Rob Ryan talks to Abe Elam

[Midswat]

By Calvin Watkins

SAN ANTONIO -- The Cowboys are in the hunt for free agent safety Abram Elam.

Elam tweeted he spoke to Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan Saturday night.

"Just hung up with Rob Ryan he spoke about how good [Terence Newman] and the defense is and can be," Elam wrote.

The Cowboys have signed several players over the last several days, including three of their own free agents in Marcus Spears, Kyle Kosier and Doug Free. The team signed Keynon Coleman on Friday night to play defensive end.

But the team, despite filling a need at end with the signings of Spears and Coleman, have issues at safety. In the first week of training camp, the first-team safeties have been Barry Church (strong) and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (free), who have never started a NFL game.

Alan Ball, who started at free safety last season, most likely will move back to his natural position at cornerback. Gerald Sensabaugh, the strong safety, is a free agent and seeks a new deal.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said there is a possibility the team could sign two safeties during this crazy free agency period.

Elam is a possibility. He played for the Cowboys in 2006 and after spending two seasons with the New York Jets, went to Cleveland where Ryan was the defensive coordinator.

 

[dbair1967]

Elam and anoter new safety would be quality adds

 

[Midswat]

It's a neccessary signing. We need this to happen. Would make a huge difference for our defense.

 

[dbair1967]

It's a neccessary signing. We need this to happen. Would make a huge difference for our defense.

Maybe we can go 1-15 instead of 0-16 then...I just dont know if there is a tomorrow

 

[Cythim]

Seems sad that we are putting so much stock into a JAG.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Seems sad that we are putting so much stock into a JAG.

Most overused term on football message boards.. means absolutely nothing.

As for Elam, if Ryan wants the guy and thinks he can be successful in his defense, im all for it. Better to give him the guys he wants.

 

[Midswat]

That JAG is an underrated player.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Most overused term on football message boards.. means absolutely nothing.

As for Elam, if Ryan wants the guy and thinks he can be successful in his defense, im all for it. Better to give him the guys he wants.

No. That would be progress stopper. The asshole is such a hypocrite.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

That JAG is an underrated player.

Ahem. Another overused term, "underrated".

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Seems sad that we are putting so much stock into a JAG.

JAG would be a 2-fold upgrade from what we trotted out at safety last year.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

No. That would be progress stopper. The asshole is such a hypocrite.

lol

I've never seen that term used.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

JAG would be a 2-fold upgrade from what we trotted out at safety last year.

This.

Show of hands...would you rather trot Abe Elam out at safety, or Alan Effing Ball?

 

[Idgit]

If his own DC from last year wants him, I don't understand why there's any debate over signing Elam. It pretty much looks like this one has been in the works all along, doesn't it?

 

[JPM]

If his own DC from last year wants him, I don't understand why there's any debate over signing Elam. It pretty much looks like this one has been in the works all along, doesn't it?

I keep reading he wants 5 mill a year. Is he really worth that kind of money ?

 

[Idgit]

I keep reading he wants 5 mill a year. Is he really worth that kind of money ?

God, no.

Any signing needs to be good value, for sure. But in terms of the guy's ability to play the position, people are questioning it. All this back-and-forth about him being JAG or more-than-JAG is irrelevant. If the DC knows him and wants him, then he's likely a good fit. We should be satisfied with that and move on to figuring out what we're going to do on the other side.

 

[Theebs]

geez. He wants 5 a year.

that is crazy. I imagine he wont be here until last minute on thursday if at all.

Would be smart of Dallas to let it be known they are talking to a number of safeties, which hopefully they are anyway.

 

[Idgit]

geez. He wants 5 a year.

that is crazy. I imagine he wont be here until last minute on thursday if at all.

Would be smart of Dallas to let it be known they are talking to a number of safeties, which hopefully they are anyway.

I'm not sure he really wants $5M. That's a number I heard thrown out early, but I don't recall the source, and it's not a realistic starting point given the skins on his wall. He's a $3-3.5M/yr player, at most.

 

[Cythim]

Is anyone besides Dallas talking to him? Cleveland didn't even want him anymore, they were looking to upgrade.

 

[Idgit]

Is anyone besides Dallas talking to him? Cleveland didn't even want him anymore, they were looking to upgrade.

CLE's old DC wants him, anyway. That's all that matters when it comes to how he might fit in Dallas.

I haven't heard of any interest from other parties in Elam, but then that stuff's not always covered prior to an actual signing, and even then it's heard less often for role-players.

 

[boozeman]

I'm not sure he really wants $5M. That's a number I heard thrown out early, but I don't recall the source, and it's not a realistic starting point given the skins on his wall. He's a $3-3.5M/yr player, at most.

If we pay Elam that $5 amount and we passed on doing the same for Jenkins, we deserve as many losses as we get.