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By Calvin Watkins
The scouting combine has finished its weekend of work. We have some thoughts heading into the backstretch.
1. Jerry Jones believes the Cowboys has the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. Really?!?!?!?!?!
2. The offensive linemen have stood out at the combine and the Cowboys who are trying to upgrade the talent in the interior need to take a close look at taking one in the first round.
Here's what Scouts Inc. had to say about Stanford guard David DeCastro: "As for DeCastro, he was by far the most impressive interior offensive lineman during drills. He was smooth and quick, posting the best 3-cone time (7.3) since 2008, as well as the third-best short shuttle (4.56) and fifth-best broad jump (8-foot-2) among 2012 linemen. His 29½-inch vertical jump was also well above the average for guards (26½) over the past four combines."
Guard Cordy Glenn from Georgia has also impressed: "Glenn stood out as most consistent offensive lineman on either team during Senior Bowl week, while facing first-round prospects Quinton Coples (North Carolina), Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) and Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) every day in practice. That momentum has carried over to Indianapolis."
3. There is some confusion regarding some comments made by Jones over the weekend about cornerback Terence Newman. The Cowboys save money, yes, save money, by cutting the veteran corner, as much as $6 million. Jones said nothing has been decided. Here's the deal: Newman played well at the start of the 2011 season, but lost his confidence in the final two months and teams knew it by targeting him numerous times. Newman didn't do himself any favors by taking himself out of the game against the New York Giants on a third down for Alan Ball. I think Jones was just being nice about saying you have to find a replacement for Newman before cutting him. Jones most likely will do it, but we wonder if the front office is confident in the abilities of Orlando Scandrick to replace Newman. It seems Jones might find a corner in the second or third rounds of the draft.
4. Bradie James and Keith Brooking were two warriors who were great leaders for the Cowboys. It's time to move on. Too many times this franchise stays with veteran players before sending them home for good. It's time to part ways with Newman and James. Both are unrestricted free agents and it appears they will not return. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, said nothing is decided. The Cowboys had a first round grade on Bruce Carter, who was a second round pick last year. Carter will get his chance to play in 2012 alongside Sean Lee at inside linebacker.
5. We love how Jones talked about Andre Holmes, a young receiver with tremendous potential, as a possible replacement for Laurent Robinson, if he leaves this spring in free agency. Holmes is fast and runs good routes. But he's never had an offensive snap in a NFL regular season game. The Cowboys like Holmes, but there's too much uncertainty about him to move him up the depth chart if the Cowboys lose Robinson. The Cowboys will have to spend a little bit of money to keep Robinson, maybe $6 million to $8 million guaranteed to keep him. If the Cowboys lose Robinson, they have trouble a wide receiver.
By Calvin Watkins
The scouting combine has finished its weekend of work. We have some thoughts heading into the backstretch.
1. Jerry Jones believes the Cowboys has the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. Really?!?!?!?!?!
2. The offensive linemen have stood out at the combine and the Cowboys who are trying to upgrade the talent in the interior need to take a close look at taking one in the first round.
Here's what Scouts Inc. had to say about Stanford guard David DeCastro: "As for DeCastro, he was by far the most impressive interior offensive lineman during drills. He was smooth and quick, posting the best 3-cone time (7.3) since 2008, as well as the third-best short shuttle (4.56) and fifth-best broad jump (8-foot-2) among 2012 linemen. His 29½-inch vertical jump was also well above the average for guards (26½) over the past four combines."
Guard Cordy Glenn from Georgia has also impressed: "Glenn stood out as most consistent offensive lineman on either team during Senior Bowl week, while facing first-round prospects Quinton Coples (North Carolina), Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) and Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) every day in practice. That momentum has carried over to Indianapolis."
3. There is some confusion regarding some comments made by Jones over the weekend about cornerback Terence Newman. The Cowboys save money, yes, save money, by cutting the veteran corner, as much as $6 million. Jones said nothing has been decided. Here's the deal: Newman played well at the start of the 2011 season, but lost his confidence in the final two months and teams knew it by targeting him numerous times. Newman didn't do himself any favors by taking himself out of the game against the New York Giants on a third down for Alan Ball. I think Jones was just being nice about saying you have to find a replacement for Newman before cutting him. Jones most likely will do it, but we wonder if the front office is confident in the abilities of Orlando Scandrick to replace Newman. It seems Jones might find a corner in the second or third rounds of the draft.
4. Bradie James and Keith Brooking were two warriors who were great leaders for the Cowboys. It's time to move on. Too many times this franchise stays with veteran players before sending them home for good. It's time to part ways with Newman and James. Both are unrestricted free agents and it appears they will not return. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, said nothing is decided. The Cowboys had a first round grade on Bruce Carter, who was a second round pick last year. Carter will get his chance to play in 2012 alongside Sean Lee at inside linebacker.
5. We love how Jones talked about Andre Holmes, a young receiver with tremendous potential, as a possible replacement for Laurent Robinson, if he leaves this spring in free agency. Holmes is fast and runs good routes. But he's never had an offensive snap in a NFL regular season game. The Cowboys like Holmes, but there's too much uncertainty about him to move him up the depth chart if the Cowboys lose Robinson. The Cowboys will have to spend a little bit of money to keep Robinson, maybe $6 million to $8 million guaranteed to keep him. If the Cowboys lose Robinson, they have trouble a wide receiver.