From: rjk@DINO.QCI.BIOCH.BCM.TMC.EDU (Raymond K)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Dallas *iced Notes*
Date: 26 Aug 1992 13:37:36 GMT
Organization: X-Ray Crystallography / Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In article <1992Aug26.001310.11281@aero.org> mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw) writes:
>Lots of Dallas news to go over, so let's get on with it!

Great report, ice!  Some comments.....

>1) First and foremost, Carlos Huerta was released in San Diego today, and I 
>can imagine where his first stop might be!  I am excited about this 
>possibility, I enjoyed seeing him kick in Miami and win games for them.  
>He may not have Daluiso's cannon, but he has kicked under heavy pressure 
>and is ready for the NFL.  Another possibility is Ian Howfield (formerly 
>with the Oilers et al.) but he is far from a proven quantity.

I saw the news about Huerta and thought the same thing.  Howfield is in
the Eagles camp now, but should be released shortly.  I don't think he's
been that great in the preseason games.  I don't think JJ will keep either
Daluiso or Elliot if he's not happy with them.  He'll find a kicker that
won't give him fits all year.

>3) Novacek should be packing his bags if he is not going to take the 
>Cowboy's final offer.  The take it or leave it offer has been denied by his 
>agent, an agent who has held out 2 other NFL players in past years.  The 
>$2.44 million the Cowboys are offering is far less than the $3.2 million he 
>wants.  Novacek's agent is comparing his deal to Brent Jones in San Fran 
>who got $2.5 million over 3 years.  The Cowboy's say that their offer is 
>equal to that of Jones due to the lack of an income tax in Texas, and the high 
>tax in California (tell me about it!)  Novacek is not buying and is looking at 
>a short ride outta town or a long wait...

I hope Novacek is not waiting for Keith Jackson to sign.  Jackson and his
agent are prepared to miss real games in order to get what they want.  Heck,
he missed two games two years ago just because he wanted his contract
renegotiated.  Plus, he's not thrilled with Eagles' management, so he's
not willing to do any favors for them in order to help the team.

>Jimmy Smith out with a fractured leg (2-3 weeks)
>Russell Maryland out with a dislocated toe (will miss Chicago)
>Godfrey Myles is day to day with a flexor strain
>Gogan is day to day with a knee injury
>Casillas is day to day and may miss Chicago (lower back)

Jimmy Smith will probably have the type of year Harper did last year.
Very limited playing time while trying to learn.  But, he should eventually
develop into a good one.  

>6) The defensive line continues to be a source of strength for the Cowboys.  
>J Jones is called the DL with the most talent on the team, but moving him 
>from T to G continues to give him fits.  He needs a starting spot but can't 
>quite play End and can't beat the Tackles.  He is the team's best inside 
>rusher.  I see him in a platoon role, coming in with the nickel unit and on 
>other passing downs.  He will start for this team eventually.

Yeah, I like Jimmie Jones.  The knock on him coming out of college was
keeping his intensity up consistently.  A couple of years in the league
and the realization of big money contracts for superior play might have
something to do with his continued improvement.

>The Cowboys now appear willing to keep 9 DL, although this could be a 
>smokescreen to work up a trade.  Any of the 9 DL that could stick is up for 
>trade now, except for JJ's favorite Maryland.  The price of the newly 
>rejuvenated Noonan is up to a #2 pick according to reports, and there 
>probably won't be any takers.  He will be the 3rd and short or goalline run 
>stuffer that might make a big difference.  Tolbert has been all but given his 
>starting job back with the movement of Jones back to tackle.

I wouldn't mind keeping 9 DLs.  I think Noonan will now stay and help out
quite a bit.  I see the odd man out being Tony Hill or Kevin Harris.

>JJ always liked keeping a fresh stable of DT on the field at Miami and he 
>has that luxury again, with a small (if any) drop in talent between the 
>players.

It's a good idea, especially when it gets to be late in games, when a
fresh DL has a big advantage over tired starting OLmen or lesser quality
backups.

>7) If Dallas does keep 9 DL, it bodes ill for the linebackers.  There
>will then only be 5 LB slots left,with Bates playing the middle on nickl downs 
>until Woodsen comes on.  To that end, MLB Bernard Clark was released.  
>The U of Miami product had hoped to be #6.  The roster exemptions for 
>Tolbert, Kupp, and Crum (2 weeks) may keep Crum around for a while 
>longer....

How about Reggie Cooper and Mickey Pruitt?  They're still around, right?
They are both decent backups, but if it comes down to keeping a sixth
LB or the ninth DL, I'll opt for the latter.

>* E. Smith looked very good

Great news!!

>* The offensive Line looked even better, although Aikman continues to take 
>shots to the chin. 

The offensive line is underrated, but they do a good job and seem to keep
improving.  Aikman says he will scramble more this year.  Not necessarily
to run for yardage, but just out of the pocket to get away from the heat.

>* Beasley has talent, he may play somewhere else.  Best of all this means 
>that the line can block for anyone.

Think they'll keep five RBs??  After E. Smith, Richards, Johnston, and
Agee, will they keep Beasley or Weatherspoon??

>* Saxon looks very good

Hopefully, he won't be used much this year!!    :-)

>* Martin looks like Michael Irvin as open as he is getting.  He can't do 
>much after he catches it, but boy can he catch!  He did miss 2 balls that were 
>in his hands as he was hit by Broncos players.  

It's good to see KMart getting more of a chance to show his stuff!!

>* Wright did not make much of his opportunity to be a star (2 catches) with 
>Harper out.

What a tease!  He makes enough catches to make you think he's on the verge
of becoming a star, then drops some easy ones.  But with his return skills
he should make the team easily.

>* WR Gerald Alphin didn't play much, although he has the talent to make 
>the team if Irvin continues to sit.

Let's not even think about this.

>* Robert Jones looked average which is excellent for a rookie.

As he learns more he'll improve.  With his athletic ability, it's gonna
be fun to watch him this year.

>* Smith was hot and cold.

I assume you mean Kevin, not Emmit, Jimmy, or Vinson?  If Kevin Smith
can stay healthy, he'll be alright this year.

>* Norton looked good as did V Smith.  They need the next two weeks and 
>will be back in form for the start of the season.

Great!!  Now we need Edwards and Myles to make some strides!!

>9)  TE Rob Awalt who the Cowboys lost on Plan B has been called the 4th 
>TE on the Broncos roster.  If this is the case, I hope to see him back in a 
>Cowboys uniform.  I believe he could be as good as Novacek in the role the 
>Cowboys give to their TE.  Bartlweski is not the answer.

The Cowboys picked up TE Chad Fortune from the Redskins waiver list.
I don't know much about him, but without Novacek in and anybody of 
any value behind Roberts, the 'Boys need some help here.  Would JJ
consider keeping just two TE's??

>10) Rice signed, 3 years for 8 MILLION DOLLARS.  Irvin will want this 
>and it doesn't help trying to get him in.  His dollars look puny by 
>comparison.  Still, look for him to get in before the Washington game.

Yeah, I agree.  Seeing the Washington holdouts get signed might make 
both sides of the Cowboys holdout situation a little softer.

>11) Stepnoski says he will sit out the season as well.  Cornish and
>Gogan are the centers for now.

I hope he doesn't mean this.  He's coming into his own as one of the
better centers in the NFL.  He doesn't need to screw it up by missing
a season (or even part of it).


Ray      GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xref: sparky rec.sport.football.pro:14830 dc.redskins:110