Read this post and marvel as I attempt to maintain some kind of journalistic objectivity while discussing the Dallas Cowboys. It's no secret that I am what can only be appropriately referred to as a "super-fan" of the Washington Redskins. But, I will try to discuss this Terrell Owens thing without injecting too much Redskins bias. It'll be hard, though, because the Cowboys stand for all that is evil in this world. I guess I'm not off to a great start.
To borrow the hackneyed expression, you must be living under a rock (or you must not follow sports news) if you haven't heard that Terrell Owens has signed a potential three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys that could eventually reach $25 million. The Washington Post story can be found HERE. Another account from ESPN.com can be found HERE. He will receive a $5 million signing bonus and a $5 million base salary this season. He also stands to make $8 million in 2007 and $7 million in 2008, provided the Cowboys exercise the roster bonuses in the next two seasons. If he stays the entire three years, he'll make $25 million, which is substantially more than he would've made in the last years of his contract with the Eagles, the same contract that created the brouhaha that led to his release. But what does this signing mean for Owens and the Cowboys?
In sum, it seems to spell potential disaster for both sides. Owens is a top-five receiver in the NFL. He's a transformative player who enables secondary offensive options to be featured more prominently in an offensive attack because of a defense's tendency to focus its full attention on him. For this reason, and this reason alone, the Cowboys could become a more potent offensive team, which may or may not lead to more wins. (Although, offense wasn't the most pressing concern for this team.) Still, I can't see this acquisition as being beneficial for either side. (It may be helpful to Owens's wallet, however.) In watching many Cowboys games last year -- more than I wanted to -- I observed a team with an above average offense to the start the season devolve into a stagnant offensive team that had difficulty scoring points later in the campaign, which was exacerbated by a kicker-by-committee tactic that head coach Bill Parcells employed for much of the season. What I see this year is a team that could improve offensively, but most likely won't be as dynamic as a team with Owens should be.
Starting in the backfield, the Cowboys field an aging starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, whose decision-making skills seem to be deteriorating as quickly as his arm. Even though he doesn't get as much zip on the ball, he still put up decent numbers last season (23 TD's, 17 INTs, 3,639 yards) because his receivers did such a good job of creating space and getting open. At this point in Bledsoe's career, he requires receivers who can shed defenders because he can't complete the tough throws in tight space like he did in New England. See the 17 INTs as an example. Standing behind Bledsoe is running back Julius Jones, who can be classified as mediocre, at best. He posted only 993 yards and five touchdowns last season, hardly gaudy numbers for a starting running back in the NFL. Owens might help Jones reach 1,100 yards this season, as eight men won't be able to pile into the box to stop the run. Still, Jones isn't a flashy, change-of-direction back. He's also not a power runner. What does that leave? Not much success. He lost a number of carries last year to the fleet-of-foot, yet slight-of-build Tyson Thompson, who demonstrated more promise at the position. Jones really didn't provide any running relief for the Cowboys until the 16th week of the season in a victory against the Carolina Panthers, of all teams.
Terry Glenn, the Cowboys deep receiving threat, will probably benefit the most from Owens's presence. Owens will see double teams constantly, and Glenn proved last year that he still has the ability to beat man coverage deep for long receptions and touchdowns. But the negatives appear more prominent than the positives for this team. Owens will produce. He always does. But the Cowboys offensive season still rests on the prehistoric arm of Bledsoe and the adequate leg-work of Jones, which is an unenviable place for the Cowboys to be stuck. Let's pretend for a moment that the Owens signing dramatically transforms this offensive unit. There are still plenty of unanswered questions about the Dallas defense. Offense can carry a team only so far. Defense is what makes a squad truly special and successful. Now, let's pretend for a moment the offense stalls and produces little more than it did last year. The Cowboys will be bad, and who knows how Owens will respond. It doesn't mean much if he catches 70 balls for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns if those numbers only yield six or seven wins. In a tough NFC East, defense will carry the best team. The last time I checked, Owens can't play linebacker.
In other news ...
-- Some Dallas fans are worried about the signing. But former cornerback Eric Allen thinks the acquisition will work out well for both parties.
-- The Atlanta Falcons continue to overhaul their secondary, most recently trading for Browns safety Chris Crocker. If they complete a trade for estranged Jets defensive end John Abraham, look out. That will be a formidable defense. It should take pressure of Michael Vick and the offense.
-- The Redskins finally traded beleagured back-up quarterback Patrick Ramsey to the Jets for a sixth-round pick. It's insurance for Chad Pennington. If I had to make the call, I'd start Ramsey. I still like the kid.
-- The AP is reporting that Steve Hutchinson's future is in the hands of an arbiter.
-- Be sure to visit John Clayton's blog on ESPN.com for comprehensive NFL coverage.
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