From: rjk@DINO.QCI.BIOCH.BCM.TMC.EDU (Raymond K)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Dallas Q & A :  Part II
Date: 13 Aug 1992 14:16:19 GMT
Organization: X-Ray Crystallography / Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In article <1992Aug12.212703.16567@aero.org> mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw) writes:
>More answers to my own questions...
>
>Q: What is going to happen with the offensive holdouts?
>A: I believe that Stepnoski will sign before the preseason game after
>this one, during that hazy "deadline" period that Johnson has imposed
>for holdouts to retain their starting spots.  Cornish has shown in two
>preseason games that he is not a liability to the team and can play
>center adequately.  Irvin and Novacek, on the other hand, are much
>less likely to sign.  I believe that Novacek will be in before Irvin;
>I see Irvin as much less likely to bend to the coaches threats.  Even
>though Novacek has a stronger bargaining position, everything I have
>seen indicates that the he and the Cowboys are closer to a deal than
>Irvin.  I am not sure Irvin is asking for realistic money at all.

I think Irvin realizes that after the year he had last season, he's
in a great bargaining position.  Also, with the potential of Alvin
Harper and Jimmy Smith, he doesn't want to settle for a contract 
loaded with incentives, since the Cowboys will probably want to spread
the ball around more.  But, from all the interviews I've seen with
Irvin, he sounds like they're pretty close and he's not worried about
missing too much time.  Maybe he realizes he's asking for the moon and
is just waiting til he's ready to shake the rust off before agreeing to
terms.  Does this seem true, ice?

>Q: How about the defensive holdouts?
>Well, with the signing of Washington at safety, there are only two
>defensive holdouts left.  Washington's unhappy camper attitude is not
>going to help him get his starting spot back.  I am still not
>convinced that Robert Williams is the answer at strong safety, and I
>have a strong hunch that Washington will be back there before the
>first ball is kicked in anger.  For now, Washington vs. Horton sounds
>like Horton has found his way out of town.

I agree about Washington winning his spot back.  JJ blows his fuse about
holdouts, but by the same token, he wants the best players out there.
All Washington has to do is play the way he's capable of playing and
he'll become the starter again.  I wouldn't be surprised if Horton
was on the bubble.

>                                            Norton is losing his job
>in a hurry.  Although Myles and Edwards have been having a slow camp,
>both are blessed with an incredible amount of talent and speed, and
>they will become proficient soon enough.  If nothing else they will
>get good enough to warrant further study.  Norton has had good games
>in the past, but his attitude is one sure way to send him along with
>the likes of Highsmith and Solomon.  I think Smith's return basically
>puts Norton in a no win situation unless someone gets hurt.  

I'm glad to hear you have lots of faith in Myles and Edwards, ice.
I like both of them, and think that they'll develop into good LBs.
Maybe with Norton's and Smith's holdouts, they've gotten enough
experience to accelerate the process.  I think you're right about
Norton's attitude.  He's at the stage of his career right now where
he can step up and become a top notch LB, or he could hinder it with
a prolonged holdout.  It doesn't help him that he's an "old regime"
draft pick.

>                                                             Finally,
>Tolbert is in the same position that Novacek is in on O.  He is the
>only proven end with talent AND potential and can get his asking
>price.  If JJ starts the season without Tolbert, it will look bad vs.
>the Skins and beyond until he is up to speed.  It is not that he is
>that good, it is just that there is no one else ready to play yet.

In one sense, Tolbert's holdout gives others in the crowded defensive
line a chance to show their stuff.  But, if Tolbert is a slow starter,
as JJ claims, he's going to need the preseason games to get in gear.
I think if I were Steve Jones, I'd make him the top guy on my negotiating
list.

>Q: What about Ace Wright?
>A:  What about him?  He continues to take "baby steps" on his recovery
>from college ball.  This is his third season, and while he continues
>to improve, he is on the bubble to be cut.  I think he will make the
>team, and he will contribute more and more on STeams, but as for being
>a receiver, he still has a long way to go.  His punt returning skills
>look a lot better than I would have expected, and I expect him to
>return KO by the time the regular season starts.  The bomb he caught
>vs. Miami helped his cause tremendously.

I hope Ace makes it and does well.  He's already a good return man,
but doesn't want to just settle for that role.  I think he's working
hard, which is a big help and will probably be recognized by the
coaching staff.


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