SB Nation User Blog: Philosopher

Shopping Spears and Carpenter?

Philosopher — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:22:28 -0000

DMN blog has an intriguing blurb that the Cowboys are shopping Spears and Carpenter while attending the Senior Bowl. Link to the entry below:

http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2008/01/trade_rumors_swirling_about_carpenter_sp.html

My take: If, and that is a somewhat questionable if at this point, we could find interested parties, I would be happy to unload both of these guys, the caveat being what we could get in return. Now, one must admit that it is disappointing that 2 first round picks have not worked out for us, albeit for different reasons. I would label Spears a bust. He has the opportunity and hasn't done much with it. Carpenter, on the other hand, has suffered from our defensive alignment. Thus, I don't label him a bust because he hasn't really had the chance to play. Think back to the Seattle playoff game of last year, he got some playing time and showed some flashes of real skill. And of course, he is good on special teams. We might actually be able to get something for him.

So, what do you guys think? Try and trade both? Trade Spears and keep Carpenter? Or keep them both, as experienced back-ups are certainly a plus for a team when hit with injuries?

More Salt for the Wound

Philosopher — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:26:45 -0000

Just when I think I am kind of starting to put the loss behind me, I read stuff like this which causes me to cringe, swear, and throw sharp metallic objects:

From Mickey Spag's e-mail column today regarding that grounding penalty we got hit with:

By the way, and this will hurt now even worse, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday the club heard back from the NFL on the grounding penalty, and were told that shouldn't have been a grounding penalty because he was not under duress and had the right to throw the ball away. The officials evidently blew that one...

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cf...

Sparano to Fins?

Philosopher — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:32:02 -0000

Looks like Bill wants Tony as the next head coach of the 'Fins.

Man, it would suck to lose Sparano (Miami?) and then to lose Garrett (Atlanta?) also.

On top of that we are going to lose Ireland to the 'Fins as well.

Parcells told Huizenga he doesn't want a coach that is worried about blogs or website interviews. He wants a tough-minded, hard-driven football man who is more concerned with football than facade.
That is why Parcells has told Huizenga he covets Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano as a replacement for Cameron.
Because the Cowboys have a bye in the first round of the NFL playoffs, Sparano must be interviewed before Sunday. If the Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl, the next window that opens for a Sparano interview is the week between the conference title game and the Super Bowl.

http://www.miamiherald.com/1190/story/362149.html

Falcons want to talk to Zimmer

Philosopher — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:28:14 -0000

[Promoted from the Diaries, hat tip to Philosopher, who wrote this post]

Zimmer to the Falcons?

The Atlanta Falcons have requested permission from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to speak with Mike Zimmer for the defensive coordinator position under new coach Bobby Petrino, according to two sources.

Neither Zimmer nor Jones were available for comment.

On the surface, it appears the move could be good for Zimmer, who was miscast as the director of coach Bill Parcells' 3-4 defense. Zimmer's history is in the 4-3 alignment.

I gotta say, let him go to Atlanta, unless we are going to switch back to the 4-3, which isn't going to happen under Parcells, and I do believe Parcells is coming back.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/16412946.htm

Romo-Mania not about Romo?

Philosopher — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:03:14 -0000

Interesting debate on CBS Sportsline between Pete Prisco and Clark Judge.

The question asked is: Is Tony Romo-mania premature or is this guy going to be the next great QB?. Pete Prisco says that it is not premature. However, Clark Judge says it is and then chimes in with this tidbit:

But a scout I trust told me that what's going on with the Cowboys is more about who surrounds Romo than it is the QB -- and he compared the situation to what Ben Roethlisberger fell into at Pittsburgh. That's not a knock on Romo. He's a perfect fit for this offense, much as Big Ben is in Pittsburgh. "But," said the scout, "if he played for Arizona we wouldn't be talking about what a great quarterback he is."

I think the scout's logic is too simplistic. Taken to its logical extension, one could say that all great QB's were great because of the personnel around them (Aikman, Bradshaw, Montana, etc.) Certainly, great QB's benefit from great talent, but there is more to it than that. You can't write Romo off and attribute his success to his supporting cast. After all, Bledsoe had the same supporting cast and couldn't rise above mediocrity.

5 games may be to early to crown any player. But, I don't think the Romo-mania is entirely premature.

What do you all think? Is Romo good only because of the personnel around him?

Link to the comments: http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9836833

VANDERJAGT CUT

Philosopher — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:28:35 -0000

Adam Schefter reports Vandy has been cut

NFL Network ticker reports Vandy has been released and Grammatica has been signed.

I wasn't expecting this!! At least not right now!