Post by matt51180 on Feb 25, 2013 8:30:37 GMT -6
I just hear The Musers talking about this. I just don't know how to take it...
www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20130224-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-qb-tony-romo-can-handle-a-porous-offensive-line.ece
INDIANAPOLIS – Jerry Jones recognizes the offensive line could be better. But what lengths are the Cowboys willing to go to improve a unit that yielded 36 sacks and was an accessory to a running game that produced 1,265 yards, the lowest total a Cowboys team has accumulated in a 16-game season?
Jones, the Cowboys owner and general manager, didn’t offer a clear picture. He said, “We very likely through a combination of free agency or this draft get serious about another guard/center type.”
And he did say that moving right tackle to Doug Free to an interior position has been discussed, but only if the Cowboys decide that they have enough quality players who can be slotted at the bookend spots.
Yet Jones wouldn’t commit to making any sweeping changes in the offensive line. He even said that he could see Phil Costa be the center “for several years” if the Cowboys judge the players flanking him to be above average.
And he added that rookie guard Ron Leary has “got a shot” to have an increased role.
Jones is hopeful the unit will perform better next season, but he seems to recognize its limitations and it’s part of the reason why the Cowboys want to make another long-term commitment to quarterback Tony Romo, whose contract expires after the 2013 campaign.
“If you’re going to have a guy…that can handle a porous offensive line, it’s Tony,” Jones said. “Tony has some of the best percentages operating behind pressure situation of anyone in the NFL. If there were a place theoretically that you had to have a weakness with Tony Romo at quarterback, that might be a place to have it. You just can’t’ have it all.”
It’s an interesting comment from Jones, considering that earlier this week, his son, Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president, explained that Romo “takes up the most part of your cap space.” And it’s true that Romo’s $16.8 million cap number is the highest on the Cowboys. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Cowboys want to protect their most valuable asset, especially one that turns 33 in April and has already suffered a season-ending collarbone injury that resulted from a big hit?
“All I’m saying to you is Tony is outstanding at understanding why it is you can’t have it all,” Jerry Jones said. “He really understands that. Had he rather have a little less pressure and a little more receivers?”
The answer is pretty easy to guess but Jones said that in the informal talks he’s had with the Cowboys about a contract extension Romo hasn’t sought assurances from the team that it would upgrade the offensive line.
“No,” Jones said. “That’s Tony.”
www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20130224-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-qb-tony-romo-can-handle-a-porous-offensive-line.ece
INDIANAPOLIS – Jerry Jones recognizes the offensive line could be better. But what lengths are the Cowboys willing to go to improve a unit that yielded 36 sacks and was an accessory to a running game that produced 1,265 yards, the lowest total a Cowboys team has accumulated in a 16-game season?
Jones, the Cowboys owner and general manager, didn’t offer a clear picture. He said, “We very likely through a combination of free agency or this draft get serious about another guard/center type.”
And he did say that moving right tackle to Doug Free to an interior position has been discussed, but only if the Cowboys decide that they have enough quality players who can be slotted at the bookend spots.
Yet Jones wouldn’t commit to making any sweeping changes in the offensive line. He even said that he could see Phil Costa be the center “for several years” if the Cowboys judge the players flanking him to be above average.
And he added that rookie guard Ron Leary has “got a shot” to have an increased role.
Jones is hopeful the unit will perform better next season, but he seems to recognize its limitations and it’s part of the reason why the Cowboys want to make another long-term commitment to quarterback Tony Romo, whose contract expires after the 2013 campaign.
“If you’re going to have a guy…that can handle a porous offensive line, it’s Tony,” Jones said. “Tony has some of the best percentages operating behind pressure situation of anyone in the NFL. If there were a place theoretically that you had to have a weakness with Tony Romo at quarterback, that might be a place to have it. You just can’t’ have it all.”
It’s an interesting comment from Jones, considering that earlier this week, his son, Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president, explained that Romo “takes up the most part of your cap space.” And it’s true that Romo’s $16.8 million cap number is the highest on the Cowboys. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Cowboys want to protect their most valuable asset, especially one that turns 33 in April and has already suffered a season-ending collarbone injury that resulted from a big hit?
“All I’m saying to you is Tony is outstanding at understanding why it is you can’t have it all,” Jerry Jones said. “He really understands that. Had he rather have a little less pressure and a little more receivers?”
The answer is pretty easy to guess but Jones said that in the informal talks he’s had with the Cowboys about a contract extension Romo hasn’t sought assurances from the team that it would upgrade the offensive line.
“No,” Jones said. “That’s Tony.”
