Don't expect Jerry Jones to go on a big-time shopping spree when free agency starts Friday. Expect a much more reserved approach. That's not necessarily a bad thing.
The Cowboys need some help at a few spots, but they don't have any needs so glaring they need to be a big spender to fill their holes. Besides, guard and free safety, the Cowboys' two biggest needs, aren't positions where teams traditionally spend a lot of money.
So look for the Cowboys to try and strike a deal with former Arizona Cardinals tackle and UT product Leonard Davis, who's probably the third-best tackle in the free-agent market, which means he can be had for a reasonable cost. If the Cowboys can re-sign Marc Colombo, then Dallas would probably have a pretty solid offensive line without having spent a lot of money.
Then the Cowboys can turn their attentions to safety, where Ken Hamlin is a good option, if they can get him for the right price. If not, the Cowboys can wait for a safety to fall in the draft and grab a traditional free safety in the first or second round.
Last year, the Cowboys were pretty active signing players such as linebacker Akin Ayodele and guard Kyle Kosier, who contributed to a playoff season. But they also wasted money on guys such as kicker Mike Vanderjagt, tight end Ryan Hannam, offensive tackle Jason Fabini and linebacker Rocky Boiman.
Jones won't allow that to happen again.
Q: Rumor has it Dallas is one of the favorites to land Leonard Davis in free agency. What position would he play?
Sean Watson, Costa Mesa, Calif.
TAYLOR: I see him playing right guard once the Cowboys release Marco Rivera. Davis is at his best when he can put his hands on a player and the player can't use his speed as an asset, which is the case if he plays guard. You wouldn't want him playing right tackle against Jevon Kearse and Michael Strahan four times a year.
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Q: I know the Super Bowl was only a couple of weeks ago and we are far from starting minicamps, but to me there seems to be a renewed enthusiasm surrounding the Cowboys and this coming season. Perhaps it's the development of Tony Romo or the departure of Bill Parcels and hiring of Wade Phillips, but I am actually excited about the prospects of the coming season. Am I nuts?
Todd Waller, York, Pa.
TAYLOR: There's nothing wrong with optimism and you're not nuts, but I want you to keep things in perspective. Of course, I realize that's hard to do for fans. I mean, that's why they call you fans. That said, the Cowboys have a lot of talent on their roster, but they have yet to put it together. That's what Dallas must do. Every player and every coach must be committed to winning and then you need some good fortune and the ability for everyone in the organization to put their respective egos in their back pockets. If Dallas can do all of that, the Cowboys have a chance to be in the hunt next season.
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Q: It's came up many times that Troy Aikman liked Norv Turner, and that helped Turner's chances. What exactly is the Aikman factor?
Travis Ford
TAYLOR: That's a good question and the first one of its kind I've gotten in all of the years I've done this newsletter. Aikman doesn't have a title or anything, but Jerry respects his opinion and when he speaks Jerry listens. It doesn't mean that he does what Aikman suggests, but he certainly listens carefully because he has so much respect for Troy.
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Q: Is Andre Gurode that much better at center than Al Johnson? Wouldn't it make sense to move Gurode to guard and play Johnson at center?
Thomas Tuckwell, Miami
TAYLOR: If there was any doubt as to how much the Cowboys like Gurode, it was erased when they signed him to a six-year deal worth $30 million. Gurode is better at center because he doesn't have to think quite as much because the defender is right on top of him and he has the strength and power to be strong up the middle. That's something Johnson struggled to do. Gurode is a much better player in the Cowboys' current scheme, but I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson wound up starting for another team in a year or two.
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Q: One of the biggest losses with the departure of our assistant coaches is the knowledge of each players' weaknesses and strengths. Is it customary for the departing assistants to share this information with the incoming staff?
Mike Bruce, Leesburg, Va.
TAYLOR: Not really. If you fired me, then I really have no interest in de-briefing you on the roster. And if I was hired by a new team, then I'm in a hurry to learn the personnel on my new team as well as their playbook. That's why so many new coaches spend all of their free time studying film and watching tape from last season, so they can get a read on the personnel. An exception might be if new running backs coach Skip Peete was friends with former running backs coach Anthony Lynn. Then they might have a detailed conversation.
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Q: Why doesn't Jay Novacek's name ever come up for the Hall of Fame?
F.B. Rhea III, King of Prussia, Pa.
TAYLOR: I understand your point, but I figure it's because he had such a short period of dominance before a back injury essentially ended his career. He was as good as it gets in the league, but he only had about five years. And he never had any ridiculous stats. That might not be fair, but that's the deal.
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Q: The problem with the Cowboys is that their management structure is badly flawed.
The owner (in this case Jerry Jones) needs to hiring an astute general manager and give him or her total control over assembling the best players. This GM will need the assistance of a capologist (Stephen Jones has been great for the Cowboys in this capacity).
Why can'ta brilliant businessman like Jerry Jones comprehend something this simple?
Steve Obenshain
TAYLOR: I understand your point, but that's essentially what happened the last four years with Bill Parcells. During that time, Parcells was basically the GM. He did it that way for four years and didn't win a playoff game or division title and that's why we're going back to the old system where Jerry is definitely running things.
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Q: Why was the defense so predictable and inept down the stretch? Was this because Parcells put restraints on his defensive coaches?
Marc Breault
TAYLOR: I think so. When you say the game has passed someone, a lot of times it gets such a negative reaction that people lose sight of the context. When you say the game passed Parcells, it's not that he didn't know football or didn't understand exactly what the Cowboys were doing on defense, it means he didn't want to try new things. It means he was set in his ways and those ways didn't win football games as easily as they did 20 years ago. That's a long-winded way of saying yes, he put constraints on the defense last season and that played a role in their struggles.
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Q: Is there anything to be read in Chris Palmer bolting to the Giants to do the same thing he was doing in Dallas? Was it a money thing?
Ray Rodriguez , Chesapeake, Va.
TAYLOR: At some level, it's always a money thing in the NFL. In this case, his father has been a Giants season-ticket holder for 50 years, so this is a team he rooted for as a kid. He also knew Jason Garrett was going to be the key figure in the offense along with Tony Sparano, which might not leave much for him to do. He's worked with Giants coach Tom Coughlin before and probably had a comfort level with him.
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Q: What's the status of Drew Bledsoe? Will he take a secondary role or will he retire? Do the Cowboys need to address that situation in the draft or free agency?
Ron Guerra, Santa Monica, Calif..
TAYLOR: I expect Bledsoe to be released this week, which should surprise no one. Dallas will look for a younger backup like Joey Harrington or Patrick Ramsey. Guys who can push Tony Romo because they're hungry and if Romo gets hurt have the ability to come in and play a few games.
