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Free Agent Watch
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: With NFL free agency still to come, the Cowboys' roster remains very much unfinished. In this summer series, DallasCowboys.com takes a look at a number of the veterans who could wind up in Dallas before the season begins. Today's featured player is Bears safety/kick returner Danieal Manning.)
Name: Danieal Manning
Position: Safety / Kick Returner
College: Abilene Christian
Height/Weight: 5-11 / 202
Age: 28
NFL Experience: 5 seasons
Availability: Like many free agents, Manning is playing the waiting game with the current work stoppage to figure out his exact status. If free agency reverts back to four years, which will likely happen if a new salary-capped structure is implemented, Manning would then become unrestricted. However, if the 2010 rules are re-applied with no salary cap, Manning would be a restricted free agent. Manning's situation is a little different than the other free-agents-to-be because he was actually offered a contract by the Bears before the lockout began, and he rejected a three-year deal worth $6 million with $2 million guaranteed. Chicago then proceeded with an original-compensation tender, which would force teams to give the Bears a second-round pick if Manning signed with another club. But like all free agents, he will likely warrant more money if he becomes unrestricted.
What He Brings: Manning is a unique cross between a physical strong safety-type player who excels closer to the line of scrimmage, and a dynamic kick returner. Those two usually don't go together but Manning has been able to excel at both positions. And considering the Bears have had Devin Hester in the fold for the last five years - (Hester and Manning were both second-round picks of the Bears in 2006) - Manning has been good enough to take a few kick returns away from Hester, who is arguably the best return specialist of all time. Despite the rule changes on kickoffs, which could decrease the value of that position, Manning has been good enough in the past to assume he would still make a few plays in that role.
Connections: Other than a visit on Dallas Day back before the 2006 draft, the Corsicana, Texas native doesn't have a lot of ties to this staff. Now, quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson held the same position in Chicago during the 2006 season, Manning's first. It's unlikely the rookie safety and the quarterbacks coach had much of a connection, but don't think that special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis isn't familiar with Manning's ability. In fact, before last year's game with Chicago, DeCamillis described Manning as a "violent kick returner" who takes an ultra-aggressive approach.
Where Would He Fit: If the Cowboys were to land Manning, who probably has plenty of interest in returning to his hometown team, he would likely help fill two positions of need. First, the Cowboys are definitely in need of a safety. Since Manning is more of a strong safety, the Cowboys would likely fill the other spot with a true free safety. That's where the versatility of Gerald Sensabaugh could come into play. Sensabaugh is figured to at least get an offer to return to the Cowboys, but he's got the ability to play either free or strong safety, which leaves the options open for the Cowboys to fill the other safety spot with whatever they might need. And with Manning, he not only can play strong safety but would be a viable kick-return option, too.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: With NFL free agency still to come, the Cowboys' roster remains very much unfinished. In this summer series, DallasCowboys.com takes a look at a number of the veterans who could wind up in Dallas before the season begins. Today's featured player is Bears safety/kick returner Danieal Manning.)
Name: Danieal Manning
Position: Safety / Kick Returner
College: Abilene Christian
Height/Weight: 5-11 / 202
Age: 28
NFL Experience: 5 seasons
Availability: Like many free agents, Manning is playing the waiting game with the current work stoppage to figure out his exact status. If free agency reverts back to four years, which will likely happen if a new salary-capped structure is implemented, Manning would then become unrestricted. However, if the 2010 rules are re-applied with no salary cap, Manning would be a restricted free agent. Manning's situation is a little different than the other free-agents-to-be because he was actually offered a contract by the Bears before the lockout began, and he rejected a three-year deal worth $6 million with $2 million guaranteed. Chicago then proceeded with an original-compensation tender, which would force teams to give the Bears a second-round pick if Manning signed with another club. But like all free agents, he will likely warrant more money if he becomes unrestricted.
What He Brings: Manning is a unique cross between a physical strong safety-type player who excels closer to the line of scrimmage, and a dynamic kick returner. Those two usually don't go together but Manning has been able to excel at both positions. And considering the Bears have had Devin Hester in the fold for the last five years - (Hester and Manning were both second-round picks of the Bears in 2006) - Manning has been good enough to take a few kick returns away from Hester, who is arguably the best return specialist of all time. Despite the rule changes on kickoffs, which could decrease the value of that position, Manning has been good enough in the past to assume he would still make a few plays in that role.
Connections: Other than a visit on Dallas Day back before the 2006 draft, the Corsicana, Texas native doesn't have a lot of ties to this staff. Now, quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson held the same position in Chicago during the 2006 season, Manning's first. It's unlikely the rookie safety and the quarterbacks coach had much of a connection, but don't think that special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis isn't familiar with Manning's ability. In fact, before last year's game with Chicago, DeCamillis described Manning as a "violent kick returner" who takes an ultra-aggressive approach.
Where Would He Fit: If the Cowboys were to land Manning, who probably has plenty of interest in returning to his hometown team, he would likely help fill two positions of need. First, the Cowboys are definitely in need of a safety. Since Manning is more of a strong safety, the Cowboys would likely fill the other spot with a true free safety. That's where the versatility of Gerald Sensabaugh could come into play. Sensabaugh is figured to at least get an offer to return to the Cowboys, but he's got the ability to play either free or strong safety, which leaves the options open for the Cowboys to fill the other safety spot with whatever they might need. And with Manning, he not only can play strong safety but would be a viable kick-return option, too.
