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Roster Rundown
Hurd Thrives In Role-Player Tag
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is wide receiver Sam Hurd.)
Name: Sam Hurd
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 6-3/209
Experience: Five seasons
College: Northern Illinois
Key stat: Hurd had 21 special teams tackles in 2010 - two more than his team-leading 19 in 2009. However, despite being the special teams' captain for the second straight year, he was second on the squad in tackles, next to rookie Danny McCray's 28 stops.
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent.
2010 Impact: Hurd was once again a mainstay on special teams. While he didn't lead the team in tackles this past season, he finished second and was often the prime target for opponents' blocking schemes. On offense, Hurd was again just a role player, catching 14 passes for 120 yards. His longest reception was just 13 yards without a touchdown. Those numbers don't exactly justify the $1.75 million price tag, but throw in his special teams work, and some teams might consider Hurd a bargain.
Where He Fits: That's a good question, considering all the uncertainty with the NFL labor talks. Hurd should be a free agent this year, having been restricted each of the last two seasons. If the Cowboys are willing to pay around $1.5 million to maybe $2 million for a guy who can lead their special teams and be a viable receiving option in a pinch, then Hurd can be fit for the Cowboys or any team. But his price tag keeps getting higher, begging the annual question if a team can find someone younger and cheaper to replace him.
Writers' Analysis:
Nick Eatman: For a guy who went undrafted out of Northern Illinois back in 2006, Hurd wasn't supposed to make the team as a rookie. Now he's a five-year vet who keeps hanging around. I would imagine that most teams have guys like Sam Hurd, but they're valuable. Teams need players they can count on to play special teams and be ready for the call on offense. Hurd isn't the fastest - never has been - but he's a productive enough receiver when given the opportunity. Hurd has always been a guy who needed to win a job in camp, but since he'll be unrestricted, it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys re-sign him and give him that chance.
Rob Phillips: Hurd might never become a perennial NFL starter, but at the very least he should have a place in the league for several more years as a core special teams player and a rotational receiver. Those services became rather expensive last year at $1.75 million, and now he could eventually test the market as an unrestricted free agent. Under normal salary cap circumstances, this is where teams have to be ready to plug in younger players with cheaper contracts. Time might be up with Hurd, but depending on the price, they could certainly use him.
Hurd Thrives In Role-Player Tag
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is wide receiver Sam Hurd.)
Name: Sam Hurd
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 6-3/209
Experience: Five seasons
College: Northern Illinois
Key stat: Hurd had 21 special teams tackles in 2010 - two more than his team-leading 19 in 2009. However, despite being the special teams' captain for the second straight year, he was second on the squad in tackles, next to rookie Danny McCray's 28 stops.
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent.
2010 Impact: Hurd was once again a mainstay on special teams. While he didn't lead the team in tackles this past season, he finished second and was often the prime target for opponents' blocking schemes. On offense, Hurd was again just a role player, catching 14 passes for 120 yards. His longest reception was just 13 yards without a touchdown. Those numbers don't exactly justify the $1.75 million price tag, but throw in his special teams work, and some teams might consider Hurd a bargain.
Where He Fits: That's a good question, considering all the uncertainty with the NFL labor talks. Hurd should be a free agent this year, having been restricted each of the last two seasons. If the Cowboys are willing to pay around $1.5 million to maybe $2 million for a guy who can lead their special teams and be a viable receiving option in a pinch, then Hurd can be fit for the Cowboys or any team. But his price tag keeps getting higher, begging the annual question if a team can find someone younger and cheaper to replace him.
Writers' Analysis:
Nick Eatman: For a guy who went undrafted out of Northern Illinois back in 2006, Hurd wasn't supposed to make the team as a rookie. Now he's a five-year vet who keeps hanging around. I would imagine that most teams have guys like Sam Hurd, but they're valuable. Teams need players they can count on to play special teams and be ready for the call on offense. Hurd isn't the fastest - never has been - but he's a productive enough receiver when given the opportunity. Hurd has always been a guy who needed to win a job in camp, but since he'll be unrestricted, it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys re-sign him and give him that chance.
Rob Phillips: Hurd might never become a perennial NFL starter, but at the very least he should have a place in the league for several more years as a core special teams player and a rotational receiver. Those services became rather expensive last year at $1.75 million, and now he could eventually test the market as an unrestricted free agent. Under normal salary cap circumstances, this is where teams have to be ready to plug in younger players with cheaper contracts. Time might be up with Hurd, but depending on the price, they could certainly use him.
