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2007 SCHEDULE
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
| Cowboy's Trivia Question of the Week! Who is the oldest player on the Cowboys' roster? Last Week's Answer: Danny White |
The Flozell Adams Question
The biggest question the Cowboys face this off-season is what to
do with Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams. The can either sign him
to a long-term deal, franchise him, or let him walk.
The third option seems pretty crazy after watching the Giants front
four dismantle the Pats offensive line. We would be crazy to get rid
of a top flight left tackle when we have to play them two times a year
right?
I'm admittedly torn on this issue. On one hand, Flozell is an elite
tackle. He might have been the best tackle in football last season.
However, when we needed him most, in the 4th quarter of the
Giants game he let us down. Now, it was a bad effort across the
board on the offensive line starting with Gurode's late snaps, but
Adams didn't step up. I don't care how good he was all season, he
didn't get the job done when we needed him. Pat McQuistan
couldn't have done any worse in there.
This issue won't necessarily be decided by Flozell's play, as it
probably has more to do with the other four tackles on the roster. Is
Pat McQuistan or Doug Free ready to take over at left tackle? If
not, we can't let Adams go. Another key question is how good is
Marc Colombo? I honestly can't tell you. He seems to do a real
good job, but Rob Petitti looked pretty good opposite Flozell Adams
for five games. We found out in 2005 when Torrin Tucker replaced
an injured Adams that you can only give one tackle help. If
Colombo can beat his man one-on-one most of the time then we
could give McQuistan or Free help just like we did for Petitti as a
rookie. Your left tackle isn't necessarily your best tackle. You can
make it work as long as one of your tackles is pretty good. I think
Colombo is pretty good, but I don't know that he is good enough to
do that. McQuistan or Free need to be good players in their own
right.
An option that might be brought up is moving Leonard Davis to left
tackle, the position he was drafted to play. This won't happen for
several reasons. First, we have no depth along the interior line.
Secondly, Leonard Davis made the Pro Bowl as a guard. He
struggled when Denny Green forced him to play left tackle. He is a
good player and athlete, but he is too big and struggles to get out
of his stance against elite edge rushers.
Another storyline that probably won't effect the Flozell decision but
could is the left guard spot. Pat McQuistan can play guard and
Phillips mentioned him challenging Kosier for the starting spot in
training camp. This didn't materialize because the staff wanted
McQuistan to focus on being the swing tackle. However, if you lock
up Adams for four or five more years McQuistan's easiest access to
the starting lineup would likely be left guard. This won't effect the
tackle situation though because there is nothing wrong with Kyle
Kosier. He is probably the Cowboys most consistent lineman. The
front office won't say, "Well, I guess we have to re-sign Flozell. We
don't really want to, but our only LT option is McQuistan and he is
going to play guard next year."
Now I'll go into the pros and cons to each of the three options
regarding Flozell Adams.
The positive to a long-term deal is you have a left tackle for at least
the next two or three years. The cap hit for next season will also be
lower as even the big contracts you see people sign are
backloaded. For example, if Flozell signed a contract for 4 years
and 30 million, he would still probably only count between 5 and 6
million against next years cap. The downside is obviously that you
spend a lot of money on a guy that is 32 years old.
Franchising Adams is an attractive option. Adams is definitely an
elite left tackle who would be worth the money. Only being
committed for one season is great with a guy his age. The down
side is that his 1 year contract would be almost eight million, all of
which would count against this year's cap. Players also hate being
franchised so morale could be affected.
Letting Adams walk is an interesting thought. A lot of it has to do
with what else is available out there. Dallas may decide they would
rather upgrade a position like corner instead of re-signing Adams.
It isn't a matter of wanting a guy or not. We would love to have
Adams and say Marcus Trufant, but if you can only have one which
do you choose?
I'm torn on this issue. We have received no word from Jerry Jones
about this subject which means he is still deciding. If he wants to
keep a guy, he will usually come out and say it. Flozell wants to
stay in Dallas, but that doesn't always mean he will give a hometown
discount. If I had to lean one way or another, I'd probably go ahead
and give him a long-term deal assuming the price was reasonable.
He is 32, but he is playing the best football of his career and I think
he can do it for another three or four years.
The biggest question the Cowboys face this off-season is what to
do with Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams. The can either sign him
to a long-term deal, franchise him, or let him walk.
The third option seems pretty crazy after watching the Giants front
four dismantle the Pats offensive line. We would be crazy to get rid
of a top flight left tackle when we have to play them two times a year
right?
I'm admittedly torn on this issue. On one hand, Flozell is an elite
tackle. He might have been the best tackle in football last season.
However, when we needed him most, in the 4th quarter of the
Giants game he let us down. Now, it was a bad effort across the
board on the offensive line starting with Gurode's late snaps, but
Adams didn't step up. I don't care how good he was all season, he
didn't get the job done when we needed him. Pat McQuistan
couldn't have done any worse in there.
This issue won't necessarily be decided by Flozell's play, as it
probably has more to do with the other four tackles on the roster. Is
Pat McQuistan or Doug Free ready to take over at left tackle? If
not, we can't let Adams go. Another key question is how good is
Marc Colombo? I honestly can't tell you. He seems to do a real
good job, but Rob Petitti looked pretty good opposite Flozell Adams
for five games. We found out in 2005 when Torrin Tucker replaced
an injured Adams that you can only give one tackle help. If
Colombo can beat his man one-on-one most of the time then we
could give McQuistan or Free help just like we did for Petitti as a
rookie. Your left tackle isn't necessarily your best tackle. You can
make it work as long as one of your tackles is pretty good. I think
Colombo is pretty good, but I don't know that he is good enough to
do that. McQuistan or Free need to be good players in their own
right.
An option that might be brought up is moving Leonard Davis to left
tackle, the position he was drafted to play. This won't happen for
several reasons. First, we have no depth along the interior line.
Secondly, Leonard Davis made the Pro Bowl as a guard. He
struggled when Denny Green forced him to play left tackle. He is a
good player and athlete, but he is too big and struggles to get out
of his stance against elite edge rushers.
Another storyline that probably won't effect the Flozell decision but
could is the left guard spot. Pat McQuistan can play guard and
Phillips mentioned him challenging Kosier for the starting spot in
training camp. This didn't materialize because the staff wanted
McQuistan to focus on being the swing tackle. However, if you lock
up Adams for four or five more years McQuistan's easiest access to
the starting lineup would likely be left guard. This won't effect the
tackle situation though because there is nothing wrong with Kyle
Kosier. He is probably the Cowboys most consistent lineman. The
front office won't say, "Well, I guess we have to re-sign Flozell. We
don't really want to, but our only LT option is McQuistan and he is
going to play guard next year."
Now I'll go into the pros and cons to each of the three options
regarding Flozell Adams.
The positive to a long-term deal is you have a left tackle for at least
the next two or three years. The cap hit for next season will also be
lower as even the big contracts you see people sign are
backloaded. For example, if Flozell signed a contract for 4 years
and 30 million, he would still probably only count between 5 and 6
million against next years cap. The downside is obviously that you
spend a lot of money on a guy that is 32 years old.
Franchising Adams is an attractive option. Adams is definitely an
elite left tackle who would be worth the money. Only being
committed for one season is great with a guy his age. The down
side is that his 1 year contract would be almost eight million, all of
which would count against this year's cap. Players also hate being
franchised so morale could be affected.
Letting Adams walk is an interesting thought. A lot of it has to do
with what else is available out there. Dallas may decide they would
rather upgrade a position like corner instead of re-signing Adams.
It isn't a matter of wanting a guy or not. We would love to have
Adams and say Marcus Trufant, but if you can only have one which
do you choose?
I'm torn on this issue. We have received no word from Jerry Jones
about this subject which means he is still deciding. If he wants to
keep a guy, he will usually come out and say it. Flozell wants to
stay in Dallas, but that doesn't always mean he will give a hometown
discount. If I had to lean one way or another, I'd probably go ahead
and give him a long-term deal assuming the price was reasonable.
He is 32, but he is playing the best football of his career and I think
he can do it for another three or four years.