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Posted by
nickeatman at 1/12/2012 12:47 PM CST on dallascowboys.com
Obviously this team has plenty of decisions to make regarding the player personnel and key starters on both sides of the ball.
One of those spots is at strong safety where Abram Elam will once again become a free agent this March – that’s assuming the Cowboys don’t offer him a long-term contract before then.
While that scenario seems rather unlikely, you do have to wonder if things will change at all now that his position coach in Cleveland - Jerome Henderson – is back in the mix again and expected to take over as the Cowboys’ new secondary coach.
Sometimes that can play a big factor in a player’s decision to stay, and/or the team’s decision to keep him if Henderson comes right in and fights to try and keep him.
Then again, let’s not forget that Elam was a free agent in Cleveland last year, when Henderson was still on the Browns’ staff and he decided to leave for Dallas and join Rob Ryan.
There are lots of factors involved here. Elam is one of about 20 players whose contract is up. Of those 20, about half are considered regular contributors.
The Cowboys really don’t have much depth at safety – something that has been a consistent theme for years now. Now, Jerry Jones has said a few times over the last year or so that the organization needs to focus on playing younger guys sooner.
If that’s the case, maybe it will be time to see what they have in Barry Church. Then again, Church got a full week with the first-team defense back in camp and the Cowboys still went out and signed both Gerald Sensabaugh and Elam to one-year deals. Sensabaugh, of course, signed a five-year contract in the middle of the season.
Personally, I think the Cowboys should at least try to get another one-year deal out of Elam. That way, you’re not tied to anything long term and you can still develop young guys like Church and Danny McCray and/or draft a safety in any round as well.
Then again, don’t expect Elam to get all excited about another one-year deal. He’ll probably at least want to test the market once again. But maybe things have changed a little – for better or worse – now that he’ll reunite with Henderson.
Obviously this team has plenty of decisions to make regarding the player personnel and key starters on both sides of the ball.
One of those spots is at strong safety where Abram Elam will once again become a free agent this March – that’s assuming the Cowboys don’t offer him a long-term contract before then.
While that scenario seems rather unlikely, you do have to wonder if things will change at all now that his position coach in Cleveland - Jerome Henderson – is back in the mix again and expected to take over as the Cowboys’ new secondary coach.
Sometimes that can play a big factor in a player’s decision to stay, and/or the team’s decision to keep him if Henderson comes right in and fights to try and keep him.
Then again, let’s not forget that Elam was a free agent in Cleveland last year, when Henderson was still on the Browns’ staff and he decided to leave for Dallas and join Rob Ryan.
There are lots of factors involved here. Elam is one of about 20 players whose contract is up. Of those 20, about half are considered regular contributors.
The Cowboys really don’t have much depth at safety – something that has been a consistent theme for years now. Now, Jerry Jones has said a few times over the last year or so that the organization needs to focus on playing younger guys sooner.
If that’s the case, maybe it will be time to see what they have in Barry Church. Then again, Church got a full week with the first-team defense back in camp and the Cowboys still went out and signed both Gerald Sensabaugh and Elam to one-year deals. Sensabaugh, of course, signed a five-year contract in the middle of the season.
Personally, I think the Cowboys should at least try to get another one-year deal out of Elam. That way, you’re not tied to anything long term and you can still develop young guys like Church and Danny McCray and/or draft a safety in any round as well.
Then again, don’t expect Elam to get all excited about another one-year deal. He’ll probably at least want to test the market once again. But maybe things have changed a little – for better or worse – now that he’ll reunite with Henderson.