos reportedly have shown some interest in Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham. But I’m not ready to completely rule out a return to the Falcons, especially since they’re currently without a legitimate pass-rushing threat. I’m not saying I think it’s a great idea to re-sign a player who seems to be near the end of his career. But I think the Falcons might do it, if Abraham’s price tag falls below what it was at the start of free agency.
The Dallas Cowboys continue to gut the Carolina Panthers. They now have signed former Carolina linebacker Dan Connor. That comes a day after Dallas landed former Carolina offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau. I’m just kidding about the “gutting’’ part. The Panthers had little interest in keeping Connor and no interest in keeping Bernardeau.
Just when I thought I’d found a free-agent linebacker that wasn’t on the Saints’ radar, I’ve got to start looking again. It turns out the Saints also reportedly have expressed interest in St. Louis’ Chris Chamberlain. But he might make some sense. New Orleans defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo coached Chamberlain with the Rams.
Speaking of the Saints and linebackers, Jo-Lonn Dunbar says it remains possible he could re-sign with New Orleans.
Everything still seems very quiet in Atlanta. But Jeff Schultz has a good overview of the situation with the Falcons and I agree with his point that if the roster remains basically the same as last season, the coaching needs to be better next season.
If there is, we’ll let you know. But, in the meantime, let’s take a look at some news and notes from around the division.
The Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos reportedly have shown some interest in Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham. But I’m not ready to completely rule out a return to the Falcons, especially since they’re currently without a legitimate pass-rushing threat. I’m not saying I think it’s a great idea to re-sign a player who seems to be near the end of his career. But I think the Falcons might do it, if Abraham’s price tag falls below what it was at the start of free agency.
The Dallas Cowboys continue to gut the Carolina Panthers. They now have signed former Carolina linebacker Dan Connor. That comes a day after Dallas landed former Carolina offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau. I’m just kidding about the “gutting’’ part. The Panthers had little interest in keeping Connor and no interest in keeping Bernardeau.
Just when I thought I’d found a free-agent linebacker that wasn’t on the Saints’ radar, I’ve got to start looking again. It turns out the Saints also reportedly have expressed interest in St. Louis’ Chris Chamberlain. But he might make some sense. New Orleans defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo coached Chamberlain with the Rams.
Speaking of the Saints and linebackers, Jo-Lonn Dunbar says it remains possible he could re-sign with New Orleans.
Everything still seems very quiet in Atlanta. But Jeff Schultz has a good overview of the situation with the Falcons and I agree with his point that if the roster remains basically the same as last season, the coaching needs to be better next season.
Cowboys still filling needs, sign Pool
March, 15, 2012
Mar 15
12:06
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
The big names are signing elsewhere as the Dallas Cowboys remain focused instead on needs, and on targeting specific players they like to fill those needs. While Mario Williams -- the apple of many Cowboys fans' eyes over the past few weeks in spite of no evidence at all that Dallas was really pursuing him -- was busy looking for a home in Buffalo, the Cowboys on Thursday morning agreed to a deal with free-agent safety Brodney Pool. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett broke the news in a conference call with reporters, Calvin Watkins tells us:
Garrett said the team wanted to sign Pool last year, during the brief free agency period, but was unable to due to finances.
"He has some really good ball skills," Garrett said.
Pool has played with Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan with the Cleveland Browns in 2009. Under Ryan, Pool had a career-high four interceptions and also had 10 pass breakups.
Again, many fans had been asking whether they'd sign someone like LaRon Landry. But while he doesn't have the name recognition or the raw ability of Landry, Pool is a guy who actually plays in games every week. Ryan likes him. He likes Ryan. They need someone to replace Abram Elam, who's a free agent. Makes sense. A day after signing cornerback Brandon Carr, backup quarterback Kyle Orton, fullback Lawrence Vickers and guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, the Cowboys continue to fill the many holes on their roster with players who look like good fits. Former Bengals guard Nate Livings and former Panthers linebacker Dan Connor are in town today to talk contract as well, and each would add depth to positions where the Cowboys are lacking.
A smart, targeted approach to free agency by a team with a lot of different needs. Maybe not the most exciting offseason the Cowboys have ever had, but if I were a Cowboys fan, I'd be enjoying it very much.
So I was sitting here on Twitter, trolling for news, answering your questions and getting a kick out of the fact that Justin Tuck was watching (and tweeting about) the same "Big Bang Theory" rerun when it occurred to me that it was almost time to turn in and get some sleep. Before I did that, I just wanted to ask one question.
How was your day ...
Philadelphia Eagles?
"Surprising." You guys know I didn't think the Eagles intended to sign DeSean Jackson to a long-term contract, so when the news broke Wednesday afternoon that they had, I was stunned. It's a good deal for the Eagles, as almost all of the $15 million in guaranteed money is concentrated in the first two years and it saves them $6.6 million against this year's salary cap. And Jackson's happy because he's making a ton more than he did last season. The issue now is whether his production will rise along with his happiness. (And how long he'll stay happy, considering what other receivers are getting on the open market.) They signed Trent Cole to a four-year contract extension, and in the wake of the Jackson news the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that they were working on a new deal for running back LeSean McCoy.
The Eagles seem determined to take care of their own roster before dipping into the free-agent pool, so they're making little moves, too. Antonio Dixon signed his restricted free-agent tender, and Winston Justice got traded to the Colts in a deal that saw the teams swap sixth-round draft picks. That last was a salary dump, but it was one they needed to make. Guard Evan Mathis remains unsigned and is drawing interest elsewhere, but the Eagles still believe they have a good chance to bring him back.
One weird thing did happen. Late in the afternoon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sent out a tweet in which he apologized to Bucs fans for being unable to lure free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton to Tampa and said Lofton was going to sign with the Eagles. The Eagles quickly denied any contact with Lofton, and McCoy retracted his tweet. So it's tough to say what's going on there, but it bears watching. The Eagles need linebacker help, but the linebacker market is slow, so they can wait it out.
Dallas Cowboys?
"Outstanding." They got their top-choice cornerback, agreeing with Brandon Carr on a five-year, $50.1 million contract. They got their veteran, starter-quality backup quarterback, agreeing on a three-year deal with Kyle Orton. They added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to their interior offensive line mix, where they needed (and still could use more) help. And they signed fullback Lawrence Vickers to replace Tony Fiammetta, who seems to want to go see what he can get on the market. According to ESPNDallas.com, they have visits scheduled in the coming days with free-agent safety Brodney Pool and free-agent guard Nate Livings, so they're still hard at work trying to fill needs. The names may not be the splashiest, but the Cowboys have been down those roads before, and this measured, focused, need-based approach looks like the right way for them to go. A lot of money for Carr, yes, but they desperately needed a top free-agent cornerback, and that's what they're going for this year.
Many Cowboys fans were upset to lose wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who came out of nowhere to catch 11 touchdown passes from Tony Romo in 2011. But the Cowboys were never going to pay him anything close to what the Jaguars ended up paying him ($32.5 million for five years), and they shouldn't have paid their No. 3 wide receiver that much. They were prepared to go without Robinson last year. He was a bonus, a lottery ticket that hit. They'll be fine with what they have at receiver, and they can fill in Robinson's spot the same way they did last year, when they sifted through a bunch of decent-looking candidates and came up with Robinson. Don't sweat that loss, Cowboys fans. The team has bigger worries and bigger needs.
New York Giants?
"A success." They flew former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett in late Tuesday night, and they signed him Wednesday to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. They obviously see something they like in Bennett and believe that the coaching staff and quarterback Eli Manning can bring the best out of him, and they targeted and got him. They also got him on a very low-risk deal that will allow them to go in a different direction if he disappoints and their injured tight ends are healthy enough to return at the end of the season. Cowboys fans seem sure he will disappoint, and he very well may. But he's only 25 and he's got a ton of physical ability, so the Giants think maybe they're getting a guy right before he really takes off. The Giants also retained backup quarterback David Carr, which they wanted to do. What they'll do next I do not know. They need offensive line help and could use a veteran running back to replace Brandon Jacobs, but they'll be patient and target specific guys they like, because that's the way they operate. It seems to work for them.
Washington Redskins?
"Quieter." After racing out of the free-agent gates and signing two wide receivers before the sun went down on Tuesday, the Redskins made very little news Wednesday. Their trade with the Rams for the No. 2 pick in the draft became official, and we learned that they will host former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross for a free-agent visit Thursday in the hopes of adding him to their cornerback mix. They still haven't locked up Eddie Royal, who seemed poised to become their third free-agent wide receiver signing last night, and he's on his way to talk to the Chargers. And they have a visit set up with safety Brandon Meriweather. But the most-asked question about the Redskins is where they stand with free-agent linebacker London Fletcher, who was called a "top priority" in December by Mike Shanahan but remains unsigned. It's possible that this is where the salary cap sanctions hurt the Redskins. Having lost $18 million in cap room this year (and $18 million next year) for violating the other owners' sense of spending propriety during the uncapped 2010 season, the Redskins might find a Fletcher signing trickier than, say, a Pierre Garcon signing. Garcon is 25, and they can spread out his contract and the resulting cap hit over five years. Fletcher is 36, and any deal with him is much more likely to be front-loaded. That doesn't mean they can't bring him back, but it could make it a little more difficult. Just a theory I heard from someone I talked to today.
My day was excellent, and I enjoyed spending it here and on Twitter with you. Much more to come Thursday and beyond.
How was your day ...
Philadelphia Eagles?
"Surprising." You guys know I didn't think the Eagles intended to sign DeSean Jackson to a long-term contract, so when the news broke Wednesday afternoon that they had, I was stunned. It's a good deal for the Eagles, as almost all of the $15 million in guaranteed money is concentrated in the first two years and it saves them $6.6 million against this year's salary cap. And Jackson's happy because he's making a ton more than he did last season. The issue now is whether his production will rise along with his happiness. (And how long he'll stay happy, considering what other receivers are getting on the open market.) They signed Trent Cole to a four-year contract extension, and in the wake of the Jackson news the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that they were working on a new deal for running back LeSean McCoy.
The Eagles seem determined to take care of their own roster before dipping into the free-agent pool, so they're making little moves, too. Antonio Dixon signed his restricted free-agent tender, and Winston Justice got traded to the Colts in a deal that saw the teams swap sixth-round draft picks. That last was a salary dump, but it was one they needed to make. Guard Evan Mathis remains unsigned and is drawing interest elsewhere, but the Eagles still believe they have a good chance to bring him back.
One weird thing did happen. Late in the afternoon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sent out a tweet in which he apologized to Bucs fans for being unable to lure free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton to Tampa and said Lofton was going to sign with the Eagles. The Eagles quickly denied any contact with Lofton, and McCoy retracted his tweet. So it's tough to say what's going on there, but it bears watching. The Eagles need linebacker help, but the linebacker market is slow, so they can wait it out.
Dallas Cowboys?
"Outstanding." They got their top-choice cornerback, agreeing with Brandon Carr on a five-year, $50.1 million contract. They got their veteran, starter-quality backup quarterback, agreeing on a three-year deal with Kyle Orton. They added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to their interior offensive line mix, where they needed (and still could use more) help. And they signed fullback Lawrence Vickers to replace Tony Fiammetta, who seems to want to go see what he can get on the market. According to ESPNDallas.com, they have visits scheduled in the coming days with free-agent safety Brodney Pool and free-agent guard Nate Livings, so they're still hard at work trying to fill needs. The names may not be the splashiest, but the Cowboys have been down those roads before, and this measured, focused, need-based approach looks like the right way for them to go. A lot of money for Carr, yes, but they desperately needed a top free-agent cornerback, and that's what they're going for this year.
Many Cowboys fans were upset to lose wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who came out of nowhere to catch 11 touchdown passes from Tony Romo in 2011. But the Cowboys were never going to pay him anything close to what the Jaguars ended up paying him ($32.5 million for five years), and they shouldn't have paid their No. 3 wide receiver that much. They were prepared to go without Robinson last year. He was a bonus, a lottery ticket that hit. They'll be fine with what they have at receiver, and they can fill in Robinson's spot the same way they did last year, when they sifted through a bunch of decent-looking candidates and came up with Robinson. Don't sweat that loss, Cowboys fans. The team has bigger worries and bigger needs.
New York Giants?
"A success." They flew former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett in late Tuesday night, and they signed him Wednesday to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. They obviously see something they like in Bennett and believe that the coaching staff and quarterback Eli Manning can bring the best out of him, and they targeted and got him. They also got him on a very low-risk deal that will allow them to go in a different direction if he disappoints and their injured tight ends are healthy enough to return at the end of the season. Cowboys fans seem sure he will disappoint, and he very well may. But he's only 25 and he's got a ton of physical ability, so the Giants think maybe they're getting a guy right before he really takes off. The Giants also retained backup quarterback David Carr, which they wanted to do. What they'll do next I do not know. They need offensive line help and could use a veteran running back to replace Brandon Jacobs, but they'll be patient and target specific guys they like, because that's the way they operate. It seems to work for them.
Washington Redskins?
"Quieter." After racing out of the free-agent gates and signing two wide receivers before the sun went down on Tuesday, the Redskins made very little news Wednesday. Their trade with the Rams for the No. 2 pick in the draft became official, and we learned that they will host former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross for a free-agent visit Thursday in the hopes of adding him to their cornerback mix. They still haven't locked up Eddie Royal, who seemed poised to become their third free-agent wide receiver signing last night, and he's on his way to talk to the Chargers. And they have a visit set up with safety Brandon Meriweather. But the most-asked question about the Redskins is where they stand with free-agent linebacker London Fletcher, who was called a "top priority" in December by Mike Shanahan but remains unsigned. It's possible that this is where the salary cap sanctions hurt the Redskins. Having lost $18 million in cap room this year (and $18 million next year) for violating the other owners' sense of spending propriety during the uncapped 2010 season, the Redskins might find a Fletcher signing trickier than, say, a Pierre Garcon signing. Garcon is 25, and they can spread out his contract and the resulting cap hit over five years. Fletcher is 36, and any deal with him is much more likely to be front-loaded. That doesn't mean they can't bring him back, but it could make it a little more difficult. Just a theory I heard from someone I talked to today.
My day was excellent, and I enjoyed spending it here and on Twitter with you. Much more to come Thursday and beyond.
Let’s tie up some loose odds and ends from around the NFC South.
Interesting move by the Panthers in bringing back reserve quarterback Derek Anderson. The team had given some indications Jimmy Clausen could move from No. 3 to become Cam Newton’s backup this year. But the return of Anderson might prevent that. It’s also worth watching what happens with Clausen, who is scheduled to receive a roster bonus of close to $1 million later this month.
The Saint reportedly have tight end Joel Dressen in for a visit.
Forget about the possibility of former Dallas tight end Martellus Bennett joining his brother, defensive end Michael, in Tampa Bay. Martellus Bennett has signed with the New York Giants.
Former Carolina offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t think the Panthers had much interest in bringing him back.
It’s still nothing but silence out of the Falcons, but former Atlanta return man/receiver Eric Weems has signed with the Chicago Bears.
Interesting move by the Panthers in bringing back reserve quarterback Derek Anderson. The team had given some indications Jimmy Clausen could move from No. 3 to become Cam Newton’s backup this year. But the return of Anderson might prevent that. It’s also worth watching what happens with Clausen, who is scheduled to receive a roster bonus of close to $1 million later this month.
The Saint reportedly have tight end Joel Dressen in for a visit.
Forget about the possibility of former Dallas tight end Martellus Bennett joining his brother, defensive end Michael, in Tampa Bay. Martellus Bennett has signed with the New York Giants.
Former Carolina offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t think the Panthers had much interest in bringing him back.
It’s still nothing but silence out of the Falcons, but former Atlanta return man/receiver Eric Weems has signed with the Chicago Bears.
Cowboys get their man, sign Brandon Carr
March, 14, 2012
Mar 14
4:31
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
The key thing to understand is that the Dallas Cowboys needed a cornerback. The secondary was the biggest reason they flopped down the stretch and failed to reach the playoffs in 2011. They cut Terence Newman on Tuesday, they can't be sure Mike Jenkins can stay healthy and they don't know if Orlando Scandrick is ready to be a starter. They didn't just need someone who was better than Newman -- they needed someone better than Jenkins and Scandrick.
Brandon Carr, late of the Kansas City Chiefs, was their top target. They flew him in Tuesday night, as soon as free agency opened, and they spent 24 hours negotiating a contract with him. Just before 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Adam Schefter reported that the deal was done for five years and $50.1 million.
That's a lot of money, but the Cowboys had little choice. Once Cortland Finnegan signed with the Rams on Tuesday (for similar money), Carlos Rogers re-signed in San Francisco and Eric Wright signed in Tampa Bay, the Cowboys had to come away from this market with Carr. The drop-off to the next-best defensive back on the market was simply too steep.
Carr will be 26 years old when the 2012 season starts, which is part of the appeal. He's a good cover corner and, considering his age, can become even better. That's surely part of the Cowboys' hope -- that they're getting a guy who's on the upswing and is about to blossom into a top-level corner. For that money, he'll need to.
Here's what Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson had to say when I asked him about Carr:
"Well, first and foremost, the Cowboys had a massive need at the position and considering the weapons in the NFC East, getting a reputable CB was a must. I like Carr. He is still young, plays physical and can play man or zone coverage, although I think he is better as a zone guy. However, I also think he benefited a great deal from having [Brandon] Flowers on the other side of him in KC, as the Chiefs often put Flowers on the opponent’s WR1."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement considering the money. But it's a little like the Pierre Garcon signing in Washington. Did they overpay? Clearly. But everybody overpays in the first 24 hours of free agency, and the Cowboys couldn't afford to come out of it without a good cornerback. This is the guy they liked best, and this is what corners cost this year. Lots of pressure on the young man now, of course, to fix one of the team's biggest weaknesses. But I still think they'll look to add another defensive back, either in free agency or in the draft, and he's sure to be better than Newman was in 2011.
The Cowboys have been busy today. They agreed on a deal with backup quarterback Kyle Orton earlier in the day. Since then, they've added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (who's not a big name but gets added into the mix with their other young interior linemen) and (per Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com on Twitter a few minutes ago) agreed on a deal with fullback Lawrence Vickers. Lots of pieces being added, but Carr is the biggest and most important, and they absolutely needed to pay him what they paid him, or they wouldn't have gotten him.
Brandon Carr, late of the Kansas City Chiefs, was their top target. They flew him in Tuesday night, as soon as free agency opened, and they spent 24 hours negotiating a contract with him. Just before 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Adam Schefter reported that the deal was done for five years and $50.1 million.
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PresswireThe Cowboys addressed concerns at the cornerback spot by adding Brandon Carr, but the rest of the division has also upgraded.
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PresswireThe Cowboys addressed concerns at the cornerback spot by adding Brandon Carr, but the rest of the division has also upgraded.Carr will be 26 years old when the 2012 season starts, which is part of the appeal. He's a good cover corner and, considering his age, can become even better. That's surely part of the Cowboys' hope -- that they're getting a guy who's on the upswing and is about to blossom into a top-level corner. For that money, he'll need to.
Here's what Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson had to say when I asked him about Carr:
"Well, first and foremost, the Cowboys had a massive need at the position and considering the weapons in the NFC East, getting a reputable CB was a must. I like Carr. He is still young, plays physical and can play man or zone coverage, although I think he is better as a zone guy. However, I also think he benefited a great deal from having [Brandon] Flowers on the other side of him in KC, as the Chiefs often put Flowers on the opponent’s WR1."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement considering the money. But it's a little like the Pierre Garcon signing in Washington. Did they overpay? Clearly. But everybody overpays in the first 24 hours of free agency, and the Cowboys couldn't afford to come out of it without a good cornerback. This is the guy they liked best, and this is what corners cost this year. Lots of pressure on the young man now, of course, to fix one of the team's biggest weaknesses. But I still think they'll look to add another defensive back, either in free agency or in the draft, and he's sure to be better than Newman was in 2011.
The Cowboys have been busy today. They agreed on a deal with backup quarterback Kyle Orton earlier in the day. Since then, they've added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (who's not a big name but gets added into the mix with their other young interior linemen) and (per Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com on Twitter a few minutes ago) agreed on a deal with fullback Lawrence Vickers. Lots of pieces being added, but Carr is the biggest and most important, and they absolutely needed to pay him what they paid him, or they wouldn't have gotten him.
Where have the blue-chip left tackles gone?
November, 20, 2009
11/20/09
1:00
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Icon SMIOffensive linemen Travelle Wharton, Jermon Bushrod, and Donald Penn were not first-round draft picks, but they have proved to be capable left tackles for their respective teams.There’s an age-old theory in the NFL when it comes to left tackles. It’s pretty simple, really and it goes something like this: Every decade or so, you use a first-round draft pick on a left tackle. You throw him out and there and he anchors your offensive line for 10 or 12 years.
Think Anthony Munoz or Jonathan Ogden. You get a guy like that and, chances are, he’s going to be around through at least a couple of coaching regimes and you’ve got one position you don’t need to worry about.
It’s a philosophy that’s been so rock solid through the years, that every team subscribes. But what happens when the subscription runs out or someone steals the magazine out of the mailbox?
Well, that’s sort of what’s happening right now in the NFC South -- the division without a stud left tackle.
It wasn’t planned this way at all. But the Carolina Panthers were starting Travelle Wharton, who truly is a guard, at left tackle when they lost to the Dolphins on Thursday night. Come Sunday, there’s a very good chance Wharton, who was a third-round draft pick, might have the best pedigree of any starting left tackle in the division.
There’s a very real chance that the other three NFC South teams will be starting left tackles who were not drafted, drafted late or born in the Czech Republic. Yes, this is what it has come to as we head for the playoff stretch.
Where have you gone Willie Roaf and Paul Gruber?
It’s been this way through parts of the division for much of the season, but the trend suddenly has grown because of injuries. The amazing thing is that the lack of blue-chip left tackles hasn’t caused a disaster for any of the NFC South teams --at least not yet.
Here’s a look at each NFC South team’s situation at left tackle:
Atlanta. The Falcons are the only team in the division that could end up with a first-round draft pick playing left tackle any time the rest of this season. That would be Sam Baker, whom the Falcons drafted out of Southern California last year. They used their second of two first-round picks to get Baker to protect the blindside of top pick Matt Ryan.
Baker’s been fine -- when he’s been on the field. But the problem is he’s already had a disturbing assortment of injuries. He missed last Sunday’s game against Carolina and the Falcons were forced to throw Will Svitek out there at left tackle and ask him to block Julius Peppers.
Svitek got through that game without much problem, but that was mainly because Peppers was playing with a broken hand and played only part of the game. Svitek’s the kind of guy who can get you through a game, but he’s not someone you want to hang out there for the rest of the season. The Falcons are 5-4 and have problems all over the place. To have any shot at the playoffs, they need to get Baker healthy and back into the lineup.
Carolina. Entering the season, the Panthers had the best left tackle in the division -- maybe in the NFL -- in Jordan Gross. They drafted him early in the first round back in 2003 and gave him a massive new contract after last season.
But disaster struck last week when Gross broke his ankle and went down for the season. That forced Carolina to drastically overhaul its offensive line because the Panthers don’t have another true left tackle on the roster. They’ve shifted Wharton to left tackle and inserted Mackenzy Bernadeau, who made his first NFL start Thursday night, at left guard.
Wharton’s been a starter at left tackle before and he’s serviceable there. But he’s not nearly as good at left tackle as he is at guard and he’s not nearly as good as Gross. There’s also a big drop-off from Wharton to Bernadeau at left guard and the 4-6 Panthers will have to pull off miracles on their offensive line if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.
New Orleans. The Saints thought they got their left tackle for a generation when they used the 13th overall pick in 2005 to take Jammal Brown out of Oklahoma. That move was working out just fine as Brown made the Pro Bowl in the 2006 and ’08 seasons.
But trouble surfaced in the preseason when Brown had to have surgeries for a hip injury and a sports hernia. Initially, the Saints thought he could return around midseason, but his recovery was slow and New Orleans decided to place Brown on injured reserve.
Brown’s injuries have given rise to one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. That’s Jermon Bushrod, who was thrust into the starting lineup after spending his first two seasons on the bench. A fourth-round pick out of Towson State, Bushrod suddenly was placed in charge of protecting Drew Brees’ back.
The amazing thing is Bushrod has done just fine. Give him lots of credit for that, but don’t go thinking he’s a Pro Bowler and the Saints should try to trade Brown in the offseason. Bushrod is not Brown. He has limitations and the Saints know it. If you watch their offense, they’ve done a lot to help Bushrod. They give him blocking help with their tight ends, fullback and running backs and it also helps that Brees has a quick release and doesn’t take many deep drops.
Tampa Bay. Part of the reason Jon Gruden was fired after last season was because he never instituted a long-term plan and this was especially true at left tackle. He was bringing in washed-up veterans like Luke Petitgout, but that might end up being a blessing for Raheem Morris and the current regime. Totally by accident (and injuries to Petitgout), the Bucs discovered Donald Penn.
He wasn’t even drafted out of Utah State, but he’s turned out to be a solid starting left tackle. He may never be dominant, but Penn has played well enough that the Bucs are likely to try to sign him to a big contract before the start of free agency in February.
Penn and Bushrod have shown that you don’t always have to find a left tackle in the first round of the draft. But they’re the exceptions. It’s nice when you can find gems like them and surround them with a good offensive line. But it’s even nicer when you draft a blue-chip tackle in the first round and build your offensive line around him.
As we wait for Thursday night’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins, here are some thoughts to ponder.
All indications out of Carolina are that running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will be playing. But I’m very curious to see if having both of these guys banged up will take a toll on Carolina’s running game. It’s tough -- more like impossible -- to get injury information out of coach John Fox. So we’ll have to wait and see just how injured Williams and Stewart are. They’ve been a large part of the reason the Panthers suddenly are playing good football, and I’m thinking Fox finally has learned the lesson that it’s best not to put the game in the hands of Jake Delhomme. Keep it on the ground and let Williams and Stewart do their thing -- if they’re able.
When All-Pro tackle Jordan Gross went out with a season-ending injury on Sunday, the Panthers shifted left guard Travelle Wharton to left tackle and inserted Mackenzy Bernadeau at left guard. They got through the rest of the Atlanta game without any major problems. I’m guessing the Panthers will go with that same alignment tonight. Wharton played left tackle earlier in his career and was serviceable at that spot. The bigger question is Bernadeau. He doesn’t have much experience and I’m sure the Dolphins will try to test him.
I wish I could be in Charlotte for the game because I’d like to see what happens on the field before the game. I’m real curious to see if Fox and Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning shake hands or talk at all. Fox fired Henning after the 2006 season and I don’t think there’s a lot of love remaining between the two.
I know it’s a short week and I know Fox is a creature of habit, but I wonder if he might make a little move at linebacker. The absence of the injured Thomas Davis was very apparent against Atlanta. Landon Johnson and James Anderson both have experience, but they’re just not that good. With Davis gone for the season, I wonder if Fox has considered sliding backup middle linebacker Dan Connor to the outside.
I’ll be watching the game from home and will be checking in with observations during and after the game, so keep checking the NFC South blog.
All indications out of Carolina are that running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will be playing. But I’m very curious to see if having both of these guys banged up will take a toll on Carolina’s running game. It’s tough -- more like impossible -- to get injury information out of coach John Fox. So we’ll have to wait and see just how injured Williams and Stewart are. They’ve been a large part of the reason the Panthers suddenly are playing good football, and I’m thinking Fox finally has learned the lesson that it’s best not to put the game in the hands of Jake Delhomme. Keep it on the ground and let Williams and Stewart do their thing -- if they’re able.
When All-Pro tackle Jordan Gross went out with a season-ending injury on Sunday, the Panthers shifted left guard Travelle Wharton to left tackle and inserted Mackenzy Bernadeau at left guard. They got through the rest of the Atlanta game without any major problems. I’m guessing the Panthers will go with that same alignment tonight. Wharton played left tackle earlier in his career and was serviceable at that spot. The bigger question is Bernadeau. He doesn’t have much experience and I’m sure the Dolphins will try to test him.
I wish I could be in Charlotte for the game because I’d like to see what happens on the field before the game. I’m real curious to see if Fox and Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning shake hands or talk at all. Fox fired Henning after the 2006 season and I don’t think there’s a lot of love remaining between the two.
I know it’s a short week and I know Fox is a creature of habit, but I wonder if he might make a little move at linebacker. The absence of the injured Thomas Davis was very apparent against Atlanta. Landon Johnson and James Anderson both have experience, but they’re just not that good. With Davis gone for the season, I wonder if Fox has considered sliding backup middle linebacker Dan Connor to the outside.
I’ll be watching the game from home and will be checking in with observations during and after the game, so keep checking the NFC South blog.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
San Diego -- Here are the inactive lists for both Carolina and San Diego.
Carolina: Matt Moore, Ryne Robinson, C.J. Wilson, James Anderson, Donte Curry, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Hilee Taylor and Frank Omiyale.
San Diego: Charlie Whitehurst, DeJuan Tribble, Anthony Waters, Nick Hardwick, Marcus McNeill, Buster Davis, Kris Wilson and Brandon McKinney.
No major surprises here. As expected, the Chargers will be without two standout offensive linemen: center Nick Hardwick (foot) and left tackle Marcus McNeill (neck). Jeremy Newbery will play center and L.J. Shelton will play for McNeill and try to keep Panthers sack master Julius Peppers away from San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers.
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
Here are some headlines from around the division Wednesday morning.
- There are rumors swirling that Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen had dinner with Brett Favre in Tampa on Monday night. Allen strongly denied that, but stayed silent when asked if the Bucs are interested in Favre.
- The Falcons signed linebacker Robert James, a fifth-round draft choice, to a four-year contract. Atlanta has signed nine of its 11 draft picks.
- The Saints haven't been nearly as active in getting their picks signed.
- The Panthers signed tight end Gary Barnidge, giving them two picks under contract, and are close to a deal with seventh-round pick Mackenzy Bernadeau.
BACK TO TOP
Page: 1
