C
Cr122
Guest
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defends releasing Andre Gurode
ANDY KING / AP
Published 30 August 2011 06:26 PM
Jerry Jones told the Cowboys fan base on Tuesday to study the facts when trying to figure out why Andre Gurode is no longer a member of the Cowboys and Phil Costa is the team’s starting center.
Jones simply said that Costa, an undrafted second-year player, won the position battle over the five-time Pro Bowler.
“You should look at this one based upon the facts as you see them,” Jones said during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). “You saw Phil Costa step up and for all practical purposes win the starting job at center. Win it heads up. ... Then you saw the reality of having a significant salary for a backup player.”
Releasing Gurode will save the Cowboys $5.5 million in cap money this season.
Some are concerned that the departure of 2010 starters Gurode, RT Marc Colombo and RG Leonard Davis will give the Cowboys an inexperienced offensive line that could struggle to keep quarterback Tony Romo healthy.
Jones endorsed the youth movement, which likely includes rookies Tyron Smith and Bill Nagy joining Costa in the starting lineup. After all, Romo was injured behind an experienced group last season.
“Let’s keep in mind, the experienced offensive line last year got our quarterback knocked out, or was a big part of getting our quarterback knocked out, early on in the season and that really hurt us,” said Jones. “Not that we were playing well to begin with. So it’s not that our experience kept us from doing the one thing you really want to do, and that’s get your man or at least get in front of your man. What you’re going to see is a likelihood of more getting in front of your man, less people coming free."
ANDY KING / AP
Published 30 August 2011 06:26 PM
Jerry Jones told the Cowboys fan base on Tuesday to study the facts when trying to figure out why Andre Gurode is no longer a member of the Cowboys and Phil Costa is the team’s starting center.
Jones simply said that Costa, an undrafted second-year player, won the position battle over the five-time Pro Bowler.
“You should look at this one based upon the facts as you see them,” Jones said during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). “You saw Phil Costa step up and for all practical purposes win the starting job at center. Win it heads up. ... Then you saw the reality of having a significant salary for a backup player.”
Releasing Gurode will save the Cowboys $5.5 million in cap money this season.
Some are concerned that the departure of 2010 starters Gurode, RT Marc Colombo and RG Leonard Davis will give the Cowboys an inexperienced offensive line that could struggle to keep quarterback Tony Romo healthy.
Jones endorsed the youth movement, which likely includes rookies Tyron Smith and Bill Nagy joining Costa in the starting lineup. After all, Romo was injured behind an experienced group last season.
“Let’s keep in mind, the experienced offensive line last year got our quarterback knocked out, or was a big part of getting our quarterback knocked out, early on in the season and that really hurt us,” said Jones. “Not that we were playing well to begin with. So it’s not that our experience kept us from doing the one thing you really want to do, and that’s get your man or at least get in front of your man. What you’re going to see is a likelihood of more getting in front of your man, less people coming free."
